Acts 17:29

Therefore, because we are God’s children and can communicate like God does, we (inc) should not think that he is anything like an image that people have made of gold or silver or stone which cannot communicate. Those images are designed and skillfully made {People design and make those images}, but they are not alive.

Translation for Translators

In The King James Version

Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.

In Context

28As someone has said, ‘ It is only because he enables us that we (inc) live and move and do what we do.’ And, as some of your own poets have said, ‘We (inc) are God’s children.’

30During the times when people did not know what God wanted them to do, he did not immediately punish them for what they did. But now God commands all people everywhere to turn away from their evil behavior.

Read all of Acts 17

Cross References

Exodus 32:4He took all those gold earrings and melted them in a fire. He poured the gold into a mold and made a statue that looked like a young bull. The people saw it and said, “This is the god of us Israeli people! This is the one who brought us up from the land of Egypt!”

Psalms 106:20Instead of worshiping our glorious God, they started to worship a statue of a bull that eats grass!

Isaiah 40:12There is no one like Yahweh! ◄Who else has measured the water in the oceans in the palm of his hand?/No one else has measured the water in the oceans in the palm of his hand!► [RHQ] ◄Who else has measured the sky with his fingers?/No one else has measured the sky with his fingers!► [RHQ] ◄Who else knows how much the earth weighs?/No one else knows how much the earth weighs!► [RHQ] ◄Who else has weighed the mountains and hills on scales?/No one else has weighed the mountains and hills on scales!► [RHQ]

Isaiah 44:9All those who make idols are foolish, and the idols that they ◄think highly of/greatly respect► are worthless. And the people who worship those idols— it is as though they are blind, and they will be ashamed for having worshiped those idols.

Jeremiah 10:4Then people decorate the idol with silver and gold. Then they fasten it securely with nails in order that it will not topple/fall over.

Romans 1:20People cannot see what God is like. But ever since he created the world, by means of what he created he has clearly revealed what he is like. He has made clear to everyone that he has always been able to do very powerful things. Therefore, we should recognize that God is powerful, completely different from all that he created. So no one has a basis for saying, “We never knew about God.”

Matthew Henry on Acts 17:23-32

Paul at Athens. 22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. 23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. 24 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; 25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed… Read the whole commentary →

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