PrevActs 15:3Next

Acts 15

And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.

But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

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

And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:

Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:

Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:

Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.

And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.

Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.

Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.

And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.

But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.

And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

What does Acts 15:3 mean?

Explanation

Acts 15:3 describes a specific event in the early Christian church where certain individuals were sent by the church on a journey.

The journey took them through Phenice (Phoenicia) and Samaria, where they reported on Gentiles (non-Jews) converting to Christianity.

This news brought great joy to the fellow believers they met along the way.

The verse highlights the sense of community and shared joy within the early Christian movement at the expansion of their faith beyond traditional Jewish boundaries.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Acts 15 takes place in a period when the early Christian Church was grappling with the inclusion of Gentile converts and the requirements of Mosaic law for them.

The setting of this journey occurs after the "Council at Jerusalem," where the Apostles and elders met to discuss these issues.

This passage is set against a backdrop of socio-religious transformation, as Christianity is transitioning from a sect within Judaism to an inclusive religion that spans different cultures and ethnicities.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, Acts 15:3 touches on several key insights:

The universal scope of the Christian mission: The conversion of the Gentiles signifies that Christianity is not limited to Jews or a specific ethnicity.
Ecclesial support: The church community played an active role in supporting and celebrating missionary efforts.
The joy of faith: Celebrating the spread of faith is a fundamental aspect of Christian community life.

Different denominations may focus on various aspects of these insights, depending on their theological traditions.

Practical Applications

This verse can inspire modern believers to:

Celebrate diversity within their faith community and reach out to different groups.
Understand the importance of missionary work and the sharing of faith experiences.
Embrace the joy of faith and encourage others in their spiritual journey.

Cross-References

Acts 11:18: "When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life."
Acts 8:14-17: Describes the spread of Christianity in Samaria and the Apostles' response.
Romans 15:10: "And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people."

Language Study

In the original Greek text of the New Testament, key words include:

"Phenice": The Greek word "Φοινίκη" (Phoiníkē) is a reference to Phoenicia, an ancient Mediterranean civilization.
"Samaria": The name "Σαμαρεία" (Samareía) indicates the region of Samaria with a rich history of interaction between Jews and Samaritans.
"Gentiles": The original Greek term for Gentiles is "ἔθνη" (ethnē), meaning nations or peoples outside the Jewish community.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In contrast to some ancient religions that were ethnically exclusive or bound to a specific nation, Christianity asserted a universal call from its early stages.

This contrasts with, for example, the Roman state religion which was linked to Roman citizenship and governance, or Jewish religious practices which were intrinsically tied to Jewish ethnicity and the land of Israel.

Scientific Perspectives

There are no direct scientific perspectives related to this verse; however, the spread of ideas and religious beliefs can be studied through the lens of sociology and anthropology.

The diffusion of Christianity can be analyzed similarly to any other cultural phenomenon in terms of patterns, networks, and societal shifts.

Commentaries

Expert commentaries on Acts 15:3 note the important role of the early church in supporting missionary activity and the significance of the Apostles' decision regarding Gentile converts.

Matthew Henry's Commentary, for example, discusses the fulfillment of the promise that the Gentiles should be brought into the church.

The Expositor's Bible Commentary highlights the importance of the joy of the believers upon hearing of the inclusion of the Gentiles, signifying the breaking down of barriers that previously separated Jew from Gentile.

Acts 15

Acts 15

What does Acts 15:3 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 15:3 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?