Acts 15:8

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

6Both the apostles and the elders met together to deliberate about this matter. 7After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that some time ago God chose me to preach to the Gentiles so they would hear the message of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, has testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9and he made no distinction between them and us, cleansing their hearts by faith. 10So now why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?

Acts 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 the hearts of all. Show us which one of these two you have chosen
• 1 Samuel 16:7But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t be impressed by his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. God does not view things the way men do. People look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
• 1 Kings 8:39then listen from your heavenly dwelling place, forgive their sin, and act favorably toward each one based on your evaluation of his motives. (Indeed you are the only one who can correctly evaluate the motives of all people.)
• 1 Chronicles 28:9“And you, Solomon my son, obey the God of your father and serve him with a submissive attitude and a willing spirit, for the Lord examines all minds and understands every motive of one’s thoughts. If you seek him, he will let you find him, but if you abandon him, he will reject you permanently.
• 1 Chronicles 29:17I know, my God, that you examine thoughts and are pleased with integrity. With pure motives I contribute all this; and now I look with joy as your people who have gathered here contribute to you.
• Psalms 44:21would not God discover it, for he knows one’s thoughts?
• Psalms 139:1O Lord, you examine me and know.
• Jeremiah 11:20So I said to the Lord, “O Lord who rules over all, you are a just judge! You examine people’s hearts and minds. I want to see you pay them back for what they have done because I trust you to vindicate my cause.”
• Jeremiah 17:10I, the Lord, probe into people’s minds. I examine people’s hearts. I deal with each person according to how he has behaved. I give them what they deserve based on what they have done.
• Jeremiah 20:12O Lord who rules over all, you test and prove the righteous. You see into people’s hearts and minds. Pay them back for what they have done because I trust you to vindicate my cause.
• John 2:24But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people.
• John 21:17Jesus said a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that Jesus asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” and said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus replied, “Feed my sheep.
• Hebrews 4:13And no creature is hidden from God, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.
• Revelation 2:23Furthermore, I will strike her followers with a deadly disease, and then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts. I will repay each one of you what your deeds deserve.
• Acts 14:3So they stayed there for a considerable time, speaking out courageously for the Lord, who testified to the message of his grace, granting miraculous signs and wonders to be performed through their hands.
• John 5:37And the Father who sent me has himself testified about me. You people have never heard his voice nor seen his form at any time,

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

• Antioch
• Bigotry
• Catholicity
• Church
• Circumcision
• Council
• Doctrines
• Elder
• Gentiles
• God Continued...
• Heart
• Holy Spirit
• Law
• Peter
• Salvation
• Titus

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Holy Ghost
• Abstain
• Cause
• Choice
• Consider
• Conversion
• Council
• Declare

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