Acts 15:3 kjv
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.
Acts 15:3 nkjv
So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren.
Acts 15:3 niv
The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the believers very glad.
Acts 15:3 esv
So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.
Acts 15:3 nlt
The church sent the delegates to Jerusalem, and they stopped along the way in Phoenicia and Samaria to visit the believers. They told them ? much to everyone's joy ? that the Gentiles, too, were being converted.
Acts 15 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 13:1-3 | Now there were in the church at Antioch... the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." So... they sent them off. | Antioch church sends out missionaries. |
| Acts 14:26-27 | And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. | Reporting back to the sending church. |
| Acts 21:19 | When he had greeted them, he told in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. | Paul continues to report Gentile conversion. |
| Rom 15:24 | I hope to visit you on my way to Spain... and to be sped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while. | Churches supporting missionaries' travel. |
| 1 Cor 16:6 | Perhaps I will stay with you awhile or even spend the winter, so that you may help me on my journey wherever I go. | Christian communities aiding apostles' travel. |
| Tit 3:13 | Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. | Practical support for those on mission. |
| 3 Jn 1:6-8 | They have testified before the church about your love... you will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. | Supporting those who preach the Gospel. |
| Acts 11:18 | When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, "Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life." | Previous instance of joy over Gentile salvation. |
| Gal 2:7-8 | But on the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised... for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles. | Recognition of Paul's ministry to Gentiles. |
| Eph 3:6 | This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. | Gentile inclusion as central mystery. |
| Isa 49:6 | "I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth." | OT prophecy of Gentile salvation. |
| Joel 2:28-32 | "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh..." | Prophecy of universal Spirit outpouring. |
| Rom 15:9-12 | and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written: "Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name."... "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people!" | Gentile salvation fulfilling OT prophecy. |
| Lk 15:7 | Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. | Joy in heaven over repentance. |
| Lk 15:10 | Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents." | Heavenly joy over new believers. |
| Phil 1:4 | always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy... | Paul's joy in the saints' progress. |
| Phil 2:2 | complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. | Unity bringing joy among believers. |
| Acts 2:41 | So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. | Early church growth causing joy. |
| Acts 8:5-8 | Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. And the crowds with one accord paid attention... And there was much joy in that city. | Evangelism in Samaria bringing joy. |
| Acts 11:19 | Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch... | Early Christian communities in Phoenicia. |
| Acts 2:46 | And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts... | Early church joy and fellowship. |
| Psa 67:1-2 | May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. | Desire for God's salvation to reach all nations. |
| Zeph 3:9 | "For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure language, that all of them may call upon the name of the LORD and serve him with one accord." | Prophecy of future universal worship. |
| 2 Cor 7:4 | I have great confidence in you... I am filled with comfort. With all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy. | Paul's joy amidst challenges for the saints. |
| Col 1:5-6 | because of the hope laid up for you in heaven... Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing... | The gospel bearing fruit worldwide. |
Acts 15 verses
Acts 15 3 Meaning
Acts chapter 15, verse 3 describes Paul and Barnabas's journey from Antioch to Jerusalem for the crucial council. As they were officially sent off by the church in Antioch, they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, sharing news of how God had brought about the conversion of the Gentiles. This account of God's work among the non-Jews brought immense joy to the believers they encountered along their way. The verse highlights the church's support for their mission, the proclamation of God's inclusive grace, and the unified response of joy to the expansion of the gospel.
Acts 15 3 Context
Acts chapter 15 records one of the most pivotal events in early Christian history: the Jerusalem Council. Following their first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch, where a significant debate arose concerning the necessity of circumcision and adherence to the Mosaic Law for Gentile converts (Acts 15:1-2). Certain Jewish believers from Judea insisted that salvation required Gentiles to be circumcised and observe the Law of Moses. This disagreement threatened to divide the early church. Verse 3 initiates the resolution process, detailing how the Antioch church officially sent Paul and Barnabas, accompanied by others, to Jerusalem to consult the apostles and elders regarding this fundamental theological question. Their journey itself, marked by the sharing of Gentile conversions and the resulting joy, foreshadows the council's outcome, which would affirm Gentile salvation by grace through faith alone, without requiring Jewish legal observance. Historically, this event solidified Christianity's distinct identity as a universal faith separate from Judaism's ceremonial law, making salvation accessible to all peoples regardless of ethnic background.
