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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Acts 15:8 And God, who knows the heart, showed His approval by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/acts/15-8.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/1/44_Act_15_08.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Acts 15:8 - The Council at Jerusalem" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="And God, who knows the heart, showed His approval by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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<a href="/nkjv/acts/15.htm">New King James Version</a> So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, <a href="/nasb_/acts/15.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; <a href="/nasb/acts/15.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; <a href="/nasb77/acts/15.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; <a href="/lsb/acts/15.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; <a href="/amp/acts/15.htm">Amplified Bible</a> And God, who knows and understands the heart, testified to them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; <a href="/csb/acts/15.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he also did to us. <a href="/hcsb/acts/15.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> And God, who knows the heart, testified to them by giving the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us. <a href="/asv/acts/15.htm">American Standard Version</a> And God, who knoweth the heart, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as he did unto us; <a href="/cev/acts/15.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> He knows what is in everyone's heart. And he showed he had chosen the Gentiles, when he gave them the Holy Spirit, just as he had given his Spirit to us. <a href="/erv/acts/15.htm">English Revised Version</a> And God, which knoweth the heart, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; <a href="/gwt/acts/15.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> 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. <a href="/gnt/acts/15.htm">Good News Translation</a> And God, who knows the thoughts of everyone, showed his approval of the Gentiles by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he had to us. <a href="/isv/acts/15.htm">International Standard Version</a> God, who knows everyone's heart, showed them he approved by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. <a href="/msb/acts/15.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> And God, who knows the heart, showed His approval by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us. <a href="/net/acts/15.htm">NET Bible</a> And God, who knows the heart, has testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, <a href="/nheb/acts/15.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> God, who knows the heart, testified about them by giving the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us. <a href="/wbt/acts/15.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And God, who knoweth the hearts, bore them witness, giving to them the Holy Spirit, even as he did to us: <a href="/wey/acts/15.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> And God, who knows all hearts, gave His testimony in their favour by bestowing the Holy Spirit on them just as He did on us; <a href="/web/acts/15.htm">World English Bible</a> God, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/acts/15.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> and the heart-knowing God bore them testimony, having given to them the Holy Spirit, even as also to us, <a href="/blb/acts/15.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> And the heart-knowing God bore witness to them, having given them the Holy Spirit, as also to us. <a href="/ylt/acts/15.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> and the heart-knowing God did bare them testimony, having given to them the Holy Spirit, even as also to us, <a href="/slt/acts/15.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And God the knower of hearts testified to them, having given them the Holy Spirit, as also us;<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/acts/15.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And God, who knoweth the hearts, gave testimony, giving unto them the Holy Ghost, as well as to us; <a href="/cpdv/acts/15.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And God, who knows hearts, offered testimony, by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as to us. <a href="/nabre/acts/15.htm">New American Bible</a> And God, who knows the heart, bore witness by granting them the holy Spirit just as he did us. <a href="/nrsvce/acts/15.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> And God, who knows the human heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us;<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/acts/15.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And God, who knows what is in the heart, has testified concerning them, and has given them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/acts/15.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> “And God, who knows what is in the hearts, testified to them and gave them The Spirit of Holiness as to us.”<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/acts/15.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> And God, who knows the heart, became a witness for them, by giving them the Holy Spirit, as he gave it also to us; <a href="/godbey/acts/15.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> And God, who knows the heart, witnessed to them, giving to them the Holy Ghost, as also to us; <a href="/haweis/acts/15.