Acts 17:29

KJV

Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

KJV (with Strong's)

Forasmuch then {G3767} as we are {G5225} the offspring {G1085} of God {G2316}, we ought {G3784} not {G3756} to think {G3543} that the Godhead {G2304} is {G1511} like {G3664} unto gold {G5557}, or {G2228} silver {G696}, or {G2228} stone {G3037}, graven {G5480} by art {G5078} and {G2532} man's {G444} device {G1761}.

Complete Jewish Bible

So, since we are children of God, we shouldn’t suppose that God’s essence resembles gold, silver or stone shaped by human technique and imagination.

Berean Standard Bible

Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination.

American Standard Version

Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and device of man.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 17:29 encapsulates a profound theological argument by the Apostle Paul during his address on Mars' Hill, asserting that since humanity bears the divine imprint as God's "offspring," it is illogical and demeaning to conceive of the divine nature as being akin to inert, man-made objects of gold, silver, or stone. This verse serves as a climactic rejection of idolatry, emphasizing God's transcendence, immateriality, and incomparable essence, which cannot be confined or represented by human artistry or limited material forms.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated at the climax of Paul's powerful and rhetorically brilliant sermon delivered to the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers, as well as other curious Athenians, on the Areopagus. Having begun by acknowledging their religiosity and pointing to their altar "TO THE UNKNOWN GOD" ([Acts 17:23](/acts/17-23 "Acts 17:23 - Paul's Introduction to the Unknown God")), Paul systematically dismantles their polytheistic and idolatrous worldview. He first establishes God as the sovereign Creator of the universe who does not dwell in man-made temples ([Acts 17:24](/acts/17-24 "Acts 17:24 - God as Creator and Sustainer")), nor does He need anything from human hands ([Acts 17:25](/acts/17-25 "Acts 17:25 - God's Self-Sufficiency")). He then highlights God's universal governance over humanity, citing Greek poets to underscore that "in him we live, and move, and have our being" ([Acts 17:28](/acts/17-28 "Acts 17:28 - Paul Quotes Greek Poets")). Verse 29 naturally follows, drawing a logical conclusion from these premises: if humanity is God's offspring and dependent on Him for existence, then God Himself cannot be reduced to lifeless idols. This sets the stage for Paul's call to repentance in the subsequent verses ([Acts 17:30-31](/acts/17-30-31 "Acts 17:30-31 - The Call to Repentance and Judgment")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Athens in the first century AD was a vibrant intellectual and religious center, renowned for its philosophical schools (Epicureanism, Stoicism, Platonism, etc.) and its multitude of gods and idols. The city was, as Paul observed, "wholly given to idolatry" ([Acts 17:16](/acts/17-16 "Acts 17:16 - Paul's Distress in Athens")). Temples and statues dedicated to various deities permeated the urban landscape, reflecting a culture that sought to make the divine tangible and controllable through human craftsmanship. The Areopagus, a prominent rock outcropping near the Acropolis, served as the meeting place for the city's highest court and a forum for public discourse, making it an ideal platform for Paul's address. Paul's strategic use of Greek philosophical concepts and even quotes from their own poets (like Aratus and Cleanthes, whose lines are echoed in [Acts 17:28](/acts/17-28 "Acts 17:28 - Paul's Quotation of Greek Poets")) demonstrates his masterful contextualization of the Gospel message, bridging the gap between their understanding of the divine and the true nature of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
* **Key Themes:** Acts 17:29 profoundly contributes to several key theological and narrative themes within the book of Acts and broader biblical theology. Foremost is the **Transcendence and Immateriality of God**, asserting that the true God is fundamentally spiritual and beyond human comprehension or artistic representation. He is not confined by space, time, or matter, challenging the prevalent Greek notion of anthropomorphic deities. This theme is foundational to understanding God's incomparable nature, as highlighted in passages like [Isaiah 40:18](/isaiah/40-18 "Isaiah 40:18 - To Whom Will You Liken God?"). Secondly, the verse emphasizes **Humanity's Divine Connection and Dignity**. By declaring "we are the offspring of God," Paul underscores humanity's unique origin and intrinsic worth, being created in God's image ([Genesis 1:27](/genesis/1-27 "Genesis 1:27 - Humanity Created in God's Image")) and distinct from the animal kingdom or inanimate objects. This connection implies a spiritual capacity for relationship with God, contrasting sharply with the lifelessness of idols. Finally, the verse delivers a powerful **Rejection of Idolatry**. If God is the source of all life and being, then the practice of fashioning deities out of inert materials is both illogical and an affront to His true nature. This theme resonates with Old Testament condemnations of idol worship, which consistently portray idols as futile, powerless, and a distortion of divine truth ([Psalm 115:4-8](/psalm/115-4-8 "Psalm 115:4-8 - The Futility of Idols"); [Isaiah 44:9-20](/isaiah/44-9-20 "Isaiah 44:9-20 - Isaiah's Critique of Idol Worship")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Offspring (Greek, _génos_):** From G1085, meaning "kin" (abstract or concrete, literal or figurative, individual or collective). In this context, Paul uses it to denote humanity's origin and inherent connection to God, not in the sense of being divine in nature, but as deriving our existence and being from Him. It highlights a shared source of life, distinguishing humans from the material world from which idols are made.
* **Godhead (Greek, _theîos_):** From G2304, meaning "godlike (neuter as noun, divinity)." This term refers to the divine nature or essence of God. Paul employs it to emphasize the intrinsic, spiritual quality of God, asserting that His being is fundamentally incomparable to anything physical, created, or limited by human art. It speaks to the very reality of God's being.
* **Device (Greek, _enthýmēsis_):** From G1761, meaning "deliberation" or "thought." In this verse, "man's device" (ἀνθρώπου ἐνθυμήσεως) refers to human conception, design, or invention. It underscores that idols are products of human thought and craftsmanship, contrasting sharply with the self-existent, uncreated God. The futility of idolatry lies in its attempt to create a god according to human imagination rather than bowing to the revelation of the true God.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God":** Paul begins with a logical deduction ("Forasmuch then," G3767, _oûn_, meaning "accordingly" or "therefore"). Drawing on his previous argument, particularly the quote from Greek poets in [Acts 17:28](/acts/17-28 "Acts 17:28 - Paul's Quote on Human Existence"), he establishes the premise that humanity's very existence and origin are rooted in God. This shared "offspring" status implies a spiritual kinship and inherent dignity, setting humanity apart from mere matter.
* **"we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone":** This clause presents the direct implication of the preceding statement. If humans, as God's offspring, are living, breathing, and spiritual beings, then it is utterly illogical and morally wrong ("we ought not to think," G3784 _opheílō_ + G3756 _ou_ + G3543 _nomízō_, implying a moral obligation and a correct understanding) to conceive of the divine essence ("the Godhead," G2304 _theîos_) as being comparable ("like unto," G3664 _hómoios_) to inert, inanimate materials. Gold, silver, and stone represent the most common and valuable materials used for crafting idols in the ancient world.
* **"graven by art and man's device":** This final phrase further condemns idolatry by highlighting its human origin. The term "graven" (G5480, _cháragma_) refers to something carved, etched, or stamped, emphasizing the artificiality of idols. They are products of human "art" (G5078, _téchnē_, skill or craftsmanship) and "man's device" (G1761, _enthýmēsis_, human thought or invention). This powerfully contrasts the created nature of idols with the uncreated, self-existent nature of the true God, exposing the absurdity of worshipping something fashioned by human hands and limited by human imagination.

