Definition: 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.

Explanation: Okay, let's break down this verse from Acts 17:23. It’s a really important passage about God and how He interacts with humanity. Here’s the explanation in simpler terms: What it says: “For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.” Let's unpack it piece by piece: “For as I passed by…” : This means God was watching over the people gathering in the temple. He wasn’t directly involved in their worship yet, but he was observing them. “…and beheld your devotions…” : He saw that they were contributing to their worship – praying, offering sacrifices, and generally dedicating themselves to something holy. It was a sign of faith and devotion. “I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.” : This is the key part! An altar is a sacred place where people would offer gifts and make prayers. The inscription on it says "To the Unknown God." This means God wasn't being addressed by a specific name; He was being referred to as something beyond human understanding. So, what does this mean? It’s a really powerful statement about God’s nature and relationship with humanity. Here are a few possible interpretations: God is All-Knowing: He knows everything – even the things we don't understand. God is Mysterious: He doesn't reveal himself in ways we can readily grasp. His identity is not easily defined or known to us. God is Beyond Human Comprehension: We can’t fully explain His purposes or plans because they are often far beyond our human perspective. The Context - It’s about the Early Church This verse appears in Acts 17:23, and it's a significant moment in the early church's history. They were gathered in the temple to worship God. As Paul was passing by, he saw this dedication – they were actively worshipping. He then realized that they weren’t just offering standard sacrifices; they were focusing on something beyond what they were typically doing. In essence, it's a reminder that God is far greater than anything we can imagine. It’s a call to humility and encourages us to look beyond our own understanding of things to truly connect with the divine. --- Do you want me to: Explain this verse further? Discuss different interpretations of it? Connect it to a specific biblical story or theme?