Article June 27, 1936 Issue

Bible Notes

"I passed by, and beheld your devotions" (Acts 17:23)—The word "sebasmata" refers properly to "objects of worship or devotion" rather than to "devotions" in the sense of "prayer or worship"; and was "used of temples, altars, statues, etc." (Thayer: Greek Lexicon, p. 572), being applied, indeed, to whatever things were "religiously honored." Goodspeed has: "I was going about and looking at the things you worship;" and Moffatt: "I passed along and scanned your objects of worship;" while a similar rendering is offered by the Revised Version.

"[He] hath made of one blood all nations of men" (Acts 17:26)—The word translated "blood" is not found in the original Greek of this passage and is omitted by the Revised Version. Weymouth suggests the rendering: "He caused to spring from one forefather people of every race;" and Good-speed: "From one forefather he has created every nation of mankind;" while Moffatt has: "All nations he has created from a common origin."

"The Godhead" (Acts 17:29)—More literally: "the divine" or "the divine nature" (to theion). Goodspeed has: "the divine nature"; and Weymouth: "His nature."

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