Acts 1:24
New International Version
Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen

New Living Translation
Then they all prayed, “O Lord, you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen

English Standard Version
And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen

Berean Standard Bible
And they prayed, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen

Berean Literal Bible
And having prayed, they said, "You Lord, knower of the hearts of all, show which one of these two You have chosen

King James Bible
And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,

New King James Version
And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen

New American Standard Bible
And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all people, show which one of these two You have chosen

NASB 1995
And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen

NASB 1977
And they prayed, and said, “Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show which one of these two Thou hast chosen

Legacy Standard Bible
And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen

Amplified Bible
They prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know all hearts [their thoughts, motives, desires], show us which one of these two You have chosen

Christian Standard Bible
Then they prayed, “You, Lord, know everyone’s hearts; show which of these two you have chosen

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then they prayed, “You, Lord, know the hearts of all; show which of these two You have chosen

American Standard Version
And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show of these two the one whom thou hast chosen,

Contemporary English Version
Then they all prayed, "Lord, you know what everyone is like! Show us the one you have chosen

English Revised Version
And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew of these two the one whom thou hast chosen,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's thoughts. Show us which of these two you have chosen.

Good News Translation
Then they prayed, "Lord, you know the thoughts of everyone, so show us which of these two you have chosen

International Standard Version
Then they prayed, "Lord, you know the hearts of all people. Show us which one of these two men you have chosen

Majority Standard Bible
And they prayed, ?Lord, You know everyone?s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen

NET Bible
Then they prayed, "Lord, you know the hearts of all. Show us which one of these two you have chosen

New Heart English Bible
They prayed, and said, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all people, show which one of these two you have chosen

Webster's Bible Translation
And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show which of these two thou hast chosen,

Weymouth New Testament
And the brethren prayed, saying, "Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all, show clearly which of these two Thou hast chosen

World English Bible
They prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two you have chosen
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and having prayed, they said, “You, LORD, who are knowing the heart of all, show which one You chose of these two,

Berean Literal Bible
And having prayed, they said, "You Lord, knower of the hearts of all, show which one of these two You have chosen

Young's Literal Translation
and having prayed, they said, 'Thou, Lord, who art knowing the heart of all, shew which one thou didst choose of these two

Smith's Literal Translation
And having prayed, they said, Thou, O Lord, knowing hearts of all, spew forth one of two which thou hast chosen,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And praying, they said: Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,

Catholic Public Domain Version
And praying, they said: “May you, O Lord, who knows the heart of everyone, reveal which one of these two you have chosen,

New American Bible
Then they prayed, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen

New Revised Standard Version
Then they prayed and said, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And as they prayed, they said, O LORD, you know what is in the hearts of all men; show which of these two you choose,

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And when they prayed, they said, “You, LORD JEHOVAH, know what is in the heart of everyone; show the one which you have chosen of these two,”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
and praying, they said: Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all, make known which of these two thou hast chosen,

Godbey New Testament
And praying they said, Thou, O Lord, Heart-searcher of all, show up the one of these two, whom thou hast chosen

Haweis New Testament
And joining in prayer, they said, Do thou, O Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, point out the one of these two which thou hast chosen,

Mace New Testament
saying, "thou Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show us which of these two thou hast chosen,

Weymouth New Testament
And the brethren prayed, saying, "Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all, show clearly which of these two Thou hast chosen

Worrell New Testament
And, praying, they said, "Thou, Lord, Who knowest the hearts of all men, show which of these two Thou didst choose,

Worsley New Testament
And they prayed and said, Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all, shew us, which of these two Thou hast chosen,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Matthias Replaces Judas
23So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24And they prayed, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen 25to take up this ministry and apostleship, which Judas abandoned to go to his rightful place.”…

Cross References
Proverbs 16:33
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.

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.”

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.

1 Chronicles 28:9
As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands the intent of every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.

Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. / See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the way everlasting.

1 Kings 8:39
be heard by You from heaven, Your dwelling place. And may You forgive and act, and repay each man according to all his ways, since You know his heart—for You alone know the hearts of all men—

1 Samuel 2:3
Do not boast so proudly, or let arrogance come from your mouth, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by Him actions are weighed.

Psalm 7:9
Put an end to the evil of the wicked, but establish the righteous, O righteous God who searches hearts and minds.

John 2:24-25
But Jesus did not entrust Himself to them, for He knew them all. / He did not need any testimony about man, for He knew what was in a man.

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.

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.

1 Corinthians 2:10-11
But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. / For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him? So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

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.

James 4:3
And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures.

Matthew 6:8
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.


Treasury of Scripture

And they prayed, and said, You, Lord, which know the hearts of all men, show whether of these two you have chosen,

they.

Acts 13:2,3
As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them…

Proverbs 3:5,6
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding…

Luke 6:12,13
And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God…

Thou, Lord.

