New International VersionFrom one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.
New Living TranslationFrom one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.
English Standard VersionAnd he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,
Berean Standard BibleFrom one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands.
Berean Literal BibleAnd He made from one man every nation of men, to dwell upon all the face of the earth, having determined the appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation,
King James BibleAnd 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;
New King James VersionAnd He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,
New American Standard Bibleand He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation,
NASB 1995and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation,
NASB 1977and He made from one, every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times, and the boundaries of their habitation,
Legacy Standard Bibleand He made from one man every nation of mankind to inhabit all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation,
Amplified BibleAnd He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands and territories.
Christian Standard BibleFrom one man he has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live.
Holman Christian Standard BibleFrom one man He has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live.
American Standard Versionand 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;
Contemporary English VersionFrom one person God made all nations who live on earth, and he decided when and where every nation would be.
English Revised Versionand he made of one every nation of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation;
GOD'S WORD® TranslationFrom one man he has made every nation of humanity to live all over the earth. He has given them the seasons of the year and the boundaries within which to live.
Good News TranslationFrom one human being he created all races of people and made them live throughout the whole earth. He himself fixed beforehand the exact times and the limits of the places where they would live.
International Standard VersionFrom one man he made every nation of humanity to live all over the earth, fixing the seasons of the year and the national boundaries within which they live,
NET BibleFrom one man he made every nation of the human race to inhabit the entire earth, determining their set times and the fixed limits of the places where they would live,
New Heart English BibleHe made from one blood every nation of the human race to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined appointed seasons, and the boundaries of their dwellings,
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd hath made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
Weymouth New TestamentHe caused to spring from one forefather people of every race, for them to live on the whole surface of the earth, and marked out for them an appointed span of life and the boundaries of their homes; Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleFrom one blood He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands.
World English BibleHe made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined appointed seasons and the boundaries of their dwellings, Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionHe also made every nation of man of one blood, to dwell on all the face of the earth—having ordained times before appointed, and the bounds of their dwellings—
Berean Literal BibleAnd He made from one man every nation of men, to dwell upon all the face of the earth, having determined the appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation,
Young's Literal Translation He 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 --
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd he made of one blood every nation of men to dwell upon all the face of the earth, having limited the times before arranged, and the bounds of their habitation; Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd hath made of one, all mankind, to dwell upon the whole face of the earth, determining appointed times, and the limits of their habitation.
Catholic Public Domain VersionAnd he has made, out of one, every family of man: to live upon the face of the entire earth, determining the appointed seasons and the limits of their habitation,
New American BibleHe made from one the whole human race to dwell on the entire surface of the earth, and he fixed the ordered seasons and the boundaries of their regions,
New Revised Standard VersionFrom one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd he has made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and he has appointed seasons by his command, and has set limits to the age of men;
Aramaic Bible in Plain English“And from one blood he made the whole world of humanity to be dwelling on the whole surface of The Earth and he marked out the times in his decrees and set the coasts of the dwelling places of humanity,” NT Translations Anderson New Testamentand he has made from one blood every nation of men, that they might dwell on all the face of the earth, having marked out their appointed times, and the bounds of their dwelling:
Godbey New Testamentand of (one) man he created every nation of men to dwell upon the whole face of the earth, having determined their predestinated times, and the boundaries of their habitation;
Haweis New TestamentAnd hath made from one man’s blood all the nations of mankind, to dwell upon the whole face of the earth, fixing the predetermined periods of their existence, and the boundaries of their several abodes;
Mace New Testamenthe he has deduced all mankind from one parent, to inhabit the surface of the whole earth, having pre-establish'd the appointed periods, and the boundarys of their dominions:
Weymouth New TestamentHe caused to spring from one forefather people of every race, for them to live on the whole surface of the earth, and marked out for them an appointed span of life and the boundaries of their homes;
Worrell New Testamentand He made of one every nation of men to dwell upon all the face of the earth, having marked out their appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation;
Worsley New Testamentand hath made of one blood every nation of men to dwell upon all the face of the earth, having determined the seasons before-appointed them, and the bounds of their habitation;
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Paul Before the Areopagus… 25Nor is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26Fromone manHe madeeverynationof men,that they should inhabitthe wholeearth;and He determinedtheir appointedtimesandtheboundariesof theirlands.27God 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.…
Cross References Genesis 1:27So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Genesis 3:20And Adam named his wife Eve, because she would be the mother of all the living.
