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Acts 17:28
Verse
Context
Paul’s Address in the Areopagus
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.’29Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination.
Sermons







Summary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
For in him we live, and move, and have our being - He is the very source of our existence: the principle of life comes from him: the principle of motion, also, comes from him; one of the most difficult things in nature to be properly apprehended; and a strong proof of the continual presence and energy of the Deity. And have our being - Και εσμεν, And we are: we live in him, move in him, and are in him. Without him we not only can do nothing, but without him we are nothing. We are, i.e. we continue to be, because of his continued, present, all-pervading, and supporting energy. There is a remarkable saying in Synopsis Sohar, p. 104. "The holy blessed God never does evil to any man. He only withdraws his gracious presence from him, and then he necessarily perisheth." This is philosophical and correct. As certain also of your own poets - Probably he means not only Aratus, in whose poem, entitled Phaenomena, the words quoted by St. Paul are to be found literatim, του γαρ και γενος εσμεν; but also Cleanthus, in whose Hymn to Jupiter the same words (Εκ σου γαρ γενος εσμεν) occur. But the sentiment is found in several others, being very common among the more enlightened philosophers. By saying your own poets, he does not mean poets born at Athens, but merely Grecian poets, Aratus and Cleanthus being chief. We are also his offspring - Του γαρ και γενος εσμεν The Phaenomena of Aratus, in which these words are found, begins thus: - Εκ Διος αρχωμεσθα, τον ουδεποτ' ανδρες εωμεν Αρῤητον· μεϚαι δε Διος πασαι μεν αγυιαι, Πασαι δ' ανθρωπων αγοραι· μεϚη δε θαλασσα, Και λιμενες· παντη δε Διος κεχρημεθα παντες· ΤΟΥ ΓΑΡ ΚΑΙ ΓΕΝΟΣ ΕΣΜΕΝ ὁ δ' ηπιος ανθρωποισι Δεξια σημαινει. κ. τ. λ. With Jove we must begin; nor from him rove; Him always praise, for all is full of Jove! He fills all places where mankind resort, The wide-spread sea, with every shelt'ring port. Jove's presence fills all space, upholds this ball; All need his aid; his power sustains us all. For we his offspring are; and he in love Points out to man his labor from above: Where signs unerring show when best the soil, By well-timed culture, shall repay our toil, etc., etc. Aratus was a Cilician, one of St. Paul's own countrymen, and with his writings St. Paul was undoubtedly well acquainted, though he had flourished about 300 years before that time.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
For in him we live, and move, and have our being--(or, more briefly, "exist").--This means, not merely, "Without Him we have no life, nor that motion which every inanimate nature displays, nor even existence itself" [MEYER], but that God is the living, immanent Principle of all these in men. as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring--the first half of the fifth line, word for word, of an astronomical poem of Aratus, a Greek countryman of the apostle, and his predecessor by about three centuries. But, as he hints, the same sentiment is to be found in other Greek poets. They meant it doubtless in a pantheistic sense; but the truth which it expresses the apostle turns to his own purpose--to teach a pure, personal, spiritual Theism. (Probably during his quiet retreat at Tarsus. Act 9:30, revolving his special vocation to the Gentiles he gave himself to the study of so much Greek literature as might be turned to Christian account in his future work. Hence this and his other quotations from the Greek poets, Co1 15:33; Tit 1:12).
John Gill Bible Commentary
For in him we live, and move, and have our being,.... The natural life which men live is from God; and they are supported in it by him; and from him they have all the comforts and blessings of life; and all motions, whether external or internal, of body or of mind, are of God, and none of them are without the concourse of his providence, and strength assistance from him; though the disorder and irregularity of these motions, whereby they become sinful, are of themselves, or of the devil; and their being, and the maintenance of it, and continuance in it, are all owing to the power and providence of God. As certain also of your own poets have said; the Syriac version reads in the singular number, "as a certain one of your wise men has said"; but all others read in the plural; and some have thought, that the apostle refers to what goes before, that being an Iambic verse of some of the poets, as well as to what follows, which is a citation from Aratus (x) and whom the apostle might have called his own, as he was his countryman; for Aratus was a native of Solis, a city of Cilicia, not far from Tarsus yea, some say (y) he was of Tarsus, where the apostle was born: but Aratus being an Heathen, and the apostle speaking to Heathens, calls him one of them; and the rather, that what is cited might be the more regarded by them: though the expression is also (z) said to be in an hymn to Jove, written by Cleanthes, who taught at Athens; and so the apostle addressing the Athenians, might, with greater propriety, say, "as certain of your own poets say": it is also said to be in Aratus the astronomer, and in the poet Homer; so that the plural number may well be used. Which is, for we are also his offspring; the offspring of Jove, says Aratus; which the apostle applies to the true Jehovah, the Creator of all men, by whom, and after whose image, they are made, and so are truly his offspring; upon which the apostle argues as follows. (x) In Phaenomenis, p. 1. (y) Vid. Fabricii Biblioth. Gr. l. 3. c. 18. p. 451. (z) Vid. Fabricii Biblioth. Gr. l. 3. c. 18. p. 453.
