Acts 17 23

Acts 17:23 kjv

For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

Acts 17:23 nkjv

for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you:

Acts 17:23 niv

For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship?and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

Acts 17:23 esv

For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: 'To the unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.

Acts 17:23 nlt

for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: 'To an Unknown God.' This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I'm telling you about.

Acts 17 verses

Acts 17 23 Meaning

In Acts 17:23, the Apostle Paul initiates his address to the Athenian philosophers and citizens gathered on Mars Hill (Areopagus). He identifies a specific altar dedicated "TO THE UNKNOWN GOD" among their many religious objects. Paul asserts that this "unknown" deity, whom they unwittingly revere, is precisely the God he intends to declare to them. This verse serves as a pivotal bridge in Paul's evangelistic strategy, transforming their existing (though misguided) religiosity into a platform for presenting the revealed God of the Bible.

Acts 17 23 Context

Acts 17 describes Paul's missionary journey through Thessalonica, Berea, and finally Athens. In Athens, a highly intellectual and philosophical city steeped in idolatry and diverse philosophical schools (Epicureans and Stoics), Paul's spirit was provoked by the city full of idols. Rather than directly condemning their practices, Paul engaged them on their own terms. He was brought to the Areopagus (Mars Hill), a prominent judicial and philosophical council, to explain his "new teachings." Acts 17:23 sets the stage for Paul's renowned sermon, where he shrewdly connects with his audience's existing religious inclination by leveraging their "unknown god" altar as a point of contact for the Gospel. This approach exemplifies Paul's principle of becoming "all things to all people" (1 Cor 9:22) to win some to Christ. The historical context includes Athens' reverence for myriad deities and their carefulness to appease all gods, even those unknown, lest they incur divine wrath.

Acts 17 23 Word analysis

• For (γάρ, gar): A connective particle introducing an explanation or reason for the preceding thought, implying Paul is about to explain why he's "greatly distressed" or what he "sees."
• as I passed through (διερχόμενος, dierchomenos): Present participle, indicating an ongoing action or observation during his walk. It suggests a careful survey, not just a casual stroll.
• and observed (καὶ ἀναθεωρῶν, kai anatheōrōn): From ana (up again, over) + theōreō (to look at, contemplate). This implies a careful, considered, and reflective examination, scrutinizing with insight, not just glancing. Paul meticulously took stock of their religious landscape.
• your objects of worship (τὰ σεβάσματα ὑμῶν, ta sebastama hymōn): From sebas (reverence, awe), refers to revered or sacred objects, cult images, idols, shrines. This is a neutral term, allowing Paul to affirm their religious devotion before redirecting it. It indicates their many cultic installations and statues.
• I found (εὗρον, heuron): Indicative of a discovery. Paul deliberately sought out points of engagement, and this was a notable finding amidst the many religious artifacts.
• an altar (βωμόν, bōmon): A sacrificial platform or stone. Distinct from temples, altars were places of offering to deities. Its presence signifies public religious practice.
• with this inscription (ἐπιγραφὴν ἔχοντα, epigraphēn echonta): Meaning "having an inscription." Inscriptions were common on public monuments, statues, and altars.
• TO THE UNKNOWN GOD (ΑΓΝΩΣΤΩΙ ΘΕΩΙ, AGNŌSTŌI THEŌI): This is the focal point. Agnōstōi means "unknown" or "unknowable." Such altars were indeed found in ancient Greece (Pausanias, Diogenes Laertius reference them) as a safeguard against offending a deity whose name was not known, or to acknowledge a universal divine presence not explicitly identified. Paul seizes upon this very Greek concept to introduce the truly unknowable God who has now revealed Himself. This is where Paul offers a direct, yet gentle, polemic: their highest religious caution ("unknown") becomes his point of contact for the truly revealed God.
• Whom therefore (Ὃν οὖν, Hon oun): A relative pronoun ("Whom") combined with a particle ("therefore," "consequently") signaling a logical connection or inference from what precedes. Paul links their unwitting reverence to his proclamation.
• you unknowingly worship (ἀγνοῦντες εὐσεβεῖτε, agnountes eusebeite): Agnountes (present participle from agnoeō) means "being ignorant of," "not knowing." Eusebeite (from eusebeō) means "to be pious," "to worship," "to show reverence." This phrase perfectly encapsulates their situation: they are devout and pious in their actions, yet fundamentally ignorant of the true object of their worship. Paul recognizes their devotion but points to their lack of accurate knowledge.
• Him (τοῦτον, touton): Emphatic demonstrative pronoun, stressing the very specific and definite "God" that Paul is about to proclaim, distinguishing Him from their pantheon.
• I proclaim to you (ἐγὼ καταγγέλλω ὑμῖν, egō katangellō hymin): Egō is emphatic "I" (Paul), contrasting his clarity with their ignorance. Katangellō means to "announce, declare, proclaim," especially used of preaching the Gospel with authority and comprehensiveness. It denotes the formal, public proclamation of a message.

Acts 17 23 Bonus section

Paul's encounter with the Athenian altar highlights his acute observational skills and strategic rhetorical prowess. The existence of altars to an "unknown god" was a recognition by some ancient Greeks of their own limited knowledge of divinity, a pragmatic effort to avoid omitting or offending any deity that might exist. This speaks to a deeply embedded human recognition that there is a "more" out there, beyond what we fully grasp. Paul validates this innate sense of spiritual longing or deficit within humanity, affirming that the "unknowable" God has indeed made Himself known. This setup also implicitly critiques their intellectual pride; for all their wisdom, they had overlooked the most important truth about the Creator. Paul skillfully transitions from a natural revelation (creation observed in v.24, echoing Rom 1:20) to special revelation (the resurrected Christ). This verse demonstrates that one can build a theological bridge without compromising truth, by transforming sincere (yet uninformed) worship into informed worship of the true and living God.

Acts 17 23 Commentary

Acts 17:23 is a masterclass in contextualized evangelism. Paul arrives in Athens, a city celebrated for its philosophy and piety, yet plagued by idolatry. Instead of immediately confronting their false gods with harsh condemnation, he identifies a point of connection: an altar to an "unknown god." This strategic choice highlights Paul's wisdom and sensitivity, finding common ground in their spiritual quest, however misdirected it may be. He validates their earnestness to worship all deities, even one they can't name, transforming this religious prudence into a revelatory moment. The "unknown" becomes the bridge to the "known." He argues that the God he is about to proclaim is not a foreign deity to be added to their pantheon, but rather the very one they were attempting, perhaps fearfully, to worship. Paul's message is not syncretism, but clarification: what they do imperfectly and without true knowledge, he will now declare fully. This allows him to introduce the Creator God, His transcendence, immanence, the absurdity of man-made idols, and finally, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It’s an example for believers to meet people where they are, acknowledging their pre-existing notions or partial truths, and gently leading them to the full truth of the Gospel.