Genesis 10:32All these are the clans of Noah’s sons, according to their generations and nations. From these the nations of the earth spread out after the flood.
Deuteronomy 32:8When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when He divided the sons of man, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God.
Malachi 2:10Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us? Why then do we break faith with one another so as to profane the covenant of our fathers?
Job 12:23He makes nations great and destroys them; He enlarges nations, then disperses them.
Psalm 74:17You set all the boundaries of the earth; You made the summer and winter.
Psalm 115:16The highest heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth He has given to mankind.
Isaiah 45:12It is I who made the earth and created man upon it. It was My hands that stretched out the heavens, and I ordained all their host.
Jeremiah 27:5By My great power and outstretched arm, I made the earth and the men and beasts on the face of it, and I give it to whom I please.
Daniel 4:35All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”
Matthew 28:19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
John 17:21that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.
Romans 5:12Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned.
Romans 8:29For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.
Treasury of Scripture And has made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; hath made. Genesis 3:20 And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. Genesis 9:19 Theseare the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread. 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, by profaning the covenant of our fathers? hath determined. Acts 15:18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Deuteronomy 32:7,8 Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee… Job 14:5 Seeing his daysare determined, the number of his monthsare with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; Jump to Previous AllottedAppointedBloodBoundariesBoundsCausedDeterminedDwellDwellingDwellingsEarthExactFaceForefatherHabitationHomesInhabitLandsLiveMarkedNationNationsOrdainedOrderingPeriodsRaceSeasonsSpanSpringSurfaceTimesWholeJump to Next AllottedAppointedBloodBoundariesBoundsCausedDeterminedDwellDwellingDwellingsEarthExactFaceForefatherHabitationHomesInhabitLandsLiveMarkedNationNationsOrdainedOrderingPeriodsRaceSeasonsSpanSpringSurfaceTimesWholeActs 17 1.Paul preaches at Thessalonica, where some believe,5.and others persecute him.10.He is sent to Berea, and preaches there.13.Being persecuted by Jews from Thessalonica,16.he comes to Athens, and disputes and preaches the living God, to them unknown;32.whereby, though some mock, many are converted unto Christ.From one man He made every nation of menThis phrase emphasizes the unity and common origin of all humanity, tracing back to Adam, the first man created by God ( Genesis 1:27, 2:7). It underscores the biblical teaching that all people, regardless of race or ethnicity, share a common ancestry. This concept is foundational to the understanding of human equality and dignity, as all are made in the image of God. The unity of humanity is a recurring theme in Scripture, seen in the genealogies of Genesis and the universal offer of salvation through Jesus Christ ( Romans 5:12-19). that they should inhabit the whole earth;
This part of the verse reflects God's command to humanity to "be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth" (Genesis 1:28). It highlights God's sovereign plan for human habitation and the spread of people across the globe. The dispersion of nations is further illustrated in the account of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), where God confounded human language, leading to the scattering of people. This dispersion was part of God's design to populate the earth and establish diverse cultures and societies. and He determined their appointed times
This phrase indicates God's sovereignty over history and the affairs of nations. It suggests that God has a predetermined plan for the rise and fall of nations, as well as the specific periods during which they exist. This is echoed inDaniel 2:21, where it is stated that God "changes times and seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings." The concept of appointed times also points to God's control over historical events, ensuring that His purposes are fulfilled in the fullness of time (Galatians 4:4). and the boundaries of their lands.
