Acts 15:24 kjv
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:
Acts 15:24 nkjv
Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, "You must be circumcised and keep the law" ?to whom we gave no such commandment?
Acts 15:24 niv
We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said.
Acts 15:24 esv
Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions,
Acts 15:24 nlt
"We understand that some men from here have troubled you and upset you with their teaching, but we did not send them!
Acts 15 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gal 5:2 | Look: I, Paul, tell you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. | Christ's sufficiency vs. circumcision |
| Gal 1:6-9 | I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel... let him be accursed. | Warning against false gospel of works |
| Rom 3:28 | For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. | Justification by faith, not law |
| Eph 2:8-9 | For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works... | Salvation by grace, not works |
| Phil 3:2-3 | Look out for the dogs, look out for the evil doers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision... | Warning against legalists/Judaizers |
| Col 2:11-12 | In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ... | Spiritual circumcision in Christ |
| Titus 1:10-11 | For there are many unruly and pointless talkers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are subverting whole households by teaching things... | Rebuking those insisting on circumcision |
| Acts 15:1 | But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." | Initial source of the false teaching |
| Acts 15:5 | But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses." | Confirmation of the false teaching |
| 2 Cor 11:3-4 | But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus... | Danger of spiritual deception |
| Rom 16:17-18 | I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ... | Identifying and avoiding troublemakers |
| 2 Peter 2:1-3 | But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them... | Emergence of false teachers |
| Matt 7:15 | "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves." | Warning about deceitful teachers |
| Acts 20:29-30 | I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. | Internal threat from distorted teachings |
| Jude 1:4 | For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. | Unsanctioned teachers, perverting grace |
| Deut 4:2 | You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you. | Against adding to God's commandments |
| Prov 30:6 | Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar. | Consequences of altering God's word |
| Rev 22:18-19 | I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book... | Divine judgment for adding/subtracting from word |
| John 14:15 | "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." | True obedience stems from love for Christ |
| 1 John 2:3-6 | And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says, "I know him," but does not keep his commandments is a liar... | Knowing God means keeping His commands, not adding |
| Gal 5:10 | I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, but the one who troubles you will bear his judgment, whoever he is. | God's judgment on those who trouble |
Acts 15 verses
Acts 15 24 Meaning
Acts 15:24 declares that certain individuals who emerged from the Jerusalem church caused spiritual turmoil and confusion among Gentile believers by teaching that circumcision and adherence to the Mosaic Law were necessary for salvation. The verse sternly clarifies that these teachers acted without any authority or instruction from the apostles and elders in Jerusalem.
Acts 15 24 Context
Acts chapter 15 records the Jerusalem Council, a pivotal event in early church history. The conflict arose from "certain men who came down from Judea" (Acts 15:1), teaching Gentile believers in Antioch that they must be circumcised to be saved. This contradicted the gospel preached by Paul and Barnabas, leading to significant dispute. Paul and Barnabas, along with others, were sent to Jerusalem to consult the apostles and elders. The council, after much debate (Acts 15:6-7), heard Peter's testimony of Gentile conversion by faith (Acts 15:7-11), Paul and Barnabas's accounts of God working among the Gentiles (Acts 15:12), and James's final conclusion based on prophecy and the Holy Spirit's leading (Acts 15:13-21). This verse (Acts 15:24) is part of the official letter written by the apostles and elders (James, Peter, John, and others in authority in Jerusalem, Acts 15:23) to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia, stating their unanimous decision that Gentiles are saved by grace through faith in Christ and do not need circumcision or adherence to the Mosaic Law for salvation. It serves as a strong repudiation of the Judaizers' false teachings and affirms the gospel of grace.
Acts 15 24 Word analysis
Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us:
- Forasmuch as: A transitional phrase, indicating the reason or ground for what follows.
- We have heard: Signifies official knowledge and verification by the apostles and elders. This was not mere rumor but a confirmed report.
- Certain which went out from us: (Greek: tines ex hēmōn - "some from us"). This implies individuals who were once associated with the Jerusalem church, perhaps even from the Christian Pharisees (Acts 15:5). The critical point is ex hēmōn – "from us," implying they departed or went forth and acted independently, without instruction or endorsement. This phrasing carefully distances the official apostolic body from these false teachers.
have troubled you with words, subverting your souls:
- troubled you: (Greek: etaraxan hymas - "agitated," "disturbed," "stirred up"). This refers to creating anxiety, distress, and confusion among the Gentile believers. The teaching of works-based salvation brought them under a yoke of fear and uncertainty.
