Acts 17:23

For as I walked around and examined your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore what you worship as something unknown, I now proclaim to you.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul addresses the Athenian council at the Areopagus after noting their religious devotion in Acts 17:22. He speaks at the precise moment of introducing his gospel proclamation to a philosophically engaged audience.

The words — ἀναθεωρῶν (anatheōrōn) denotes a careful, repeated beholding, while σεβασματα (sebasmata) refers specifically to revered objects of worship. Paul uses these terms to describe his deliberate observation of Athenian religious artifacts before locating their altar.

The thread — The theme of worshiping without true knowledge runs through John 4:22 and Galatians 4:8. True worship and eternal life require knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ, as stated in John 17:3.

Why it lands — The text commands the reader to recognize that religious observance without revealed truth remains incomplete. It requires a direct response to the proclaimed identity of God rather than reliance on human speculation.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Galatians 4:8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
John 4:22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.
John 17:3 Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.
John 17:25 Righteous Father, although the world has not known You, I know You, and they know that You sent Me.
Acts 17:30 Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.
Romans 1:28 Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.
1 Corinthians 1:21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
2 Thessalonians 2:4 He will oppose and exalt himself above every so-called god or object of worship. So he will seat himself in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
1 Timothy 1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.