Acts 15 14

Acts 15:14 kjv

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

Acts 15:14 nkjv

Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.

Acts 15:14 niv

Simon has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles.

Acts 15:14 esv

Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name.

Acts 15:14 nlt

Peter has told you about the time God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for himself.

Acts 15 verses

Acts 15 14 Meaning

Acts 15:14 summarizes the pivotal truth affirmed at the Jerusalem Council: God, in His sovereign initiative, deliberately extended salvation to the Gentiles. This verse highlights that He visited them not just as individuals, but with the specific purpose of drawing out a distinct corporate body—"a people"—who would bear His name and identity, and thus belong exclusively to Him, apart from adherence to the Mosaic Law. It signifies the groundbreaking inclusion of Gentiles into God's covenant family, fundamentally redefining His people.

Acts 15 14 Context

Acts chapter 15 records the Jerusalem Council, a pivotal event in early church history addressing a severe theological crisis: Must Gentile converts to Christianity be circumcised and observe the Mosaic Law to be saved? Paul and Barnabas presented the issue after intense debate in Antioch, challenged by legalistic Jewish believers. Peter (Simeon) had just delivered a compelling testimony, recounting God's undeniable outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon Gentile believers like Cornelius before their circumcision or adherence to the Law, indicating divine acceptance solely through faith. James, as a key leader in the Jerusalem church, speaks last, drawing a theological conclusion from Peter's eyewitness account. This verse serves as James's affirmation and summary of Peter's testimony, setting the stage for James's authoritative appeal to the Old Testament prophets, thereby demonstrating the divine pattern of Gentile inclusion was consistent with God's historic plan.

Acts 15 14 Word analysis

• Simeon (Συμεών, Symeōn): This is the Greek form of Simon, Peter's original Hebrew name. James uses this name, not "Peter," potentially to lend a tone of familiarity and historical rootedness, connecting Peter's current experience directly to his Jewish heritage and identity. It could also suggest reverence for his elder.
• has related (ἐξηγήσατο, exēgēsato): The Greek verb means to "explain" or "narrate," often with the implication of giving a full, comprehensive account or exposition. Peter didn't just tell a story; he laid out God's active, explanatory work in the conversion of Cornelius.
• how God (ὁ Θεός, ho Theos): Emphasizes divine initiative. The sovereign God Himself, not human effort or missionary strategy, was the primary agent in this work among Gentiles.
• first visited (ἐπεσκέψατο πρῶτον, epeskephsato prōton):
  • visited (ἐπεσκέψατο, epeskephsato): The Greek verb can mean to "look upon," "inspect," "care for," or "visit with beneficial intent." Here, it signifies God's deliberate, gracious intervention and engagement with the Gentiles, bringing salvation and covenant blessing. This is a benevolent, saving visitation.
  • first (πρῶτον, prōton): This adverb highlights the precedence and priority of God's act concerning the Gentiles in this particular manner. While Gentiles had previously encountered God, this "first" refers to the specific divine outpouring of the Spirit on uncircumcised Gentiles as full members of God's new covenant people, as witnessed by Peter.
• the Gentiles (ἐθνῶν, ethnōn): Refers to non-Jewish nations, the "pagans." The target of the council's discussion and God's expansive salvific work. This word encapsulates the radical nature of God's action.
• to take (λαβeῖν, labein): The verb "to take" here implies selection, acquisition, or choosing. It's an intentional act of gathering a people for Himself from among the larger Gentile population. This is a divine act of election and incorporation.
• from them (ἐξ αὐτῶν, ex autōn): This clarifies that God is not taking all Gentiles, but rather a specific chosen group out of them. This distinguishes the elect community from the general mass of humanity.
• a people (λαόν, laon): This is a deeply significant term. In the Old Testament, laos (people) almost exclusively referred to Israel as God's chosen covenant nation. Applying it to Gentiles signifies their incorporation into a similar, albeit new, corporate covenant identity, possessing a new shared destiny with believing Jews in Christ. They are not merely isolated believers but constitute a distinct body.
• for his name (τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ, tō onomati autou): "Name" here represents God's character, reputation, authority, and presence. To be a "people for his name" means they exist for His glory, bear His identity, belong to Him exclusively, and will demonstrate His praise to the world. Their existence validates His honor and magnifies Him.

Acts 15 14 Bonus section

James's use of "Simeon" rather than "Peter" may subtly echo Old Testament linguistic patterns or provide an intentional theological weight by reminding listeners of Simon Peter's Hebrew roots and how this grand inclusion of Gentiles perfectly aligns with the historic God of Israel, fulfilling promises to the patriarchs. The deliberate choice of "a people for his name" over simpler phrasing like "Gentiles for him" further highlights the corporate nature of God's design, signifying a chosen, identifiable community dedicated to bearing His renown and representing Him on earth. This wasn't merely about individual salvation, but about the formation of a new covenant people, a truth often underestimated in modern individualistic approaches to faith. This declaration from James also served to unify dissenting parties at the council, showing continuity with Abrahamic promises of blessing to all nations and providing a compelling rationale for the decision.

Acts 15 14 Commentary

James's statement in Acts 15:14 serves as a profound theological bridge. He masterfully synthesizes Peter's practical, Spirit-led experience with God's overarching redemptive plan, demonstrating that God Himself initiated the inclusion of Gentiles into His people. The phrase "Simeon has related" respectfully acknowledges Peter's authority and testimony. The key insight is that God's "visitation" of the Gentiles was not an afterthought but a deliberate, precedent-setting act, driven by His own will and grace. The divine purpose was specific: to "take from them a people" (not merely individuals) and gather them into a corporate body, united "for His name." This phrase—"a people for His name"—resonates deeply with Old Testament declarations of Israel as God's chosen possession (Ex 19:5-6; Deut 7:6), now dramatically expanded to include Gentile believers. It emphasizes that this new community, encompassing both Jew and Gentile in Christ, exists to manifest God's character and glory. James thereby confirms the theological legitimacy of uncircumcised Gentile converts, providing the foundation for the council's crucial decision and paving the way for the prophetic support he quotes immediately afterward from Amos.