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Act 15:18. Γνωστὸν ἀπʼ αἰῶνος, known from the beginning of the world) James infers this from the prediction itself, and from the words of the same prophet, which appeal to the days of eternity [LXX., αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ αἰῶνος: Engl. Vers. Amo 9:11, “I will build it as in the days of old”]; and to these words the apostle, returning back again to the same prophecy, alludes. We have commented on the words in our notes above. GOD predicted ἀπʼ αἰῶνος, “As He spake by the mouth of His holy prophets, which have been since the world began” (from eternity, “a seculo”), Luk 1:70 : therefore He knew from eternity. Wherefore we ought not to shrink from this (the admission of the Gentiles) as something strange and marvellous. GOD did not give circumcision in such a way as that it was always to last: for at the same time He predicted the conversion of the Gentiles. An admirable Axiom; as Sir 23:20, πρινὴ (= πρὶν ἢ, Lat. prius-quam) κτισθῆναι, τὰ πάντα ἔγνωσται αὐτῷ, all things were known to Him before that they were founded, or created. And from this the Divine prescience of all things is demonstrated; for all the works of GOD, especially rewards and punishments, presuppose all the motions (even including the free motions of will and deed) of His creatures.-τὸ ἔργον αὐτοῦ, His work[89]) The singular number has peculiar emphasis. It is to be referred to the words, Ὁ ΠΟΙῶΝ ΤΑῦΤΑ, who doeth these things, Act 15:17.
[89] Not works, as Engl. Vers. with Ee and later Syr. BC Memph. and Theb. omit all but γνωστὰ ἀπʼ αἰῶνος: so Tisch. But ADd Vulg. and Iren. read τὸ ἴργον αὐτοῦ, as Beng. and Lachm.-E. and T.