Acts 15

Acts · Chapter 15

Acts 15:21

1And 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.2When 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.3And 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.4And 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.5But 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.6And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.7And 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.8And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;9And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.10Now 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?11But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.12Then 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.13And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:14Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.15And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,16After 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:17That 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.18Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.19Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:20But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.21For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.22Then 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:23And 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:24Forasmuch 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:25It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,26Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.27We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.28For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;29That 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.30So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:31Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.32And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.33And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.34Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.35Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.36And 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.37And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.38But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.39And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;40And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.41And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
21For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”For Moses from generations of old hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath.

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Greek words

EnglishGreekSay itStrong'sMeaning
MosesΜωϋσῆςMōusēsG3475
Moses

Μωϋσῆς, Μωσῆς (Mōusēs, Mōsēs) Μωυσῆς (Μωϋσῆς, T; Μωσῆς, Rec.), -έως, dative - (as LXX: Exo.5:20, al.), and -εῖ, accusative -ῆν (ac LXX) and -έα (Luk.16:29 only) (Heb. מֹשֶׁה), Moses: Mat.8:4 17:3-4, al.; νόμος Μωυσέως, Luk.2:22 24:44, Jhn.7:23, Act.13:39 15:5 28:23, 1Co.9:9, Heb.10:28; by meton., of the books of Moses, Luk.16:29 24:27, Act.15:21, 2Co.3:15 (AS)

forγὰρgarG1063
for

γάρ (gar) γάρ, co-ordinating particle, contr. of γε ἄρα, verily then, hence, in truth, indeed, yea, then, why, and when giving a reason or explanation, for, the usage in NT being in general accord with that of cl.; 1. explicative and epexegetic: Mat.4:18 19:12, Mrk.1:16 5:42 16:4, Luk.11:3o, Rom.7:1, 1Co.16:5, al. 2. Conclusive, in questions, answers and exclamations: Mat.9:5 27:23, Luk.9:25 22:27, Jhn.9:30, Act.8:31 16:37 19:35, Rom.15:26, 1Co.9:10, Php.1:18 (Ellic., in l.), 1Th.2:20, al. …

fromἐκekG1537
out from

ἐκ (ek) ἐκ (ἐξ), prep. with genitive, from out of, from (see Addendum, p. 492). This entry is included here, but in the print version the entry is found on p. 492. ἐκ, before a vowel ἐξ, prep. with genitive, of motion outwards, separation from (opposite to εἰς; = Lat. e, ex), from out of, from among, from. I. Of Place, …

generationsγενεῶνgeneōnG1074
generation

γενεά (genea) γενεά, -ᾶς, ἡ (γίγνομαι), [in LXX chiefly for דּוֹר, דֹּר (Cremer, 148) ;] 1. race, stock, family (in NT, γέννημα, which see). 2. generation; (a) of the contemporary members of a family: pl., Mat.1:17 (cf. Gen.31:3, מוֹלֶדֶת); metaphorically, of those alike in character, in bad sense, Mat.17:17, Mrk.9:19, Luk.9:41 16:8, Act.2:40; …

of oldἀρχαίωνarchaiōnG0744
ancient

ἀρχαῖος (archaios) ἀρχαῖος, -αία, -αῖον (ἀρχή), [in LXX chiefly for קֶדֶם ;] original, ancient: Mat.5:21, 33, Luk.9:8, 19, Act.15:7, 21 21:16, 2Co.5:17, 2Pe.2:5, Rev.12:9 20:2.† SYN.: παλαιός, old, without the reference to beginning and origin contained in ἀ. The distinction is observed in π. (MM, see word). ἀ. is the antithesis to καινός: παλ. to vέος (see Westc., He., 223; Cremer, 116) (AS)

in everyκατὰkataG2596
according to

κατά (kata) κατά (bef. a vowel κατ᾽, καθ᾽; on the frequently neglect of elision, see Tdf., Pr., 95; WH, App., 146a), prep. with genitive, accusative, down, downwards. I. C. genitive (WM, §47, k; Bl., §42, 2). 1. C. genitive of thing(s), in local sense; (a) down, down from: Mat.8:32, Mrk.5:13, Luk.8:33, 1Co.11:4; (b) throughout (late usage; Bl, l.with): κ. ὅλης κ.τ.λ., Luk.4:14 23:5, Act.9:31 10:37; (with) in a peculiar adjectival phrase: ἡ κ. βάθους, deep or extreme poverty, 2Co.8:2. 2. C. genitive of person(s), usually in hostile sense; …