#### Literary Devices
Paul's address in Acts 17:29 employs several potent literary devices. The primary device is **Deductive Reasoning**, where Paul moves from a generally accepted premise (humanity's origin from God, even acknowledged by Greek poets) to a specific, logical conclusion (God cannot be represented by man-made idols). This logical progression is signaled by "Forasmuch then" (οὖν). Another significant device is **Contrast**, setting the living, spiritual nature of God and His human "offspring" against the lifeless, material nature of gold, silver, and stone idols. This contrast underscores the qualitative difference between the Creator and the created. Furthermore, Paul uses **Metonymy** when he refers to "gold, or silver, or stone" as representations of the idols themselves, rather than just the raw materials. This serves to categorize and dismiss the entire practice of idolatry. Finally, the phrase "graven by art and man's device" functions as a form of **Expositional Elaboration**, providing a clear and concise explanation of *why* these materials are inappropriate: they are products of human limitation and invention, not divine revelation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 17:29 serves as a crucial theological bridge, connecting Old Testament monotheism and the condemnation of idolatry with the New Testament's emphasis on God as Spirit and the call to worship Him in truth. It underscores the biblical truth that God is not a product of human imagination or craftsmanship, but the ultimate reality from whom all things derive their being. This verse challenges any attempt to reduce God to a manageable, tangible, or human-centric concept, asserting His absolute transcendence and incomprehensibility. The implication is profound: if God is the source of all life and being, then true worship must align with His spiritual nature, not with human constructs or material representations.

