How does Acts 17:29 connect with Exodus 20:4 on making graven images? Shared Warning Against Man-Made Images “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth beneath, or in the waters below.” (Exodus 20:4) “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination.” (Acts 17:29) Reviewing Exodus 20:4 in Its Setting • Spoken audibly by God at Sinai as part of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1–17) • Directs Israel to avoid crafting any physical representation for worship • Flows from the first commandment—“no other gods” (Exodus 20:3)—highlighting God’s exclusive claim to worship • Reinforced later: Deuteronomy 4:15-18; Isaiah 40:18-20; Psalm 115:4-8 Paul’s Echo in Acts 17:29 • Delivered in Athens, a city filled with idols (Acts 17:16) • Addresses Gentiles, extending the same truth beyond Israel • Bases the argument on creation: humans are God’s offspring, therefore God transcends human artistry • Calls listeners to repent from idols toward the risen Christ (Acts 17:30-31) Key Parallels • Same prohibition: human-made images cannot represent the true God • Same rationale: the Creator is distinct from created matter • Same outcome: worship must center on God Himself, not on physical objects Why Images Fail to Represent God • God is spirit, infinite, and uncontained (John 4:24; 1 Kings 8:27) • Any object limits His glory to material form (Isaiah 46:5-9) • Idols arise from human imagination, reversing the Creator-creature order (Romans 1:22-23) Consistent Witness of Scripture • Old Testament: “I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not give My glory to another or My praise to idols.” (Isaiah 42:8) • New Testament: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” (1 John 5:21) Both Testaments uphold the same standard, showing unity of revelation. Practical Takeaways for Today • Worship God as He reveals Himself in Scripture, not through self-styled images or concepts • Guard the heart from modern forms of idolatry—anything treasured above God (Colossians 3:5) • Celebrate the incarnate Christ, who perfectly reveals the Father without violating the command (John 1:14,18; Hebrews 1:3) • Offer wholehearted devotion, trusting the living God rather than the work of human hands |
    |