Acts 1:24
in Acts 1And they prayed, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show of these two the one whom thou hast chosen,
KJV
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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This verse in Acts 1
Commentary
12 notes on this verseThou 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.
This site's exposition
So they proposed two men
on Acts 1:23-26
The prayer asks the Lord, who knows everyone’s heart, to show which of the two He has chosen, leaving the choice with God. The lot, a practice rooted in Proverbs 16:33, fell to Matthias, and Acts records no lot cast after this chapter.
This site's exposition
Show us which of these two
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown call this the first prayer offered to the exalted Christ, since He sends the apostles. Theophylact notes that they ask the Lord to show whom He has already chosen, because God decides before human thought. Chrysostom notes that the heart-knower must make the choice.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
Though the imperial power be great, yet consider, O Emperor, how great God is. He sees the hearts of all, He questions the inmost conscience, He knows all things before they happen, He knows the inmost things of your breast. You do not suffer yourselves to be deceived, and do you desire to conceal anything from God?
A lottery takes place to avoid contention and to assure greater certitude and clarity. The source of this rule is the counsel of God. The apostles imply the idea when they say, Lord, who knowest the hearts Thus it is clear that the lot does …
"They appointed two," it is said, "Joseph called Barsabus, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed, and said; Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, show whether of these two thou hast chosen, that he may take part of this ministry and Apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place." They do well to mention the sin of Judas, thereby showing that it is a witness they ask to have; not increasing the number, but not suffering it to be diminished. And they all pray in common saying, "Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, show. Thou," not "We." And very seasonably they use the epithet, "heart-knowing:" for by Him Who is this must the choice be made. So confident were they, that assuredly one of them must be appointed. They said not, Choose, but, "Show the chosen one;" knowing that all things were foreordained of God; "Whom Thou didst choose: one of these two," say they, "to have his lot in this ministry and apostleship." For there was besides another ministry.
They call him a discerner of hearts at the right time; and they do not say, "Choose," but, "Appoint the one chosen." For all things are known and the best are with God, and before our considerations. And he calls it an inheritance, showing the …
The Medieval Church1 voice
They cry out in prayer to the Knower of Hearts at the fitting time. They do not go on to say "choose," but "show… the one whom You have chosen," knowing that with God all things are determined before human thought.
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
And they prayed and said,....
Theophilus is put in mind, and we in him, of St. Luke's gospel, which it will be of use for us to cast an eye upon before we enter upon the study of this book, that we may not only see how this begins where that breaks off, but that, as in water face answers to face, so do the acts of the apostles to the acts of their Master, the acts of his grace.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
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;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
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; 1Ch 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; 1Co 2:8; Php 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. […]
The words behind it
15 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| προσευξάμενοι | proseuxamenoi | having prayed | G4336 → | 85 times |
| εἶπαν· | eipan | they said; | G2036 → | 925 times |
| σὺ | su | You yourself | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| κύριε | kurie | Lord | G2962 → | 711 times |
| καρδιογνῶστα | kardiognosta | knower of the hearts | G2589 → | |
| πάντων, | panton | of all, | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| ἀνάδειξον | anadeixon | do show | G322 → | |
| ὃν | hon | whom | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ἐξελέξω | exelexo | You have chosen | G1586 → | 22 times |
| ἐκ | ek | of | G1537 → | 911 times |
| τούτων | touton | these | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| τῶν | ton | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δύο | duo | two | G1417 → | 133 times |
| ἕνα | hena | one | G1520 → | 343 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
προσευξάμενοιhaving prayed
proseuxamenoiG4336 →85 times
εἶπαν·they said;
eipanG2036 →925 times
σὺYou yourself
suG4771 →2973 times
κύριεLord
kurieG2962 →711 times
καρδιογνῶσταknower of the hearts
kardiognostaG2589 →
πάντων,of all,
pantonG3956 →1235 times
ἀνάδειξονdo show
anadeixonG322 →
ὃνwhom
honG3739 →1405 times
ἐξελέξωYou have chosen
exelexoG1586 →22 times
ἐκof
ekG1537 →911 times
τούτωνthese
toutonG3778 →1381 times
τῶν<the>
tonG3588 →19766 times
δύοtwo
duoG1417 →133 times
ἕναone
henaG1520 →343 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Samuel 16:7But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the…
it leads to
- Jeremiah 17:10
I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- John 7:24
Stop judging by outward appearances, and start judging justly.”
- Luke 16:15
So He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is prized among men is detestable before God.
- 1 Peter 3:4
but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.
- Isaiah 55:8–9
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.
- Jeremiah 17:10
Through
Hebrews 4:13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each…
- 1 Corinthians 4:5
Through
Jeremiah 17:10I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.
it leads to
- 1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the…
- Romans 8:27
And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
- 1 Samuel 16:7
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies16
On this verse
On this chapter
About Acts
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrose of Milan, Letter 57; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary upon the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 3; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts; Procopius of Gaza, Commentary (church-history corpus) and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.