Acts 15:9 kjv
And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
Acts 15:9 nkjv
and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
Acts 15:9 niv
He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.
Acts 15:9 esv
and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.
Acts 15:9 nlt
He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith.
Acts 15 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 10:44-47 | While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because... | Spirit poured on Gentiles, proving God's acceptance. |
| Acts 11:15-18 | "As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as on us at the beginning. If then God gave the same gift to them as He gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I... | Peter recounts God's undeniable gift of Spirit to Gentiles, without precondition. |
| Rom 3:22 | "This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile," | Righteousness is available to all through faith, without distinction. |
| Rom 10:12 | For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing His riches on all who call on Him. | The Lord blesses all who call on Him, regardless of background. |
| Gal 3:28 | There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. | Unity and equality in Christ, breaking down earthly divisions. |
| Col 3:11 | Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free; but Christ is all, and is in all. | All distinctions rendered meaningless in Christ. |
| Eph 2:14-16 | For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in His flesh the law with its commands and regulations. | Christ broke down the wall between Jew and Gentile. |
| 1 Cor 12:13 | For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. | Unified in one Spirit, regardless of ethnicity. |
| Rom 3:28 | For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. | Justification is by faith, separate from law-keeping. |
| Eph 2:8-9 | For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. | Salvation is a gift of God's grace, received by faith, not by works. |
| Gal 2:16 | know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works... | Justification comes through faith in Christ, not by law-works. |
| Jer 31:33 | "But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts." | Prophecy of internal, heart-based covenant. |
| Ezek 36:26-27 | "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit in you..." | God's promise of new hearts and indwelling Spirit. |
| Heb 9:14 | How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify our consciences from dead works to serve the living God. | Christ's blood purifies from internal "dead works." |
| Heb 10:22 | Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. | Clean hearts as a result of faith and Christ's cleansing. |
| Ps 51:10 | Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. | Prayer for inner purity, acknowledging God's role in spiritual cleansing. |
| 1 Sam 16:7 | But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord | God looks at the heart, not external factors. |
| 1 Pet 1:22 | Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. | Purity comes from obedience to truth (which includes faith). |
| Tit 2:14 | who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good. | Christ purifies His people for good works. |
| 1 Jn 1:7 | But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin. | Christ's blood brings cleansing from sin and fellowship. |
Acts 15 verses
Acts 15 9 Meaning
Acts 15:9 states God's direct action in making no distinction between Jewish and Gentile believers. It highlights that God purified the hearts of Gentile converts by faith, implying that external observance of the Mosaic Law, like circumcision, was not required for salvation or acceptance into the community of believers. This truth was central to Peter's argument at the Jerusalem Council, affirming the inclusivity of the gospel and salvation by grace through faith alone.
Acts 15 9 Context
Acts chapter 15 records the pivotal Jerusalem Council, convened to address a critical theological and practical dispute: whether Gentile converts needed to be circumcised and observe the Mosaic Law to be saved. This issue arose when certain believers from Judea came to Antioch, teaching that circumcision was necessary for salvation, thus causing great dissension. The apostles Paul and Barnabas were sent from Antioch to Jerusalem to seek a resolution from the apostles and elders. Peter's speech in Acts 15:7-11 forms a core part of the discussion, leveraging his past experience with Cornelius (Acts 10) to argue that God himself had demonstrated His acceptance of Gentiles apart from the Law, by giving them the Holy Spirit and cleansing their hearts through faith. His argument lays the groundwork for James's summary and the final decision, affirming salvation by grace through faith for both Jews and Gentiles, without requiring the yoke of the Mosaic Law. This historical context reveals the immense challenge posed by ingrained Jewish customs and beliefs within the early church and the radical, unifying nature of the Gospel message.
