Acts 17:24
New International Version
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands.

New Living Translation
“He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples,

English Standard Version
The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,

Berean Standard Bible
The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands.

Berean Literal Bible
The God having made the world and all things that are in it, He being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in hand-made temples,

King James Bible
God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

New King James Version
God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.

New American Standard Bible
The God who made the world and everything that is in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made by hands;

NASB 1995
“The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands;

NASB 1977
“The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands;

Legacy Standard Bible
The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands;

Amplified Bible
The God who created the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands;

Christian Standard Bible
The God who made the world and everything in it —he is Lord of heaven and earth —does not live in shrines made by hands.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The God who made the world and everything in it—He is Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in shrines made by hands.

American Standard Version
The God that made the world and all things therein, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

Contemporary English Version
This God made the world and everything in it. He is Lord of heaven and earth, and he doesn't live in temples built by human hands.

English Revised Version
The God that made the world and all things therein, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The God who made the universe and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth. He doesn't live in shrines made by humans,

Good News Translation
God, who made the world and everything in it, is Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands.

International Standard Version
The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth. He doesn't live in shrines made by human hands,

Majority Standard Bible
The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands.

NET Bible
The God who made the world and everything in it, who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by human hands,

New Heart English Bible
The God who made the world and all things in it, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands,

Webster's Bible Translation
God that made the world, and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

Weymouth New Testament
GOD who made the universe and everything in it--He, being Lord of Heaven and earth, does not dwell in sanctuaries built by men.

World English Bible
The God who made the world and all things in it, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
God, who made the world, and all things in it, this One, being Lord of Heaven and of earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands,

Berean Literal Bible
The God having made the world and all things that are in it, He being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in hand-made temples,

Young's Literal Translation
'God, who did make the world, and all things in it, this One, of heaven and of earth being Lord, in temples made with hands doth not dwell,

Smith's Literal Translation
God having made the world and all things in it, he being Lord of heaven and earth, dwells not in temples made by hands;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
God, who made the world, and all things therein; he, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

Catholic Public Domain Version
the God who made the world and all that is in it, the One who is the Lord of heaven and earth, who does not live in temples made with hands.

New American Bible
The God who made the world and all that is in it, the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in sanctuaries made by human hands,

New Revised Standard Version
The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For the God, who made the world and all things therein, and who is the LORD of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands;

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“For The God who made the world, and everything whatsoever is in it, and is the Lord of the Heavens and of The Earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
God, who made the world, and all things that are in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwells not in temples made with hands;

Godbey New Testament
God having made the world and all things which are in it, being himself Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands;

Haweis New Testament
The God who created the world, and all things in it, he that is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples of man?s construction;

Mace New Testament
the GOD who made the world and every thing therein, and is the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples erected by men:

Weymouth New Testament
GOD who made the universe and everything in it--He, being Lord of Heaven and earth, does not dwell in sanctuaries built by men.

Worrell New Testament
The God Who made the world and all things therein, The Same being Lord of Heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands,

Worsley New Testament
The God that made the world and all things therein, being lord of heaven and earth dwelleth not in temples made with hands:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Paul Before the Areopagus
23For as I walked around and examined your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore what you worship as something unknown, I now proclaim to you. 24The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands. 25Nor is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.…

Cross References
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Isaiah 42:5
This is what God the LORD says—He who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and its offspring, who gives breath to the people on it and life to those who walk in it:

Psalm 146:6
the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He remains faithful forever.

Isaiah 66:1-2
This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me? Or where will My place of repose be? / Has not My hand made all these things? And so they came into being,” declares the LORD. “This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.

Jeremiah 10:10-12
But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and eternal King. The earth quakes at His wrath, and the nations cannot endure His indignation. / Thus you are to tell them: “These gods, who have made neither the heavens nor the earth, will perish from this earth and from under these heavens.” / The LORD made the earth by His power; He established the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding.

Nehemiah 9:6
You alone are the LORD. You created the heavens, the highest heavens with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all things, and the host of heaven worships You.

Exodus 20:11
For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, but on the seventh day He rested. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.

Psalm 115:15-16
May you be blessed by the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. / The highest heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth He has given to mankind.

Psalm 124:8
Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 134:3
May the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion.

John 1:1-3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. / He was with God in the beginning. / Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.

Colossians 1:16-17
For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. / He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Hebrews 1:10
And: “In the beginning, O Lord, You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.

Revelation 4:11
“Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things; by Your will they exist and were created.”

Romans 1:20
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.


Treasury of Scripture

God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwells not in temples made with hands;

that made.

Acts 17:26-28
And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; …

Acts 4:24
And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:

Acts 14:15
And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

seeing.

Genesis 14:19,22
And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: …

2 Kings 19:15
And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth.

Psalm 24:1
A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

dwelleth.

Acts 7:48
Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,

1 Kings 8:27
But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?

2 Chronicles 2:6
But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?

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Acts 17
1. Paul preaches at Thessalonica, where some believe,
5. and others persecute him.
10. He is sent to Berea, and preaches there.
13. Being persecuted by Jews from Thessalonica,
16. he comes to Athens, and disputes and preaches the living God, to them unknown;
32. whereby, though some mock, many are converted unto Christ.