Acts 17:28
Paul’s Address in the Areopagus
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.’29Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Free to Do
By Kathryn Kuhlman12K10:52FreedomPSA 62:1MAT 16:24JHN 15:5ACT 17:28ROM 6:231CO 6:19GAL 2:20In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing and accepting God as the ultimate authority in our lives. He compares the disciplined self to an aviator who must obey the laws of aviation at all times to avoid disaster. The speaker also highlights the need for a deep connection with God, stating that we do not all have our being in Him until we accept His Son as our Savior. He emphasizes that life is restless and disruptive until we submit to something beyond ourselves and obey it supremely. The central message is that self-discipline and surrendering to God's will are necessary for true freedom and abundant life.
Hebrews 11 - Part 4
By Leonard Ravenhill5.5K47:38MAT 6:33ACT 17:281CO 15:452TH 1:1HEB 2:3HEB 12:2JUD 1:3In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the need to prove the preaching of the word of God through action. He encourages believers to open the door and boldly proclaim the truth to a world that is scared and threatened. The preacher references the powerful impact of the Azusa Street revival, where people were convicted and filled with fear upon approaching the church. He also highlights the lack of God's presence in many churches today and calls for a return to a genuine manifestation of God's glory. The sermon concludes with a reminder of the greatness of salvation and the importance of sharing the message of Jesus Christ.
What Think Ye of Christ
By A.W. Tozer4.1K33:58ChristPSA 90:1PSA 110:1MAT 22:41MAT 22:45ACT 17:281PE 1:18In this sermon, the speaker uses the analogy of a sinking ship and a lifeboat to illustrate different responses to Jesus Christ. He describes various individuals on the sinking ship who see the lifeboat but react differently. Some are indifferent, some appreciate the boat's design, some are sentimental, and some admire the heroism of those on board. The speaker emphasizes that while these responses may be valid, they do not guarantee salvation. The true Christian is the one who recognizes their need for Jesus and cries out for His mercy.
The Mighty Presence of God - Part 1 (Cd Quality)
By T. Austin-Sparks3.8K17:30Presence of GodGEN 1:27NEH 8:8PSA 46:10MAT 18:20JHN 1:14ACT 17:28REV 21:3In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the need to look beyond the physical representation of the Bible and seek the deeper spiritual reality it represents. The central figure in the Bible is identified as God's Son, Jesus Christ. The speaker highlights the importance of God's purpose being fulfilled through His people, who are called to be in a close relationship with Him. The sermon also emphasizes the consequences of straying from God's will and the need for discipline and instruction to bring believers back into alignment with Him.
The Place of Seeing
By Art Katz3.3K56:58Spiritual SightMAT 28:19JHN 10:10ACT 17:28In this sermon, the speaker shares a personal experience of preaching the word of God in Venezuela. Initially feeling inadequate, the speaker is surprised when four individuals in the front row respond to the invitation to be saved. These individuals later go on to enter full-time ministry. The sermon emphasizes the importance of not being seduced by worldly desires and comforts, but instead focusing on the battle for conflicting realities between God and the world. The speaker also mentions a previous period of fasting and prayer in Venezuela, which resulted in the baptism of four individuals who went on to serve in ministry.
