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Sunday, August 10th, 2025
the Week of Proper 14 / Ordinary 19
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Read the Bible

Good News Translation

Acts 17:24

God, who made the world and everything in it, is Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Athens;   Gentiles;   God;   God Continued...;   Mars' Hill;   Paul;   Readings, Select;   Religion;   Worship;   Zeal, Religious;   Thompson Chain Reference - Creator;   God;   Government;   Sovereignty of God;   Spirit;   The Topic Concordance - Children;   Creation;   God;   Life;   Man;   Nations;   Predestination;   Seeking;   World;   Worship;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Creation;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Areopagus;   Providence;   Thessalonica;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Areopagus;   Athens;   Creation;   God;   Jesus christ;   Mission;   Paul;   Stoics;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Amos, Theology of;   Providence of God;   Religion;   World;   Zechariah, Theology of;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Ordination;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Areopagus;   Heaven;   Mars Hill;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Acts of the Apostles;   Epicureans;   Paul;   Roman Empire;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Acts;   Art and Aesthetics;   Athens;   Greece;   Lord;   Preaching in the Bible;   Revelation of God;   World, the;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Epicureans;   Idolatry;   Thessalonians, First Epistle to the;   World;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Alpha and Omega (2);   God;   Hand;   Inspiration and Revelation;   Lord;   Master;   Quotations;   Simon Magus;   Wisdom;   World;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Philosopher, Philosophy;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Areopagus;   Athens;   Jason;   Mars;   Temple;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Mars' Hill,;   Paul;   Roman Empire;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Athens;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Saul of Tarsus;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Doctrine;   Father, God the;   Philosophy;   Unknown God;   World (Cosmological);  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for October 8;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
The God who made the world and everything in it—he is Lord of heaven and earth—does not live in shrines made by hands.
King James Version (1611)
God that made the world, and all things therein, seeing that hee is Lord of heauen and earth, dwelleth not in Temples made with hands:
King James Version
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;
English Standard Version
The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,
New American Standard Bible
"The God who made the world and everything that is in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made by hands;
New Century Version
The God who made the whole world and everything in it is the Lord of the land and the sky. He does not live in temples built by human hands.
Amplified Bible
"The God who created the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands;
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands;
Legacy Standard Bible
The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands;
Berean Standard Bible
The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands.
Contemporary English Version
This God made the world and everything in it. He is Lord of heaven and earth, and he doesn't live in temples built by human hands.
Complete Jewish Bible
"The God who made the universe and everything in it, and who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in man-made temples;
Darby Translation
The God who has made the world and all things which are in it, *he*, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands,
Easy-to-Read Version
"He is the God who made the whole world and everything in it. He is the Lord of the land and the sky. He does not live in temples built by human hands.
Geneva Bible (1587)
God that made the worlde, and all things that are therein, seeing that he is Lorde of heaue and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands,
George Lamsa Translation
For the God, who made the world and all things therein, and who is the LORD of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands;
Lexham English Bible
the God who made the world and all the things in it. This one, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by human hands,
Literal Translation
The God who made the world and all things in it, this One being Lord of Heaven and of earth, does not dwell in handmade temples,
American Standard Version
The God that made the world and all things therein, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
Bible in Basic English
The God who made the earth and everything in it, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, is not housed in buildings made with hands;
Hebrew Names Version
The God who made the world and all things in it, he, being Lord of heaven and eretz, dwells not in temples made with hands,
International Standard Version
The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth. He doesn't live in shrines made by human hands,Matthew 11:25; Acts 7:48; 14:15;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
For ALOHA who made the world and all that is in it, and is himself the Lord of heaven and of earth, in temples made with hands resideth not.
Murdock Translation
For the God who made the world and all that is in it, and who is Lord of heaven and of earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
God that made the worlde, & all that are in it, seing that he is Lorde of heaue and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with handes:
English Revised Version
The God that made the world and all things therein, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
World English Bible
The God who made the world and all things in it, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwells not in temples made with hands,
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
God who made the world and all things therein, being the Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands.
Weymouth's New Testament
GOD who made the universe and everything in it--He, being Lord of Heaven and earth, does not dwell in sanctuaries built by men.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
God that made the world and alle thingis that ben in it, this, for he is Lord of heuene and of erthe, dwellith not in templis maad with hoond,
Update Bible Version
The God that made the world and all things therein, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands;
Webster's Bible Translation
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;
New English Translation
The God who made the world and everything in it, who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by human hands,
New King James Version
God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.
New Living Translation
"He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn't live in man-made temples,
New Life Bible
"The God Who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth. He does not live in buildings made by hands.
New Revised Standard
The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands,
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
The God that made the world and all things that are therein, the same, being, Lord, of heaven and earth, not in hand-made shrines, doth dwell,
Douay-Rheims Bible
God, who made the world and all things therein, he being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands.
Revised Standard Version
The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by man,
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
God that made the worlde and all that are in it seynge that he is Lorde of heven and erth he dwelleth not in temples made with hondes
Young's Literal Translation
`God, who did make the world, and all things in it, this One, of heaven and of earth being Lord, in temples made with hands doth not dwell,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
God which made ye worlde, and all that therin is, for so moch as he is LORDE of heauen and earth, dwelleth not in temples made of handes,
Mace New Testament (1729)
the GOD who made the world and every thing therein, and is the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples erected by men:
THE MESSAGE
"The God who made the world and everything in it, this Master of sky and land, doesn't live in custom-made shrines or need the human race to run errands for him, as if he couldn't take care of himself. He makes the creatures; the creatures don't make him. Starting from scratch, he made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn't play hide-and-seek with us. He's not remote; he's near. We live and move in him, can't get away from him! One of your poets said it well: ‘We're the God-created.' Well, if we are the God-created, it doesn't make a lot of sense to think we could hire a sculptor to chisel a god out of stone for us, does it?
Simplified Cowboy Version
"He is the God who made everything, including the dirt you stand on now. He's not a God who needs a barn to live in.

