Lexical Summary ouranothen: from heaven Original Word: οὐρανόθεν Strong's Exhaustive Concordance from heaven. From ouranos and the enclitic of source; from the sky -- from heaven. see GREEK ouranos NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ouranos Definition from heaven NASB Translation heaven (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3771: οὐρανόθενοὐρανόθεν (οὐρανός), adverb, from heaven: Acts 14:17; Acts 26:13. (Homer, Hesiod, the Orphica, 4 Macc. 4:10.) Cf. Lob. ad Phryn., p. 93f. Topical Lexicon Conceptual OverviewThe adverb identifies origin or action that proceeds “from the heavenly realm.” Scripture employs it to mark events, provisions, or revelations whose source is unmistakably divine. Occurrences in Acts Acts 14:17 — Paul and Barnabas restrain Lystra’s crowd from idolatry by pointing to the living God “who in past generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. Yet He has not left Himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons…” (Acts 14:16-17). The phrase underscores common grace: tangible evidence of God’s goodness descends from above, leaving humanity without excuse (compare Romans 1:20). Acts 26:13 — Before King Agrippa Paul recounts his conversion: “About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my companions” (Acts 26:13). The heavenly light validates Paul’s apostolic commission and demonstrates that the risen Jesus still acts sovereignly from the Father’s presence. Theological Themes 1. Divine Initiative 2. Universal Witness 3. Apostolic Authority 4. Christ’s Exaltation Old Testament Backdrop • Manna “rained down…from heaven” (Exodus 16:4) prefigures the divine provision highlighted in Acts 14. Practical Ministry Implications • Evangelism can appeal to God’s kindness in creation as a bridge to the gospel, following Paul’s model at Lystra. Doctrinal Summary οὐρανόθεν crystallizes the conviction that all authentic revelation, provision, and authority originate in the heavenly realm. Whether through gentle rain or blinding glory, God speaks and acts “from heaven,” leaving humanity without excuse and summoning all to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Forms and Transliterations ουρανοθεν ουρανόθεν οὐρανόθεν ouranothen ouranóthenLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Acts 14:17 AdvGRK: ἀφῆκεν ἀγαθουργῶν οὐρανόθεν ὑμῖν ὑετοὺς NAS: you rains from heaven and fruitful KJV: us rain from heaven, and fruitful INT: he left doing good from heaven to us rains Acts 26:13 Adv |