{From the beginning of the world} (ap' ai(936e)os). Or, "from
of old." James adds these words, perhaps with a reminiscence of
 Isa 45:21 . His point is that this purpose of God, as set forth
in Amos, is an old one. God has an Israel outside of and beyond
the Jewish race, whom he will make his true "Israel" and so there
is no occasion for surprise in the story of God's dealings with
the Gentiles as told by Barnabas and Paul. God's eternal purpose
of grace includes all who call upon his name in every land and
people ( Isa 2:1  Mic 4:1 ). This larger and richer purpose and
plan of God was one of the mysteries which Paul will unfold in
the future ( Ro 16:25  Eph 3:9 ). James sees it clearly now. God
is making it known (poi(936e) tauta gn(9373)ta), if they will only be
willing to see and understand. It was a great deliverance that
James had made and it exerted a profound influence on the
assembly.