The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917], at sacred-texts.com

Acts Chapter 17

Acts 17:3

act 17:3

Christ

The Christ, that is, that, according to the Scriptures, the Messiah must die and rise again. That Jesus was the Messiah was the second part of his argument.

Acts 17:6

act 17:6

drew

dragged.

See margin reference, (See Scofield) - (Act 16:19).

Acts 17:12

act 17:12

Therefore

Illustrates (Joh 5:46). Believing the Old Testament they believed the Gospel.

honourable

Greek women of honourable estate.

Acts 17:16

act 17:16

stirred

Provoked within him as he beheld the city full of idols.

Acts 17:18

act 17:18

Epicureans

Disciples of Epicurus, B.C. 342-271, who abandoned as hopeless the search by reason for pure truth, compare (Joh 18:38), seeking instead true pleasure through experience.

Stoicks

Disciples of Zeno, B.C. 280, and Chrysippus, B.C. 240. This philosophy was founded on human self-sufficiency, inculcated stern self-repression, the solidarily of the race, and the unity of Deity. Epicureans and Stocis divided the apostolic world.

Acts 17:19

act 17:19

Areopagus

Mars' hill.

Acts 17:26

act 17:26

blood

"Blood" is not in the best manuscripts. R.V. omits.

Acts 17:28

act 17:28

For we

Found in the writings of Aratus and Cleanthes.

Acts 17:29

act 17:29

offspring of God

(Greek, "genos", means "race"). The reference is to the creation-work of God in which He made man (i.e. mankind, the race in Adam) in his own likeness, (Gen 1:26); (Gen 1:27); thus rebuking the thought that "the Godhead is like unto gold," etc. The word "Father" is not used, not does the passage affirm anything concerning fatherhood or sonship, which are relationships based on faith, and the new birth.

Compare (Joh 1:12); (Joh 1:13); (Gal 3:26); (Gal 4:1-7); (Joh 5:1).

Acts 17:30

act 17:30

Repent

Repentance is the translation of a (Greek, "metanoeō") "metanoia-metanoeo", which means "to have another mind," "to change the mind," and is used in the New Testament to indicate a change of mind in respect of sin, of God, and of self. This change of mind may, especially in the case of Christians who have fallen into sin, be preceded by sorrow (Co2 7:8-11) but sorrow for sin, though it may "work" repentance, is not repentance. The son in (Mat 21:28); (Mat 21:29) illustrates true repentance.

Saving faith:

(See Scofield) - (Heb 11:39)

includes and implies that change of mind which is called repentance.

Acts 17:31

act 17:31

world

(Greek, "oikoumenē", means "inhabited earth").

(See Scofield) - (Luk 2:1).