Acts 17:28

"for in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain even of your own poets have said, For we are also His offspring"For" Expanding upon the last statement made. "In Him we live, and move, and have our being" Indicating that God is concerned about every person (2 Peter 3:9). Everyone is dependent upon Him for life. God is not distant, uncaring or unfeeling, and everyone has received physical blessings from Him. "Our being" This God is the origin of both our bodies and souls and we are continually dependent upon Him for "being". "As certain even of your own poets have said"The precise expression is found in the writings of Aratus (270 B.C.) who was from Tarsus, as was Paul); and though not the exact words, still the idea is found in the writings of Cleanthes (300-220 B.C.). This quotation of the heathen poets would at once quicken the attention of the hearers. This was not an illiterate Jew, but. man of culture, acquainted with the thoughts of their own great poets" (Reese p. 632).

From the fact that Paul quotes from. heathen poet, we can learn that there are times that even secular authors stumble upon and state one of God's truths. Preachers can use such quotations in preaching. Such quotations do not establish truth (God's word does that), but the purpose of such quotations proves that the idea being presenting is not that far-fetched or radical, even some of your own famous writers have conceded the same point. Carefully note, that being the offspring of God (by creation) does not automatically make us children of God in the spiritual and saved sense. Various liberal denominations maintain that "we are all children of God". Paul did not buy into such. concept. Paul will tell these people, created in the image of God, to repent (Acts 17:30).