Acts 15:8
And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

Numbers 27:16
Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,

1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

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Choose Chosen Clearly Everyone's Heart Hearts Prayed Prayers Shew Show Whether
Acts 1
1. Christ, preparing his apostles to the beholding of his ascension, .
4. gathers them together unto the Mount of Olives,
6. commands them to expect in Jerusalem the sending down of the Holy Spirit,
9. and ascends into heaven in their sight
10. After his ascension they are warned by two angels to depart, and to set their minds upon his second coming.
12. They accordingly return, and, giving themselves to prayer,
23. choose Matthias apostle in the place of Judas.














And they prayed
Prayer is a central theme in the book of Acts, highlighting the early church's dependence on God for guidance and strength. This moment of prayer occurs as the apostles seek divine direction in choosing a replacement for Judas Iscariot. The act of prayer underscores the importance of seeking God's will in decision-making processes, reflecting the early church's commitment to spiritual discernment.

Lord, You know everyone’s heart
This phrase acknowledges God's omniscience, particularly His ability to see and understand the innermost thoughts and intentions of individuals. The apostles recognize that human judgment is limited, and they rely on God's perfect knowledge to guide their choice. This echoes 1 Samuel 16:7, where God tells Samuel that He looks at the heart rather than outward appearances, emphasizing the divine ability to discern true character.

Show us which of these two
The apostles are choosing between two candidates, Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias, to replace Judas. This decision is significant as it maintains the symbolic number of twelve apostles, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. The process of selection through prayer and casting lots reflects the cultural practices of the time, where lots were often used to discern God's will, as seen in Proverbs 16:33.

You have chosen
The phrase indicates a belief in divine election, where God has already made His choice, and the apostles seek to align their decision with His will. This reflects the biblical theme of God's sovereignty in choosing individuals for specific roles, as seen in the calling of prophets and leaders throughout the Old Testament. It also prefigures the New Testament understanding of believers being chosen by God for His purposes, as expressed in Ephesians 1:4.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Disciples
The remaining eleven apostles after Judas' betrayal and death, seeking to replace him.

2. Matthias and Joseph (called Barsabbas)
The two candidates considered to replace Judas as an apostle.

3. Jerusalem
The location where the disciples were gathered, waiting for the Holy Spirit as Jesus instructed.

4. Prayer
The act of seeking divine guidance, demonstrating reliance on God's wisdom and knowledge.

5. The Lord
Referring to Jesus Christ, whom the disciples are addressing in their prayer for guidance.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Prayer in Decision-Making
Before making significant decisions, seek God's guidance through prayer, acknowledging His wisdom and understanding.

God's Omniscience
Trust in God's perfect knowledge of our hearts and motives, which surpasses human understanding.

Divine Selection and Calling
Recognize that God has a specific purpose and calling for each individual, and His choices are based on His perfect will.

Community and Unity in Seeking God's Will
Engage in communal prayer and discernment, valuing the collective wisdom and unity of the body of Christ.

Faith in God's Sovereignty
Have faith that God is in control and His plans are for our good, even when the path is not clear to us.(24) Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men.--Literally, heart-knower of all men. The compound word is not found in any Greek version of the Old Testament, but meets us again in Acts 15:8. The question meets us whether the prayer is addressed to the Lord Jesus, as with a recollection of His insight into the hearts of men (John 2:24; John 6:64), or to the Father. The prayer of Stephen (Acts 7:59-60) shows, on the one hand, that direct prayer to the Son was not foreign to the minds of the disciples; and in John 6:70, He claims the act of choosing as His own. On the other hand, the analogy of Acts 4:29, where the Father is entreated to work signs and wonders "through his holy servant Jesus," is in favour of the latter view. . . . Verse 24. - Of these two the one whom for whether of these two, A.V. and T.R.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
And
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

they prayed,
προσευξάμενοι (proseuxamenoi)
Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4336: To pray, pray for, offer prayer. From pros and euchomai; to pray to God, i.e. Supplicate, worship.

“Lord,
Κύριε (Kyrie)
Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.

You
Σὺ (Sy)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

know everyone’s heart.
καρδιογνῶστα (kardiognōsta)
Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2589: A knower of the inner life (character, hearts). From kardia and ginosko; a heart-knower.

Show [us]
ἀνάδειξον (anadeixon)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 322: From ana and deiknuo; to exhibit, i.e. to indicate, appoint.

which
ὃν (hon)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

of
ἐκ (ek)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

these
τούτων (toutōn)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

two
δύο (dyo)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 1417: Two. A primary numeral; 'two'.

You have chosen
ἐξελέξω (exelexō)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 1586: To pick out for myself, choose, elect, select. Middle voice from ek and lego; to select.


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NT Apostles: Acts 1:24 They prayed and said You Lord who (Acts of the Apostles Ac)
Acts 1:23
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