Acts 14:16 Meaning and Explanation
“Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →In generations past, God allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways.
What Does Acts 14:16 Mean?
Still speaking to the Lystra crowd, Paul reaches back across the centuries to account for their history: the nations went their own ways, and God, in long patience, suffered it to be so.
Permission is not approval. God's forbearance left the nations room to wander, but it was patience with a purpose, for now the message has arrived even in Lycaonia. Paul will say it again in Athens: the times of ignorance 'God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent' (Acts 17:30). The goodness and patience of God are meant to lead to repentance (Romans 2:4), and the gospel's 'now' means the waiting is over.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 14:16
What does Acts 14:16 mean?
In generations past, God allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways.