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Acts 15

And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.

But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:

Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:

Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:

Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.

And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.

Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.

Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.

And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.

But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.

And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

What does Acts 15:18 mean?

Explanation

[Acts 15:18] states: "Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world." This verse conveys the omniscience of God, that He is aware of all things, including His works from the creation of the world to the present day, and presumably into the future.

On a literal level, it suggests that nothing is hidden from God and that all events and actions are within His knowledge.

Deeper meanings infer God's sovereignty, His control over history, and assurance that nothing occurs without His awareness or outside of His plan.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Acts 15 discusses the Council of Jerusalem, an important meeting of the early Christian leaders that took place around AD 50.

The council was convened to address a debate arising from the evangelization of Gentiles: whether they needed to follow Jewish law, particularly circumcision, to become Christians.

The verse in question is part of a speech attributed to James, the brother of Jesus, who supports the inclusion of Gentiles without the need for them to adopt all Jewish customs.

This quotation connects to the Jewish belief in God’s omniscience and places the inclusion of Gentiles within the larger divine plan.

Theological Insights

Different Christian traditions interpret this verse in various ways:

Calvinists see in this verse affirmation of the doctrine of predestination, implying that God's plan for salvation and the unfolding of events have been known to Him since creation.
Arminians might argue that God's foreknowledge does not necessitate predetermination of all events or actions, preserving human free will.
Catholic theology would recognize God's omniscience as part of the mystery of His nature, emphasizing His eternal presence and engagement with the world.

Practical Applications

The teaching in Acts 15:18 can provide comfort and assurance to believers, knowing that God is intimately aware of human affairs and the grand narrative of history.

It encourages individuals to trust in God's plan and remain faithful in uncertain times, and it can inspire humility, challenging believers to accept their limited understanding compared to God's infinite knowledge.

Cross-References

Isaiah 46:9-10: "Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done."
Psalm 139:1-4: "O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.

Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off."

Romans 11:33: "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!"

Language Study

The phrase "Known unto God" comes from the Greek "γνωστὰ ἀπ' αἰῶνος", transliterated as "gnosta ap' aionos", where "γνωστὰ" (gnosta) refers to things known, and "ἀπ' αἰῶνος" (ap' aionos) translates to 'from eternity' or 'from the beginning of the world'.

The word "αἰῶνος" (aionos) signifies an age or long period of time, sometimes referring to eternity, emphasizing the timelessness of God's knowledge.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In wider cultural and religious contexts, omniscience is a common attribute ascribed to deities.

In ancient Greek mythology, gods like Zeus had foreknowledge of events. In Hinduism, omniscience is one of the attributes of Brahman. The idea that a supreme being possesses complete knowledge is a way of expressing divine perfection across various religious traditions.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific viewpoint, the concept of someone knowing "all his works from the beginning of the world" contrasts with the fundamental uncertainty present in many scientific fields, such as quantum mechanics.

However, this verse could metaphorically align with the concept of determinism, where the state of the universe at any point theoretically determines its state at any future moment.

Commentaries

Biblical commentators have various interpretations of Acts 15:18:

Matthew Henry sees this verse as a declaration of God's foreknowledge and the divine purpose in the salvation of the Gentiles, planned by God from the beginning.
John Gill emphasizes the reference to Amos 9:11-12, which James quotes just prior to this verse, suggesting it testifies to the calling of the Gentiles as a work of God known to Him from ancient times.
The Pulpit Commentary notes this verse ascribing to God omniscience and unchanging purpose throughout history, manifest in the redemptive work of Christ which extends to all nations.

Acts 15

Acts 15

What does Acts 15:18 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 15:18 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?