Acts 15 9 Word analysis
- and made no distinction: (Greek: καὶ οὐδὲν διέκρινεν - kai ouden diekrinen)
- διέκρινεν (diekrinō): This verb means "to discriminate, distinguish, differentiate, or judge between." The negation "no" emphasizes that God, the ultimate judge, treated Jewish and Gentile believers equally. This directly refutes the Judaizers' claim that God maintained distinct pathways based on ethnicity and adherence to the Law. It implies God's impartiality.
- between us and them: (Greek: μεταξύ ἡμῶν τε καὶ αὐτῶν - metaxy hēmōn te kai autōn)
- us: Refers to Jewish believers, emphasizing their traditional covenant standing.
- them: Refers to Gentile believers, historically considered outside the covenant. This phrase highlights the previous significant theological and social barrier, which God Himself nullified. It is a direct assertion of equality in God's eyes.
- cleansing: (Greek: καθαρίσας - katharisas)
- From katharizō, meaning "to make clean, purify, sanctify." This is a completed action (aorist participle) by God. The purification is not external ritual washing but an internal, spiritual cleansing, echoing Old Testament prophecies of new covenant inner transformation. It signifies that God actively initiated and accomplished this cleansing.
- their hearts: (Greek: τὰς καρδίας αὐτῶν - tas kardias autōn)
- hearts: In biblical thought, the "heart" (kardia) is not just the seat of emotions but the center of the inner person – intellect, will, affections, conscience, moral and spiritual nature. This indicates a deep, holistic, and spiritual purification, far beyond any external rite.
- by faith: (Greek: ταῖς πίστεσι - tais pistesi)
- by faith: The dative plural signifies the instrument or means by which the cleansing occurred. It is not "by circumcision," "by law-keeping," or "by good deeds," but exclusively "by faith." This is the sole, indispensable criterion for God's cleansing and acceptance, for both Jews and Gentiles.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "and made no distinction between us and them": This phrase directly combats Jewish ethnocentricity. It emphasizes God's sovereign impartiality and inclusive nature, overturning centuries of particularistic understanding. God did not simply tolerate Gentiles; He affirmed them on equal ground, rendering their pre-conversion status irrelevant for salvation.
- "cleansing their hearts by faith": This statement pinpoints the true nature and means of salvation. It moves the focus from external, ritualistic requirements (like circumcision or dietary laws) to an internal, spiritual transformation effected by God through the instrument of faith. This spiritual cleansing implies forgiveness of sins, regeneration, and purification of the inner being. It resonates with the New Covenant emphasis on inward change rather than outward performance.
Acts 15 9 Bonus section
The divine initiative ("God made no distinction," "God cleansing") is paramount. It's not human effort or religious ritual that creates this unity and purity, but God's direct sovereign action. This concept reinforces that salvation is entirely God's work. This verse also serves as a critical interpretive lens for understanding Paul's later epistles, particularly Galatians and Romans, where he elaborates extensively on justification by faith apart from works of the Law. It forms the historical and theological foundation for the church's global mission, dismantling barriers that human custom or legalistic interpretations might erect. The heart cleansing by faith indicates a complete purification, not a partial one, which allows for genuine fellowship with God and fellow believers, transcending all previous human-made boundaries.
Acts 15 9 Commentary
Acts 15:9 captures a cornerstone truth of the Gospel: God's salvation is universal and received through faith, without distinction or additional legal requirements. Peter's testimony, rooted in his direct experience with Cornelius's household, is profoundly theological and revolutionary. The act of God giving the Holy Spirit to the uncircumcised Gentiles was irrefutable evidence that they were accepted fully by God. The subsequent cleansing of their hearts "by faith" underscores that the vital element for inclusion in God's people is not ritualistic obedience or ethnic lineage, but rather a personal, active trust in Him. This spiritual purification by faith signifies an internal transformation, making it clear that a new covenant reality, promised in the Old Testament, had arrived. This verse not only settled the debate at the Jerusalem Council but permanently established the basis for Gentile inclusion in the church, validating the missionary efforts to the non-Jewish world and upholding salvation by grace alone through faith alone.