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Selected Verse: Acts 1:24 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ac 1:24	Strong Concordance	And [2532] they prayed [4336], and said [2036], Thou [4771], Lord [2962], which knowest the hearts [2589] of all [3956] men, shew [322] whether [3739] [1520] of [1537] these [5130] two [1417] thou hast chosen [1586],
	King James	And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
prayed and said, Thou, Lord, &c.--"The word 'Lord,' placed absolutely, denotes in the New Testament almost universally THE SON; and the words, 'Show whom Thou hast chosen,' are decisive. The apostles are just Christ's messengers: It is He that sends them, and of Him they bear witness. Here, therefore, we have the first example of a prayer offered to the exalted Redeemer; furnishing indirectly the strongest proof of His divinity" [OLSHAUSEN]. which knowest the hearts of all men--See Joh 2:24-25; Joh 21:15-17; Rev 2:23.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

prayed and said, Thou, Lord, &c.--"The word 'Lord,' placed absolutely, denotes in the New Testament almost universally THE SON; and the words, 'Show whom Thou hast chosen,' are decisive. The apostles are just Christ's messengers: It is He that sends them, and of Him they bear witness. Here, therefore, we have the first example of a prayer offered to the exalted Redeemer; furnishing indirectly the strongest proof of His divinity" [OLSHAUSEN].

which knowest the hearts of all men--See Joh 2:24-25; Joh 21:15-17; Rev 2:23.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
And they prayed - As they could not agree on the individual, they invoked the direction of God in their choice - an example which should be followed in every selection of an individual to exercise the duties of the sacred office of the ministry. Which knowest the hearts of all men - This is often declared to be the special prerogative of God, Jer 17:10, "I, Yahweh, search the heart," etc.; Psa 139:1, Psa 139:23; Ch1 28:9. Yet this attribute is also expressly ascribed to Jesus Christ, Rev 2:18; compare 23, "These things saith the Son of God - I am he which searcheth the reins and the hearts"; Joh 2:25; Joh 6:64; Joh 16:19. There are strong reasons for supposing that the apostles on this occasion addressed this prayer to the Lord Jesus Christ: (1) The name Lord - Κύριος Kurios - is the common appellation which they gave to him, Act 2:36; Act 7:59-60; Act 10:36; Co1 2:8; Phi 2:11; Rev 11:8, et al. (2) we are told that they worshipped him, or rendered him divine honors after his ascension, Luk 24:52. (3) the disciples were accustomed to address him after his crucifixion by the names Lord or God indifferently, Act 1:6; Joh 20:28; Act 7:59. (4) this was a matter pertaining especially to the church which the Lord Jesus had redeemed, and "to his own arrangement" in regard to it. He had chosen the apostles; he had given them their commission; he had fixed their number; and, what is worthy of special remark here, he had been the companion of the very men here designated as candidates for the office, and knew their qualifications for this work. If the apostles ever called on the Lord Jesus after his ascension, this was a case in which they would be likely to do it. That it was done is clear from the account of the death of Stephen, Act 7:59-60. And in this important matter of ordaining a new apostle to be a witness for Jesus Christ, nothing was more natural than that they should address him, though bodily absent, as they would assuredly have done if he were present. But if on this occasion they did actually address Christ, then two things clearly follow. First, that it is proper to render him divine homage, agreeably to the uniform declarations of the Scripture: Joh 5:23, "That all men should honor the Son even as they honor the Father"; Heb 1:6, "And let all the angels of God worship him"; Phi 2:10-11; Rev 5:8-14; Th1 3:11-12. Secondly, he must be divine. To none other but God can religious homage be rendered; and none other can be described as knowing the hearts of all people. The reason why they appealed to him on this occasion as the searcher of the heart was doubtless the great importance of the work to which the successor of Judas was to be called. One apostle of fair external character had proved a traitor; and, with this fact before them, they appealed to the Saviour himself to select one who would be true to him, and not bring dishonor upon his cause. Show whether ... - Show which of them. Thou hast chosen - Which of the two thou hast judged to be best qualified for the work.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

And they prayed - As they could not agree on the individual, they invoked the direction of God in their choice - an example which should be followed in every selection of an individual to exercise the duties of the sacred office of the ministry.

Which knowest the hearts of all men - This is often declared to be the special prerogative of God, Jer 17:10, "I, Yahweh, search the heart," etc.; Psa 139:1, Psa 139:23; Ch1 28:9. Yet this attribute is also expressly ascribed to Jesus Christ, Rev 2:18; compare 23, "These things saith the Son of God - I am he which searcheth the reins and the hearts"; Joh 2:25; Joh 6:64; Joh 16:19. There are strong reasons for supposing that the apostles on this occasion addressed this prayer to the Lord Jesus Christ:

(1) The name Lord - Κύριος Kurios - is the common appellation which they gave to him, Act 2:36; Act 7:59-60; Act 10:36; Co1 2:8; Phi 2:11; Rev 11:8, et al.