Acts 15 3 Word analysis
- So, being sent on their way: (Greek: oi men oun propemfthentes - "they therefore having been sent forth/forward"). The verb propempei implies more than simply allowing them to leave; it denotes a full sending off, often with provision for the journey and a respectful escort. This highlights the official and supportive nature of the Antioch church's decision to send Paul and Barnabas. It wasn't merely a private trip but a communal commission.
- by the church: Emphasizes the corporate identity and authority of the church in Antioch. This was a communal action, signifying unified support for their representatives and the issue at hand. The church as a body was invested in this journey and its outcome.
- they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria: These are specific geographic regions. Phoenicia was a coastal area north of Galilee, with cities like Tyre and Sidon. Samaria was inland, between Judea and Galilee. Both regions had historical significance regarding interactions between Jews and non-Jews, and some early Christian communities already existed there, especially in Samaria due to Philip's ministry (Acts 8:5-8) and Phoenicia due to dispersion after Stephen's death (Acts 11:19). This indicates that the message spread along established travel routes, engaging existing communities.
- describing: (Greek: ekdiēgeomai - "to narrate fully," "to report in detail"). This strong verb suggests a vivid, thorough, and perhaps passionate account. Paul and Barnabas didn't just mention the conversions; they recounted the specific events, miracles, and signs that accompanied the gospel's spread among the Gentiles.
- the conversion: (Greek: epistrophē - "a turning around," "a return," "conversion"). This term signifies a genuine spiritual turning from idolatry and sin to God, marked by repentance and faith. It implies a change of life and allegiance, not merely a superficial acceptance of new teachings.
- of the Gentiles: (Greek: tōn ethnōn - "of the nations," "of the peoples"). This is the critical group at the heart of the debate. These were non-Jews who had believed in Christ, posing the central question of their status in the new covenant without observing the full Mosaic Law. Their inclusion signified a paradigm shift for God's people.
- caused great joy: The news of Gentiles converting sparked immense joy. This was a confirmation of God's broader redemptive plan, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies about the nations coming to the light of Israel's God. It indicated spiritual agreement with God's inclusive grace.
- to all the brothers: Not just to a select few, but to the entire community of believers they met along their journey. This collective rejoicing demonstrated widespread acceptance and celebration of God's universal gospel, setting a positive tone for the upcoming Jerusalem Council.
Acts 15 3 Bonus section
The practice of sending missionaries "on their way" by the church also includes the practical aspect of financial and prayerful support for those traveling for gospel work. It reflects the understanding that missions are a corporate endeavor, not just individual heroism. The "great joy" shared by the believers also points to the unity within the broader Christian movement at this time. Despite potential cultural differences, the common experience of salvation and the spread of the gospel fostered a profound sense of fellowship and mutual encouragement. This unity was essential for the church to navigate the theological complexities it was about to face. The fact that the report elicited joy from "all the brothers" underscores a foundational belief among many early Christians: that the Gospel message was inherently universal and inclusive, aligning with God's overarching plan for humanity.
Acts 15 3 Commentary
Acts 15:3 acts as a vital bridge between the missionary efforts and the pivotal theological resolution of the early church. The verse beautifully illustrates the church's communal life and missional heart. The Antioch church's act of "sending forth" Paul and Barnabas with provision underscores the importance of church-backed missionary endeavor and pastoral accountability. Their journey through Phoenicia and Samaria served as an itinerant report, where they "described in detail" God's miraculous work among the Gentiles. This wasn't merely a travel update, but a spiritual report that confirmed the power of the gospel to transcend cultural and ethnic barriers without necessitating adherence to the ceremonial law. The spontaneous and widespread "great joy" of the brothers encountering this news highlights the theological consensus emerging organically: God's grace was extending universally, calling all peoples into His kingdom. This joy provided a crucial counterpoint to the impending theological conflict in Jerusalem, demonstrating that Gentile conversion was not a problem but a cause for divine celebration and human delight. The verse implicitly asserts that Gentile salvation through faith alone was a genuine work of God, already bearing fruit and bringing glory to His name among various Christian communities, thereby laying a positive groundwork for the council's affirmation.