Acts 17:16-23

An altar to an unknown God Acts 17:16-23: While Paul waited for his co-workers his spirit was stirred by all the idolatry in Athens. He saw a city "full of idols." Paul had discussions, (1) in the Synagogue with the Jews, (2) with God-fearing Gentiles, and (3) in the market-place with those that were there. The philosophers of the Epicureans and of the Stoicks called Paul a babbler. They said, "He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection."

Paul was brought to Areopagus to be examined by the most skillful judge concerning his doctrine. They had never heard about Jesus, or about salvation through Him, nor of His resurrection from the dead. They wanted to hear for themselves the things spoken by Paul. The Athenians "spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing." Paul began his speech by saying that he had observed that the people of Athens were very religious. When they "honored their gods" for fear of missing one they had an altar "with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD." This was the God that Paul declared to them.