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Acts 17:27
Verse
Context
Paul’s Address in the Areopagus
26From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands.27God 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. 28‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’
Sermons







Summary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
That they should seek the Lord - This is a conclusion drawn from the preceding statement. God, who is infinitely great and self-sufficient, has manifested himself as the maker of the world, the creator, preserver, and governor of men. He has assigned them their portion, and dispensed to them their habitations, and the various blessings of his providence, to the end that they should seek him in all his works. Feel after him - Ψηλαφησειαν αυτον, That they might grope after him, as a person does his way who is blind or blindfolded. The Gentiles, who had not a revelation, must grope after God, as the principle of spiritual life, that they might find him to be a Spirit, and the source of all intellectual happiness; and the apostle seems to state that none need despair of finding this fountain of goodness, because he is not far from every one of us.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
That they should seek the Lord--That is the high end of all these arrangements of Divine Power, Wisdom, and Love. if haply they might feel after him--as men groping their way in the dark. and find him--a lively picture of the murky atmosphere of Natural Religion. though he be not far from every one of us--The difficulty of finding God outside the pale of revealed religion lies not in His distance from us, but in our distance from Him through the blinding effect of sin.
John Gill Bible Commentary
That they should seek the Lord,.... Or "God", as the Alexandrian copy and others, and the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions read; their Creator, and kind Benefactor, and who has appointed their time of life, and their habitations for them; and this should engage them to seek to know him, who has done all this for them, and to fear and serve him, and to glorify his name: if haply they might feel after him, and find him; which shows, that though it is possible for men, by a contemplation of the perfections of God, visible in the works of creation and providence, so to find God, as to know that there is one, and that there is but one God, who has made all things; and so as to be convinced of the vanity and falsehood of all other gods, and to see the folly, wickedness, and weakness of idolatrous worship; yet, at the same time, it very strongly intimates, how dim and obscure the light of nature is; since those, who have nothing else to direct them, are like persons in the dark, who "feel" and grope about after God, whom they cannot see; and after all their search and groping, there is only an "haply", a peradventure, a may be, that they find him: though he be not far from everyone of us; not only by his omnipresence, and immensity, whereby he is everywhere; but by his power in supporting all in their being; and by his goodness in continually communicating the blessings of providence to them.
Acts 17:27
Paul’s Address in the Areopagus
26From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands.27God 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. 28‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Do You Need a Miracle?
By Jim Cymbala8.2K25:16MiraclesGEN 32:26JER 33:3MAT 6:33MAT 7:7MRK 5:27MRK 5:30ACT 17:27In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of experiencing a supernatural work from God in our hearts and souls. He encourages the congregation to believe in the possibility of miracles and expresses his desire for God to perform miracles in the building. The preacher then analyzes the story of the woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5, highlighting her desperation and faith in touching Jesus to receive her miracle. He emphasizes the need to come to Jesus with our hearts and explains that physical proximity is not necessary for this encounter.
The Presence of God
By David Wilkerson3.4K1:01:43EXO 33:152CH 7:14JER 29:13MAT 6:33ACT 17:271TH 5:17HEB 13:5In this sermon, the preacher recounts the story of Nathan confronting King David about his sin of adultery and murder. David is initially unaware of his own guilt, but Nathan reveals it to him through a parable about a rich man stealing a poor man's beloved lamb. David is overcome with guilt and confesses his sin before God. Nathan then delivers the consequences of David's actions, including the raising up of evil against him from his own household and the loss of his kingdom. The sermon emphasizes the importance of fearing the word of God and the devastating consequences of turning away from His presence.
Tulip - Part 2 (Total Depravity 1)
By John Piper1.7K35:22ACT 17:27ROM 3:9ROM 3:19ROM 3:231TI 1:15In this sermon, the speaker discusses the concept of total depravity and its implications. He explains that no one is exempt from sin and that even the smallest transgression makes a person guilty of breaking the entire law. The speaker then introduces the five points of Calvinism, focusing on the first point of total depravity. He emphasizes the importance of parents being vulnerable and broken before their children, acknowledging their own flaws and sinfulness. The sermon concludes with a personal letter from the speaker's son, expressing gratitude for his parents' love and understanding of God's unfailing love.
(Through the Bible) Acts 17
By Chuck Smith1.7K58:44PSA 139:5JON 3:4ACT 17:27In this sermon, the preacher discusses the preaching of Jonah to the Ninevites, where there was no message of repentance, hope, grace, or salvation. Jonah preached a message of doom and gloom, stating that destruction would come in 40 days. Surprisingly, the people repented and hoped for God's mercy, even though there was no promise of it. The preacher then emphasizes the eminence of God, his prevailing presence everywhere in the universe, as described by David in the Psalms. The sermon concludes by highlighting the importance of feeding the spirit instead of the flesh, and the two common responses to the gospel: mocking and procrastination.