- with words: (Greek: logois). Their specific teachings were the instruments of trouble. It highlights the power and danger of false doctrine disseminated verbally.
- subverting your souls: (Greek: anaskeuazontes tas psychas hymōn - "overthrowing," "unsettling," "ruining," "demolishing"). This is a very strong and condemning term. Anaskeuazontes metaphorically means "to carry off baggage" or "to strip a house bare," implying spiritual ruin or devastation. It means to cause total disarray and destruction to their faith, effectively undermining the very foundation of their salvation and peace in Christ. It suggests that their eternal security and inner peace were under direct assault.
saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law:
- saying: Clearly identifies the content of their destructive message.
- Ye must be circumcised: This was the primary ceremonial requirement demanded by the Judaizers. It symbolizes adherence to the Old Covenant's external marks for identification with God's people.
- and keep the law: This expands the demand beyond just circumcision to adherence to the entire Mosaic Law, including dietary laws, Sabbath observations, and other ceremonial aspects. They presented these as necessary for salvation, thus denying salvation by grace through faith alone.
to whom we gave no such commandment:
- to whom: Referring directly to the "certain which went out from us."
- we gave no such commandment: (Greek: ou diesteilametha - "we gave no instructions," "we gave no charge," "we commissioned no such thing"). This is the crux of the verse and the official condemnation. It signifies a complete lack of apostolic authorization or endorsement. Their teaching was not from the Jerusalem church, nor from the apostles who carried divine authority in guiding the early church. It emphasizes that these teachers acted on their own initiative, disseminating doctrine contrary to apostolic understanding and God's revealed will through the Spirit.
Words-group Analysis:
- "certain which went out from us... to whom we gave no such commandment": This crucial contrast establishes the lack of legitimate authority for the false teachers. It delineates between genuine apostolic teaching and unauthorized, self-appointed pronouncements. The official church distances itself entirely from their doctrine.
- "troubled you with words, subverting your souls": This phrase highlights the devastating spiritual impact of false teaching. It moves beyond mere theological disagreement to profound spiritual damage and internal confusion. True doctrine brings peace and assurance; false doctrine brings agitation and spiritual overthrow.
- "Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law": This clearly identifies the false gospel being promoted. It is a gospel of "plus-Christ," where human effort and obedience to external rites are added to the finished work of Christ for salvation, thereby nullifying the sufficiency of grace and faith.
Acts 15 24 Bonus section
The Jerusalem Council's decision, articulated in this verse and the wider letter, prevented Christianity from becoming merely a sect of Judaism and allowed its universal mission to the Gentiles to flourish. This verse also implicitly warns against spiritual autonomy and the dangers of individual interpretations that depart from agreed apostolic doctrine. The "subverting of souls" implies that faith itself was at risk, as the emphasis shifted from Christ's completed work to human effort, leading to a loss of assurance and spiritual liberty. The phrase "went out from us" also hints at internal challenges and schisms that often arise when individuals deviate from the core teachings. It establishes a pattern for the church to address theological disputes with unity, prayer, scriptural insight, and Holy Spirit guidance.
Acts 15 24 Commentary
Acts 15:24 is a foundational statement affirming salvation by grace through faith, without the burden of Mosaic Law for Gentile believers. It is a clear and authoritative repudiation from the very heart of the early church (the apostles and elders in Jerusalem) against those who tried to impose Old Covenant requirements on new believers. The use of strong language like "troubled" and especially "subverting your souls" highlights the severe and damaging nature of legalistic false teaching; it attacks the very spiritual foundation of faith and peace. The definitive declaration, "to whom we gave no such commandment," is vital. It underscores that these doctrines were not only erroneous but also completely lacking apostolic authority or divine sanction. This decision, later confirmed to be guided by the Holy Spirit (Acts 15:28), preserved the purity of the Gospel, upholding the universality of salvation through Christ and preventing division in the burgeoning church. It teaches the enduring lesson that genuine spiritual authority always aligns with grace, not legalistic burdens, and that believers must discern between true teaching originating from God and human additions that undermine the efficacy of Christ's work.