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> And God, who is the discerner of the heart, bore them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as to us; <a href="/mace/acts/15.htm">Mace New Testament</a> God who knows their hearts has granted them a testimonial, by giving them the holy spirit, even as he did to us: <a href="/wey/acts/15.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> And God, who knows all hearts, gave His testimony in their favour by bestowing the Holy Spirit on them just as He did on us; <a href="/worrell/acts/15.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> And the heart-knowing God bore witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as to us: <a href="/worsley/acts/15.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> And God who knoweth the heart, bare witness to them, giving them the holy Spirit, as He had done also to us: <a href="/parallel/acts/15-8.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/in5WTRQ9BSQ?start=4907" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/acts/15.htm">The Council at Jerusalem</a> …7After much discussion, Peter got up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you that the Gentiles would hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8<a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">And</a> <a href="/greek/2316.htm" title="2316: Theos (N-NMS) -- A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.">God,</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">who</a> <a href="/greek/2589.htm" title="2589: kardiognōstēs (N-NMS) -- A knower of the inner life (character, hearts). From kardia and ginosko; a heart-knower.">knows the heart,</a> <a href="/greek/3140.htm" title="3140: emartyrēsen (V-AIA-3S) -- To witness, bear witness, give evidence, testify, give a good report. From martus; to be a witness, i.e. Testify.">showed His approval</a> <a href="/greek/1325.htm" title="1325: dous (V-APA-NMS) -- To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give.">by giving</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: to (Art-ANS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: to (Art-ANS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/40.htm" title="40: Hagion (Adj-ANS) -- Set apart by (or for) God, holy, sacred. From hagos; sacred.">Holy</a> <a href="/greek/4151.htm" title="4151: Pneuma (N-ANS) -- Wind, breath, spirit. ">Spirit</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autois (PPro-DN3P) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">to them,</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">just</a> <a href="/greek/2531.htm" title="2531: kathōs (Adv) -- According to the manner in which, in the degree that, just as, as. From kata and hos; just as, that.">as</a> <a href="/greek/1473.htm" title="1473: hēmin (PPro-D1P) -- I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.">He did to us.</a> 9He made no distinction between us and them, for He cleansed their hearts by faith.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/acts/10-44.htm">Acts 10:44-47</a> While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard his message. / All the circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. / For they heard them speaking in tongues and exalting God. Then Peter said, ... <a href="/romans/8-27.htm">Romans 8:27</a> And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. <a href="/1_corinthians/12-7.htm">1 Corinthians 12:7-11</a> Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. / To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by the same Spirit, / to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, ... <a href="/galatians/3-2.htm">Galatians 3:2-5</a> I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith? / Are you so foolish? After starting in the Spirit, are you now finishing in the flesh? / Have you suffered so much for nothing, if it really was for nothing? ... <a href="/ephesians/1-13.htm">Ephesians 1:13-14</a> And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, / who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory. <a href="/1_john/3-24.htm">1 John 3:24</a> Whoever keeps His commandments remains in God, and God in him. And by this we know that He remains in us: by the Spirit He has given us. <a href="/1_john/4-13.htm">1 John 4:13</a> By this we know that we remain in Him, and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit. <a href="/john/14-17.htm">John 14:17</a> the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you. <a href="/john/16-13.htm">John 16:13</a> However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. <a href="/romans/5-5.htm">Romans 5:5</a> And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. <a href="/1_corinthians/2-10.htm">1 Corinthians 2:10-11</a> But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. / For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him? So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. <a href="/hebrews/10-15.htm">Hebrews 10:15-16</a> The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First He says: / “This is the covenant I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord. I will put My laws in their hearts and inscribe them on their minds.” <a href="/ezekiel/36-26.htm">Ezekiel 36:26-27</a> I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. / And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances. <a href="/jeremiah/31-33.htm">Jeremiah 31:33-34</a> “But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people. / No longer will each man teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.” <a href="/joel/2-28.htm">Joel 2:28-29</a> And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. / Even on My menservants and maidservants, I will pour out My Spirit in those days.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And God, which knows the hearts, bore them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did to us;which.