Acts 17:23 “For as I walked around and examined your objects of worship, I even fo…”

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

Other translations

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.

World English Bible

For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription: ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ What therefore you worship in ignorance, I announce to you.

American Standard Version

For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. What therefore ye worship in ignorance, this I set forth unto you.

Geneva Bible 1599

For as I passed by, and behelde your deuotions, I founde an altar wherein was written, VNTO THE VNKNOWEN GOD. Whom ye then ignorantly worship, him shewe I vnto you.

Darby Translation

for, passing through and beholding your shrines, I found also an altar on which was inscribed, To the unknown God. Whom therefore ye reverence, not knowing [him], him I announce to you.

Young's Literal Translation

for passing through and contemplating your objects of worship, I found also an erection on which had been inscribed: To God — unknown; whom, therefore — not knowing — ye do worship, this One I announce to you.

Bible in Basic English

For when I came by, I was looking at the things to which you give worship, and I saw an altar with this writing on it, TO THE GOD OF WHOM THERE IS NO KNOWLEDGE. Now, what you, without knowledge, give worship to, I make clear to you.

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Cross references

“devotions”

2 Thessalonians 2:4 1 Corinthians 8:5 Romans 1:23–25

2 Thessalonians 2:4 · BSB

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 Corinthians 8:5 · BSB

For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords),

Romans 1:23–25 · BSB

and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

“TO”

John 17:3 John 17:25 Romans 1:28 1 Corinthians 1:21 1 Timothy 1:17 1 John 5:20

John 17:3 · BSB

Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.

John 17:25 · BSB

Righteous Father, although the world has not known You, I know You, and they know that You sent Me.

Romans 1:28 · BSB

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 · BSB

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.

1 Timothy 1:17 · BSB

Now to the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

1 John 5:20 · BSB

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.

“ignorantly”

John 4:22 Acts 17:30 Matthew 15:9 John 8:54 Psalm 50:21

John 4:22 · BSB

You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.

Acts 17:30 · BSB

Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.

Matthew 15:9 · BSB

They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’ ”

John 8:54 · BSB

Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory means nothing. The One who glorifies Me is My Father, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’

Psalm 50:21 · BSB

You have done these things, and I kept silent; you thought I was just like you. But now I rebuke you and accuse you to your face.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

22Then Paul stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see that in every way you are very religious.

24The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands.

Read Acts 17