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.## Introduction - In Plain Language: Passing through Athens, Paul notices people worshipping many things and finds an altar labeled “To the Unknown God.” He tells them that the God they don’t know, and therefore worship in ignorance, is the one he wants to explain to them. - Big idea: Paul uses a point of contact in Athenian religion to reveal the true God — showing how God is known, not unknown. - Key points: - Paul observes sincere religious practice but sees a gap: devotion without true knowledge. - The “Unknown God” altar becomes an entry point for gospel proclamation. - The passage models respectful engagement with other beliefs while clearly declaring the Christian message. ## Context - Where this verse fits in: Acts 17:23 is part of Paul’s speech at the Areopagus (Mars Hill) in Athens — a high point in Luke’s record of Paul’s missionary work, where Paul addresses philosophers and citizens about God and the resurrection. - Story timeline: Likely during Paul’s second missionary journey (around the early to mid-50s AD). Audience: Athenian civic leaders, Stoic and Epicurean philosophers, and curious citizens. Speaker: Paul the apostle, invited to explain his teaching after the people noticed his discussions about “foreign” gods. - Surrounding passage: - Verses just before (Acts 17:22): Paul begins by acknowledging Athenian religiosity and quoting their altar inscription to build rapport. - Verses after (Acts 17:24–31): Paul declares that God is Creator, not housed in temples, gives life, and calls people to repentance because of a future judgment guaranteed by raising Jesus from the dead. - Immediate outcome (Acts 17:32–34): Mixed responses — some mock, some are curious, and some (including Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris) become believers. ## Explanation - Quick take: Paul finds a sincere but mistaken religious practice in Athens. He uses the “Unknown God” altar as a bridge: he doesn’t insult their piety, but he declares who God truly is and points to Jesus as God’s definitive self-revelation. - In Depth: - Observing devotion: Paul sees “devotions” (Greek: ta hiera) — the Athenians were religious people, attentive to spiritual matters. Luke wants readers to see Paul not as rude toward religion but as recognizing genuine spiritual hunger. - The “Unknown God” altar: Some Athenians set up an altar to an unnamed god to avoid offending any deity — a typical ancient practice in a city full of gods and cults. Paul seizes this as an opportunity: if they worship an unknown god, he can introduce the God who is known — the Creator revealed in Jesus. - “Ignorantly worship”: The Greek idea is not merely insult but points out that they worship without true knowledge of God’s nature and purposes. Paul’s critique is corrective, not merely dismissive: their devotion is misdirected because they lack the true revelation of God. - Proclamation strategy: Paul combines cultural sensitivity (quoting their poets, noting their altar) with clear biblical claims (God as creator, judge, and one who raised Jesus). This model balances respect with bold proclamation. - Theological implication: God is not hidden by choice — God has revealed himself (most fully in Christ). Human religiosity that stops short of that revelation is incomplete. ## Key Words - ἱερά (hiera) — “sacred things/devotions/objects of worship”: refers to religious shrines, images, or devotions observed in the city. - ἄγνωστος (agnōstos) — “unknown”: used here as a label on the altar; points to something unnamed or not properly known. - ἀγνοοῦντες / ἀγνοῶσιν (agnoountes / agnoō) — “ignorantly, in ignorance”: to lack true knowledge or understanding. - καταγγέλλω (kataggellō) — “I proclaim/declare”: strong word for announcing or publicly declaring a message. ## Background - Cultural: Athens was a religiously plural city with many altars and local cults. It was common to honor or placate many gods, including unnamed ones, to avoid divine offense. Philosophical schools (Stoicism, Epicureanism) also debated the nature of gods and providence. - Historical/literary: Luke frames Paul as an evangelist who is also an astute rhetorician. This speech shows Luke’s interest in how the gospel interacts with Greco-Roman thought and shows a pivot from synagogue mission to public, urban engagement. ## Theology - Theological insights in plain language: - God is knowable: what people seek to appease or honor can be revealed and named by God himself, especially in Jesus. - True worship requires knowledge of who God is; ritual devotion without knowledge is incomplete. - Evangelism can use cultural entry points lovingly, combining respect for people’s spiritual searching with clear proclamation of Christ. ## Application To Your Life - For workers/coworkers: Look for common ground in conversation (values, concerns, language) as a way to share what truly grounds your hope — but be honest and clear about what you believe. - For parents: Model curiosity and kindness toward people of different beliefs while explaining clearly to children why Christians follow Jesus and what makes him different. - For seekers: If you feel spirituality but lack clarity, consider exploring how Jesus is presented as God’s revealing act — the one who makes God known. - For believers in pluralistic societies: Learn from Paul’s balance of respect and truth-telling: acknowledge