Acts 14:16
What does Acts 14:16 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 14:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 14:16 means
They explain that in past generations God “suffered all the nations to walk in their own ways.” This is not approval of idolatry but patience toward it. God did not instantly judge the Gentile world for its ignorance; He permitted a measure of freedom, allowing cultures to go their chosen paths. Such forbearance magnifies His mercy and sets the stage for clearer revelation now proclaimed. The point is both humbling and hopeful: the Creator has long endured human wandering, and yet He now calls all to turn to Him. History’s allowances are not excuses but invitations to repentance in light of God’s kindness.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000who in the generations gone by suffered all the nations to walk in their own ways.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901who in the generations gone by suffered all the nations to walk in their own ways.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Who in the past let all nations go in the ways which seemed good to them.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862who in the past generations did suffer all the nations to go on in their ways,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Nevertheless he left not himself without testimony, doing good from heaven, giving rains and fruitful Seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890who in the past generations suffered all the nations to go in their own ways,
Context
This verse follows the call to turn to the living Creator (verse 15) and provides historical perspective for a pagan audience. It explains why the world has been filled with idolatry without immediate divine intervention. Verse 17 will balance this by asserting that God did not leave Himself without witness. Understanding both God’s patience and His ongoing testimony helps explain the apostles’ urgent appeal and why the present moment of preaching represents a gracious opportunity. The flow aims to restrain misguided worship (verse 18) by reorienting the crowd’s view of God’s dealings with the nations.
v.15and saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and bring you good tidings, that ye should turn from these vain things unto a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is:
v.16This passage
v.17And yet he left not himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you from heaven rains and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Micah 4:5
For all the peoples walk every one in the name of his god; and we will walk in the name of Jehovah our God for ever and ever.
- Acts 17:30
The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent:
- Psalms 81:12
So I let them go after the stubbornness of their heart, That they might walk in their own counsels.
- Ephesians 2:12
that ye were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
- Hosea 4:17
Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone.
- 1 Peter 4:3
For the time past may suffice to have wrought the desire of the Gentiles, and to have walked in lasciviousness, lusts, winebibbings, revellings, carousings, and abominable idolatries:
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