Here, the focus is on God's authority over geographical boundaries and the distribution of land among nations. This is seen in the Old Testament, where God allocated specific territories to the tribes of Israel (Joshua 13-21) and set boundaries for other nations (Deuteronomy 32:8). The establishment of boundaries serves to maintain order and fulfill God's purposes for each nation. It also reflects the idea that God is actively involved in the governance of the world, ensuring that His divine plan is carried out through the nations He has established. Persons / Places / Events 1. Paul the ApostleThe speaker of this verse, Paul is addressing the people of Athens at the Areopagus, explaining the nature of God and His creation. 2. AthensA significant cultural and intellectual center of the ancient world, where Paul delivers his sermon to the Athenians, who were known for their philosophical pursuits. 3. AreopagusA prominent rock outcropping in Athens, serving as the meeting place for the council of elders, where Paul presents his message about the one true God. 4. Nations of MenRefers to the various ethnic groups and peoples that God created from one man, emphasizing the unity and diversity of humanity. 5. God's SovereigntyThe event of God determining the times and boundaries of nations highlights His sovereign control over history and geography. Teaching Points Unity of HumanityAll humans are created by God from one man, emphasizing the inherent unity and equality of all people, regardless of race or nationality. Divine SovereigntyGod’s control over the times and boundaries of nations reminds us of His ultimate authority and plan for history, encouraging trust in His providence. Purposeful LivingUnderstanding that God has determined our times and places should inspire us to seek His purpose for our lives in our current context. Cultural EngagementLike Paul, we are called to engage with the culture around us, sharing the truth of God’s sovereignty and the gospel message with wisdom and respect. God's Plan for NationsRecognizing that God has a plan for every nation encourages us to pray for and support global missions, knowing that God desires all people to seek Him. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Acts 17:26?
2.How does Acts 17:26 emphasize God's sovereignty over nations and their boundaries?
3.What does "from one man" in Acts 17:26 reveal about human unity?
4.How can Acts 17:26 guide our view on racial equality and diversity?
5.How does Acts 17:26 connect with Genesis 1:27 on human creation?
6.How should Acts 17:26 influence our approach to global missions and evangelism?
7.How does Acts 17:26 support the idea of a common ancestry for all humans?
8.What does Acts 17:26 imply about God's sovereignty over nations and their boundaries?
9.How does Acts 17:26 address the issue of racial equality and unity?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Acts 17?
11.Acts 17:26 – How can all nations come from one man when genetic and archaeological evidence suggest multiple human origins?
12.What is the definition of white privilege?
13.What defines Christian Nationalism?
14.What defines Critical Race Theory?What Does Acts 17:26 Mean From one man• “From one man He made every nation of men” (Acts 17:26) points back to Adam, the literal first human created by God (Genesis 2:7). • Scripture consistently affirms this single origin: –Genesis 3:20: “Adam named his wife Eve, because she would be the mother of all the living.” –Romans 5:12 and1 Corinthians 15:22 trace both sin and salvation through one man. • A shared ancestry means: – Every person bears God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27). – Racism or tribal superiority has no biblical basis (James 3:9-10). – The gospel message is universally relevant (Matthew 28:19).
He made every nation of men• Nations exist by God’s creative act, not by random human development (Deuteronomy 32:8). • Diversity of languages, cultures, and ethnic groups reflects His manifold wisdom, culminating one day in a single worshiping multitude (Revelation 7:9). • God is the Author of both unity (common ancestry) and diversity (distinct nations), displaying His glory through both facets.
That they should inhabit the whole earth• Humanity received the command, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth” (Genesis 1:28; 9:1). • Paul reminds his Athenian audience that spreading across the globe fulfills God’s original design, not chance migration. • Wherever people live, God’s purpose is that “they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him” (Acts 17:27), underscoring missionary urgency (Romans 10:14-15).
He determined their appointed times• God sovereignly sets the rise and fall of kingdoms (Daniel 2:21;Job 12:23). • “My times are in Your hands” (Psalm 31:15) applies to nations as well as individuals. • Historical epochs—from Egypt to Rome to modern states—unfold on a timetable fashioned by Him, ensuring that “when the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son” (Galatians 4:4).
