Acts 15 · Verse 18

Acts 15:18

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

Acts 15:18, King James Version

Acts 15:18 in other translations

BSB	that have been known for ages.’
WEB	“All of God’s works are known to him from eternity.
ASV	Saith the Lord, who maketh these things known from of old.
YLT	‘Known from the ages to God are all His works;
DARBY	known from eternity.
BBE	Says the Lord, who has made these things clear from the earliest times.
Webster	Known to God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

What does Acts 15:18 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 15:18-19

18-19. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning--He who announced these things so long before, and He who had now brought them to pass, were one and the same; so that they were no novelty.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 18. Known unto God, etc. Acts 1:24. The meaning of this verse, in this connexion, is this. God sees everything future; he knows what he will accomplish; he has a plan; and all his works are so arranged in his mind, that he sees all things distinctly and clearly. As he foretold these, it was a part of his plan; and as it was a part of his plan long since foretold, it should not be opposed and resisted by us. (a) "Known unto God" Nu 23:19, Isa 46:10

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning - As if he had said, This is not a new counsel of God: he had purposed, from the time he called the Israelites, to make the Gentiles partakers of the same grace and mercy; and ultimately to destroy those rites and ceremonies which separated them from each other. He therefore has sent the Gospel of his Son, proclaiming equally peace to him that is afar off, the Gentiles, and to him that is nigh, the Jews. The whole of this verse is very dubious: the principal part of it is omitted by the most ancient MSS., and Griesbach has left γνωϚα απ' αιωνος doubtful, and has thrown εϚι τῳ Θεῳ παντα τα εργα αὑτου out of the text. Of the former clause, Professor White, in his Crisews, says, "forsitan delenda," "probably these words should be blotted out." And of the latter clause he says, "certissime delenda," "most assuredly these should be blotted out." Supposing the whole to be genuine, critics have labored to find out the sense. Some very learned men, and particularly Schleusner, contend that the word γνωϚα, from γινωσκειν, to know, should be understood here in the same sense in which ידא yada is in many parts of the Old Testament, which not only signifies to know, but to approve, love, etc. They therefore would translate the passage thus: All the works of God are ever dear unto him. And, if so, consequently we might naturally expect him to be merciful to the Gentiles, as well as to the Jews; and the evidence now afforded of the conversion of the Gentiles is an additional proof that all God's works are equally dear to him.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 15:7-21

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…

Read the full comment on Acts 15:7-21 →

Acts 15:18 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

γνωστὰgnōstaknownG1110

ἀπ᾽ap᾽fromG575

αἰῶνοςaiōnoseternity’G165

ἐστινestinisG1510

τῷtō<the>G3588

θεῷtheōto GodG2316

πάνταpantaallG3956

τὰtatheG3588

ἔργαergaworksG2041

αὐτοῦ.autouof him.G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 15:18

Ephesians 1:4
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Ephesians 3:9
And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
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, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
1 Peter 1:20
Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
Ephesians 1:11
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Acts 17:26
And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
Matthew 13:35
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
2 Thessalonians 2:13
But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
Revelation 13:8
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Matthew 25:34
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Isaiah 41:22-23
Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

17:26; Nu 23:19; Isa 41:22,23; 44:7; 46:9,10; Mt 13:35; 25:34
Eph 1:4,11; 3:9; 2Th 2:13; 1Pe 1:20; Re 13:8; 17:8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Acts 15:17
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.
Acts 15:18
Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
Acts 15:19
Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

Read all of Acts 15

Acts 15:18 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Conocidas son á Dios desde el siglo todas sus obras.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	connues de tout temps.
German Elberfelder 1871	was von Ewigkeit her bekannt ist.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Notum a sæculo est Domino opus suum.