¹⁵and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also ^amen of the same nature as you, and ^bpreach the gospel to you that you should turn from these ¹^cvain things to a ^dliving God, ^ewho made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.

¹⁶“¹In the generations gone by He ^apermitted all the ²nations to ^bgo their own ways;

¹⁷and yet ^aHe did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and ^bgave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, ¹satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”

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Footnotes

1I.e. idols
1Lit Who in the generations gone by permitted
2Or Gentiles
1Lit filling

Cross references

a Acts 10:26; James 5:17
b Acts 13:32; 14:7, 21
c Deut 32:21; 1 Sam 12:21; Jer 8:19; 14:22; 1 Cor 8:4
d Matt 16:16
e Ex 20:11; Ps 146:6; Acts 4:24; 17:24; Rev 14:7
a Acts 17:30
b Ps 81:12; Mic 4:5
a Acts 17:26f; Rom 1:19f
b Deut 11:14; Job 5:10; Ps 65:10f; Ezek 34:26f; Joel 2:23

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

“Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

“People! Why are you doing these things? We are people also, just like you, and we are proclaiming good news to you, that you turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them. In past generations he allowed all the nations to go their own way, although he did not leave himself without a witness, since he did what is good by giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons and filling you with food and your hearts with joy.”

NLTNew Living Translation

“Friends, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings—just like you! We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. In the past he permitted all the nations to go their own ways, but he never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts.”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, proclaiming the good news that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all the things that are in them—who in generations that are past permitted all the nations to go their own ways. And yet he did not leave himself without witness by doing good, giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying you with food and your hearts with gladness.”

KJV 1900King James Version

And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

Public Domain