The Use of Epimenides in Acts 17:28

In Acts 17:16-34, we get an account of Paul in Athens. Paul has been preaching to Jews and God-fearers in the synagogue and in the marketplace. In the course of his discussion, he begins a dialogue with Stoic and Epicurean philosophers who are curious about his preaching on Jesus and the resurrection (v. 18), thinking he is proclaiming strange gods, and ask him to explain this new teaching (v. 19). Paul does so. He explains the resurrection and does so by describing God, Yahweh, the sovereign creator and move of people and history. Paul both utilizes and refutes aspects of Stoic and Epicurean philosophy in the process, emphasizing both God’s transcendence and his immanence. He also quotes two Greek poets, Epimenides and Aratus, in verse 28. This speech culminates in the declaration of the resurrection of Jesus and its importance (v. 31). Again, the context of this speech is an explanation of the resurrection (vv. 18-20, 31-32). With this in mind, let’s look at the quote from Epimenides in verse 28.

Verse 28 says, “For in him we live, and move, and have our being” (Ἐν αὐτῷ γὰρ ζῶμεν καὶ κινούμεθα καὶ ἐσμέν) referring to the Lord (see v. 27). This is a quote from Epimenides' Cretica (Κρητικά) where the character of Minos addresses the god, Zeus: “For in you we live and move and have our being” (Ἐν γὰρ σοὶ ζῶμεν καὶ κινύμεθ᾽ ἠδὲ καὶ ἐσμέν). The full quote is as follows:

“They fashioned a tomb for you, holy and high one,
Cretans, always liars, evil beasts, idle bellies.
But you are not dead: you live and abide forever,
For in you we live and move and have our being.”

Paul also quotes the line, “Cretans are always liars,” in Titus 1:12. The "lie" of the Cretans is that Zeus was mortal; Epimenides considered Zeus immortal.

Given that the purpose of Paul’s speech is an explanation about the resurrection of Jesus, it is interesting that he quotes a poem whose immediate context is about a god that is not dead, that is not in a tomb, that is immortal, and in whom others have their life and being. Remember, the Athenian philosophers believed Paul was proclaiming strange gods because of preaching of Jesus and the resurrection (v. 18). I submit the possibility that in quoting this line from Epimenides’ Cretica, Paul was alluding to the surrounding passage of the poem (a passage he seems to know well enough to quote twice within the New Testament record) in order to highlight the resurrection of Jesus and also identify Jesus himself with the creator God of whom he is speaking.