Acts 14:17

Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

Nevertheless {G2544}{G2532} he left {G863} not {G3756} himself {G1438} without witness {G267}, in that he did good {G15}, and gave {G1325} us {G2254} rain {G5205} from heaven {G3771}, and {G2532} fruitful {G2593} seasons {G2540}, filling {G1705} our {G2257} hearts {G2588} with food {G5160} and {G2532} gladness {G2167}.

yet he did not leave himself without evidence of his nature; because he does good things, giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons, filling you with food and your hearts with happiness!”

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.”

And yet he left not himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you from heaven rains and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.

Acts 14:17 is part of Paul and Barnabas's sermon in Lystra, where they are attempting to prevent the local populace from worshipping them as gods after a miraculous healing. This verse highlights God's universal goodness and His continuous self-revelation through creation and providence.

Context

After Paul heals a man lame from birth in Lystra, the astonished crowd, believing Paul and Barnabas to be the Greek gods Zeus and Hermes, prepare to offer sacrifices to them. Paul and Barnabas vehemently reject this idolatry, tearing their clothes and crying out to the people. Acts 14:17 is a core part of Paul's argument, where he redirects their attention from human agents to the one true God, emphasizing His consistent witness through natural phenomena and provision, a crucial message for a society steeped in polytheistic worship.

Key Themes

  • General Revelation: This verse beautifully articulates the concept of God revealing Himself through the natural world and His benevolent actions. Even without special revelation (like the Law or the Gospel), God provides undeniable evidence of His existence and character through His creation and sustenance of life. This aligns with the broader biblical truth that God's invisible attributes are clearly seen in what has been made.
  • God's Benevolence and Provision: The phrase "he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness" underscores God's active and loving provision for all humanity, regardless of their knowledge or worship of Him. This demonstrates His abundant kindness and common grace towards His creation.
  • Divine Witness: God "left not himself without witness." The consistent provision of rain, fertile seasons, and the resulting food and joy serve as a perpetual testimony to His existence, power, and goodness. These are not random occurrences but deliberate acts of a caring Creator, serving as a clear witness to His being.
  • Against Idolatry: By pointing to God's natural provision, Paul challenges the Lystrans' pagan worship, urging them to acknowledge the true source of their blessings rather than attributing them to idols or human beings.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "witness" here is martys (related to martyria), which implies a testimony or evidence. God's actions in nature are presented as His undeniable testimony to humanity. The phrase "did good" comes from agathopoion, meaning to act beneficently or to do good, highlighting God's inherent kindness and active benevolence. The mention of "rain from heaven" (hyetous ouranothen) and "fruitful seasons" (kairous karpophorous) emphasizes specific, tangible blessings that were crucial for survival and prosperity in an agrarian society, serving as clear indicators of divine oversight and care.

Practical Application

Acts 14:17 encourages believers to recognize God's hand in the everyday blessings of life. It calls us to cultivate a spirit of gratitude for the food we eat, the water we drink, and the beauty of creation, seeing them not as mere natural occurrences but as tangible expressions of God's ongoing care and love. This verse also reminds us that God's goodness extends to all people, even those who do not yet know Him, inviting us to reflect His universal love in our own lives. Just as God "sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous," as Jesus taught in Matthew 5:45, so too should we extend kindness and grace to all, recognizing the Creator's hand in all creation.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Romans 1:19

    ¶ Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed [it] unto them.

  • Romans 1:20

    For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

  • Job 5:10

    Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields:

  • Joel 2:23

    Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first [month].

  • Deuteronomy 11:14

    That I will give [you] the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.

  • Isaiah 5:6

    And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.

  • Deuteronomy 8:12

    Lest [when] thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt [therein];

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back