Acts 15 23

Acts 15:23 kjv

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.

Acts 15:23 nkjv

They wrote this letter by them: The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.

Acts 15:23 niv

With them they sent the following letter: The apostles and elders, your brothers, To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Greetings.

Acts 15:23 esv

with the following letter: "The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings.

Acts 15:23 nlt

This is the letter they took with them: "This letter is from the apostles and elders, your brothers in Jerusalem. It is written to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Greetings!

Acts 15 verses

Acts 15 23 Meaning

This verse describes a letter sent by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem to believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. The letter's purpose was to clarify the Gentile believers' requirements for inclusion within the early church, stating they should abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality. It also emphasizes that these were decisions of the Holy Spirit and the apostles, providing a unified direction.

Acts 15 23 Context

Acts Chapter 15 addresses a critical issue for the early church: the requirements for Gentile converts to Judaism. Specifically, some Jewish believers insisted that Gentiles must be circumcised and follow the Mosaic Law to be true followers of Christ. This teaching created significant division and confusion among the burgeoning Christian communities, especially in places like Antioch where many Gentiles were converting. This letter, therefore, represents the Jerusalem council's consensus on the matter, guided by the Holy Spirit, to provide a unified and clear directive. The chapter details the debate, the arguments presented by key figures like Peter, James, and Paul, and the eventual decision to send this letter to the churches. This verse is the official pronouncement of that decision, aiming to facilitate fellowship and mutual understanding between Jewish and Gentile believers without imposing an unnecessary burden.

Acts 15 23 Word Analysis

• “οἱ ἀπόστολοι καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι καὶ ἀδελφοὶ” (hoi apostoloi kai hoi presbyteroi kai adelphoi): "the apostles and the elders and brothers."

  • "ἀπόστολοι" (apostoloi): "apostles," the chief messengers and representatives of Christ, uniquely commissioned.
  • "πρεσβύτεροι" (presbyteroi): "elders," recognized leaders within the church. This shows the structure and authority within the Jerusalem church.
  • "ἀδελφοὶ" (adelphoi): "brothers," indicating unity and the familial nature of the Christian community. It implies that all believers, regardless of their specific roles, are part of this brotherhood.

• “τοῖς κατὰ τὴν Ἀντιόχειαν Συρίαν καὶ Κιλικίαν ἀδελφοῖς” (tois kata tēn Antiocheian Syrian kai Kilikian adelphois): "to the brothers who are in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia."

  • This identifies the recipients of the letter, clearly marking the geographical scope of this decree. These were regions with significant Gentile Christian populations.

• “χαίρειν” (chairein): "Greetings" or "rejoice."

  • A standard Greek epistolary opening, used in secular letters as well as biblical ones, conveying goodwill.

• “ἐπιδόντες” (epidontes): "Having seen" or "having considered."

  • It signifies a deliberate and prayerful review of the situation by the Jerusalem leaders before issuing their decision.

• “ἐν ὑμῖν” (en hymin): "among you."

• “διὰ τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος” (dia tou hagiou pneumatos): "through the Holy Spirit."

  • This is a crucial phrase, emphasizing divine guidance and authority behind the decision. The decree is not merely a human judgment but a Spirit-led one, giving it significant weight. This echoes Jesus' promise in John 16:13 about the Spirit guiding believers into all truth.

• “ἔδοξεν” (edoxen): "it seemed good" or "it pleased."

  • A polite way to express a shared conclusion or decree, often used in official pronouncements, and here signifies a collective, Spirit-guided decision. It reflects the consensus reached in the council.

• “ἡμῖν” (hēmin): "to us."

• “τοῖς ἐπιλεξαμένοις” (tois epilexamenois): "to those who have been chosen."

• “ὥστε” (hōste): "so that."

• “ἐπιθέσθαι” (epithesthai): "to lay upon" or "to impose."

• “ὑμῖν” (hymin): "you."

• “κρίμασιν” (krimasin): "judgments" or "decrees."

• “μηδὲν” (mēden): "nothing."

• “βαρύτερον” (baruteron): "weightier" or "more burdensome."

• “εἶναι” (einai): "to be."

• “ἐκτὸς” (ektos): "except" or "besides."

• “τῶν ἐπάναγκες τούτων” (tōn epanankes toutōn): "of these necessary things."

  • This phrase qualifies the preceding prohibition, highlighting that the restrictions mentioned are not optional but necessary, "essential requirements." This is a careful calibration, acknowledging the need for some guidelines without recreating the full yoke of the Mosaic Law.

• “Language Group Analysis”: The letter uses standard Koine Greek, the common language of the Hellenistic world, making it accessible to believers across different regions. The formality of "apostles and elders" paired with the familial "brothers" reflects the internal church structure. The phrase "seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us" is a masterful theological statement, attributing divine authority to a humanly discerned decision, avoiding an imposition of legalistic burdens.

Acts 15 23 Bonus Section

The directive to "abstain from what has been strangled" (Greek: ἀπέχεσθαι... τῶν ἐστραγαλωμένων - apechesthai... tōn estragalōmenōn) refers to animals killed without proper draining of blood, as blood was understood to be the life itself and sacred to God (Leviticus 17:10-14). This prohibition, along with abstaining from blood itself, was rooted in early Jewish dietary laws. The inclusion of these points, alongside avoidance of food sacrificed to idols and sexual immorality, ensured that Gentile converts could participate in community meals and interact within Jewish-Christian society without violating fundamental principles that separated God's people. This helped pave the way for a more integrated and peaceful coexistence and expansion of the Gospel across cultural lines, setting a precedent for how the church would navigate future ethical and doctrinal issues.

Acts 15 23 Commentary

The decree issued in this verse by the apostles and elders represents a pivotal moment in early Christianity. It demonstrates a commitment to unity between Jewish and Gentile believers, recognizing that salvation comes through Christ, not adherence to the Mosaic Law's ceremonial aspects. The emphasis on abstaining from food sacrificed to idols, blood, and strangled meats, and avoiding sexual immorality, addresses common Gentile pagan practices that would still be offensive to Jewish sensibilities and undermine fellowship. Crucially, this decision was presented not as a new law but as necessary stipulations to maintain purity and unity. The attribution to the Holy Spirit shows that these guidelines were divinely inspired to guide the nascent church towards inclusive fellowship without compromising its distinct witness to the world.

Practical Application Examples:

• Unity in Fellowship: When engaging with those from different backgrounds within the church, a willingness to understand and respect their convictions, even if different from one's own, can prevent unnecessary division, similar to how these guidelines sought to bridge cultural divides.
• Avoiding Stumbling Blocks: Being mindful that some practices, though permissible for one believer, might cause a weaker believer to stumble in their faith (1 Cor 8:9-13).
• Distinguishing Essentials from Non-Essentials: Recognizing what is fundamentally necessary for Christian life and salvation (faith in Christ, love) versus matters that are secondary or can be adjusted for broader inclusion.