(2) we are told that they worshipped him, or rendered him divine honors after his ascension, Luk 24:52.

(3) the disciples were accustomed to address him after his crucifixion by the names Lord or God indifferently, Act 1:6; Joh 20:28; Act 7:59.

(4) this was a matter pertaining especially to the church which the Lord Jesus had redeemed, and "to his own arrangement" in regard to it. He had chosen the apostles; he had given them their commission; he had fixed their number; and, what is worthy of special remark here, he had been the companion of the very men here designated as candidates for the office, and knew their qualifications for this work. If the apostles ever called on the Lord Jesus after his ascension, this was a case in which they would be likely to do it. That it was done is clear from the account of the death of Stephen, Act 7:59-60. And in this important matter of ordaining a new apostle to be a witness for Jesus Christ, nothing was more natural than that they should address him, though bodily absent, as they would assuredly have done if he were present. But if on this occasion they did actually address Christ, then two things clearly follow. First, that it is proper to render him divine homage, agreeably to the uniform declarations of the Scripture: Joh 5:23, "That all men should honor the Son even as they honor the Father"; Heb 1:6, "And let all the angels of God worship him"; Phi 2:10-11; Rev 5:8-14; Th1 3:11-12. Secondly, he must be divine. To none other but God can religious homage be rendered; and none other can be described as knowing the hearts of all people. The reason why they appealed to him on this occasion as the searcher of the heart was doubtless the great importance of the work to which the successor of Judas was to be called. One apostle of fair external character had proved a traitor; and, with this fact before them, they appealed to the Saviour himself to select one who would be true to him, and not bring dishonor upon his cause.

Show whether ... - Show which of them.

Thou hast chosen - Which of the two thou hast judged to be best qualified for the work.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Which knowest the hearts (καρδιογνῶστα) Only here and Act 15:8. Lit., heart-knower.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Thou Lord, which knowest the hearts - Συ, κυριε, καρδιογνωστα. The word καρδιογνωστης, the searcher of hearts, seems to be used here as an attribute of God; he knows the hearts, the most secret purposes, intentions, and dispositions of all men; and because he is the knower of hearts, he knew which of these men he had qualified the best, by natural and gracious dispositions and powers, for the important work to which one of them was now to be appointed.

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²³ And [2532] I will kill [615] her [846] children [5043] with [1722] death [2288]; and [2532] all [3956] the churches [1577] shall know [1097] that [3754] I [1473] am [1510] he which [3588] searcheth [2045] the reins [3510] and [2532] hearts [2588]: and [2532] I will give [1325] unto every one [1538] of you [5213] according to [2596] your [5216] works [2041].

¹⁵ So [3767] when [3753] they had dined [709], Jesus [2424] saith [3004] to Simon [4613] Peter [4074], Simon [4613], son of Jonas [2495], lovest thou [25] me [3165] more than [4119] these [5130]? He saith [3004] unto him [846], Yea [3483], Lord [2962]; thou [4771] knowest [1492] that [3754] I love [5368] thee [4571]. He saith [3004] unto him [846], Feed [1006] my [3450] lambs [721].
¹⁶ He saith [3004] to him [846] again [3825] the second time [1208], Simon [4613], son of Jonas [2495], lovest thou [25] me [3165]? He saith [3004] unto him [846], Yea [3483], Lord [2962]; thou [4771] knowest [1492] that [3754] I love [5368] thee [4571]. He saith [3004] unto him [846], Feed [4165] my [3450] sheep [4263].
¹⁷ He saith [3004] unto him [846] the third [5154] time, Simon [4613], son of Jonas [2495], lovest [5368] thou me [3165]? Peter [4074] was grieved [3076] because [3754] he said [2036] unto him [846] the third [5154] time, Lovest [5368] thou me [3165]? And [2532] he said [2036] unto him [846], Lord [2962], thou [4771] knowest [1492] all things [3956]; thou [4771] knowest [1097] that [3754] I love [5368] thee [4571]. Jesus [2424] saith [3004] unto him [846], Feed [1006] my [3450] sheep [4263].

²⁴ But [1161] Jesus [2424] [846] did [4100] not [3756] commit [4100] himself [1438] unto them [846], because [1223] he [846] knew [1097] all [3956] men,
²⁵ And [2532] [3754] needed [5532] [2192] not [3756] that [2443] any [5100] should testify [3140] of [4012] man [444]: for [1063] he [846] knew [1097] what [5101] was [2258] in [1722] man [444].

