Bible story
Paul At The Areopagus Prayer
A short, Scripture-shaped bible story prayer for an ordinary moment of Christian faith.
The prayer
A prayer to pray now
Father, Paul saw an altar in Athens that said, "To the unknown god." He used it as a bridge to share Jesus. Give me eyes like his. Help me see what the people around me are reaching for. They have their own altars now. To success. To doing things their own way. To feeling good. To whatever our culture says matters most. Help me name what I see with kindness. Help me build a bridge from there to Christ. Paul's day in Athens did not look like a big win. But some people believed. And the seeds he planted kept growing for years. Plant the seeds You have given me to plant. I will trust You with the harvest and with the timing. Amen.
How to pray it
- Read it slowly. Move through this prayer one line at a time, out loud if you can, letting each phrase land before the next.
- Make it personal. Pause where a line meets your day and name the person, fear, or hope it touches before God.
- Carry it with you. Keep one sentence with you — on your phone or in your pocket — and return to it when the day gets loud.
Verses to pray
Pray these slowly, one line at a time. Scripture quoted from a public-domain translation.
For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription: ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ What therefore you worship in ignorance, I announce to you.
Acts 17:23Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said, “You men of Athens, I perceive that you are very religious in all things.
Acts 17:22
Questions about this prayer
When should I pray paul at the areopagus prayer?
Pray it whenever the words fit your moment — at the start of the day, in a hard stretch, or when you simply want to turn toward God.
Which Bible verses anchor this prayer?
This prayer is anchored in Acts 17:23, Acts 17:22. The "Verses to pray" section above quotes them in full.
Can I save or share this prayer?
Yes. Use the Copy prayer button to copy the words, or open the Chosen Portion app to keep a daily prayer, devotional, and Scripture with you.