K-053 Come Up and Be There
By Art Katz3.0K1:21:24RaptureEXO 24:15ISA 29:13MAT 27:35ACT 17:281CO 11:1EPH 3:20In this sermon, the preacher reflects on the power and wealth of the world compared to the power and reality found in the Word of God. He shares a personal experience of a ten-day fast and twenty-four hours of prayer, emphasizing the importance of waiting upon the Lord. The preacher highlights the brevity of God's words in the New Testament, particularly in the crucifixion of Jesus, and emphasizes the inseparability of the man and his message in the Gospel. The sermon also references the story of Moses going up into the mountain of God and the manifestation of God's glory in the cloud.
The Ultimate Statistic
By Ray Comfort2.6K36:04EvangelismEXO 20:13EXO 20:17MAT 5:21MRK 16:15ACT 17:281CO 1:261CO 3:19In this sermon, the speaker shares a personal story about running a club for kids and distributing candy. He notices the greed and unfairness in the line and decides to give the candy to the meek and sickly ones instead. The speaker then uses the analogy of a man trying to fly and suffering the consequences of transgressing the law of gravity to explain that God's law is the law of sin and death. He emphasizes that the soul that sins shall die because we have all transgressed God's law. The speaker also compares God's law to a mirror that reflects our true selves and asks the audience if they have ever lied or sinned. He encourages them to open their hearts to the Gospel and highlights that they have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Surrender at the Cross
By David Ravenhill2.4K1:08:59GEN 2:15ACT 17:28ROM 12:11CO 8:6HEB 2:1HEB 2:102PE 2:1In this sermon, the speaker, an old man named James, addresses a young couple who are excitedly talking about their future plans and dreams. James expresses his concern that they have not mentioned anything about the will of God in their plans. He emphasizes the brevity of life, comparing it to a vapor that appears for a short time and then disappears. James encourages the couple to prioritize God's will and to be willing to serve Him, rather than solely pursuing their own ambitions. He references biblical passages that highlight the importance of submission to God and the need for His people to be vessels for His purposes.
Reconciling the Body of Christ
By Art Katz2.1K1:12:10ReconciliationMAT 6:33LUK 4:18JHN 16:3JHN 17:20ACT 17:28HEB 1:3In this sermon transcript, the speaker shares about a ministry tour to Israel with a choir and dance group from a charismatic fellowship in Washington state. The group consisted of over 90 young people who were initially apprehensive about encountering Jews, as they had never seen one before. However, their visit turned out to be a powerful missionary work, as they sang and danced in Hebrew about the God of Israel. The speaker refrained from preaching, allowing the demonstration of love and joy to speak for itself. The impact of their visit was evident as university students were drawn to the gentile children, wanting to know more about their faith and purpose.
Sudden Death
By Rolfe Barnard1.7K46:02DeathPRO 29:1MAT 10:14LUK 10:16ACT 17:28In this sermon, the preacher discusses the unpredictability of death and the importance of being prepared for it. He uses examples of individuals who met sudden death without having time to arrange their affairs. The preacher also shares stories of people who resisted God's calling and ended up in hell. He emphasizes the fear of God and the consequences of disobeying Him. The sermon concludes with a reminder that even though some may choose to rebel against God, He continues to call and save those who repent.
The Mystery of Incarnation (2 of 9)
By Art Katz1.4K36:55IncarnationJHN 1:14ACT 17:28ROM 1:161CO 1:181CO 1:27PHP 1:211TH 2:13In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the current state of the world, highlighting how it is suffering from disease and the exploitation of natural resources. However, there is hope for restoration and redemption. The key to this restoration lies in the coming forth of the sons of God, who will be united with the deity of God through the resurrection of Christ and the impartation of His Spirit. This union does not dismiss or diminish their humanity, but rather amplifies and glorifies it. The speaker calls for believers to embrace their calling and destiny to continue the work that Jesus started, growing in stature and living out their faith through relationship, submission, and obedience to God.
The Holiness of God - Part 2
By Art Katz1.3K41:13Holiness Of GodLEV 11:44JHN 10:10ACT 17:28ROM 1:18ROM 11:33HEB 12:61PE 4:17In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of being still and knowing that God is in control. He encourages believers to eliminate distractions and seek the knowledge of the holy. The speaker emphasizes that holiness is our life and that we should strive to know God deeply and intimately. He challenges believers to meditate on the holiness of God and to reflect His purity in their actions. Ultimately, the speaker reminds listeners that the world needs the reality of God, and believers can mediate that reality by dwelling in it and knowing their God.
