“And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;”
God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us — Peter's centerpiece argument: God's acceptance (martyreō) of gentiles is evidenced by the Holy Spirit's gift to them. The phrase God knows the heart (kardiognōstēs theos) recalls 1 Samuel 16:7 and emphasizes God's penetrating knowledge, rendering external observances irrelevant to salvation. The parallel just as he did to us affirms equality in the Spirit's reception between Jewish and gentile believers.
Church Fathers on Acts 15:8
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 to consider of this matter. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up and said to them, Men and brethren, you know how that of old days God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the Gospel, and believe. Acts 15:5-7 Observe…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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