An Introduction to Charles G. Finney
By Robert Wurtz II1.4K33:49PSA 119:105JER 29:13MAT 5:3LUK 18:13ACT 17:27ROM 10:102CO 12:9In this sermon, the preacher discusses the importance of feeling the weight of one's sin and the mindset that comes with it. He shares the story of Charles Finney, who had a revelation of his pride and felt a deep sense of repentance. Finney experienced a powerful encounter with God, where he wept with joy and love, confessing his sins and feeling a positive force entering his being. The preacher emphasizes the need for a personal encounter with God and the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and highlights Finney's approach of preaching with conviction and making a compelling case for the teachings.
Span-12 Art's Testimony
By Art Katz1.3K1:10:08TestimonyISA 43:1EZK 20:33ACT 17:27EPH 1:17REV 12:11In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of prioritizing the evangelization of the Jewish people. He challenges the idea of following a formula or step-by-step approach in witnessing to Jews, emphasizing that it is a matter of ultimate importance, just like preaching. The speaker shares his personal experience of encountering a man who spoke profound truths and a simple girl who demonstrated the light of God, leading to his own salvation. He also references biblical passages that highlight the significance of reaching out to the Jewish people and the need to see things as God sees them.
Seeking the Lost
By Rolfe Barnard1.1K56:39Lost PeoplePSA 24:3ACT 17:27EPH 2:10In this sermon, the preacher expresses gratitude for the visitors from other churches and acknowledges the need for consistent attendance to fully understand his message. He emphasizes the importance of proclaiming the claims and demands of God in Jesus Christ in every sermon. The preacher mentions that God will not lose a single person He has promised to save and that salvation is in the hands of a redeeming God. He urges the audience to seek the Lord and emphasizes the role of faith in finding Him. The preacher also acknowledges the challenges of preaching the unadulterated Word of God in a society that may not always be receptive, but expresses hope for a revival.
Revival a Choice
By Merle Weaver69636:26RevivalSeeking GodDEU 4:29PSA 50:3ISA 57:15JER 29:13JHN 6:37ACT 17:27JAS 4:8Merle Weaver emphasizes that revival is a choice that requires individuals to seek God wholeheartedly. He highlights the importance of drawing close to God, stating that if we seek Him, we will find Him, and that true revival stems from a personal relationship with God rather than mere religious activity. Weaver encourages the congregation to examine their lives and identify what may be hindering their relationship with God, urging them to surrender their identities and desires to Him. He reminds them that God desires a love relationship and that true fulfillment comes from living for His glory. Ultimately, Weaver calls for a humble and contrite heart, assuring that God will revive those who earnestly seek Him.
The Three-Fold Message of Hell
By Rolfe Barnard52450:45HellPSA 34:18PRO 1:7JER 29:13MAT 6:33LUK 12:4JHN 19:17ACT 17:27In this sermon, the preacher begins by leading the congregation in a song about being close to God. He then prays for people to have a personal encounter with God and for them to do business with Him. The preacher emphasizes the importance of being near to God and not being far from Him, especially for sinners and those with aching hearts. The sermon then transitions to the topic of hell and the need for believers to have a broken heart for the lost. The preacher shares a personal story about a boy who was relieved to hear that someone he cared about was going to be okay, but later discovered that person had actually died. This story serves as a reminder of the reality of eternal judgment and the need for believers to share the truth about hell. The sermon concludes with an invitation for the preacher to return to the city for an association-wide meeting.
A More Particular Account of the Way by Which This Salvation Is to Be Obtained
By Philip Doddridge0HOS 13:9JHN 1:29JHN 4:28JHN 6:29ACT 4:12ACT 17:27ACT 20:21ROM 6:13HEB 13:8REV 4:10Philip Doddridge preaches about the way of salvation through Christ, emphasizing the importance of repentance, faith, and giving up self-dependence to seek salvation by free grace. He urges sinners to apply to Christ with deep abhorrence of their sins, firm resolution to forsake them, and a commitment to obey and imitate Christ in their daily lives. Doddridge highlights that salvation is only obtained through faith in Jesus and surrendering to Him completely, acknowledging our need for His grace and mercy.
