Discovery BoxActs 17:26-27 
Context17:26 From one man 1 he made every nation of the human race 2 to inhabit the entire earth, 3 determining their set times 4 and the fixed limits of the places where they would live, 5 17:27 so that they would search for God and perhaps grope around 6 for him and find him, 7 though he is 8 not far from each one of us.
1 sn The one man refers to Adam (the word “man” is understood).
2 tn Or “mankind.” BDAG 276 s.v. ἔθνος 1 has “every nation of humankind Ac 17:26.”
3 tn Grk “to live over all the face of the earth.”
4 tn BDAG 884-85 s.v. προστάσσω has “(οἱ) προστεταγμένοι καιροί (the) fixed times Ac 17:26” here, but since the following phrase is also translated “fixed limits,” this would seem redundant in English, so the word “set” has been used instead.
5 tn Grk “the boundaries of their habitation.” L&N 80.5 has “fixed limits of the places where they would live” for this phrase.
6 tn See BDAG 1097-98 s.v. ψηλαφάω, which lists “touch, handle” and “to feel around for, grope for” as possible meanings.
7 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.
8 tn The participle ὑπάρχοντα (Juparconta) has been translated as a concessive adverbial participle.
