^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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Footnotes

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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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