The Unreasonableness of Indetermination in Religion
By Jonathan Edwards0DEU 30:191KI 18:21PSA 32:9EZK 20:39LUK 14:28ACT 17:27ACT 26:282TI 3:7JAS 1:8REV 3:15Jonathan Edwards preaches about the unreasonableness of being indecisive in religion, using the example of Elijah challenging the people to choose between the Lord and Baal. He emphasizes the importance of making a firm decision in matters of faith, highlighting the folly of wavering between two opinions and the need to fully commit to following God. Edwards explores the various reasons why individuals remain unresolved in religion, from doubts about the truth of Scripture to indecision about embracing a life of holiness. He urges listeners to examine their hearts and make a definitive choice to either pursue God wholeheartedly or face the consequences of remaining undecided.
Exercising Our Option to Experience God
By A.W. Tozer0Experiencing GodCommunion with GodGEN 1:27PSA 42:1ISA 55:6JER 29:13MAT 5:6JHN 15:15ACT 17:27JAS 4:81JN 4:8REV 3:20A.W. Tozer emphasizes the profound need for humanity to experience God, highlighting the intrinsic relationship between God and man. He explains that God, being the essence of life and love, created man in His image for the purpose of communion. This relationship is mutual; both God and man find fulfillment in each other. Tozer notes that while God is self-sufficient, He desires a voluntary relationship with humanity, respecting our free will and the sanctity of our choices. Ultimately, the sermon calls believers to actively seek and exercise their option to experience God in their lives.
Exposition on Psalm 138
By St. Augustine0PSA 137:1PSA 137:3ACT 17:27ROM 4:25ROM 12:191CO 3:17EPH 2:8St. Augustine preaches on the Psalms, highlighting the importance of confession not only of sin but also of praise to God. He emphasizes the need for heartfelt worship and thanksgiving, directing attention to the inner voice that God hears. Augustine delves into the significance of singing before the Angels, worshiping towards God's holy Temple, and confessing to God's Name in mercy and truth. He explores the themes of humility, seeking God's presence, and trusting in God's mercy and everlasting love, encouraging believers to walk in faith even amidst tribulations.
Man's Cry for the Supernatural
By James Blaine Chapman0EXO 33:18PSA 27:8JER 29:13JHN 4:24JHN 14:16ACT 17:27ROM 1:201CO 2:41CO 2:10HEB 10:19James Blaine Chapman preaches about the innate human longing for the supernatural and the various expressions of this desire throughout history, from primitive worship to the rise of spiritism. He highlights the failure of some religious practices to truly satisfy the heart's cry for God and emphasizes the need for a genuine, experiential connection with the divine. Chapman discusses the shift towards materialism and intellectualism, cautioning against shallow substitutes for true Christianity. He encourages seeking God with earnestness, believing in the miraculous, and allowing God to reveal Himself directly to the spirit of man.
God Moving in Houston in 1997
By John Follette0PSA 139:7JER 29:13JHN 4:24ACT 17:27John Follette emphasizes the spiritual essence of God, highlighting that although God can manifest in a physical form, His true nature is Spirit, omnipresent and not limited by physical boundaries. He encourages experiencing God rather than just defining Him doctrinally, emphasizing the importance of personal encounters to truly understand His reality.
Of the Being of God.
By John Gill0The Existence of GodThe Nature of GodGEN 1:1PSA 14:1PSA 73:25ECC 2:17ISA 40:26ACT 17:27ROM 1:20EPH 2:12HEB 11:31PE 5:8John Gill emphasizes the foundational importance of the Being of God in his sermon 'Of the Being of God,' arguing that the existence of God is self-evident and universally acknowledged across cultures and ages. He presents multiple arguments for God's existence, including the innate sense of Deity in humanity, the evidence of creation, and the moral conscience that points to a higher power. Gill asserts that the belief in God is not only a natural instinct but also essential for understanding morality and accountability. He addresses objections to God's existence, reinforcing that even those who claim atheism often reveal a deep-seated awareness of a divine being. Ultimately, Gill's message is a call to recognize and affirm the reality of God as the source of all truth and morality.
Seeking God ("Every One That Seeketh findeth.")
By Hans R. Waldvogel0Seeking GodSpiritual Transformation1CH 16:11PSA 63:1PSA 119:10JER 2:8JER 29:13DAN 9:3MAT 7:7ACT 17:27HEB 11:6JAS 4:8Hans R. Waldvogel emphasizes the necessity of seeking God with our whole heart, as true salvation is found in knowing Him. He reflects on the common dissatisfaction among believers who settle for lesser things instead of pursuing a genuine relationship with God. Waldvogel urges listeners to recognize that finding God requires earnest effort and a heart fully devoted to Him, contrasting this with the complacency often seen in religious leaders. He highlights the transformative power of seeking God, which leads to a profound change in one's life and character. Ultimately, Waldvogel calls for a deeper commitment to seeking God, as it is the key to true fulfillment and spiritual growth.