<a href="/acts/1-24.htm">Acts 1:24</a> And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,<a href="/1_samuel/16-7.htm">1 Samuel 16:7</a> But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.<a href="/1_kings/8-39.htm">1 Kings 8:39</a> Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;)bare.<a href="/acts/14-3.htm">Acts 14:3</a> Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.<a href="/john/5-37.htm">John 5:37</a> And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.<a href="/hebrews/2-4.htm">Hebrews 2:4</a> God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?giving.<a href="/acts/2-4.htm">Acts 2:4</a> And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.<a href="/acts/4-31.htm">Acts 4:31</a> And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.<a href="/acts/10-44.htm">Acts 10:44,45</a> While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word… <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/acts/10-35.htm">Accepted</a> <a href="/acts/13-18.htm">Bare</a> <a href="/proverbs/8-21.htm">Bestowing</a> <a href="/acts/13-22.htm">Bore</a> <a href="/acts/7-46.htm">Favour</a> <a href="/acts/13-52.htm">Ghost</a> <a href="/acts/13-24.htm">Heart</a> <a href="/acts/14-17.htm">Hearts</a> <a href="/acts/13-52.htm">Holy</a> <a href="/acts/11-13.htm">Showed</a> <a href="/acts/13-52.htm">Spirit</a> <a href="/acts/14-3.htm">Testified</a> <a href="/acts/14-17.htm">Testimony</a> <a href="/acts/14-17.htm">Witness</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/acts/21-20.htm">Accepted</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/15-37.htm">Bare</a> <a href="/romans/5-21.htm">Bestowing</a> <a href="/acts/22-12.htm">Bore</a> <a href="/acts/25-3.htm">Favour</a> <a href="/acts/15-28.htm">Ghost</a> <a href="/acts/16-14.htm">Heart</a> <a href="/acts/15-9.htm">Hearts</a> <a href="/acts/15-28.htm">Holy</a> <a href="/acts/15-14.htm">Showed</a> <a href="/acts/15-28.htm">Spirit</a> <a href="/acts/16-2.htm">Testified</a> <a href="/acts/16-2.htm">Testimony</a> <a href="/acts/20-26.htm">Witness</a><div class="vheading2">Acts 15</div>1. <a href="/acts/15-1.htm">Great dissensions arise regarding circumcision.</a> 5. <a href="/acts/15-5.htm">The apostles consult about it,</a> 22. <a href="/acts/15-22.htm">and send their determination by letters to the churches.</a> 36. <a href="/acts/15-36.htm">Paul and Barnabas, thinking to visit the brothers together, </a> 39. <a href="/acts/15-39.htm">disagree, and travel different ways.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/acts/15.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/acts/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/acts/15.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>And God, who knows the heart This phrase emphasizes God's omniscience, particularly His ability to discern the true intentions and thoughts of individuals. In the biblical context, this is a reminder that God sees beyond outward appearances and actions, as seen in <a href="/1_samuel/16-7.htm">1 Samuel 16:7</a>, where God tells Samuel that He looks at the heart rather than outward appearance. This understanding is crucial in the context of <a href="/acts/15.htm">Acts 15</a>, where the early church is grappling with the inclusion of Gentiles. God's knowledge of the heart assures believers that His judgments are just and based on true righteousness.showed His approval God's approval is demonstrated through His actions, not merely words. In the context of <a href="/acts/15.htm">Acts 15</a>, this approval is significant because it validates the inclusion of Gentiles into the Christian community without the need for adherence to the full Mosaic Law. This divine endorsement is a pivotal moment in the early church, affirming that salvation and acceptance by God are based on faith and not ethnic or cultural identity. This aligns with the message of <a href="/ephesians/2-8.htm">Ephesians 2:8-9</a>, which emphasizes salvation by grace through faith.by giving the Holy Spirit to them The giving of the Holy Spirit is a sign of God's acceptance and blessing. In <a href="/acts/10.htm">Acts 10</a>, Peter witnesses the Holy Spirit being poured out on the Gentiles, which serves as a divine confirmation of their inclusion in the covenant community. This event parallels the Pentecost experience in <a href="/acts/2.htm">Acts 2</a>, where the Holy Spirit is given to Jewish believers. The Holy Spirit's presence signifies God's active work in the lives of believers, empowering them for service and confirming their status as God's children, as seen in <a href="/romans/8-16.htm">Romans 8:16</a>.just as He did to us This phrase underscores the equality between Jewish and Gentile believers in the early church. By stating that God gave the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles "just as He did to us," Peter highlights that there is no distinction in the way God interacts with different groups of people. This reflects the fulfillment of prophecies such as <a href="/joel/2-28.htm">Joel 2:28-29</a>, where God promises to pour out His Spirit on all people. It also echoes the teaching of <a href="/galatians/3-28.htm">Galatians 3:28</a>, which declares that in Christ, there is neither Jew nor Greek, emphasizing the unity and equality of all believers in the body of Christ.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a> The omniscient Creator who knows the hearts of all people and shows His approval by giving the Holy Spirit. 2. <a href="/topical/t/the_apostles_and_elders.htm">The Apostles and Elders</a> Leaders in the early church who gathered in Jerusalem to discuss the inclusion of Gentiles in the faith. 3. <a href="/topical/g/gentile_believers.htm">Gentile Believers</a> Non-Jewish individuals who have come to faith in Jesus Christ and received the Holy Spirit. 4. <a href="/topical/j/jerusalem_council.htm">Jerusalem Council</a> A significant meeting in the early church where the apostles and elders discussed the requirements for Gentile believers. 