Acts 8:22

8:22 Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord ¹  that he may perhaps forgive you for the intent of your heart. ² 

Acts 17:27

17:27 so that they would search for God and perhaps grope around ³  for him and find him, ⁴  though he is ⁵  not far from each one of us.

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¹ tn Or “and implore the Lord.”

² tn Grk “that if possible the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.” The passive construction is somewhat awkward in contemporary English and has thus been converted to an active construction in the translation.

³ tn See BDAG 1097-98 s.v. ψηλαφάω, which lists “touch, handle” and “to feel around for, grope for” as possible meanings.

⁴ sn Perhaps grope around for him and find him. The pagans’ struggle to know God is the point here. Conscience alone is not good enough.

⁵ tn The participle ὑπάρχοντα (Juparconta) has been translated as a concessive adverbial participle.