Acts 17:27

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:

That they should seek {G2212} the Lord {G2962}, if {G1487} haply {G686} they might feel {G5584} after him {G846}, and {G2532} find him {G2147}, though {G2544} he be {G5225} not {G3756} far {G3112} from {G575} every {G1538} one {G1520} of us {G2257}:

God did this so that people would look for him and perhaps reach out and find him although in fact, he is not far from each one of us,

God 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.

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:

Acts 17:27 is part of the apostle Paul's famous sermon on the Areopagus (Mars Hill) in Athens. In this powerful address to Stoic and Epicurean philosophers, Paul presents the one true God as the Creator and Sustainer of all life, challenging their polytheistic beliefs and philosophical systems.

Context

Paul arrived in Athens and was distressed by the city's pervasive idolatry (Acts 17:16). He engaged in daily discussions in the synagogue and the marketplace, which led him to be invited by the local philosophers to speak at the Areopagus. His sermon cleverly begins by acknowledging their altar to an "unknown god," using it as a springboard to introduce the God who made the world and everything in it, the God whom they "ignorantly worship." Verse 27 explains God's ultimate purpose in creating humanity and setting the bounds of their habitation: that they might seek Him.

Key Themes

  • God's Accessibility and Immanence: The verse emphasizes that God is not a distant, uncaring deity but is intimately present and knowable. The phrase "though he be not far from every one of us" highlights His universal presence and closeness to humanity. This counters the notion of a remote god or one only accessible through complex rituals.
  • Humanity's Innate Search: Paul suggests that humanity has an inherent, divinely implanted desire to seek and find God. The creation of distinct nations and their determined times and dwelling places were all part of God's plan "that they should seek the Lord." This longing for something beyond the material world is a universal human experience.
  • Divine Purpose in Creation: God's sovereign plan extends to the very existence and arrangement of human societies. His purpose in orchestrating human history and geography is fundamentally redemptive: to lead people to seek Him and discover His truth. For further understanding of God's overarching purpose in creation, consider Colossians 1:16.

Linguistic Insights

  • "feel after him" (pselaphao): This Greek word means "to grope, to touch, to feel for, to handle." It implies a diligent, perhaps even uncertain or desperate, search, like someone feeling their way in the dark. It suggests that even without perfect knowledge, humanity is intuitively reaching out for God. It speaks to an experiential seeking, not just intellectual assent.
  • "not far" (engys): This term signifies "near, at hand." It directly contrasts with the idea of a distant or inaccessible God. It reinforces the theme of God's immanence and His constant presence among His creation, making the search for Him a tangible possibility rather than a futile endeavor.

Related Scriptures

This verse beautifully complements other Scriptures that speak to God's omnipresence and the human call to seek Him. The Psalmist affirms God's inescapable presence in Psalm 139:7-10. The promise of finding God when sought with a whole heart is echoed in Jeremiah 29:13. Furthermore, Deuteronomy 4:7 highlights God's unique nearness to His people.

Practical Application

Acts 17:27 offers profound encouragement and a call to action. For those who feel a spiritual void or are searching for meaning, this verse affirms that such a longing is divinely orchestrated and that God is not far away. He is accessible and desires to be found. For believers, it reminds us of God's universal presence and His active involvement in human affairs. It also provides a foundational truth for evangelism: people are inherently seeking God, and we are called to point them to the One who is truly near and knowable through Jesus Christ. It underscores the idea that even in times of uncertainty or confusion, God is present, and He invites us to "feel after" Him and discover His truth.

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.

  • Jeremiah 23:23

    [Am] I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off?

  • Jeremiah 23:24

    Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.

  • Deuteronomy 4:7

    For what nation [is there so] great, who [hath] God [so] nigh unto them, as the LORD our God [is] in all [things that] we call upon him [for]?

  • 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.

  • 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:

  • Psalms 19:1

    ¶ To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

  • Psalms 19:6

    His going forth [is] from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
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