Numbers 16:22

16:22 Then they threw themselves down with their faces to the ground ¹  and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all people, ²  will you be angry with the whole community when only one man sins?” ³ 

Daniel 5:23

5:23 Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. You brought before you the vessels from his temple, and you and your nobles, together with your wives and concubines, drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone – gods ⁴  that cannot see or hear or comprehend! But you have not glorified the God who has in his control ⁵  your very breath and all your ways!

Acts 17:25

17:25 nor is he served by human hands, as if he needed anything, ⁶  because he himself gives life and breath and everything to everyone. ⁷ 

Acts 17:28

17:28 For in him we live and move about ⁸  and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we too are his offspring.’ ⁹ 

¹ sn It is Moses and Aaron who prostrate themselves; they have the good of the people at heart.

² tn The expression “the God of the spirits of all humanity [flesh]” is somewhat difficult. The Hebrew text says אֱלֹהֵי הָרוּחֹת לְכָל־בָּשָׂר (’elohey harukhot lÿkhol-basar). This expression occurs in Num 27:16 again. It also occurs in some postbiblical texts, a fact which has prompted some scholars to conclude that it is a late addition. The words clearly show that Moses is interceding for the congregation. The appeal in the verse is that it is better for one man to die for the whole nation than the whole nation for one man (see also John 11:50).

³ tn The verb is the Qal imperfect יֶחֱטָא (yekheta’); it refers to the sinful rebellion of Korah, but Moses is stating something of a principle: “One man sins, and will you be angry….” A past tense translation would assume that this is a preterite use of the imperfect (without vav [ו] consecutive).

⁴ tn Aram “which.”

⁵ tn Aram “in whose hand [are].”

⁶ tn L&N 57.45 has “nor does he need anything more that people can supply by working for him.”

⁷ tn Grk “he himself gives to all [people] life and breath and all things.”

⁸ tn According to L&N 15.1, “A strictly literal translation of κινέω in Ac 17:28 might imply merely moving from one place to another. The meaning, however, is generalized movement and activity; therefore, it may be possible to translate κινούμεθα as ‘we come and go’ or ‘we move about’’ or even ‘we do what we do.’”

⁹ sn This quotation is from Aratus (ca. 310-245 b.c.), Phaenomena 5. Paul asserted a general relationship and accountability to God for all humanity.