Acts 17:28a - Creator And Sustainer

For in him we live, and move, and have our being; Acts 17:28a (KJV)

This quote comes from the Cretan poet Epimenides (c. 600 B.C.) in his poem
called Cretica. Paul used it to say that God is the living and immanent
principle of all existence. [Jamieson, Fausset, And Brown Commentary]

Paul even quoted a Greek writer to show that God is the sustainer of life.
This does not mean the Greek poet was inspired, but rather that his
statement agreed with divine truth. [Wiersbe Expository Outlines]

His energy is still exerted in upholding the objects of His creation. It is
not because the mechanism that has once been set in motion continues to act
by its own inherent energy that the pulse beats and breath follows breath;
but every breath, every pulsation of the heart, is an evidence of the
all-pervading care of Him in whom "we live, and move, and have our being."
Acts 17:28. It is not because of inherent power that year by year the earth
produces her bounties and continues her motion around the sun. The hand of
God guides the planets and keeps them in position in their orderly march
through the heavens. He "bringeth out their host by number: He calleth them
all by names by the greatness of His might, for that He is strong in power;
not one faileth." Isaiah 40:26. It is through His power that vegetation
flourishes, that the leaves appear and the flowers bloom. He "maketh grass
to grow upon the mountains" (Psalm 147:8), and by Him the valleys are made
fruitful. "All the beasts of the forest . . . seek their meat from God," and
every living creature, from the smallest insect up to man, is daily
dependent upon His providential care. PP115

The mighty power that works through all nature and sustains all things is
not, as some men of science claim, merely an all-pervading principle, an
actuating energy.  God is a spirit; yet He is a personal being, for man was
made in His image. ED131,2

The hand that sustains the worlds in space, the hand that holds in their
orderly arrangement and tireless activity all things throughout the universe
of God, is the hand that was nailed to the cross for us. ED131,2

God is known in his creation, and he is close to every one of us. But he is
not trapped in his creation--he is transcendent. God is the Creator, not the
creation. This means that God is sovereign and in control, while at the same
time he is close and personal. Let the Creator of the universe rule your
life. [Life Application SB]

The holy blessed God never does evil to any man. He only withdraws his
gracious presence from him, and then he necessarily perisheth." [Jamieson,
Fausset, And Brown Commentary]

Since in him and upon him we live, we ought to live to him; since in him we
move, we ought to move towards him; and since in him we have our being, and
from him we receive all the supports and comforts of our being, we ought to
consecrate our being to him, and to apply to him for a new being, a better
being, an eternal well-being. (Matthew Henry's Commentary)