Contextual Overview

22 Paul stood up in front of the city council and said, "I see that in every way you Athenians are very religious. 23 For as I walked through your city and looked at the places where you worship, I found an altar on which is written, ‘To an Unknown God.' That which you worship, then, even though you do not know it, is what I now proclaim to you. 24 God, who made the world and everything in it, is Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands. 25 Nor does he need anything that we can supply by working for him, since it is he himself who gives life and breath and everything else to everyone. 26 From one human being he created all races of people and made them live throughout the whole earth. He himself fixed beforehand the exact times and the limits of the places where they would live. 27 He did this so that they would look for him, and perhaps find him as they felt around for him. Yet God is actually not far from any one of us; 28 as someone has said, ‘In him we live and move and exist.' It is as some of your poets have said, ‘We too are his children.' 29 Since we are God's children, we should not suppose that his nature is anything like an image of gold or silver or stone, shaped by human art and skill. 30 God has overlooked the times when people did not know him, but now he commands all of them everywhere to turn away from their evil ways. 31 For he has fixed a day in which he will judge the whole world with justice by means of a man he has chosen. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising that man from death!"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

that made: Acts 17:26-28, Acts 4:24, Acts 14:15, Psalms 146:5, Isaiah 40:12, Isaiah 40:28, Isaiah 45:18, Jeremiah 10:11, Jeremiah 32:17, Zechariah 12:1, John 1:1, Hebrews 1:2, Hebrews 3:4

seeing: Genesis 14:19, Genesis 14:22, 2 Kings 19:15, Psalms 24:1, Psalms 115:16, Psalms 148:13, Jeremiah 23:24, Daniel 4:35, Matthew 5:34, Matthew 11:25, Luke 10:21, Revelation 20:11

dwelleth: Acts 7:48, 1 Kings 8:27, 2 Chronicles 2:6, 2 Chronicles 6:18, Isaiah 66:1, John 4:22, John 4:23