The God of the Bible Kills People
By Rolfe Barnard1.2K23:46GEN 6:7PSA 104:29LUK 19:10ACT 17:28ACT 17:30ROM 10:9EPH 2:8In this sermon, the preacher shares a personal experience of a young girl who approached him and expressed her desire for her father to get saved. The preacher emphasizes the importance of salvation and the burden that comes with it. He highlights the power of Jesus' touch and how it can transform lives. The preacher also reminds the audience that our breath is in God's hands and that He has the power to cut people off if they do not turn to Him for salvation. The sermon concludes with a reminder that we are all dependent on God for our next breath and that salvation is necessary for a fulfilled life.
Restoring Your Passion for Christ - Part 6
By Carter Conlon1.1K51:18GEN 2:71KI 17:21PSA 85:6MAT 6:33ACT 17:28JAS 4:8JAS 5:17This sermon emphasizes the importance of moving beyond surface-level faith to a deep, transformative encounter with God. It highlights the need for genuine prayer, seeking the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit to touch a spiritually dead generation. The message challenges individuals to seek God's life-giving power to impact their families, communities, and the world.
The Twelve Commandment
By Paris Reidhead1.0K47:08CommandmentLUK 13:3JHN 3:3ACT 2:38ACT 17:28ACT 17:30ACT 26:19EPH 2:8In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the 12th commandment, which is to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. He emphasizes that loving God means seeking to please Him and aligning our lives with His will. The preacher highlights the importance of repentance, stating that whenever our attitudes conflict with God's, we should acknowledge that we are wrong and He is right. He also emphasizes the need for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and the importance of having the witness of the Spirit in our lives. The sermon encourages listeners to fully surrender to God and allow Him to transform their minds and lives.
Reasonable Faith
By Paris Reidhead94338:46FaithACT 17:1ACT 17:11ACT 17:28ACT 17:30In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of being a witness for Christ in the 20th century. He argues that it is not enough to simply support missionaries in distant lands, but rather, every believer has the responsibility to be a witness for Christ. The speaker refers to Acts chapter 17, where Paul and Silas are accused of turning the world upside down by preaching about Jesus. Despite facing opposition and persecution, they continued to proclaim the gospel and many believed. The speaker encourages the audience to follow their example and be bold witnesses for Christ, relying on the power of the Holy Spirit.
Fren-12 Fondements Apostoliques - Confrontation
By Art Katz71258:19ApostolicACT 16:23ACT 17:28In this sermon, the speaker reflects on a moment when he felt hopeless and tired while addressing an audience. He emphasizes the importance of trusting God in such moments, as every word spoken can have eternal consequences. The speaker challenges the audience to examine their faith and see if they are living up to the apostolic requirement. He shares a personal experience of impressing a Jewish woman with his words, leading her to question her own beliefs. The sermon concludes with a mention of Paul withdrawing from an assembly, but some poets following him and becoming believers.
Agelessness
By Hattie Hammond55437:01EternityDEU 33:27PSA 23:4ISA 61:3ACT 17:28HEB 2:10HEB 13:81JN 1:9In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of living in God consciousness and having a deep relationship with Him. They describe how God is always with us, surrounding us and dwelling within us. The speaker shares their secret to a fulfilling life, which is to fully surrender to God and live in His presence. They encourage the audience to stay connected to God through prayer and His word, and to avoid distractions that may hinder their relationship with Him.
The God That Still Kills People
By Rolfe Barnard46354:02GodMAT 10:32MAT 16:26LUK 10:16JHN 1:12JHN 3:14ACT 17:28PHP 2:9In this sermon, the preacher discusses the commissioning of the Seventy by Jesus in the 10th chapter of the Gospel of Luke. He emphasizes that those who hear and despise the message of the Seventy are actually treating Jesus and God lightly. The preacher also highlights the idea that sinners are not innocent victims but willful rebels against God's son. He warns against hardening oneself against the claims of God for his son and emphasizes the importance of listening to Jesus. The sermon concludes with the reminder that our breath and existence are in God's hands, and we cannot live or move without him.
On Eagles' Wings Pt 310
By Don Courville36825:59Radio ShowMAT 5:22MAT 11:28ACT 17:28In this sermon, the preacher discusses the destructive nature of anger and its consequences. He shares a personal story about his father's anger and how it frightened him. The preacher then relates this to the story of David and his brother Elias, highlighting the importance of controlling anger. He also mentions the importance of forgiveness and regaining trust after expressing anger. The sermon concludes with the preacher discussing the symptoms of anger and the need to conquer it in order to have a peaceful and fulfilling life.
