What did the Athenians know about the true God?
The Athenians knew nothing of the true God. They were devoted to many idols and mythological gods and goddesses, and even set up an altar to an unknown God just in case they missed one. They had no knowledge of the God of creation.
Les explains that when Paul ministered among the Athenians, they had never heard anything of the true God; their new things were merely rehashes of other oriental gods or mythological goddesses. Their worship was idolatrous, and they had an altar inscribed "to the unknown God" to cover any missing deity. Les illustrates this with a story about a man who advised praying to St. Jude and "plug every hole," showing the Athenians' same approach. They knew nothing of the God of creation.
Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: