Acts 14:16
New International Version
In the past, he let all nations go their own way.

New Living Translation
In the past he permitted all the nations to go their own ways,

English Standard Version
In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways.

Berean Standard Bible
In past generations, He let all nations go their own way.

Berean Literal Bible
who in the generations past allowed all the nations to go their own ways.

King James Bible
Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.

New King James Version
who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways.

New American Standard Bible
In past generations He permitted all the nations to go their own ways;

NASB 1995
“In the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways;

NASB 1977
“And in the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways;

Legacy Standard Bible
In the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways;

Amplified Bible
In generations past He permitted all the nations to go their own ways;

Christian Standard Bible
In past generations he allowed all the nations to go their own way,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
In past generations He allowed all the nations to go their own way,

American Standard Version
who in the generations gone by suffered all the nations to walk in their own ways.

Contemporary English Version
In times past, God let each nation go its own way.

English Revised Version
who in the generations gone by suffered all the nations to walk in their own ways.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
In the past God allowed all people to live as they pleased.

Good News Translation
In the past he allowed all people to go their own way.

International Standard Version
In past generations he allowed all the nations to go their own ways,

Majority Standard Bible
In past generations, He let all nations go their own way.

NET Bible
In past generations he allowed all the nations to go their own ways,

New Heart English Bible
who in the generations gone by allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways.

Webster's Bible Translation
Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.

Weymouth New Testament
In times gone by He allowed all the nations to go their own ways;

World English Bible
who in the generations gone by allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
who in the past generations permitted all the nations to go on in their ways,

Berean Literal Bible
who in the generations past allowed all the nations to go their own ways.

Young's Literal Translation
who in the past generations did suffer all the nations to go on in their ways,

Smith's Literal Translation
Who in past generations suffered all nations to go in their ways.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.

Catholic Public Domain Version
In previous generations, he permitted all nations to walk in their own ways.

New American Bible
In past generations he allowed all Gentiles to go their own ways;

New Revised Standard Version
In past generations he allowed all the nations to follow their own ways;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Who in generations past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
He who in the former ages was allowing all nations to go in their own way,
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
who, in past generations, permitted all the nations to walk in their own ways;

Godbey New Testament
who in bygone generations, suffered all nations to walk in their own ways;

Haweis New Testament
who in the past generations hath suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.

Mace New Testament
who in past ages has let all Nations proceed in their own ways.

Weymouth New Testament
In times gone by He allowed all the nations to go their own ways;

Worrell New Testament
Who, in the past generations, suffered all the nations to walk in their own ways;

Worsley New Testament
and all things therein, who in generations past suffered all the nations to walk in their own ways: though He left not Himself without witness;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Visit to Lystra and Derbe
15“Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. 16In past generations, He let all nations go their own way. 17Yet 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.”…

Cross References
Romans 1:24-28
Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity for the dishonoring of their bodies with one another. / They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise! Amen. / For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. ...

Acts 17:30
Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.

Psalm 81:12
So I gave them up to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.

Deuteronomy 32:8
When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when He divided the sons of man, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God.

Job 12:23
He makes nations great and destroys them; He enlarges nations, then disperses them.

Isaiah 44:18-20
They do not comprehend or discern, for He has shut their eyes so they cannot see and closed their minds so they cannot understand. / And no one considers in his heart, no one has the knowledge or insight to say, “I burned half of it in the fire, and I baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make something detestable with the rest of it? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?” / He feeds on ashes. His deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?”

Jeremiah 10:23
I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not his own; no one who walks directs his own steps.

1 Corinthians 1:21
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

1 Peter 4:3
For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry.

Genesis 11:8-9
So the LORD scattered them from there over the face of all the earth, and they stopped building the city. / That is why it is called Babel, for there the LORD confused the language of the whole world, and from that place the LORD scattered them over the face of all the earth.

Psalm 115:2-8
Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” / Our God is in heaven; He does as He pleases. / Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. ...

Isaiah 53:6
We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.

Ezekiel 20:25-26
I also gave them over to statutes that were not good and ordinances by which they could not live. / And I pronounced them unclean through their gifts—the sacrifice of every firstborn in the fire—so that I might devastate them, in order that they would know that I am the LORD.

