Acts 14:17
What does Acts 14:17 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 14:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 14:17 means
Even while permitting nations to go their own way, God “left not himself without witness.” His goodness is evident in rains from heaven, fruitful seasons, and the gladness that comes with food—signs of providence and kindness. These gifts are meant to turn hearts toward the Giver. Creation is not silent; it testifies to a benevolent, sustaining God. The apostles appeal to common experience to show that the true God is near and generous. Such “common grace” does not save by itself, but it calls for gratitude and repentance, preparing people to receive the fuller message of salvation proclaimed by the apostles.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But he was not without witness, because he did good, and gave you rain from heaven and times of fruit, making your hearts full of food and joy.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862though, indeed, without witness He did not leave himself, doing good--from heaven giving rains to us, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness;'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And speaking these things, they scarce restrained the people from sacrificing to them.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890though indeed he did not leave himself without witness, doing good, and giving to you from heaven rain and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.
Context
This statement completes the brief sermon begun in verse 15. After noting God’s forbearance (verse 16), the apostles highlight His positive witness through providence. The argument seeks to redirect worship from the missionaries to the Creator by pointing to everyday blessings. Despite this, verse 18 will report that even such clear teaching barely restrains the crowd from sacrificing. The narrative will then swing sharply as hostile Jews arrive (verse 19), turning the crowd from attempted worship to murderous violence—underscoring the volatility of human responses without a firm grasp of the gospel.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 68:9
Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, Thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.
- Psalms 147:7
Sing unto Jehovah with thanksgiving; Sing praises upon the harp unto our God,
- Leviticus 26:4
then I will give your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.
- Jeremiah 14:22
Are there any among the vanities of the nations that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O Jehovah our God? therefore we will wait for thee; for thou hast made all these things.
- Psalms 145:9
Jehovah is good to all; And his tender mercies are over all his works.
- Isaiah 5:6
and I will lay it waste; it shall not be pruned nor hoed; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.
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