Acts 17:23

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 passed by, and beheld your devotions, [ ta (G3588) sebasmata (G4574) humoon (G5216)] - rather, 'the objects of your devotion,' or 'your sacred things;' referring, as is plain from the next words, to their works of art consecrated to religion.

I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD, [ agnoostoo (G57) theoo (G2316)] - or, 'To an Unknown God;' erected, probably, to commemorate some divine interposition which they were unable to ascribe to any known deity. That there were such altars, Greek writers attest; and on this the apostle skillfully fastens at the outset, as the text of his discourse, taking it as evidence of that dimness of religious conception which, in virtue of his better light, he was prepared to dissipate.

Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, [ agnoountes (G50) eusebeite (G2151)]. "Ignorantly" is too harsh a rendering. It should be, 'Ye worship, not knowing Him' (alluding to the inscription just mentioned).

Him declare I unto you, [ katangelloo (G2605)] - 'Him set I forth unto you;' taking up their own word regarding him (see the note at Acts 17:18). [Lachmann's and Tischendorf's reading - ho (G3739) ... touto (G5124) - 'What therefore ye worship ... that set I forth,' which is that of good manuscripts, and of the Vulgate, would seem to have internal evidence in its favour, though the Received Text is well supported.] How very unlike this is to all his previous discourses-if we except that to the idolaters of Lycaonia! (Acts 14:15.) But the reason is obvious. His subject was not, as in the synagogues, the Messiahship of Jesus; but THE LIVING GOD, in opposition to the materialistic and pantheistic polytheism of Greece, which subverted all true Religion. Nor does he come with speculation on this profound subject-of which they had had more than enough from others-but with an authoritative 'announcement' of Him after whom they were groping; not giving Him any name, however, nor even naming the Saviour Himself, but unfolding the true character of both as they were able to receive it.