Attributes of God #8 "God's Omnipresence and Immanence"
By A.W. Tozer0God's PresenceSpiritual Transformation1KI 8:27ACT 17:27A.W. Tozer emphasizes God's omnipresence and immanence, explaining that God is everywhere and penetrates all things, yet many Christians feel a sense of divine remoteness due to their moral dissimilarity from God. He discusses the importance of atonement, justification, and regeneration in reconciling humanity with God, highlighting that true communion requires a likeness to God's nature. Tozer urges believers to recognize their unlikeness to God, such as selfishness and unholiness, which hinders their sense of His presence. He calls for repentance and a deeper yearning for God's nearness, reminding that while God is always present, the manifestation of His presence is often clouded by our own shortcomings. The sermon concludes with a call to action for believers to seek a closer relationship with God through repentance and transformation.
Seek Him in Everything
By Mary Wilder Tileston0PSA 16:8JER 1:7ACT 17:27COL 3:171TH 5:16Mary Wilder Tileston emphasizes the importance of being obedient to God's commands and being in His presence at all times, regardless of the circumstances. She highlights the need to seek and find God in every moment and every situation, as true peace and fulfillment come from following His will. Tileston stresses that God is pleased not just by our actions, but by the spirit in which they are done, with a constant readiness to obey His will in even the smallest details.
O That I Knew Where I Might Find Him, That I
By F.B. Meyer0PrayerGod's PresenceJOB 23:3PSA 46:1PSA 139:7ISA 41:10MAT 28:20JHN 14:23ACT 17:27ROM 10:6HEB 4:16JAS 4:8F.B. Meyer emphasizes the intimate and ever-present nature of God, reminding us that we do not need to search far and wide to find Him, as He is closer than we often realize. He encourages believers to approach God directly, recognizing that His mercy is accessible in every moment and place, whether in times of trouble or peace. Meyer reassures us that God's presence is constant, and we can communicate with Him freely, even amidst our struggles. The sermon calls for a deeper awareness of God's nearness and invites us to engage with Him in prayer and reflection. Ultimately, it is a reminder that we can find God right where we are, without needing to ascend to heaven or descend into the depths.
God Sees All Things
By Clement of Rome0PSA 139:7PRO 15:3JER 23:24ACT 17:27HEB 4:13Clement of Rome emphasizes the omnipresence and omniscience of God, urging his listeners to fear Him and turn away from wicked deeds driven by evil desires. He highlights the futility of trying to flee from God, as He is everywhere and knows all things, making escape impossible. Clement stresses the importance of seeking God's mercy to avoid future judgments and the need to acknowledge God's presence in every aspect of our lives.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
That they should seek the Lord - This is a conclusion drawn from the preceding statement. God, who is infinitely great and self-sufficient, has manifested himself as the maker of the world, the creator, preserver, and governor of men. He has assigned them their portion, and dispensed to them their habitations, and the various blessings of his providence, to the end that they should seek him in all his works. Feel after him - Ψηλαφησειαν αυτον, That they might grope after him, as a person does his way who is blind or blindfolded. The Gentiles, who had not a revelation, must grope after God, as the principle of spiritual life, that they might find him to be a Spirit, and the source of all intellectual happiness; and the apostle seems to state that none need despair of finding this fountain of goodness, because he is not far from every one of us.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
That they should seek the Lord--That is the high end of all these arrangements of Divine Power, Wisdom, and Love. if haply they might feel after him--as men groping their way in the dark. and find him--a lively picture of the murky atmosphere of Natural Religion. though he be not far from every one of us--The difficulty of finding God outside the pale of revealed religion lies not in His distance from us, but in our distance from Him through the blinding effect of sin.
John Gill Bible Commentary
That they should seek the Lord,.... Or "God", as the Alexandrian copy and others, and the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions read; their Creator, and kind Benefactor, and who has appointed their time of life, and their habitations for them; and this should engage them to seek to know him, who has done all this for them, and to fear and serve him, and to glorify his name: if haply they might feel after him, and find him; which shows, that though it is possible for men, by a contemplation of the perfections of God, visible in the works of creation and providence, so to find God, as to know that there is one, and that there is but one God, who has made all things; and so as to be convinced of the vanity and falsehood of all other gods, and to see the folly, wickedness, and weakness of idolatrous worship; yet, at the same time, it very strongly intimates, how dim and obscure the light of nature is; since those, who have nothing else to direct them, are like persons in the dark, who "feel" and grope about after God, whom they cannot see; and after all their search and groping, there is only an "haply", a peradventure, a may be, that they find him: though he be not far from everyone of us; not only by his omnipresence, and immensity, whereby he is everywhere; but by his power in supporting all in their being; and by his goodness in continually communicating the blessings of providence to them.