Acts 17:27 Parallel Translations

He has done this so that they would look for God, somehow reach for him, and find him. In fact, he is never far from any one of us.(GOD'S WORD®)

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:

BBE:

So that they might make search for God, in order, if possible, to get knowledge of him and make discovery of him, though he is not far from every one of us:

DBY:

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

ERV:

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:

WEY:

that they might seek God, if perhaps they could grope for Him and find Him. Yes, though He is not far from any one of us.

WBS:

That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he is not far from every one of us:

WEB:

that they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might reach out for 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,

Acts 17:27 Cross References

XREF:

Deuteronomy 4:7 "For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the LORD our God whenever we call on Him?

Jeremiah 23:23 "Am I a God who is near," declares the LORD, "And not a God far off?

Acts 14:17 and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness." (NASB ©1995)

Commentaries and Concordances

GSB:

17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might {p} feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
(p) For as blind men we could not seek out God except by groping, before the true light came and enlightened the world.

WES:

17:27 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. Feeling being the lowest and grossest of all our senses, is fitly applied to the low knowledge of God; though he be not far from every one of us - We need not go far to seek or find him. He is very near us; in us. It is only perverse reason which thinks he is afar off.

MHC:

17:22-31 Here we have a sermon to heathens, who worshipped false gods, and were without the true God in the world; and to them the scope of the discourse was different from what the apostle preached to the Jews. In the latter case, his business was to lead his hearers by prophecies and miracles to the knowledge of the Redeemer, and faith in him; in the former, it was to lead them, by the common works of providence, to know the Creator, and worship Him. The apostle spoke of an altar he had seen, with the inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. This fact is stated by many writers. After multiplying their idols to the utmost, some at Athens thought there was another god of whom they had no knowledge. And are there not many now called Christians, who are zealous in their devotions, yet the great object of their worship is to them an unknown God? Observe what glorious things Paul here says of that God whom he served, and would have them to serve. The Lord had long borne with idolatry, but the times of this ignorance were now ending, and by his servants he now commanded all men every where to repent of their idolatry. Each sect of the learned men would feel themselves powerfully affected by the apostle's discourse, which tended to show the emptiness or falsity of their doctrines.

CONC:

Although Discovery Feel Grope Haply Hope Indeed Order Perhaps Possible Reach Search Seek Though Yes Yet

Far Feel Find Grope Haply Hope Indeed Order Perhaps Possible Reach Search Seek

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GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission. Copyright 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved.

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