English Standard Version
Acts 15:8
8And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us,
Acts 15:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
- New International Version (NIV)God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.
- New King James Version (NKJV)So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us,
- New Living Translation (NLT)God knows people’s hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us.
Context of Acts 15:8
6The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. 7And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. 10Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?
Read all of Acts 15Acts 15:8 word by word
καὶ ὁ καρδιογνώστης θεὸς ἐμαρτύρησεν αὐτοῖς δοὺς τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον καθὼς καὶ ἡμῖν·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- which knoweth the heartsκαρδιογνώστηςkardiognōstēs · heart-knowerG2589
- bareμαρτυρέωmartureō · to testifyG3140
- themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- givingδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
- the Holyἅγιοςhagios · holyG40
- Ghostπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
- asκαθώςkathōs · as/just asG2531
- unto usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
Cross-references for Acts 15:8
- Acts 1:24And they prayed and said, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen
- 1 Samuel 16:7But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."
- 1 Kings 8:39then hear in heaven your dwelling place and forgive and act and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways (for you, you only, know the hearts of all the children of mankind),
- 1 Chronicles 28:9"And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.
- 1 Chronicles 29:17I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you.
- Psalms 44:21would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart.
- Psalms 139:1O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
- Jeremiah 11:20But, O Lord of hosts, who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you have I committed my cause.
- Jeremiah 17:10"I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds."
- Jeremiah 20:12O Lord of hosts, who tests the righteous, who sees the heart and the mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you have I committed my cause.
- John 2:24But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people
- John 21:17He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.
- Hebrews 4:13And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
- Revelation 2:23and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.
- Acts 14:3So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
- John 5:37And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen,
Commentaries on Acts 15:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8And God which knoweth the hearts - Ϛ . We had this epithet of the Divine Being once before; see Acts 1:24, and the note there: it occurs no where else in the New Testament. Bare them witness - Considered them as proper or fit to receive the Gospel of Christ. It is properly remarked by learned men, that , to bear witness to any person, signifies to approve, to testify in behalf of. Here it signifies that, as God evidently sent the Gospel to the Gentiles…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8And God, which knoweth the hearts - Acts 1:24. God thus knew whether they were true converts or not, and gave a demonstration that he acknowledged them as his. Giving them the Holy Ghost - Acts 10:45-46.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-21Verses 7-21 We see from the words "purifying their hearts by faith," and the address of St. Peter, that justification by faith, and sanctification by the Holy Ghost, cannot be separated; and that both are the gift of God. We have great cause to bless God that we have heard the gospel. May we have that faith which the great Searcher of hearts approves, and attests by the seal of the Holy Spirit. Then our hearts and consciences will be purified from the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-11Peter recalled his experience in Cornelius's household (chapter 10). He argued that God had accepted the Gentiles without circumcision by giving them the Holy Spirit. The grace of the Lord Jesus was available to people from all nations.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. God, which knoweth the hearts--implying that the real question for admission to full standing in the visible Church is the state of the heart. Hence, though that cannot be known by men, no principle of admission to church privileges which reverses this can be sound.Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 15:8
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Acts 15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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