The words alluded to by Paul in this verse are thought to have originated with Epimenides, a poet living in Crete in the sixth century B.C. In him is rendered literally by most translators (though An American Translation* “through union with him”) and suggests either a mystical union with God or a spatial nearness to him. It is quite possible, however, that in him is to be taken in the sense of “by (the power of) him,” and this is supported by the observation that Paul’s next quotation, “We too are his children,” refers not to a spatial nearness to God but rather to God as Creator, the one “by whom” all people were created.

In most languages it is relatively meaningless to use an expression such as in him. One can readily speak of God being “in a person,” because it is understandable that a spirit can dwell inside of a person. However, it is almost impossible to conceive of a person dwelling inside of a spirit, which would be implied in an expression such as in him, referring to God. Accordingly, most translators find it necessary to employ some such expression as “in close union with him” or even “because of him.” In fact, in some languages it is necessary to make him the subject—for example, “he is the one who causes us to live and move and to be what we are” or “… to exist.”

It is as some of your poets have said may be taken as referring either to the quotation which precedes or to the one which follows, though it is more natural to take it with the one that follows, “We too are his children.” The clause it is as some of your poets have said may be rendered as “some of your poets have also said something like this” (in which “this” must refer to what follows). We too are his children is equivalent to “even we are his children” or “all of us are his children.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .