Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 17]
{This set I forth unto you} (\touto ego kataggell• humin\). He is
a \kataggeleus\ (verse 18) as they suspected of a God, both old
and new, old in that they already worship him, new in that Paul
knows who he is. By this master stroke he has brushed to one side
any notion of violation of Roman law or suspicion of heresy and
claims their endorsement of his new gospel, a shrewd and
consummate turn. He has their attention now and proceeds to
describe this God left out of their list as the one true and
Supreme God. The later MSS. here read \hon--touton\ (whom--this
one) rather than \ho--touto\ (what--this), but the late text is
plainly an effort to introduce too soon the personal nature of
God which comes out clearly in verse 24.
17:24 {The God that made the world} (\Ho theos ho poi•sas ton
kosmon\). Not a god for this and a god for that like the 30,000
gods of the Athenians, but the one God who made the Universe
(\kosmos\ on the old Greek sense of orderly arrangement of the
whole universe). {And all things therein} (\kai panta ta en
aut•i\). All the details in the universe were created by this one
God. Paul is using the words of Isa 42:5. The Epicureans held
that matter was eternal. Paul sets them aside. This one God was
not to be confounded with any of their numerous gods save with
this "Unknown God." {Being Lord of heaven and earth} (\ouranou
kai g•s huparch•n kurios\). \Kurios\ here owner, absolute
possessor of both heaven and earth (Isa 45:7), not of just
parts. {Dwelleth not in temples made with hands} (\ouken
cheiropoi•tois naois katoikei\). The old adjective
\cheiropoi•tos\ (\cheir, poie•\) already in Stephen's speech
(7:48). No doubt Paul pointed to the wonderful Parthenon,
supposed to be the home of Athene as Stephen denied that God
dwelt alone in the temple in Jerusalem.
17:25 {As though he needed anything} (\prosdeomenos tinos\).
Present middle participle of \prosdeomai\, to want besides, old
verb, but here only in the N.T. This was strange doctrine for the
people thought that the gods needed their offerings for full
happiness. This self-sufficiency of God was taught by Philo and
Lucretius, but Paul shows that the Epicurean missed it by putting
God, if existing at all, outside the universe. {Seeing he himself
giveth to all} (\autos didous pasin\). This Supreme Personal God
is the source of life, breath, and everything. Paul here rises
above all Greek philosophers.
17:26 {And he made of one} (\epoi•sen te ex henos\). The word
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