Acts 17 - Scofield Reference Notes

Bible Comments

  • Acts 17:3 open_in_new

    Christ

    The Christ, that is, that, according to the Scriptures, the Messiah must die and rise again. That Jesus was the Messiah was the second part of his argument.

  • Acts 17:18 open_in_new

    Epicureans

    Disciples of Epicurus, B.C. 342-271, who abandoned as hopeless the search by reason for pure truth, compare (John 18:38), seeking instead true pleasure through experience.

    Stoicks

    Disciples of Zeno, B.C. 280, and Chrysippus, B.C. 240. This philosophy was founded on human self-sufficiency, inculcated stern self-repression, the solidarily of the race, and the unity of Deity. Epicureans and Stocis divided the apostolic world.

  • Acts 17:29 open_in_new

    offspring of God

    (Greek, "genos", means "race"). The reference is to the creation-work of God in which He made man (i.e. mankind, the race in Adam) in his own likeness, (Genesis 1:26); (Genesis 1:27); thus rebuking the thought that "the Godhead is like unto gold," etc. The word "Father" is not used, not does the passage affirm anything concerning fatherhood or sonship, which are relationships based on faith, and the new birth.

    Compare (John 1:12); (John 1:13); (Galatians 3:26); (Galatians 4:1-7); (John 5:1).

  • Acts 17:30 open_in_new

    Repent

    Repentance is the translation of a (Greek, "metanoeō") "metanoia-metanoeo", which means "to have another mind," "to change the mind," and is used in the New Testament to indicate a change of mind in respect of sin, of God, and of self. This change of mind may, especially in the case of Christians who have fallen into sin, be preceded by sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:8-11) but sorrow for sin, though it may "work" repentance, is not repentance. The son in (Matthew 21:28); (Matthew 21:29) illustrates true repentance.

    Saving faith:

    ( See Scofield) - (Hebrews 11:39)

    includes and implies that change of mind which is called repentance.