Acts 15 7

Acts 15:7 kjv

And 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.

Acts 15:7 nkjv

And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: "Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.

Acts 15:7 niv

After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.

Acts 15:7 esv

And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.

Acts 15:7 nlt

At the meeting, after a long discussion, Peter stood and addressed them as follows: "Brothers, you all know that God chose me from among you some time ago to preach to the Gentiles so that they could hear the Good News and believe.

Acts 15 verses

Acts 15 7 Meaning

After intense debate among the apostles and elders, Peter stood up and reminded them of a pivotal moment "a good while ago" when God sovereignly chose that through Peter's preaching, Gentiles (non-Jews) would hear the saving message of the gospel and believe in Christ. This recollection served as a foundational argument against imposing circumcision and the Mosaic Law on Gentile converts, emphasizing divine initiative and established precedent.

Acts 15 7 Context

Acts chapter 15 records the momentous Jerusalem Council, convened to address a critical dispute that threatened to fracture the nascent Christian church. Certain men from Judea, identified as believing Pharisees (Acts 15:5), insisted that Gentile converts to Christianity must be circumcised and adhere to the Mosaic Law to be saved, stating, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved" (Acts 15:1). This directly contradicted the experience of missionaries like Paul and Barnabas, who had seen God save Gentiles by faith alone, without requiring these rites. Acts 15:7 immediately follows a period of "much disputing" (Gr. zētēsis), indicating intense theological debate. Peter's rising to speak signals a pivotal moment where he, as an apostle and key leader, appeals to divine precedent. His discourse harkens back to his divinely orchestrated ministry to Cornelius's household (Acts 10-11), where God himself demonstrated acceptance of uncircumcised Gentiles by bestowing the Holy Spirit upon them, thus affirming salvation through faith, not through adherence to the Law.

Acts 15 7 Word analysis

• And when there had been much disputing: (Greek: πολλῆς συζητήσεως γενομένης - pollēs suzētēseōs genomēnēs) This phrase highlights the intensity and duration of the preceding discussion. Syzētēsis (disputing/debating) implies a thorough, perhaps even heated, exchange of arguments. This was not a minor disagreement but a foundational theological conflict about the nature of salvation. Its prominence sets the stage for a resolution based on apostolic authority and divine witness.
• Peter rose up: (Greek: Ἀναστὰς Πέτρος - Anastas Petros) "Rose up" (anastas) implies a formal and deliberate action, indicating he was preparing to speak with authority and a decisive word in the midst of the controversy. His action draws immediate attention and signifies his intention to address the assembly with weight.
• and said unto them, Men and brethren,: (Greek: εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτοὺς, Ἄνδρες ἀδελφοί, - eipa pros autous, Andrēs adelphoi,) This respectful yet firm address underscores the common bond among those gathered, despite their differing views. It appealed to shared spiritual identity, creating an environment for shared revelation.
• ye know how that a good while ago: (Greek: ὑμεῖς ἐπίστασθε ὅτι ἀφ᾽ ἡμερῶν ἀρχαίων - humeis epistasthe hoti aph’ hēmerōn archaiōn) "Ye know" indicates an appeal to shared knowledge and undeniable past events, specifically referencing the well-known and pivotal conversion of Cornelius and his household in Acts 10. "A good while ago" (aph’ hēmerōn archaiōn - from ancient days/early days) emphasizes that this was not a recent or isolated incident, but an established pattern or divine precedent.
• God made choice: (Greek: ὁ θεὸς ἐξελέξατο - ho theos exelexato) This is a crucial phrase. Exelexato (from eklegomai) means "to choose out, elect, select." It emphasizes God's sovereign initiative and divine purpose in selecting Peter for this specific task. The focus is entirely on God's action, not Peter's choice or qualifications, thereby validating the method of Gentile salvation.
• among us: (Greek: ἐν ἡμῖν - en hēmin) This signifies that God's choice was made within the context of their community, a demonstration witnessed by the apostles and brethren. It implies that Peter's selection was known and observed by the church leaders, thus lending greater authority to his argument.
• that the Gentiles: (Greek: διὰ τοῦ στόματός μου τὰ ἔθνη - dia tou stomatos mou ta ethnē) Ethnē specifically refers to "nations" or "Gentiles" – non-Jewish peoples. This clearly identifies the focus of God's choice. It signifies a radical shift from the traditional understanding of God's covenant people being exclusively Israel.
• by my mouth: (Greek: διὰ τοῦ στόματός μου - dia tou stomatos mou) This highlights Peter's specific and divinely appointed role as the instrument through whom the gospel would first reach the Gentiles. It refers back to Jesus' commission to Peter (Acts 1:8, Matt 16:19), implying divine fulfillment of prophetic roles.
• should hear the word of the gospel: (Greek: ἀκοῦσαι τὸν λόγον τοῦ εὐαγγελίου - akousai ton logon tou euaggeliou) "Hear" (akousai) implies more than passive listening; it suggests receiving and understanding the message. "The word of the gospel" (logon tou euaggeliou) is the core message of salvation through Christ's death and resurrection. The divine intent was for this message to be directly communicated to the Gentiles.
• and believe: (Greek: καὶ πιστεῦσαι - kai pisteusai) "Believe" (pisteusai) signifies the essential response to the gospel message: trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation. Peter's statement implies that God intended their belief alone, without prerequisite Mosaic Law observance, to be the means of their acceptance, just as for Jews. This underscores salvation by grace through faith.

Acts 15 7 Bonus section

• Peter, who was initially hesitant to associate with Gentiles (Acts 10:9-16, 28), became the first apostle to break down the wall of separation between Jew and Gentile through God's explicit instruction and manifestation. This makes his testimony profoundly significant and impossible to dispute.
• The phrase "a good while ago" (from early days) refers specifically to Acts 10, which happened likely ten years or more before the Jerusalem Council. This indicates that God had been working through Peter in this way for an extended period, making it a consistent pattern of divine action, not an isolated incident.
• Peter's reliance on divine election ("God made choice") removes the issue from being a human invention or cultural compromise and elevates it to the level of divine mandate. This was critical in addressing the highly sensitive issue of Jewish identity and the Law.

Acts 15 7 Commentary

Acts 15:7 presents Peter's definitive appeal to divine precedent, shifting the Jerusalem Council's contentious debate from legal arguments to God's observable action. His declaration emphasizes that God, not human tradition or preference, had already chosen the method for Gentile salvation: through faith in the gospel, without the prerequisite of Mosaic Law observance or circumcision. Peter’s opening "ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us" strategically references the undeniable event of Cornelius’s conversion in Acts 10-11. This event was a divine, prophetic act demonstrating God's impartiality (Acts 10:34) and his acceptance of Gentiles based solely on their faith and reception of the Holy Spirit, not their ethnic background or ceremonial adherence. Peter's speech anchors the theological discussion in established fact—God had sovereignly initiated and ratified this new phase of salvation history through his chosen vessel. It powerfully reminds the church leaders that God had already provided the blueprint for Gentile inclusion, validating it with the very same outpouring of the Spirit that marked Jewish conversion on Pentecost. Peter's words pave the way for a crucial decision that would solidify the church's universal mission and define salvation as a work of God's grace through faith for all people.