Acts 17:23 — Community Reflections

ACTS 17:23 — KING JAMES VERSION 1

“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.”

For as I walked around and observed your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD — Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you — The 'Unknown God' altar likely refers to dedicatory practices for unknown divine powers; Paul seizes this theological lacuna as opportunity for the gospel's insertion. The proclaimed God fills the unknown god-shaped void.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

Publish a note on this verse

Elena PetrovaNote1mo ago

The Unknown God Made Known

The Athenians built an altar to the unknown god, just in case. They'd covered all their theological bases except the one that mattered. Paul reads their anxiety as an invitation. 'What therefore ye wo...