Acts 17:26
What does Acts 17:26 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 17:26 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 17:26 means
From one man, God made every nation to inhabit the whole earth, determining their appointed times and the boundaries of their dwelling. This affirms the unity of humanity and the sovereignty of God over history and geography. Nations rise and fall, borders shift, and eras change under God’s providential hand. Such ordering is not random; it serves divine purposes. For Athenians proud of heritage, this levels conceit and invites humility. If all share a common origin under one Creator, then no people has a special claim to God by nature. The stage is set for the purpose statement that follows: that humanity should seek Him.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and 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;
KJV
King James Version · 1611And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and 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;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And he has made of one blood all the nations of men living on all the face of the earth, ordering their times and the limits of their lands,
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862He made also of one blood every nation of men, to dwell upon all the face of the earth--having ordained times before appointed, and the bounds of their dwellings--
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And hath made of one, all mankind, to dwell upon the whole face of the earth, determining appointed times and the limits of their habitation.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and has made of one blood every nation of men to dwell upon the whole face of the earth, having determined ordained times and the boundaries of their dwelling,
Context
This verse extends the doctrine of God’s sovereignty from creation (verses 24–25) to history. It prepares for verse 27, which gives the reason for God’s ordering: that people might seek and find Him. Verses 28–29 then reinforce the relationship between God and humanity—our life is in Him; we are His offspring—leading to the conclusion that idols cannot represent the divine. All of this groundwork justifies the climactic call to repent (verse 30) because judgment by the risen man is certain (verse 31).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Malachi 2:10
Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, profaning the covenant of our fathers?
- 1 Corinthians 15:22
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
- Isaiah 14:31
Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou art melted away, O Philistia, all of thee; for there cometh a smoke out of the north, and there is no straggler in his ranks.
- Isaiah 45:21
Declare ye, and bring it forth; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath showed this from ancient time? who hath declared it of old? have not I, Jehovah? and there is no God else besides me, a just God and a Saviour; there is none besides me.
- Psalms 31:15
My times are in thy hand: Deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.
- Daniel 11:35
And some of them that are wise shall fall, to refine them, and to purify, and to make them white, even to the time of the end; because it is yet for the time appointed.
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