cityπόλινpolinG4172
city

πόλις (polis) πόλις, -εως, ὁ, [in LXX chiefly and very frequently for עִיר ;] a city: Mat.2:23, Mrk.1:45, Luk.4:29, Jhn.4:8, al. mult.; opposite to κῶμαι (κ. καὶ ἀγροί), Mat.9:35 10:11, Mrk.6:56, Luk.8:1 13:22; with nom. propr. in appos. (cl.), Act.11:5 16:14; with id. in genitive appos. (BL, §35, 5), Act.8:5, 2Pe.2:6; genitive, of the region, Luk.1:26 4:31, Jhn.4:5; of the inhabitants, Mat.10:5, 23 Luk.23:51, Act.19:35, 2Co.11:32; with genitive of person(s), of one's residence or native place, Mat.22:7, Luk.2:4, 11 4:29 10:11, Jhn.1:45, Act.16:20, Rev.16:9; of Jerusalem: ἡ ἁγία π., Mat.4:5 27:53, Rev.11: …

proclaimingκηρύσσονταςkērussontasG2784
to preach

κηρύσσω (kērussō) κηρύσσω [in LXX chiefly for קָרָא ;] to be a herald, to proclaim: Mrk.1:45 7:36, Luk.4:18-19" (LXX) (but see Field, Notes, 174) Luk.8:39, Rom.2:21, 1Co.9:27, Gal.5:11, al.; in NT, chiefly of the proclamation of the Gospel, to proclaim, preach: τὸ εὐαγέλιον, Mat.4:23 9:35 24:14 26:13, Mrk.1:14 13:10 14:9 16:15, Gal.2:2, Col.1:23, 1Th.2:9; before εἰς, Mrk.1:39 13:10, Luk.4:44, 1Th.2:9; ἵνα, Mrk.6:12; with inf.. Rom.2:21; κ. Χριστόν, Ἰησοῦν, Act.8:5 9:20 19:13, 1Co.1:23 15:12, 2Co.1:19 11:4, Php.1:15; 1Ti.3:16 (cf. προ-κηρύσσω) (AS)

himαὐτὸνautonG0846
it/s/he

αὐτός (autos) αὐτός, -ή, -ό, determinative pron., in late Gk. much more frequently than in cl. (WM, 178f.; Jannaris, HGG, §1399). 1. Emphatic (so always in nom. exc. when preceded by the art., see infr., iii); (1) self (ipse), expressing opposition, distinction, exclusion, etc., αὐ. ἐκχυθήσεται, Luk.5:37; αὐ. ἐγινώσκεν, Jhn.2:25; αὐ.ὑμεῖς, Jhn.3:28; καὶ αὐ. ἐγώ, Rom.15:14; αὐ. Ἰησοῦς, Jhn.2:24; αὐ. καὶ οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, Mrk.2:25; ὑμεῖς αὐ., Mrk.6:31; esp. (as freq in cl.) αὐ. ὁ, Mat.3:4, Mrk.6:17, Jhn.16:27, 1Th.3:11, al.; in late Gk., sometimes weakened, ἐν αὐτῇ τ. ὥρᾳ, in that hour, Luk.10:21 (M, Pr., 91; …

he isἔχειecheiG2192
to have/be

ἔχω (echō) ἔχω, [in LXX for אָצֵל (ἐχόμενος), יֵשׁ,בַּעַל, etc., 59 words in all ;] (on the Aktionsart of the various tenses, see M, Pr., 110, 145, 150, 183), to have, as in cl., in various senses and constructions. I. Trans.; 1. 1. to have, hold, hold fast, etc.; (a) to hold, as, in the hand: Rev.5:8 14:6, al.; ἐν τ. χειρί, Rev.1:16 10:2, al.; (b) of arms and clothing, = φέρω, φορέω, to bear, wear: Mat.3:4 22:12, al.; so frequently present ptcp. (LS, see word, A, I, 6; Bl., 74, 2), Mrk.11:13, Jhn.18:10, Rev.9:17, al.; (with) of a woman, ἐν γαστρὶ ἔ, to be with child: Mrk.13:17, Rom.9:10; …

