SEV Biblia, Chapter 15:18
Conocidas son a Dios desde el siglo todas sus obras.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 15:18
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 gnwsta ap aiwnov doubtful, and has thrown esti tw qew panta ta erga autou 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 laboured to find out the sense. Some very learned men, and particularly Schleusner, contend that the word gnwsta, from ginwskein, to know, should be understood here in the same sense in which ady yada is in many parts of the Old Testament, which not only signifies to know, but to approve, love, &c. 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.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 18. Known unto God are all his works , etc.] These are the words of James, and not of Amos; all the things which God does in the church and in the world, they were all foreknown and predetermined by him: from the beginning of the world; or from eternity; even all his works of creation, providence and grace: the Alexandrian copy, and Bezas most ancient copy, and the Vulgate Latin version, read in the singular number, his work; the work of the conversion of the Gentiles; this was fixed and resolved on by God in eternity; he knew it would be, because he had determined it should be; and accordingly he foretold it, and spoke of it in various periods of time before it came to pass; and therefore it should not be looked upon as some new and strange thing, that was never known, spoken or heard of: and this holds true of every other work of God, and agrees with what the Jews sometimes say f745 , that ``every work which is renewed in the world, the holy blessed God has commanded (or ordered) it from the day the world was created.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 7-21 - We see from the words "purifying their hearts by faith," and the address of St. Peter, that justification by faith, and sanctificatio 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, an attests by the seal of the Holy Spirit. Then our hearts and conscience will be purified from the guilt of sin, and we shall be freed from the burdens some try to lay upon the disciples of Christ. Paul and Barnaba showed by plain matters of fact, that God owned the preaching of the pure gospel to the Gentiles without the law of Moses; therefore to press that law upon them, was to undo what God had done. The opinion of James was, that the Gentile converts ought not to be troubled abou Jewish rites, but that they should abstain from meats offered to idols so that they might show their hatred of idolatry. Also, that the should be cautioned against fornication, which was not abhorred by the Gentiles as it should be, and even formed a part of some of their rites. They were counselled to abstain from things strangled, and from eating blood; this was forbidden by the law of Moses, and also here from reverence to the blood of the sacrifices, which being then stil offered, it would needlessly grieve the Jewish converts, and furthe prejudice the unconverted Jews. But as the reason has long ceased, we are left free in this, as in the like matters. Let converts be warne to avoid all appearances of the evils which they formerly practised, or are likely to be tempted to; and caution them to use Christian libert with moderation and prudence.
Greek Textus Receptus
γνωστα 1110 A-NPN απ 575 PREP αιωνος 165 N-GSM εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S τω 3588 T-DSM θεω 2316 N-DSM παντα 3956 A-NPN τα 3588 T-NPN εργα 2041 N-NPN αυτου 846 P-GSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
18. 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.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
15:18 {From the beginning of the world} (ap' aiwnos). Or, "from of old." James adds these words, perhaps with a reminiscence of #Isa 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 (#Isa 2:1; Mic 4:1). this larger and richer purpose and plan of God was one of the mysteries which Paul will unfold in the future (#Ro 16:25; Eph 3:9). James sees it clearly now. God is making it known (poiwn tauta gnwsta), 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.
