Acts 17:23 
Context| NET © | For as I went around and observed closely your objects of worship, 1 I even found an altar with this inscription: 2 ‘To an unknown god.’ Therefore what you worship without knowing it, 3 this I proclaim to you. |
| NIV © | For as I walked around and looked carefully at 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. |
| NASB © | "For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. |
| NLT © | for as I was walking along I saw your many altars. And one of them had this inscription on it––‘To an Unknown God.’ You have been worshiping him without knowing who he is, and now I wish to tell you about him. |
| MSG © | When I arrived here the other day, I was fascinated with all the shrines I came across. And then I found one inscribed, TO THE GOD NOBODY KNOWS. I'm here to introduce you to this God so you can worship intelligently, know who you're dealing with. |
| BBE © | 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. |
| NRSV © | For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. |
| NKJV © | "for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: |
| KJV | |
| NASB © | "For while I was passing <1330> through <1330> and examining <333> the objects <4574> of your worship <4574> , I also <2532> found <2147> an altar <1041> with this <3739> inscription <1924> , 'TO AN UNKNOWN <57> GOD <2316> .' Therefore <3767> what <3739> you worship <2151> in ignorance <50> , this <3778> I proclaim to you.<2605> |
| GREEK | |
| NET © [draft] ITL | For <1063> as <1330> I went around <1330> and <2532> observed closely <333> your <5216> objects of worship <4574> , I <2147> even <2532> found <2147> an altar <1041> with <1722> this <3739> inscription <1924> : ‘To an unknown <57> god <2316> .’ Therefore <3767> what you worship <2151> without knowing <50> it, this <5124> I <1473> proclaim <2605> to you .<5213> |
| NET © | For as I went around and observed closely your objects of worship, 1 I even found an altar with this inscription: 2 ‘To an unknown god.’ Therefore what you worship without knowing it, 3 this I proclaim to you. |
| NET © Notes |
1 tn Or “your sanctuaries.” L&N 53.54 gives “sanctuary” (place of worship) as an alternate meaning for the word σεβάσματα (sebasmata). 2 tn Grk “on which was written,” but since it would have been carved in stone, it is more common to speak of an “inscription” in English. To simplify the English the relative construction with a passive verb (“on which was inscribed”) was translated as a prepositional phrase with a substantive (“inscription”). 3 tn BDAG 13 s.v. ἀγνοέω 1.b has “Abs. ὅ ἀγνοοῦντες εὐσεβεῖτε what you worship without knowing it (on the subject matter Maximus Tyr. 11, 5e: all sorts of philosophers ἴσασιν οὐκ ἑκόντες καὶ λέγουσιν ἄκοντες sc. τὸ θεῖον = they know and name God without intending to do so) Ac 17:23.” Paul, in typical Jewish Christian style, informs them of the true God, of whom their idols are an ignorant reflection. |