¹¹ Now [1161] God [2316] himself [846] and [2532] our [2257] Father [3962], and [2532] our [2257] Lord [2962] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547], direct [2720] our [2257] way [3598] unto [4314] you [5209].
¹² And [1161] the Lord [2962] make [4121] you [5209] to increase [4121] and [2532] abound [4052] in love [26] one [240] toward [1519] another [240], and [2532] toward [1519] all [3956] men, even [2532] as [2509] we [2249] do toward [1519] you [5209]:

⁸ And [2532] when [3753] he had taken [2983] the book [975], the four [5064] beasts [2226] and [2532] four [5064] and twenty [1501] elders [4245] fell down [4098] before [1799] the Lamb [721], having [2192] every one of them [1538] harps [2788], and [2532] golden [5552] vials [5357] full [1073] of odours [2368], which [3739] are [1526] the prayers [4335] of saints [40].
⁹ And [2532] they sung [103] a new [2537] song [5603], saying [3004], Thou art [1488] worthy [514] to take [2983] the book [975], and [2532] to open [455] the seals [4973] thereof [846]: for [3754] thou wast slain [4969], and [2532] hast redeemed [59] us [2248] to God [2316] by [1722] thy [4675] blood [129] out of [1537] every [3956] kindred [5443], and [2532] tongue [1100], and [2532] people [2992], and [2532] nation [1484];
¹⁰ And [2532] hast made [4160] us [2248] unto our [2257] God [2316] kings [935] and [2532] priests [2409]: and [2532] we shall reign [936] on [1909] the earth [1093].
¹¹ And [2532] I beheld [1492], and [2532] I heard [191] the voice [5456] of many [4183] angels [32] round about [2943] the throne [2362] and [2532] the beasts [2226] and [2532] the elders [4245]: and [2532] the number [706] of them [846] was [2258] ten thousand [3461] times ten thousand [3461], and [2532] thousands [5505] of thousands [5505];
¹² Saying [3004] with a loud [3173] voice [5456], Worthy [514] is [2076] the Lamb [721] that was slain [4969] to receive [2983] power [1411], and [2532] riches [4149], and [2532] wisdom [4678], and [2532] strength [2479], and [2532] honour [5092], and [2532] glory [1391], and [2532] blessing [2129].
¹³ And [2532] every [3956] creature [2938] which [3739] is [2076] in [1722] heaven [3772], and [2532] on [1722] the earth [1093], and [2532] under [5270] the earth [1093], and [2532] such as [3739] are [2076] in [1909] the sea [2281], and [2532] all [3956] that are in [1722] them [846], heard I [191] saying [3004], Blessing [2129], and [2532] honour [5092], and [2532] glory [1391], and [2532] power [2904], be unto him that sitteth [2521] upon [1909] the throne [2362], and [2532] unto the Lamb [721] for [1519] ever [165] and ever [165].
¹⁴ And [2532] the four [5064] beasts [2226] said [3004], Amen [281]. And [2532] the four [5064] and twenty [1501] elders [4245] fell down [4098] and [2532] worshipped [4352] him that liveth [2198] for [1519] ever [165] and ever [165].

¹⁰ That [2443] at [1722] the name [3686] of Jesus [2424] every [3956] knee [1119] should bow [2578], of things in heaven [2032], and [2532] things in earth [1919], and [2532] things under the earth [2709];
¹¹ And [2532] that every [3956] tongue [1100] should confess [1843] that [3754] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547] is Lord [2962], to [1519] the glory [1391] of God [2316] the Father [3962].

⁶ And [1161] again [3825], when [3752] he bringeth in [1521] the firstbegotten [4416] into [1519] the world [3625], he saith [3004], And [2532] let [4352] all [3956] the angels [32] of God [2316] worship [4352] him [846].

²³ That [2443] all [3956] men should honour [5091] the Son [5207], even as [2531] they honour [5091] the Father [3962]. He that honoureth [5091] not [3361] the Son [5207] honoureth [5091] not [3756] the Father [3962] which [3588] hath sent [3992] him [846].

⁵⁹ And [2532] they stoned [3036] Stephen [4736], calling upon [1941] God, and [2532] saying [3004], Lord [2962] Jesus [2424], receive [1209] my [3450] spirit [4151].
⁶⁰ And [1161] he kneeled down [5087] [1119], and cried [2896] with a loud [3173] voice [5456], Lord [2962], lay [2476] not [3361] this [5026] sin [266] to their [846] charge. And [2532] when he had said [2036] this [5124], he fell asleep [2837].