5. <a href="/topical/p/peter.htm">Peter</a> One of Jesus' apostles who spoke at the council, affirming that God gave the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/g/god's_omniscience.htm">God's Omniscience</a> God knows the heart of every individual. We should strive to have hearts that are pure and aligned with His will. <a href="/topical/t/the_gift_of_the_holy_spirit.htm">The Gift of the Holy Spirit</a> The Holy Spirit is given as a sign of God's approval and presence in our lives. We should seek to live by the Spirit. <a href="/topical/u/unity_in_diversity.htm">Unity in Diversity</a> The early church's acceptance of Gentiles shows that God's family transcends cultural and ethnic boundaries. We should embrace diversity within the body of Christ. <a href="/topical/f/faith_over_rituals.htm">Faith Over Rituals</a> The Jerusalem Council emphasized faith in Christ over adherence to the law. Our focus should be on a relationship with Jesus rather than mere religious rituals. <a href="/topical/g/god's_approval.htm">God's Approval</a> True approval comes from God, not man. We should seek to please God above all else.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_acts_15.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Acts 15</a> <a href="/q/have_you_repented_and_sought_forgiveness.htm">How does the Holy Spirit guide believers?</a> <a href="/q/why_did_the_1844_millerite_prophecy_fail.htm">What does the Bible teach about worship?</a> <a href="/q/how_do_i_receive_the_holy_spirit.htm">How do I receive the Holy Spirit?</a> <a href="/q/why_are_some_ot_laws_still_needed.htm">Acts 15:7–9 – If God supposedly made no distinction between Jews and Gentiles, why do some Old Testament laws still appear necessary in the letter? </a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/acts/15.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(8) God which knoweth the hearts.--We note the recurrence of the epithet as characteristic of St. Peter. (See Note on <a href="/acts/1-24.htm" title="And they prayed, and said, You, Lord, which know the hearts of all men, show whether of these two you have chosen,">Acts 1:24</a>.)<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/acts/15.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 8. - Heart for hearts, A.V. (καρδιογνώστης). Bare them witness; i.e. set the mark of his approval upon them, vouched for their sincerity (see the use of the verb μαρτυρέω in <a href="/luke/4-22.htm">Luke 4:22</a>; <a href="/john/3-26.htm">John 3:26</a>; <a href="/acts/6-3.htm">Acts 6:3</a>; <a href="/acts/10-22.htm">Acts 10:22</a>, etc.). <a href="/commentaries/acts/15-8.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>And καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. God, Θεὸς (Theos) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2316.htm">Strong's 2316: </a> A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very. who ὁ (ho) Article - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. knows the heart, καρδιογνώστης (kardiognōstēs) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2589.htm">Strong's 2589: </a> A knower of the inner life (character, hearts). From kardia and ginosko; a heart-knower. showed His approval ἐμαρτύρησεν (emartyrēsen) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3140.htm">Strong's 3140: </a> To witness, bear witness, give evidence, testify, give a good report. From martus; to be a witness, i.e. Testify. by giving δοὺς (dous) Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1325.htm">Strong's 1325: </a> To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give. the τὸ (to) Article - Accusative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. Holy Ἅγιον (Hagion) Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_40.htm">Strong's 40: </a> Set apart by (or for) God, holy, sacred. From hagos; sacred. Spirit Πνεῦμα (Pneuma) Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4151.htm">Strong's 4151: </a> Wind, breath, spirit. to them, αὐτοῖς (autois) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Neuter 3rd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. just καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. as καθὼς (kathōs) Adverb <a href="/greek/strongs_2531.htm">Strong's 2531: </a> According to the manner in which, in the degree that, just as, as. From kata and hos; just as, that. [He did] to us. ἡμῖν (hēmin) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1473.htm">Strong's 1473: </a> I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/acts/15-8.htm">Acts 15:8 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/acts/15-8.htm">Acts 15:8 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/acts/15-8.htm">Acts 15:8 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/acts/15-8.htm">Acts 15:8 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/acts/15-8.htm">Acts 15:8 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/acts/15-8.htm">Acts 15:8 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/acts/15-8.htm">Acts 15:8 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/acts/15-8.htm">Acts 15:8 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/acts/15-8.htm">Acts 15:8 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/acts/15-8.htm">Acts 15:8 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/acts/15-8.htm">NT Apostles: Acts 15:8 God who knows the heart testified about (Acts of the Apostles Ac) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/acts/15-7.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Acts 15:7"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Acts 15:7" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/acts/15-9.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Acts 15:9"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Acts 15:9" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>