inἐνenG1722
in/on/among

ἐν (en) ἐν, prep, (the most frequently of all in NT), with dative (= Heb. בְּ, Lat. in, with abl.). I. Of place, with dative of thing(s), of person(s), in, within, on, at, by, among: ἐν τ. πόλει, Luk.7:37; τ. οφθαλμῷ, Mat.7:3; τ. κοιλίᾳ, Mat.12:40; τ. ὄρει, 2Pe.1:18; τ. θρόνῳ, Rev.3:21; τ. δεξιᾷ τ. θεοῦ, Rom.8:34; ἐν ἡμῖν Abbott-Smith has ὑμῖν., Luk.1:1; of books, ἐν τ. βιβλίῳ, Gal.3:10; τ. νόμῳ, Mat.12:5, al.; ἐν τοῖς τ. Πατρός, in my Father's house (RV; cf. M, Pr., 103), Luk.2:49; trop., of the region of thought or feeling, ἐν τ. καρδίᾳ (-αις), Mat.5:28, 2Co.4:6, al.; τ. συνειδήσεσιν, 2Co.5:11; af …

synagoguesσυναγωγαῖςsunagōgaisG4864
synagogue

συναγωγή (sunagōgē) συν-αγωγή, -ῆς, ἡ [in LXX chiefly for עֵדָה, also for קָהָל, etc. ;] prop., a bringing together; 1. of things, (a) a gathering in of harvest; (b) a collection of money. 2. Of persons, (a) a collecting, assembling (Polyb.); (b) an assembly (MM, xxiv; Deiss., LAE, 101 ff.): Rev.2:9 3:9; esp. of a Jewish religious assembly, a synagogue: Luk.12:11, Act.9:2, al.; of a Christian assembly, Jas.2:2. By meton., of the building in which the assembly is held, a synagogue: Mat.10:17, Mrk.1:21, al. (cf. Cremer, see word ἐκκλησία) SYN.: ἐκκλησία (which see) (AS)

onκατὰkataG2596
according to

κατά (kata) κατά (bef. a vowel κατ᾽, καθ᾽; on the frequently neglect of elision, see Tdf., Pr., 95; WH, App., 146a), prep. with genitive, accusative, down, downwards. I. C. genitive (WM, §47, k; Bl., §42, 2). 1. C. genitive of thing(s), in local sense; (a) down, down from: Mat.8:32, Mrk.5:13, Luk.8:33, 1Co.11:4; (b) throughout (late usage; Bl, l.with): κ. ὅλης κ.τ.λ., Luk.4:14 23:5, Act.9:31 10:37; (with) in a peculiar adjectival phrase: ἡ κ. βάθους, deep or extreme poverty, 2Co.8:2. 2. C. genitive of person(s), usually in hostile sense; …

everyπᾶνpanG3956
all

πᾶς (pas) πᾶς, πᾶσα, πᾶν, genitive, παντός, πάσης, παντός, [in LXX chiefly for כֹּל ;] all, every. I. As adj., 1. with subst. anarth., all, every, of every kind: Mat.3:10 4:23, Mrk.9:49, Luk.4:37, Jhn.2:1o, Act.27:20, Rom.7:8, Rev.18:17, al. mult.; pl., all, Act.22:15, Rom.5:12, Heb.1:6, al.; of the highest degree, π. ἐξουσία (προθυμία, χαρά), Mat.28:18, Act.17:11, Phi 2:29, al.; also the whole (though in this sense more frequently with art.), Mat.2:3, Act.2:36, Rom.11:26. …

SabbathσάββατονsabbatonG4521
Sabbath

σάββατον (sabbaton) σάββατον, -ου, τό (Aram. שַׁבָּתָא, transliterated σάββατα, and this being mistaken for a pl., the sing. σάββατον was formed from it), and σάββατα, -ων, τά [in LXX for שַׁבָּת, שַׁבָּתוֹן ;] 1. the seventh day of the week, the sabbath …

being read.ἀναγινωσκόμενος.¶anaginōskomenosG0314
to read

ἀναγινώσκω (anaginōskō) ἀνα-γινώσκω (Attic ἀναγιγν-), [in LXX chiefly for קָרָא ;] 1. to know certainly, know again, recognize. 2. Of written characters, to read: Mat.24:15, Mrk.13:14, Act.15:31 23:34, Eph.3:4; with accusative of thing(s), Mat.22:31, Mrk.12:10 Luk.6:3, Jhn.19:20, Act.8:30, 32, 2Co.1:13, Rev.1:3; with accusative of person(s), Ἠσαίαν τ. προφήτην, Act.8:28, 30; before ἐν, Mat.12:5 21:42, Mrk.12:26 (so. ἐν τ. νόμῳ), Luk.10:26; before ὅτι, Mat.19:4 21:16; τί ἐποίησε, Mat.12:3, Mrk.2:25; pass. 2Co.3:2; of reading aloud (MM, VGT, see word), Luk.4:16, Act.13:27 15:21, 2Co.3:15, Col.4:16, 1Th.5:27 (M, Th., …

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.