* [Isaiah 40:18-20](/isaiah/40-18-20 "Isaiah 40:18-20 - God's Incomparable Nature and the Folly of Idols")
* [Romans 1:22-23](/romans/1-22-23 "Romans 1:22-23 - The Exchange of God's Glory for Idols")
* [John 4:24](/john/4-24 "John 4:24 - God Is Spirit, and Must Be Worshipped in Spirit and Truth")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Acts 17:29 resonates deeply with the human tendency to domesticate God, to make Him conform to our expectations, desires, or limited understanding. While overt idol worship of physical statues may be less prevalent in many contemporary societies, the principle articulated by Paul remains acutely relevant. Modern "idols" often manifest as anything that supplants God's rightful place as supreme in our lives. This could be the pursuit of wealth, status, power, or even intellectual achievements and scientific understanding, when these become ultimate sources of meaning or security rather than gifts from God. It challenges us to examine where we place our ultimate trust and devotion. Do we truly worship the transcendent, living God, or do we create a god in our own image—a god who approves of our choices, validates our biases, or fits neatly within our comfort zones? As God's "offspring," we are called to reflect His spiritual nature and to worship Him in a manner commensurate with His infinite glory, refusing to confine Him within the boundaries of our limited human constructs. This verse calls for a radical reorientation of our affections and intellect towards the truly incomparable God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I be tempted to "think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone" in my own life, even if not through physical idols?**
* **How does understanding myself as "the offspring of God" impact my view of my own dignity and purpose, and my responsibility to worship Him appropriately?**
* **What modern "devices" or human constructs (e.g., materialism, self-reliance, intellectualism) might I be elevating to a position that subtly diminishes God's true nature?**
* **How can I cultivate a deeper appreciation for God's transcendence and immateriality in my daily worship and spiritual practices?**

### FAQ
**What does Paul mean by "offspring of God" in Acts 17:29?**

Answer: When Paul states, "we are the offspring of God," he is not suggesting that humans are divine in the same way God is, or that we are literal children of God in a theological sense of adoption or spiritual rebirth (as in [John 1:12](/john/1-12 "John 1:12 - Becoming Children of God")). Instead, he is drawing on a concept familiar to his Greek audience, even quoting their own poets (specifically Aratus and Cleanthes, echoed in [Acts 17:28](/acts/17-28 "Acts 17:28 - Paul's Quotation of Greek Poets")). In this context, "offspring" (Greek: _genos_) refers to humanity's origin and inherent connection to God as the Creator and sustainer of all life. It emphasizes that human beings derive their existence, their breath, and their very being from God ([Acts 17:25](/acts/17-25 "God Gives Life to All")). This shared origin means humanity possesses a unique dignity and a spiritual capacity that sets it apart from the inanimate matter used to make idols, thereby making it illogical to conceive of the Creator as being like those lifeless objects.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Acts 17:29, while a powerful indictment against idolatry and a declaration of God's transcendence, finds its ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "Godhead" that cannot be confined by human art or device is fully and perfectly revealed in Christ, who is "the image of the invisible God" ([Colossians 1:15](/colossians/1-15 "Colossians 1:15 - Christ, the Image of the Invisible God")). In Jesus, the transcendent God became immanent, taking on human flesh not to be confined, but to reveal His nature and reconcile humanity to Himself. The "offspring of God" theme, which Paul uses to establish humanity's connection to the Creator, is fully realized through Christ, who makes it possible for believers to become true "children of God" by adoption through faith ([Galatians 3:26](/galatians/3-26 "Galatians 3:26 - Children of God Through Faith in Christ Jesus")). The futility of worshipping man-made idols is overcome by the worship of the God-man, Jesus, who is the only true mediator between God and humanity ([1 Timothy 2:5](/1_timothy/2-5 "1 Timothy 2:5 - One Mediator Between God and Man")). Through His perfect life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection, Christ demonstrates that God is not distant or unknowable, but has actively entered human history to redeem His "offspring" from the idolatry of sin and self, inviting them into a living relationship with the Spirit-God who must be worshipped "in spirit and in truth" ([John 4:24](/john/4-24 "John 4:24 - Worship in Spirit and Truth")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 40:25

To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.

Exodus 20:4

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness [of any thing] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in the earth beneath, or that [is] in the water under the earth:

Psalms 115:4

Their idols [are] silver and gold, the work of men's hands.

Psalms 115:8

They that make them are like unto them; [so is] every one that trusteth in them.

Habakkuk 2:19

Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it [is] laid over with gold and silver, and [there is] no breath at all in the midst of it.

Habakkuk 2:20

But the LORD [is] in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.

Isaiah 46:5

¶ To whom will ye liken me, and make [me] equal, and compare me, that we may be like?