others’ sincere seeking, then point to the gospel as the fulfillment of that seeking. - Reflection questions: - Where have I mistaken ritual, habit, or religious practice for true knowledge of God? - Who in my life is seeking spiritually and might receive a clear, compassionate explanation of the good news? - How can I respectfully use what people care about to introduce them to Jesus? - Short prayer: Lord, help me recognize sincere searching around me and give me wisdom and courage to introduce people to who You truly are in Jesus. ## Translation Comparison - 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.” - NIV: “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.” - ESV: “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.” - NRSV: “I also found an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.” - Why differences matter: - “Devotions” / “objects of worship” / “things of your worship” — translators choose between focusing on practices (devotions) or objects (altars, images). The Greek can cover both. - “Unknown God” / “an unknown god” — the article is flexible in Greek; translators decide whether this is a specific label or a general category. The nuance affects whether Paul treats it as a named altar or a broader concept. - “Ignorantly” vs “as unknown” vs “you are ignorant” — some translations emphasize people’s lack of knowledge more directly; others leave the observation implicit. These choices shape how strongly the reader feels Paul’s critique. ## FAQs - Q: Does “Unknown God” mean God was unknown before Jesus? Short answer: No — Scripture teaches that God has always revealed himself (through creation, conscience, covenants), but human knowledge of God is limited and often distorted. Paul’s point is that Athenians had a sincere religious impulse but lacked true knowledge of the living, creating God revealed fully in Jesus. The phrase “Unknown God” describes how some people tried to avoid offending any deity by leaving one unnamed; it does not imply God is unknowable. Paul seizes that inscription to claim that the God they call “unknown” is actually the God who made the world and who has been revealed in Christ. - Q: Was Paul rude or insensitive calling their worship “ignorant”? Short answer: Paul’s approach is pastoral and strategic rather than simply insulting. He begins by acknowledging their religiosity and even quotes local poets to show respect and common ground (Acts 17:22–23, 28). Calling their worship “ignorant” is an honest critique — he identifies a problem (lack of true knowledge of God) but follows it with clear proclamation of God’s nature and call to repentance (Acts 17:24–31). Paul models how to confront error: don’t mock the seekers, but helpfully point to the truth that completes their search. ## Cross References - Acts 17:24–31 — Paul’s full explanation of who the true God is (Creator, giver of life, judge) and the call to repentance. - Romans 1:18–23 — Human suppression of truth and the visible revelation of God in creation. - Acts 14:15 — Paul’s message in Lystra that “we worship the living God” rather than idols. - John 1:18 — “No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.” - Psalm 19:1 — Creation displays God’s glory — a theme Paul uses in Athens. ## Deeper Study - Commentary synthesis (high-level): Most commentators note Luke’s careful portrait of Athens as deeply religious yet philosophically speculative. Paul’s speech blends apologetic strategy with theological content: he appeals to common ground (poetry, the altar), corrects the ignorance about God, and then anchors truth in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Scholars emphasize Paul’s rhetorical skill and Luke’s theme that the gospel engages, confronts, and fulfills human religious searching. - Group study bullets: - Read Acts 17:16–34 together and identify Paul’s “bridge” statements — where does he build rapport, and where does he pivot to gospel claims? - Role-play: One person is an Athenian philosopher; another is Paul. Practice a respectful but clear conversation about who God is. - Discuss: What modern “unknown gods” (ideas, idols, or safe tolerations) do people use to explain or avoid the true God? - Application exercise: Each member identifies one place in their daily life where they can use a common interest to respectfully introduce a spiritual truth. ## Related verses (compare and contrast — and why) - Romans 1:21–23 — Why: Shows the universal problem Paul sees later in Athens — people see God in creation but fail to honor or truly know him. It gives a theological explanation for worship “in ignorance.” - Acts 14:15 — Why: Another instance where Paul rebukes idolatry and turns people toward the living God; useful to compare tone and technique in different cultural settings. - John 1:18 — Why: Offers a theological complement: though God may be “unknown” to some, Jesus makes God known — supporting Paul’s claim that the true God has been revealed. ## Talk to the Bible Try the “Talk To The Bible” feature to explore Acts 17:23 in interactive ways. Suggested prompts: - “Explain how Paul’s strategy in Acts 17 could look in a modern conversation about faith.” - “Show me modern examples of ‘unknown gods’ — cultural ideas people worship without knowing God — and how to address them kindly.” - “Walk me through a short, respectful script for introducing Jesus to a curious coworker, based on Paul’s Areopagus speech.”
