Acts 17:24

The God who made the world and everything in it, ¹  who is ²  Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by human hands, ³ 

Ge 14:19,22; 1Ki 8:27; 2Ki 19:15; 2Ch 2:6; 2Ch 6:18; Ps 24:1; Ps 115:16; Ps 146:5; Ps 148:13; Isa 40:12,28; Isa 45:18; Isa 66:1; Jer 10:11; Jer 23:24; Jer 32:17; Da 4:35; Zec 12:1; Mt 5:34; Mt 11:25; Lu 10:21; Joh 1:1; Joh 4:22,23; Ac 4:24; Ac 7:48; Ac 14:15; Ac 17:26-28; Heb 1:2; Heb 3:4; Re 20:11

¹ tn Grk “all the things that are in it.” The speech starts with God as Creator, like 14:15.

² tn Or “because he is.” The participle ὑπάρχων (Juparcwn) could be either adjectival, modifying οὗτος (Joutos, “who is Lord…”) or adverbial of cause (“because he is Lord…”). Since the participle διδούς (didou") in v. 25 appears to be clearly causal in force, it is preferable to understand ὑπάρχων as adjectival in this context.

³ sn On the statement does not live in temples made by human hands compare Acts 7:48. This has implications for idols as well. God cannot be represented by them or, as the following clause also suggests, served by human hands.