Reciprocal: Genesis 1:1 - God Genesis 1:29 - I have Exodus 6:2 - I am the Lord Psalms 100:3 - Know Jeremiah 27:5 - made Jeremiah 51:15 - hath made Daniel 4:37 - the King John 1:10 - was in Colossians 2:11 - without Hebrews 9:11 - not made Hebrews 11:3 - faith Revelation 4:11 - for thou

Cross-References

Genesis 12:4
When Abram was seventy-five years old, he started out from Haran, as the Lord had told him to do; and Lot went with him.
Genesis 17:1
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, "I am the Almighty God. Obey me and always do what is right.
Genesis 17:17
Abraham bowed down with his face touching the ground, but he began to laugh when he thought, "Can a man have a child when he is a hundred years old? Can Sarah have a child at ninety?"
Genesis 17:19
But God said, "No. Your wife Sarah will bear you a son and you will name him Isaac. I will keep my covenant with him and with his descendants forever. It is an everlasting covenant.
Genesis 17:20
I have heard your request about Ishmael, so I will bless him and give him many children and many descendants. He will be the father of twelve princes, and I will make a great nation of his descendants.
Romans 4:11
He was circumcised later, and his circumcision was a sign to show that because of his faith God had accepted him as righteous before he had been circumcised. And so Abraham is the spiritual father of all who believe in God and are accepted as righteous by him, even though they are not circumcised.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

God that made the world, and all things therein,.... In this account of the divine Being, as the Creator of the world, and all things in it, as the apostle agrees with Moses, and the rest of the sacred Scriptures; so he condemns both the notion of the Epicurean philosophers, who denied that the world was made by God, but said that it owed its being to a fortuitous concourse of atoms; and the notion of the Peripatetics, or Aristotelians, who asserted the eternity of the world; and some of both sects were doubtless present.

Seeing that he is the Lord of heaven and earth; as appears by his being the Creator of both; hence he supports them in their being, and governs all creatures in them by his providence.

Dwelleth not in temples made with hands; such as were the idol temples at Athens; nor in any other edifices built by man, so as to be there fixed and limited; no, not in the temple at Jerusalem: but he dwells in temples that are not made with hands, as in the temple of Christ's human nature, in which the fulness of the Godhead dwells bodily, and in the hearts of his people, who are the temples of the Holy Ghost. This strikes at a notion of the Athenians, as if God was limited, and circumscribed, and included within the bounds of a shrine, or temple, though it is not at all contrary to his promises, or the hopes of his own people, of his presence in places appointed for divine worship, but is expressive of the infinity and immensity of God.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

God that made the world - The main object of this discourse of Paul is to convince them of the folly of idolatry Acts 17:29, and thus to lead them to repentance. For this purpose he commences with a statement of the true doctrine respecting God as the Creator of all things. We may observe here:

(1) That he speaks here of God as the Creator of the world, thus opposing indirectly their opinions that there were many gods.

(2) He speaks of him as the Creator of the world, and thus opposes the opinion that matter was eternal; that all things were controlled by Fate; and that God could be confined to temples. The Epicureans held that matter was eternal, and that the world was formed by a fortuitous concourse of atoms. To this opinion Paul opposed the doctrine that all things were made by one God. Compare Acts 14:15.

Seeing that ... - Greek: “He being Lord of heaven and earth.”

Lord of heaven and earth - Proprietor and Ruler of heaven and earth. It is highly absurd, therefore, to suppose that he who is present in heaven and in earth at the same time, and who rules over all, should be confined to a temple of an earthly structure, or dependent on man for anything.

Dwelleth not ... - See the notes on Acts 7:48.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 17:24. God that made the world, c.] Though the Epicureans held that the world was not made by God, but was the effect of a fortuitous concourse of atoms, yet this opinion was not popular and the Stoics held the contrary:

1. St. Paul assumes, as an acknowledged truth, that there was a God who made the world and all things.

2. That this God could not be confined within temples made with hands, as he was the Lord or governor of heaven and earth.

3. That, by fair consequence, the gods whom they worshipped, which were shut up in their temples could not be this God; and they must be less than the places in which they were contained. This was a strong, decisive stroke against the whole system of the Grecian idolatry.


 
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