And the boundaries of their lands• Geographic borders are not ultimately the achievement of armies or diplomats; they are “fixed” by God’s decree (Deuteronomy 32:8;Acts 14:16). • Boundaries serve practical purposes—order, stewardship of resources, and protection of life (Romans 13:1-4). • While earthly borders exist, believers remember that their eternal citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20), fostering both respect for civil authority and perspective beyond it.
summaryActs 17:26 teaches that all humanity descends from one literal man, that God intentionally crafted every nation, spread people across the globe, set historical timelines, and established geographic borders. These truths emphasize God’s sovereign rule over creation and history, the equality and dignity of every person, and the universal reach of the gospel. (26) And hath made of one blood all nations of men.--Literally, every nation. The previous verses had given what we may venture to call St. Paul's Philosophy of Religion. This gives his Philosophy of History. And the position was one which no Greek, above all, no Athenian, was likely to accept. For him the distinction between the Greek and the barbarian was radical and essential. The one was by nature meant to be the slave of the other. (Aristot. Pol. i. 2, 6.) In rising above his own prejudices of fancied superiority of race, the Apostle felt that he could attack, as from a vantage-ground, the prejudices of others. He naturally accepted the truth as it was presented to him in the Mosaic history of the Creation; but the truth itself, stated in its fullest form, would remain, even if we were to accept other theories of the origin of species and the history of man. There is a oneness of physical structure, of conditions and modes of life, of possible or actual development, which forbids any one race or nation, Hebrew, Hellenic, Latin, or Teutonic, to assume for itself that it is the cream and flower of humanity. Hath determined the times before appointed.--The better MSS. give simply, "the appointed seasons." Few words, even in St. Paul's teaching, are more pregnant with significance. They justify all that the wise of heart have said as to the "manifold wisdom of God," as seen in history and in the education of mankind. The special gifts of character of each race--Hebrew thought of God, Greek sense of beauty, Roman sense of law, Teutonic truthfulness, Keltic impulsiveness, docility--have all their work to do. All local circumstances of soil and climate that influence character come under the head of the "bounds of men's habitation." All conditions of time--the period at which each race has been called to play its part in the drama of the world's history--come under the head of the "appointed seasons." Verse 26. - He made for hath made, A.V.; of one for of one blood, A.V. and T.R.; every nation for all nations, A.V.; having determined their appointed seasons for and hath determined the times before appointed, A.V. From the unity of God Paul deduces the unity of the human race, all created by God, all sprung from one ancestor, or one blood (whichever reading we take), and so not to have their several national gods, but all to be united in the worship of the one true and living God, the Father of them all. It may be remarked by the way that the languages of the earth, differing like the skins and the features of the different races, and corresponding to those various bounds assigned by God to their habitations, yet bear distinct and emphatic testimony to this unity. They are variations, more or less extended, of the speech of man. Bounds of their habitation; τὰς ὀροθεσίας κ.τ.λ.: the word only occurs here; elsewhere, though rarely, τὰ ὀροθέσια.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek Fromἐξ(ex)Preposition
Strong's 1537:From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.one [man]ἑνὸς(henos)Adjective - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 1520:One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one.He madeἐποίησέν(epoiēsen)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4160:(a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.everyπᾶν(pan)Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3956:All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.nationἔθνος(ethnos)Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1484:Probably from etho; a race, i.e. A tribe; specially, a foreign one.of men,ἀνθρώπων(anthrōpōn)Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 444:A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being.to inhabitκατοικεῖν(katoikein)Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 2730:To dwell in, settle in, be established in (permanently), inhabit. From kata and oikeo; to house permanently, i.e. Reside.the wholeπαντὸς(pantos)Adjective - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 3956:All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.earth;γῆς(gēs)Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1093:Contracted from a primary word; soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe.and He determinedὁρίσας(horisas)Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3724:From horion; to mark out or bound, i.e. to appoint, decree, specify.[their] appointedπροστεταγμένους(prostetagmenous)Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4367:(a) I instruct, command, (b) I appoint, assign. From pros and tasso; to arrange towards, i.e. enjoin.timesκαιροὺς(kairous)Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2540:Fitting season, season, opportunity, occasion, time. Of uncertain affinity; an occasion, i.e. Set or proper time.andκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.theτὰς(tas)Article - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.boundariesὁροθεσίας(horothesias)Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3734:From a compound of the base of horion and a derivative of tithemi; a limit-placing, i.e. boundary-line.of theirαὐτῶν(autōn)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846:He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.lands.κατοικίας(katoikias)Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 2733:A dwelling, habitation, settlement. Residence.
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NT Apostles: Acts 17:26 He made from one blood every nation (Acts of the Apostles Ac) |