On Eagles' Wings Pt 508
By Don Courville34824:30Radio ShowISA 57:15MAT 6:33LUK 2:49ACT 17:281JN 5:10In this sermon, the preacher begins by using an illustration of a goldfish in a bowl to emphasize the importance of having Jesus in our hearts for eternal life. He then extends an invitation to the viewers to repent of their sins and believe in Jesus to receive God's gift of eternal life. The preacher also encourages the audience to believe in God's work in their lives, churches, and country. The sermon concludes with a verse from Isaiah 57:15, highlighting the need for a contrite and humble spirit to experience revival and dwell with God in eternity.
On Eagles' Wings Pt 26
By Don Courville29124:50Radio ShowMAT 28:19LUK 15:13ACT 17:28HEB 10:25In this sermon, the speaker warns against the dangers of self-consciousness, as it can lead to self-pity, which is considered satanic. The example of Judas is given, who was filled with remorse and self-pity after betraying Jesus and ultimately took his own life. The speaker emphasizes the importance of living a life of rest and peace, which is a life of power. The story of the prodigal son is used to illustrate the consequences of rejecting God's authority and seeking fulfillment in worldly desires. The sermon concludes with a call to examine one's life and church, seeking revival and a renewed focus on making disciples and praying for the lost.
Psalm 23 Series (Session 4)
By Joseph Carroll2532:07Christian LifeSpiritual IntimacyFellowship with ChristPSA 23:1PSA 90:1MAT 6:33JHN 10:27JHN 15:4ACT 17:28ROM 7:41CO 1:9PHP 4:61PE 5:7Joseph Carroll emphasizes the importance of cultivating a personal relationship with Christ as our true dwelling place, rather than merely seeking His blessings. He warns against the distractions of culture that lead us away from intimacy with God, urging believers to prioritize fellowship with Jesus above all else. Carroll highlights that true achievement in the Christian life is not about statistics or gifts, but about devotion and love for the Lord. He encourages the congregation to be conscious of Christ's presence, casting their cares upon Him and engaging in quiet time for spiritual growth. Ultimately, he calls for a return to the simplicity of life centered on fellowship with Christ, which brings clarity and peace amidst life's complexities.
God Is All
By Andrew Murray0God's SovereigntyDivine PresencePSA 19:1PSA 104:24ISA 40:28JER 10:10JHN 1:3ACT 17:28ROM 11:36COL 1:16HEB 1:3REV 4:11Andrew Murray emphasizes that God is the source of all life and existence, asserting that everything in the universe reflects His glory and power. He explains that the heavens and the earth are merely garments of God, who is the everlasting and unchanging 'I am that I am.' Murray encourages believers to recognize that all creation is dependent on God, and that true perception of the world reveals God's omnipresence. He calls for a shift from worldly blindness to a joyful acknowledgment that God is all in all.
Experiencing God - 4
By Anton Bosch0ACT 17:281CO 2:14HEB 10:19HEB 11:6HEB 13:5Anton Bosch emphasizes that the things of God are spiritually discerned and cannot be perceived through natural senses or emotions. He highlights the need for individuals to move beyond the natural to the spiritual realm to encounter God, stressing that worldly desires and carnality can blind one to spiritual matters. Bosch cautions against relying on external sensory experiences or mystical practices to meet with God, emphasizing that access to His presence is through Jesus' shed Blood, broken Body, and high priestly ministry. He underscores the importance of faith in approaching God, believing in His promises, and walking with Him without the need for physical evidence of His presence.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
For in him we live, and move, and have our being - He is the very source of our existence: the principle of life comes from him: the principle of motion, also, comes from him; one of the most difficult things in nature to be properly apprehended; and a strong proof of the continual presence and energy of the Deity. And have our being - Και εσμεν, And we are: we live in him, move in him, and are in him. Without him we not only can do nothing, but without him we are nothing. We are, i.e. we continue to be, because of his continued, present, all-pervading, and supporting energy. There is a remarkable saying in Synopsis Sohar, p. 104. "The holy blessed God never does evil to any man. He only withdraws his gracious presence from him, and then he necessarily perisheth." This is philosophical and correct. As certain also of your own poets - Probably