The God who made the world
This phrase emphasizes the sovereignty and omnipotence of God as the Creator. The Greek word for "made" is "ποιήσας" (poiēsas), which implies a deliberate and purposeful act of creation. This aligns with Genesis 1:1, where God is depicted as the originator of all things. In a historical context, this declaration would have been a direct challenge to the polytheistic beliefs prevalent in Athens, where Paul was speaking. The Athenians worshipped many gods, each with limited domains, but Paul asserts the supremacy of one God over all creation.

and everything in it
This phrase underscores the comprehensive nature of God's creation. The Greek word "πάντα" (panta) means "all things," indicating that nothing exists outside of God's creative work. This includes not only the physical universe but also the spiritual realm. From a theological perspective, this affirms God's intimate involvement and authority over every aspect of life, countering any notion of deism or a distant deity.

is the Lord of heaven and earth
Here, "Lord" is translated from the Greek "κύριος" (kyrios), a term denoting authority and ownership. By declaring God as the "Lord of heaven and earth," Paul is affirming God's ultimate authority over both the celestial and terrestrial realms. This would have resonated with a Jewish audience familiar with the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4), which proclaims the oneness and sovereignty of God. For the Gentile listeners, it was a radical statement that the true God was not confined to a particular locale or people.

and does not live in temples made by human hands
This phrase challenges the common ancient belief that deities resided in man-made temples. The Greek word "χειροποιήτοις" (cheiropoiētois) means "made by hands," emphasizing the human effort involved in constructing these places of worship. Archaeologically, Athens was filled with grand temples, such as the Parthenon, dedicated to various gods. Paul's assertion here is that the true God transcends physical structures and cannot be contained within them. This reflects the biblical teaching found in Isaiah 66:1-2, where God declares that heaven is His throne and the earth His footstool, thus no temple can house Him.

(24) God that made the world . . .--The masculine form of the pronoun and participles throughout the sentence presents an emphatic contrast to the neuter pronoun of the previous verse.

Seeing that he is Lord.--Better, He, being Lord.

Dwelleth not in temples made with hands.--We note with special interest the reproduction of the thought which the then persecutor had heard from the lips of the martyr Stephen. (See Note on Acts 7:48.) As asserted of the Temple at Jerusalem, it had at that time, even though it was quoted from a Jewish prophet, driven the Pharisee Saul into the frenzy of fanaticism. Now, having learnt the lesson as regards that Temple, he proclaims the truth as applicable a fortiori to all temples raised by human hands. It is obvious that this truth places the sacredness of Christian churches on a ground entirely different from that which influenced the minds of Jew or Greek in regard to their respective temples. Churches are holy, not because God dwells in them, but because they are set apart for the highest acts of the collective life of the congregation of His people. In those acts men hold communion with God, and so the Church is for them all, and more than all, that the Tabernacle of Meeting (this, as meaning the place where man met God, rather than Tabernacle of the Congregation, being the true rendering of the Hebrew term; comp. Exodus 29:42) was to the Israelites of old. Romish theory and practice, in presenting the consecrated wafer in pyx or monstrance, or carrying it in procession, as an object of adoration, revives the old Pagan view which St. Paul disclaims.

Verse 24. - The God for God, A.V. (surely a change for the worse); he being Lord for seeing that he is Lord, A.V. Made with hands (χειροποιήτοις); see the same phrase in Mark 14:5, 8; Acts 7:48; Hebrews 9:11. St. Paul applies it, too, to the circumcision made with the knife, as distinguished from that wrought by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:11). It is frequent in the LXX. It is a striking instance of St. Paul's unflinching boldness and fidelity to the truth, that he should expose the hollowness of heathen worship, standing within a stone's throw of the Parthenon and the temple of Theseus and the countless other temples of gods and goddesses, which were the pride and glory of the Athenian people. Note how he begins his catechetical instruction to the Athenians with the first article of the Creed: "I believe in God the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
The
(Ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

God
Θεὸς (Theos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

who
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

made
ποιήσας (poiēsas)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.

the
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

world
κόσμον (kosmon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2889: Probably from the base of komizo; orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication, the world (morally).

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

everything
πάντα (panta)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

it
αὐτῷ (autō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

is
ὑπάρχων (hyparchōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5225: To begin, am, exist, be in possession. From hupo and archomai; to begin under, i.e. Come into existence; expletively, to exist (verb).

[the] Lord
Κύριος (Kyrios)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.

of heaven
οὐρανοῦ (ouranou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3772: Perhaps from the same as oros; the sky; by extension, heaven; by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

earth
γῆς (gēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1093: Contracted from a primary word; soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe.

[and] {does} not
οὐκ (ouk)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

live
κατοικεῖ (katoikei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2730: To dwell in, settle in, be established in (permanently), inhabit. From kata and oikeo; to house permanently, i.e. Reside.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

temples
ναοῖς (naois)
Noun - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3485: A temple, a shrine, that part of the temple where God himself resides. From a primary naio; a fane, shrine, temple.

made by human hands.
χειροποιήτοις (cheiropoiētois)
Adjective - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5499: Done or made with hands, artificial. From cheir and a derivative of poieo; manufactured, i.e. Of human construction.


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