Acts 17:23

Authorized King James Version (1611)

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.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • John 4:22 : 22 ‹Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.›
  • Acts 17:30 : 30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
  • John 17:3 : 3 ‹And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.›
  • Gal 4:8-9 : 8 ¶ Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. 9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
  • 2 Thess 2:4 : 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
  • 1 John 5:20 : 20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, [even] in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
  • 1 Tim 1:17 : 17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, [be] honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
  • Eph 2:12 : 12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
  • John 17:25 : 25 ‹O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.›
  • Rom 1:20-25 : 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
  • Rom 1:28 : 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
  • 1 Cor 1:21 : 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
  • 1 Cor 8:5 : 5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
  • 2 Cor 4:4-6 : 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
  • John 8:54 : 54 Jesus answered, ‹If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:›
  • Ps 50:21 : 21 These [things] hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether [such an one] as thyself: [but] I will reprove thee, and set [them] in order before thine eyes.
  • Ps 147:20 : 20 He hath not dealt so with any nation: and [as for his] judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD.
  • Matt 15:9 : 9 ‹But in vain they do worship me, teaching› [for] ‹doctrines the commandments of men.›

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Acts 17:15-22
    8 verses
    87%

    15And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.

    16¶ Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.

    17Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.

    18Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.

    19And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, [is]?

    20For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.

    21(For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

    22¶ Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, [Ye] men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

  • Acts 17:24-25
    2 verses
    78%

    24God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

    25Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

  • Acts 14:11-16
    6 verses
    75%

    11And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.

    12And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.

    13Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.

    14[Which] when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard [of], they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,

    15And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

    16Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.

  • Gal 4:8
    72%

    8¶ Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.

  • Acts 19:25-27
    3 verses
    72%

    25Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.

    26Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:

    27So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.

  • Acts 17:27-30
    4 verses
    72%

    27That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

    28For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

    29Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

    30And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

  • Acts 24:11
    71%

    11Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship.

  • Acts 19:37
    71%

    37For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.

  • 1 Thess 1:9
    71%

    9For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;

  • Acts 3:17
    70%

    17And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did [it], as [did] also your rulers.

  • Acts 19:35
    70%

    35And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, [Ye] men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the [image] which fell down from Jupiter?

  • Acts 21:28-29
    2 verses
    70%

    28Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all [men] every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.

    29(For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)

  • Rom 1:19-21
    3 verses
    69%

    19¶ Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed [it] unto them.

    20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

    21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

  • Acts 21:19
    69%

    19And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.

  • Acts 16:17
    68%

    17The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

  • Acts 18:13
    68%

    13Saying, This [fellow] persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.

  • 1 Cor 12:2
    68%

    2Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

  • Rom 1:23
    68%

    23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

  • Acts 14:18
    68%

    18And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.

  • Acts 17:1
    67%

    1¶ Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:

  • 1 Cor 14:25
    67%

    25And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on [his] face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

  • 1 Cor 3:16
    67%

    16¶ Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

  • Acts 28:22
    67%

    22But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.

  • Rom 10:2
    67%

    2For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

  • Rom 1:13
    67%

    13Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

  • Gal 1:22
    67%

    22And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:

  • 1 Cor 1:21
    67%

    21For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

  • 1 Cor 8:4
    67%

    4¶ As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol [is] nothing in the world, and that [there is] none other God but one.

  • Eph 4:17
    67%

    17¶ This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,