Bible Strands
Acts 1:24
And they prayed, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The disciples address the Lord in prayer to determine which of the two proposed candidates, Joseph called Barsabbas or Matthias, should take up the apostolic ministry abandoned by Judas.
The words — καρδιογνῶστα (kardiognōsta) translates literally as "knower of the hearts," and ἀνὲδειξον (anadeixon) means "do show" or "make manifest."
The thread — The text explicitly states that the Lord searches and knows the heart in Jeremiah 17:10 and 1 Samuel 16:7, and Acts 15:8 records God showing approval by giving the Holy Spirit to those whose hearts He knows.
Why it lands — The text declares that God alone reveals His choice of a person, requiring the reader to submit human decision-making to divine revelation rather than personal evaluation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
Cross-references
- 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 LORD sees the heart.”
- Acts 15:8 And God, who knows the heart, showed His approval by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us.
- 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.
- Hebrews 4:13 Nothing 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.
- Acts 14:23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church, praying and fasting as they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed.
- Revelation 2:23 Then I will strike her children dead, and all the churches will know that I am the One who searches minds and hearts, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
- Acts 6:6 They presented these seven to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
- 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.
- Numbers 27:16 “May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation
- Psalms 7:9 Put an end to the evil of the wicked, but establish the righteous, O righteous God who searches hearts and minds.