^17:24The God who made the world and everything in it,⁸⁶ who is⁸⁷ Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by human hands,⁸⁸^17:25nor is he served by human hands, as if he needed anything,⁸⁹ because he himself gives life and breath and everything to everyone.⁹⁰^17:26From one man⁹¹ he made every nation of the human race⁹² to inhabit the entire earth,⁹³ determining their set times⁹⁴ and the fixed limits of the places where they would live,⁹⁵^17:27so that they would search for God and perhaps grope around⁹⁶ for him and find him,⁹⁷ though he is⁹⁸ not far from each one of us.

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Acts 17:24–25: The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything …

Footnotes

86 Grk “all the things that are in it.” The speech starts with God as Creator, like 14:15.
87 Or “because he is.” The participle ὑπάρχων (huparchōn) could be either adjectival, modifying οὗτος (houtos, “who is Lord …”) or adverbial of cause (“because he is Lord …”). Since the participle διδούς (didous) in v. 25 appears to be clearly causal in force, it is preferable to understand ὑπάρχων as adjectival in this context.
88 On the statement does not live in temples made by human hands compare Acts 7:48. This has implications for idols as well. God cannot be represented by them or, as the following clause also suggests, served by human hands.
89 L&N 57.45 has “nor does he need anything more that people can supply by working for him.”
90 Grk “he himself gives to all [people] life and breath and all things.”
91 The one man refers to Adam (the word “man” is understood).
92 Or “mankind.” ἔθνος 1 has “every nation of humankind Ac 17:26.”
93 Grk “to live over all the face of the earth.”
94 προστάσσω has “(οἱ) προστεταγμένοι καιροί (the) fixed times Ac 17:26” here, but since the following phrase is also translated “fixed limits,” this would seem redundant in English, so the word “set” has been used instead.
95 Grk “the boundaries of their habitation.” L&N 80.5 has “fixed limits of the places where they would live” for this phrase.
96 See ψηλαφάω, which lists “touch, handle” and “to feel around for, grope for” as possible meanings.
97 Perhaps grope around for him and find him. The pagans’ struggle to know God is the point here. Conscience alone is not good enough.
98 The participle ὑπάρχοντα (huparchonta) has been translated as a concessive adverbial participle.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

The God who made the world and everything in it—he is Lord of heaven and earth—does not live in shrines made by hands. Neither is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives everyone life and breath and all things. From one man he has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live. He did this so that they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.

NLTNew Living Translation

“He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.

“His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

the God who made the world and all the things in it. This one, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands as if he needed anything, because he himself gives to everyone life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of humanity to live on all the face of the earth, determining their fixed times and the fixed boundaries of their habitation, to search for God, if perhaps indeed they might feel around for him and find him. And indeed he is not far away from each one of us,

KJV 1900King James Version

God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

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