Acts 17:28

Acts 17:28 is a pivotal verse from Paul's sermon on Mars' Hill (the Areopagus) in Athens, where he masterfully engages with the philosophical and religious landscape of his audience. This verse encapsulates profound truths about God's relationship with humanity, emphasizing both His transcendence and immanence.

Historical and Cultural Context

Paul's visit to Athens, as recorded in Acts 17:16-34, finds him in a city steeped in philosophy, art, and idolatry. He encounters Stoic and Epicurean philosophers, who held vastly different worldviews regarding God, creation, and human purpose. Paul's rhetorical strategy was brilliant: he began by observing their altar "To the Unknown God" (Acts 17:23) and then leveraged their own cultural references to introduce them to the true God. The specific lines "For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring" are direct quotations or paraphrases from Greek poets, notably Epimenides of Crete (c. 6th century BC) and Aratus of Soli (c. 310-240 BC) in his work *Phaenomena*, and potentially Cleanthes' *Hymn to Zeus*. By quoting their own revered thinkers, Paul established common ground, demonstrating that even their philosophical traditions implicitly acknowledged aspects of the one true God, thus paving the way for the gospel message.

Key Themes and Messages

• God's Immanence and Sustaining Power: The phrase "in him we live, and move, and have our being" powerfully asserts that all existence, every breath, and every action is utterly dependent on God. He is not a distant, detached deity, but the active, present sustainer of all creation. This challenges both Epicurean notions of an indifferent god and Stoic ideas of an impersonal world-soul, pointing instead to a personal, active Creator.
• Humanity's Divine Origin and Dignity: The declaration "For we are also his offspring" highlights humanity's unique relationship with God. While not implying divinity in a pantheistic sense, it underscores that humans are not merely products of chance but bear a special connection to their Creator, distinct from other creatures. This echoes the biblical truth of humanity being created in God's image (Genesis 1:27), endowing every human life with inherent dignity and value.
• Contextualized Evangelism: Paul's approach serves as a timeless model for sharing the gospel. He didn't condemn their culture outright but found points of connection, using their own wisdom to illuminate divine truth. This strategic engagement, adapting his message without compromising its core, allowed him to build bridges to diverse audiences, a principle he articulated in 1 Corinthians 9:22.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek phrase for "live, and move, and have our being" is zōmen kai kinoumetha kai esmen. This tripartite expression emphasizes the totality of human existence and dependence. Zōmen (to live) refers to biological life, kinoumetha (to move) speaks to activity and physical existence, and esmen (to be, or have our being) points to existence itself, our very essence. Together, they convey absolute reliance on God for every aspect of our being. The word for "offspring" is genos, which denotes lineage, race, or kind, reinforcing the idea of a shared origin with God as our ultimate Father.

Practical Application

Acts 17:28 calls us to a profound awareness of our dependence on God. Every breath, every heartbeat, every thought, and every action is sustained by Him. This understanding fosters:

• Humility and Gratitude: Recognizing that our very existence is a gift from God should inspire deep humility and constant gratitude for His sustaining grace.
• Purpose and Meaning: If we are His offspring, then our lives have inherent purpose and meaning, rooted in our relationship with Him, moving beyond mere biological existence.
• Bold Witness: Like Paul, we are encouraged to engage with our contemporary culture, finding common ground and using accessible language to communicate the timeless truths of God's sovereignty and humanity's need for Him. This verse reminds us that God is not far from any of us (Acts 17:27), and that He is the source of all life and being, as also highlighted in Colossians 1:17 where Christ holds all things together.