God’s Word Translation
Acts 15:8
8God, who knows everyone’s thoughts, showed that he approved of people who aren’t Jewish by giving them the Holy Spirit as he gave the Holy Spirit 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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit 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,
Context of Acts 15:8
6The apostles and spiritual leaders met to consider this statement. 7After a lot of debating, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know what happened some time ago. God chose me so that people who aren’t Jewish could hear the Good News and believe. God, who knows everyone’s thoughts, showed that he approved of people who aren’t Jewish by giving them the Holy Spirit as he gave the Holy Spirit to us. 9God doesn’t discriminate between Jewish and non-Jewish people. He has cleansed non-Jewish people through faith as he has cleansed us Jews. 10So why are you testing God? You’re putting a burden on the disciples, a burden neither our ancestors nor we can carry.
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 1:24Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s thoughts. Show us which of these two you have chosen.
- 1 Samuel 16:7But the Lord told Samuel, “Don’t look at his appearance or how tall he is, because I have rejected him. God does not see as humans see. Humans look at outward appearances, but the Lord looks into the heart.”
- 1 Kings 8:39Hear ⌞them⌟ in heaven, where you live. Forgive ⌞them⌟, and take action. Give each person the proper reply. (You know what is in their hearts, because you alone know what is in the hearts of all people.)
- 1 Chronicles 28:9“And you, my son Solomon, learn to know your father’s God. Serve the Lord wholeheartedly and willingly because he searches every heart and understands every thought ⌞we have⌟. If you dedicate your life to serving him, he will accept you. But if you abandon him, he will reject you from then on.
- 1 Chronicles 29:17I know, my God, that you examine hearts and delight in honesty. With an honest heart I have willingly offered all these things. I’ve been overjoyed to see your people here offering so willingly to you.
- Psalms 44:21wouldn’t God find out, since he knows the secrets in our hearts?
- Psalms 139:1O Lord, you have examined me, and you know me.
- Jeremiah 11:20O Lord of Armies, you judge fairly and test motives and thoughts. I want to see you take revenge on them, because I’ve brought my case to you.
- Jeremiah 17:10I, the Lord, search minds and test hearts. I will reward each person for what he has done. I will reward him for the results of his actions.
- Jeremiah 20:12But the Lord of Armies examines the righteous. He sees their motives and thoughts. I want to see you take revenge on them, because I’ve brought my case to you.
- John 2:24Jesus, however, was wary of these believers. He understood people
- John 21:17Jesus asked him a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt sad because Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” So Peter said to him, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus told him, “Feed my sheep.
- Hebrews 4:13No creature can hide from God. Everything is uncovered and exposed for him to see. We must answer to him.
- Revelation 2:23I will kill her children. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches hearts and minds. I will reward each of you for what you have done.
- Acts 14:3Paul and Barnabas stayed in the city of Iconium for a long time. They spoke boldly about the Lord, who confirmed their message about his good will by having them perform miracles and do amazing things.
- John 5:37The Father who sent me testifies on my behalf. You have never heard his voice, and you have never seen his form.
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries