that they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
Parallel translations
- KJV That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
- BSB God intended that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.
- NKJV so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;
- NASB that they would seek God, if perhaps they might feel around for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;
- NLT “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God arranged all this so people would seek Him, though He is near to each of us.
Overview
God's ordering of history and place has a gracious purpose: to draw people to seek Him. Though humans grope after God in their fallenness, He is not distant but near. This nearness becomes saving reality only as the gospel reveals the God who has drawn near supremely in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Jer 23:23–24“Am I a God at hand,” says Yahweh, “and not a God afar off?
- Deut 4:7For what great nation is there, that has a god so near to them, as Yahweh our God is whenever we call on him?
- Acts 14:17Yet he didn’t leave himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you rains from the sky and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”
- Rom 1:20For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse.
- Rom 2:4Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
- Ps 19:1–6For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. The heavens declare the glory of God. The expanse shows his handiwork.
- Acts 15:17That the rest of men may seek after the Lord; all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who does all these things.
- Ps 139:1–13For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. Yahweh, you have searched me, and you know me.
- 1 Kgs 8:27But will God in very deed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can’t contain you; how much less this house that I have built!
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 17:27 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.