Acts 17:25
What does Acts 17:25 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 17:25 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 17:25 means
Continuing his argument, Paul says God is not served by human hands as if He needed anything. Instead, He Himself gives to all life, breath, and everything. The Creator depends on no one; all depend on Him. This rebukes the idea that sacrifices or rituals sustain deity. True worship recognizes our reception from God, not His reliance on us. He is the generous Giver, the fountain of existence. Such a God cannot be manipulated by offerings or contained within human systems. A right view of God’s self-sufficiency also humbles us and invites gratitude, aligning hearts to receive the fuller revelation Paul is unfolding.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000neither is he served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
KJV
King James Version · 1611Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901neither is he served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And he is not dependent on the work of men's hands, as if he had need of anything, for he himself gives to all life and breath and all things;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862neither by the hands of men is He served--needing anything, He giving to all life, and breath, and all things;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Neither is he served with men's hands, as though he needed any thing: seeing it is he who giveth to all life and breath and all things:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890nor is served by men's hands as needing something, himself giving to all life and breath and all things;
Context
Verse 25 continues the Creator-Lord theme begun in verse 24, emphasizing God’s independence and generosity. This prepares for verse 26, where Paul will speak of God’s sovereign ordering of nations, and verse 27, which states His purpose that people seek Him. Verses 28–29 then use shared cultural references to reinforce humanity’s dependence on God and the incompatibility of idol-making with God’s nature. The theological groundwork culminates in the ethical demand of verses 30–31: universal repentance in light of appointed judgment confirmed by the resurrection.
v.24The God that made the world and all things therein, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
v.25This passage
v.26and he made of one every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation;
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 50:8
I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices; And thy burnt-offerings are continually before me.
- 1 Timothy 6:17
Charge them that are rich in this present world, that they be not highminded, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
- Numbers 27:16
Let Jehovah, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation,
- Job 35:6
If thou hast sinned, what effectest thou against him? And if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?
- Jeremiah 7:20
Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, mine anger and my wrath shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched.
- Acts 17:28
for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain even of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
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