Acts 17:27 Meaning and Explanation
“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:”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →God's purpose in ordering the nations is that people should seek him and find him, for he is not far from any one of us.
What Does Acts 17:27 Mean?
Here is the purpose behind creation and providence: that they should seek the Lord. Paul pictures humanity feeling after God -- the word suggests groping with the hands, as in darkness -- and then adds the astonishing assurance: he is not far from every one of us.
The verse holds both the ache and the answer. People do grope -- through altars, philosophies, and longings they cannot name -- yet the God they reach for is nearer than the search supposes. He orders lives and lands precisely so that seeking hearts may find him, and the promise of Scripture stands behind the sermon: "ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13). No seeker has far to go.
Acts 17:27 in the Original Language
pselaphao (ψηλαφάω), 'feel after' -- to grope, to feel one's way as in the dark.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 17:27
What does Acts 17:27 mean?
God's purpose in ordering the nations is that people should seek him and find him, for he is not far from any one of us.