he means not only Aratus, in whose poem, entitled Phaenomena, the words quoted by St. Paul are to be found literatim, του γαρ και γενος εσμεν; but also Cleanthus, in whose Hymn to Jupiter the same words (Εκ σου γαρ γενος εσμεν) occur. But the sentiment is found in several others, being very common among the more enlightened philosophers. By saying your own poets, he does not mean poets born at Athens, but merely Grecian poets, Aratus and Cleanthus being chief. We are also his offspring - Του γαρ και γενος εσμεν The Phaenomena of Aratus, in which these words are found, begins thus: - Εκ Διος αρχωμεσθα, τον ουδεποτ' ανδρες εωμεν Αρῤητον· μεϚαι δε Διος πασαι μεν αγυιαι, Πασαι δ' ανθρωπων αγοραι· μεϚη δε θαλασσα, Και λιμενες· παντη δε Διος κεχρημεθα παντες· ΤΟΥ ΓΑΡ ΚΑΙ ΓΕΝΟΣ ΕΣΜΕΝ ὁ δ' ηπιος ανθρωποισι Δεξια σημαινει. κ. τ. λ. With Jove we must begin; nor from him rove; Him always praise, for all is full of Jove! He fills all places where mankind resort, The wide-spread sea, with every shelt'ring port. Jove's presence fills all space, upholds this ball; All need his aid; his power sustains us all. For we his offspring are; and he in love Points out to man his labor from above: Where signs unerring show when best the soil, By well-timed culture, shall repay our toil, etc., etc. Aratus was a Cilician, one of St. Paul's own countrymen, and with his writings St. Paul was undoubtedly well acquainted, though he had flourished about 300 years before that time.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
For in him we live, and move, and have our being--(or, more briefly, "exist").--This means, not merely, "Without Him we have no life, nor that motion which every inanimate nature displays, nor even existence itself" [MEYER], but that God is the living, immanent Principle of all these in men. as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring--the first half of the fifth line, word for word, of an astronomical poem of Aratus, a Greek countryman of the apostle, and his predecessor by about three centuries. But, as he hints, the same sentiment is to be found in other Greek poets. They meant it doubtless in a pantheistic sense; but the truth which it expresses the apostle turns to his own purpose--to teach a pure, personal, spiritual Theism. (Probably during his quiet retreat at Tarsus. Act 9:30, revolving his special vocation to the Gentiles he gave himself to the study of so much Greek literature as might be turned to Christian account in his future work. Hence this and his other quotations from the Greek poets, Co1 15:33; Tit 1:12).
John Gill Bible Commentary
For in him we live, and move, and have our being,.... The natural life which men live is from God; and they are supported in it by him; and from him they have all the comforts and blessings of life; and all motions, whether external or internal, of body or of mind, are of God, and none of them are without the concourse of his providence, and strength assistance from him; though the disorder and irregularity of these motions, whereby they become sinful, are of themselves, or of the devil; and their being, and the maintenance of it, and continuance in it, are all owing to the power and providence of God. As certain also of your own poets have said; the Syriac version reads in the singular number, "as a certain one of your wise men has said"; but all others read in the plural; and some have thought, that the apostle refers to what goes before, that being an Iambic verse of some of the poets, as well as to what follows, which is a citation from Aratus (x) and whom the apostle might have called his own, as he was his countryman; for Aratus was a native of Solis, a city of Cilicia, not far from Tarsus yea, some say (y) he was of Tarsus, where the apostle was born: but Aratus being an Heathen, and the apostle speaking to Heathens, calls him one of them; and the rather, that what is cited might be the more regarded by them: though the expression is also (z) said to be in an hymn to Jove, written by Cleanthes, who taught at Athens; and so the apostle addressing the Athenians, might, with greater propriety, say, "as certain of your own poets say": it is also said to be in Aratus the astronomer, and in the poet Homer; so that the plural number may well be used. Which is, for we are also his offspring; the offspring of Jove, says Aratus; which the apostle applies to the true Jehovah, the Creator of all men, by whom, and after whose image, they are made, and so are truly his offspring; upon which the apostle argues as follows. (x) In Phaenomenis, p. 1. (y) Vid. Fabricii Biblioth. Gr. l. 3. c. 18. p. 451. (z) Vid. Fabricii Biblioth. Gr. l. 3. c. 18. p. 453.