Matthew 11:25
At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

John 12:40
“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they cannot see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.”


Treasury of Scripture

Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.

suffered.

Acts 17:30
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Psalm 81:12
So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels.

Psalm 147:20
He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD.

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Acts 14
1. Paul and Barnabas are persecuted from Iconium.
8. At Lystra Paul heals a cripple, whereupon they are reputed as gods.
19. Paul is stoned.
21. They pass through various churches, confirming the disciples in faith and patience.
26. Returning to Antioch, they report what God had done with them.














In past generations
This phrase refers to the time before the coming of Christ and the spread of the Gospel. Historically, this encompasses the period from the creation of the world to the advent of Jesus. Theologically, it suggests a time when God's direct revelation was primarily to the people of Israel, as seen in the Old Testament. The Greek word for "generations" (γενεαῖς) can also mean "ages" or "epochs," indicating long periods of time. This highlights God's patience and long-suffering nature, as He allowed humanity to live according to their own devices while preparing the way for the ultimate revelation through Christ.

He let
The Greek word used here is "ἐάω" (eao), which means to permit or allow. This indicates God's sovereign decision to allow nations to exercise free will. It reflects the concept of divine forbearance, where God, in His wisdom, chose not to impose His will forcibly upon the nations but allowed them to experience the consequences of their choices. This allowance was not an endorsement of their actions but a part of His greater redemptive plan.

all nations
This phrase encompasses every ethnic group and people outside of Israel. In the biblical context, "nations" (ἔθνη, ethne) often refers to Gentiles, those who were not part of God's chosen people, Israel. This highlights the universality of God's concern and His ultimate plan for salvation, which includes all peoples. Historically, this reflects the reality of diverse cultures and religions that existed apart from the knowledge of the one true God.

go their own way
The phrase "go their own way" suggests a path of self-determination and autonomy from God's direct guidance. The Greek word "ὁδός" (hodos) means "way" or "path," symbolizing the life choices and moral directions taken by the nations. This autonomy often led to idolatry and moral decay, as seen in the history of various ancient civilizations. Scripturally, this reflects the human tendency to stray from God's commandments, as seen in the narrative of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11) and the repeated cycles of disobedience in the book of Judges. Yet, even in allowing this, God was working towards a greater purpose, preparing the world for the revelation of His Son and the offer of salvation to all.

(16) Who in times past suffered all nations.--Better, all the heathen; the term used being that which is always employed of the nations outside the covenant of Israel. We have here the first germ of what may be fairly described as St. Paul's philosophy of history. The times of ignorance had been permitted by God, and those who had lived in them would be equitably dealt with, and judged according to their knowledge. The same thought meets us again in the speech at Athens (Acts 17:30). In Romans 1, 2, 11, we meet with it, in an expanded form, as a more complete vindication of the righteousness of God. The ignorance and the sins of the Gentile world had been allowed to run their course, as the Law had been allowed to do its partial and imperfect work among the Jews, as parts, if one may so speak, of a great divine drama, leading both to feel the need of redemption, and preparing both for its reception. All were included in unbelief that God might have mercy upon all (Romans 11:32).

Verse 16. - The generations gone by for times past, A.V.; the nations for nations, A.V.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
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.

past
παρῳχημέναις (parōchēmenais)
Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3944: To pass away time. From para and oichomai; to escape along, i.e. Be gone.

generations,
γενεαῖς (geneais)
Noun - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 1074: From genos; a generation; by implication, an age.

[He]
ὃς (hos)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

let
εἴασεν (eiasen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1439: To allow, permit, let alone, leave. Of uncertain affinity; to let be, i.e. Permit or leave alone.

all
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.

nations
ἔθνη (ethnē)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 1484: Probably from etho; a race, i.e. A tribe; specially, a foreign one.

go
πορεύεσθαι (poreuesthai)
Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive
Strong's 4198: To travel, journey, go, die.

their
αὐτῶν (autōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Neuter 3rd Person Plural
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.

[own]
ταῖς (tais)
Article - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

way.
ὁδοῖς (hodois)
Noun - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3598: A way, road, journey, path. Apparently a primary word; a road; by implication, a progress; figuratively, a mode or means.


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