Acts 17:23 asv — For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, TO AN UNK…

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. "

— Acts 17:23, American Standard Version

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Acts 17:23 in Other Translations

6 versions All translations

Acts 17 — Context

20

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

21

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

22

And Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus, and said, Ye men of Athens, in all things I perceive that ye are very religious.

23

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.

24

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

25

neither is he served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

26

and he made of one every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation;

Acts 17:23 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Acts 17:23 say?
Acts 17:23 in the American Standard Version reads: “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. ”
Where is Acts 17:23 in the Bible?
Acts 17:23 is found in the New Testament, in the book of Acts, chapter 17, verse 23.
Who wrote Acts?
Acts is traditionally attributed to Luke. It was written c. AD 62–64.
What is the book of Acts about?
Acts is the sequel to Luke's Gospel — the story of how the message of the risen Jesus moved out from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. Through Peter, Paul, and many ordinary believers, the Holy Spirit builds the early church across the Roman world.
What are the major themes of Acts?
Acts explores themes including Holy Spirit, Mission, Church Growth, Persecution, Gospel to the Gentiles. These themes shape the meaning and context of Acts 17:23.
What translation should I read Acts 17:23 in?
Acts 17:23 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Acts 17:23?
Acts 17:23 reads (ASV): “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. ” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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