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Act 17:23 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:

Paul has been casually observing their forms of worship while waiting to have an audience. His
first observation is the over-devotion to many religions. When no statue could be built for a
particular concept, an altar would be built instead with a plaque and an inscription to that god.
To ensure no god was overlooked, an altar was built to the unknown god where people can
place their offerings to satisfy him. Paul calls this “ignorant” because they worship the true God
without knowing Him.

THE TRUE GOD

Act 17:24 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth,
does not dwell in temples made with hands.

He is telling them, in essence, that Zeus, Apollo, and Athena are all myths; they did not create
the world, God did. The true Lord does not live in handmade buildings. Imperfect men cannot
make a house or plan for God, but perfect God can make a house and plan for man.

Act 17:25 Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives
to all life, breath, and all things.

False religions think their gods need their works to fulfill their missions. God does not nor ever
will need man’s help. It is quite the opposite. Man needs God’s help. This concept is that man
is necessary to make God happy. God was happy before man ever came along. God is happy
for Himself and needs no one to fulfill Him or to make Him happy. However, God is necessary
to make man happy in salvation, physical life, and all things afterward.

Act 17:26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the
earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,

And hath made of (from) one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth,
and hath determined (predetermined) the times (kairos: dispensations, set or proper times)
before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation (nations);

God predetermined dispensations and national boundaries to protect man. Paul is actually
telling these men God determined countries (including their own), yet they are turning away
from Him by looking for other gods.
Act 17:27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find
Him, though He is not far from each one of us;

That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel (pselaphao: feel, handle, touch) . . .