Acts 17:27

God intended that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.

BSB

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4 additional translations

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KJV

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:

ASV

that they should seek God, if haply they might feel after him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us:

YLT

to seek the Lord, if perhaps they did feel after Him and find, --though, indeed, He is not far from each one of us,

DBT

that they may seekGod; if indeed they might feel after him and find him, although he is not far from each one of us:

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Voices5

On this verse

"You are near, Lord, and all your commandments are truth." God says elsewhere, "I am a God who is near and not a God who is far away, says the Lord." For the power of God is everywhere according to the word of creation and providence. Knowing this, Paul, addressing the Greeks as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, says, "We do not seek God far from us, for in him we live and move and are," and "the Spirit of the Lord has filled the earth."

Origen of Alexandria· PALESTINIAN CATENA ON PSALM 118.151, 253patristic

Related commentary

Paul, in the Acts of the Apostles, is recorded to have said to the Areopagites, "I perceive that ye are more than ordinarily religious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with the inscription, To The Unknown God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, Him declare I unto you.

Clement of Alexandria· The Stromata Book 1, 215patristic

That they should seek the Lord,....

John Gill· Exposition of the Entire Bible, 1771reformed

That they should seek the Lord - Greek: to seek the Lord. The design of thus placing them on the earth - of gang them their habitation among his works - was, that they should contemplate his wisdom in his works, and thus come to a knowledge of his existence and character. All nations, though living in different regions and climates, have thus the opportunity of becoming acquainted with God, Rom 1:19-20. The fact that the nations did not thus learn the character of the true God shows their great stupidity and wickedness.

Albert Barnes· Notes on the Old and New Testaments, 1870evangelical

If haply - The way is open; God is ready to be found. But he will lay no force upon man; they might feel after him - This is in the midst between seeking and finding.

John Wesley (NT Notes)· Explanatory Notes upon the Bible, 1765evangelical

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Cross-references

9 linked verses

The verses this one reaches9

Jeremiah 23:23–24
“Am I only a God nearby,” declares the LORD, “and not a God far away?”
Deuteronomy 4:7
For what nation is great enough to have a god as near to them as the LORD our God is to us whenever we call on Him?
Acts 14:17
Yet He has not left Himself without testimony to His goodness: He gives you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.”
Romans 1:20
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.
Romans 2:4
Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?
Acts 15:17
so that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord who does these things
Psalms 19:1–6
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.
Psalms 139:1–13
O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
1 Kings 8:27
But will God indeed dwell upon the earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built.

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The walk8

Where the connections lead

Two steps out along the cross-reference floor, votes-ranked — destinations reached by more than one path rise (the text's own hubs). Every stop is a page, and every stop travels with its words.

Through
Romans 1:20
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.
leads to
- Romans 1:19
  For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.
- Isaiah 40:26
  Lift up your eyes on high: Who created all these? He leads forth the starry host by number; He calls each one by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one…
- Psalms 19:1–6
  The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.
- Psalms 8:3
  When I behold Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place—
- Psalms 33:6–9
  By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the stars by the breath of His mouth.
Through
Romans 2:4
Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?
leads to
- 2 Peter 3:9
  The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.
- Isaiah 30:18
  Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore He rises to show you compassion, for the LORD is a just God. Blessed are all who wait for Him.
Through
Deuteronomy 4:7
For what nation is great enough to have a god as near to them as the LORD our God is to us whenever we call on Him?
leads to
- Psalms 145:18
  The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth.

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Acts 17:27

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