⁵⁹ And [2532] they stoned [3036] Stephen [4736], calling upon [1941] God, and [2532] saying [3004], Lord [2962] Jesus [2424], receive [1209] my [3450] spirit [4151].

²⁸ And [2532] Thomas [2381] answered [611] and [2532] said [2036] unto him [846], My [3450] Lord [2962] and [2532] my [3450] God [2316].

⁶ When [3303] they therefore [3767] were come together [4905], they asked [1905] of him [846], saying [3004], Lord [2962], [1487] wilt thou [600] at [1722] this [5129] time [5550] restore again [600] the kingdom [932] to Israel [2474]?

⁵² And [2532] they [846] worshipped [4352] him [846], and returned [5290] to [1519] Jerusalem [2419] with [3326] great [3173] joy [5479]:

⁸ And [2532] their [846] dead bodies [4430] shall lie in [1909] the street [4113] of the great [3173] city [4172], which [3748] spiritually [4153] is called [2564] Sodom [4670] and [2532] Egypt [125], where [3699] also [2532] our [2257] Lord [2962] was crucified [4717].

¹¹ And [2532] that every [3956] tongue [1100] should confess [1843] that [3754] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547] is Lord [2962], to [1519] the glory [1391] of God [2316] the Father [3962].

⁸ Which [3739] none [3762] of the princes [758] of this [5127] world [165] knew [1097]: for [1487] [1063] had they known [1097] it, they [302] would [4717] not [3756] have crucified [4717] the Lord [2962] of glory [1391].

³⁶ The word [3056] which [3739] God sent [649] unto the children [5207] of Israel [2474], preaching [2097] peace [1515] by [1223] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547]: (he [3778] is [2076] Lord [2962] of all [3956]:)

³⁶ Therefore [3767] let [1097] all [3956] the house [3624] of Israel [2474] know [1097] assuredly [806], that [3754] God [2316] hath made [4160] that same [5126] Jesus [2424], whom [3739] ye [5210] have crucified [4717], both [2532] Lord [2962] and [2532] Christ [5547].

¹⁹ Now [3767] Jesus [2424] knew [1097] that [3754] they were desirous [2309] to ask [2065] him [846], and [2532] said [2036] unto them [846], Do ye enquire [2212] among [3326] yourselves [240] of [4012] that [5127] [3754] I said [2036], A little while [3397], and [2532] ye shall [2334] not [3756] see [2334] me [3165]: and [2532] again [3825], a little while [3397], and [2532] ye shall see [3700] me [3165]?

⁶⁴ But [235] there are [1526] some [5100] of [1537] you [5216] that [3739] believe [4100] not [3756]. For [1063] Jesus [2424] knew [1492] from [1537] the beginning [746] who [5101] they were [1526] that believed [4100] not [3361], and [2532] who [5101] should [2076] betray [3860] him [846].

²⁵ And [2532] [3754] needed [5532] [2192] not [3756] that [2443] any [5100] should testify [3140] of [4012] man [444]: for [1063] he [846] knew [1097] what [5101] was [2258] in [1722] man [444].

¹⁸ And [2532] unto the angel [32] of the church [1577] in [1722] Thyatira [2363] write [1125]; These things [3592] saith [3004] the Son [5207] of God [2316], who [3588] hath [2192] his [846] eyes [3788] like [5613] unto a flame [5395] of fire [4442], and [2532] his [846] feet [4228] are like [3664] fine brass [5474];

⁹ And thou, Solomon [08010] my son [01121], know [03045] thou the God [0430] of thy father [01], and serve [05647] him with a perfect [08003] heart [03820] and with a willing [02655] mind [05315]: for the LORD [03068] searcheth [01875] all hearts [03824], and understandeth [0995] all the imaginations [03336] of the thoughts [04284]: if thou seek [01875] him, he will be found [04672] of thee; but if thou forsake [05800] him, he will cast thee off [02186] for ever [05703].

²³ Search [02713] me, O God [0410], and know [03045] my heart [03824]: try [0974] me, and know [03045] my thoughts [08312]:

¹ To the chief Musician [05329], A Psalm [04210] of David [01732]. O LORD [03068], thou hast searched [02713] me, and known [03045] me.

¹⁰ I the LORD [03068] search [02713] the heart [03820], I try [0974] the reins [03629], even to give [05414] every man [0376] according to his ways [01870], and according to the fruit [06529] of his doings [04611].

⁸ And [2532] God [2316], which knoweth the hearts [2589], bare them [846] witness [3140], giving [1325] them [846] the Holy [40] Ghost [4151], even [2532] as [2531] he did unto us [2254];