The Meaning of Acts 15:18 Explained

Acts 15:18

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

YLT: 'Known from the ages to God are all His works;

Darby: known from eternity.

ASV: Saith the Lord, who maketh these things known from of old.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Acts 15:18 Mean?

Context Summary

Acts 15:12-21 - A Generous Conclusion
When their turn came to speak, Paul and Barnabas contented themselves with emphasizing the signs and wonders by which God had set His seal on their words and methods. Would He have done so if they had followed a wrong course? Notice the two prepositions that they used in describing their work. They first told of what God had done in co-operation with them and then of what He had done through or by them, Acts 14:27; Acts 15:4; Acts 15:12. Consider also that remarkable phrase about God bearing witness, Acts 15:8. See also Acts 14:3 and Hebrews 2:1-4.
James had a prominent position in the Jerusalem church, because he was the Lord's brother and a man of remarkable holiness and prayerfulness. He laid emphasis on the divine program, which moved forward from Jew to Gentile, from the rebuilding of the ruined Tabernacle of David to the seeking of the Lord by the residue of men. The implication was that though Jehovah dwelt in a special manner with His Chosen People, yet the Gentiles would come seeking Him directly and without becoming incorporated with the Jews. [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 15

1  Great dissensions arise regarding circumcision
5  The apostles consult about it,
22  and send their determination by letters to the churches
36  Paul and Barnabas, thinking to visit the brothers together,
39  disagree, and travel different ways

Greek Commentary for Acts 15:18

From the beginning of the world [απ αιωνος]
Or, “from of old.” James adds these words, perhaps with a reminiscence of Isaiah 45:21. His point is that this purpose of God, as set forth in Amos, is an old one. God has an Israel outside of and beyond the Jewish race, whom he will make his true “Israel” and so there is no occasion for surprise in the story of God‘s dealings with the Gentiles as told by Barnabas and Paul. God‘s eternal purpose of grace includes all who call upon his name in every land and people (Isaiah 2:1; Micah 4:1). This larger and richer purpose and plan of God was one of the mysteries which Paul will unfold in the future (Romans 16:25; Ephesians 3:9). James sees it clearly now. God is making it known (ποιων ταυτα γνωστα — poiōn tauta gnōsta), if they will only be willing to see and understand. It was a great deliverance that James had made and it exerted a profound influence on the assembly. [source]
Known unto God, etc []
The best texts join these words with the preceding verse, from which they omit all; rendering, The Lord, who maketh these things known from the beginning of the world. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 15:18

John 9:32 Since the world began [ἐκ τοῦ αἰῶνος]
The exact phrase only here in the New Testament. Ἁπ ' is found in Acts 3:21; Acts 15:18; ἀπὸ τῶν αἰώνων in Colossians 1:26. [source]
John 9:32 Since the world began [εκ του αιωνος]
Literally, “from the age,” “from of old.” Elsewhere in the N.T. we have απο του αιωνος — apo tou aiōnos or απ αιωνος — ap 'aiōnos (Luke 1:70; Acts 3:21; Acts 15:18) as is common in the lxx. Of a man born blind Perfect passive participle of γενναω — gennaō This is the chief point and the man will not let it be overlooked, almost rubs it in, in fact. It was congenital blindness. [source]
Romans 1:19 That which may be known of God [γινωσκω]
Verbal adjective from η γνωσις — ginōskō either “the known” as elsewhere in N.T. (Acts 1:19; Acts 15:18, etc.) or “the knowable” as usual in ancient Greek, that is “the knowledge” In their hearts and consciences. God manifested First aorist active indicative of phaneroō Not mere tautology. See Romans 2:14-16. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 15:18 mean?

known from eternity are - to God all the works of him
γνωστὰ ἀπ’ αἰῶνος ⧼ἐστιν τῷ θεῷ πάντα τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ⧽

γνωστὰ  known 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: γνώριμος 
Sense: known, notable.
αἰῶνος  eternity 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: αἰών  
Sense: for ever, an unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity.
τῷ  - 
Parse: Article, Dative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
θεῷ  to  God 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
ἔργα  works 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: ἔργον  
Sense: business, employment, that which any one is occupied.
αὐτοῦ⧽  of  him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτόπτης  
Sense: in that place, there, here.