Acts 15:14
in Acts 15Simon has told us how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to be His own.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Symeon hath rehearsed how first God visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
KJV
Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
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This verse in Acts 15
Commentary
14 notes on this verseThis is shown in a still clearer light from the letter of the apostles, which they forwarded neither to the Jews nor to the Greeks, but to those who from the Gentiles believed in Christ, confirming their faith.
This site's exposition
finished speaking, James declared
on Acts 15:13-14
James, the Lord's brother and the recognized head of the Jerusalem church, speaks last. He reads the household of Cornelius as how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to be His own.
This site's exposition
first visited the Gentiles
Luke uses the same verb for visited at Luke 1:68 and 7:16, of God coming to His people Israel in mercy. James now applies it to the Gentiles. A people to be His own had meant Israel alone.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
This James was bishop, as they say, and therefore he speaks last, and herein is fulfilled that saying, "In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established." But observe the discretion shown by him also, in making his argument good from the prophets, both new and old. For he had no acts of his own to declare, as Peter had and Paul. And indeed it is wisely ordered that this active part is assigned to those, as not intended to be locally fixed in Jerusalem, whereas James here, who performs the part of teacher, is no way responsible for what has been done, while however he is not divided from them in opinion. "Men and brethren," he says, "hearken unto me." Great is the moderation of the man. His also is a more complete oration, as indeed it puts the completion to the matter under discussion. "Symeon," he says, "declared:" namely, in Luke, in that he prophesied, "Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all nations, a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel." "How God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for His Name." Then, since that witness, though from the time indeed he was manifest, yet had not authority by reason of his not being ancient, therefore he produces ancient prophecy also.
But what means it, "How God first did visit?" It means from the beginning. Moreover he well says, "Symeon expounded," implying that he too spake the mind of others. "And to this agree," etc. Observe how he shows that this is a doctrine of old time. "To take out of the Gentiles," he says, "a people for His Name." Not simply, Chose, but, "for His Name," that is for His glory. His Name is not shamed by the taking the Gentiles first, but it is even a greater glory. Here some even great thing is hinted at: that these are chosen before all.
Some say that this Simeon is the one who prophesied in Luke: "Now you may dismiss your servant, Lord." (Luke 2:29)
The Medieval Church1 voice
This is that Simeon who in the Gospel of Luke prophesies: "Now You are dismissing Your servant, O Master" (Luke 2:29). The Lord was pleased to receive people from the Gentiles not simply, but "for His name," that is, for the sake of His glory.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles,.... James begins with taking notice of Peter's speech, and agrees to it, and confirms it; for by Simeon is not meant, as some have thought, the Simeon that took Christ in his arms, Luk 2:25 who had been dead long ago; but Simon Peter, who had spoken before.
6 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
(2.) that the glory of God was the end of it: it was to take out of them a people for his name, who should glorify him, and in whom he would be glorified. As of old he took the Jews, so now the Gentiles, to be to him for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory, Jer. xiii.
Simon hath declared - James, the apostle of the Hebrews, calls Peter by his Hebrew name. To take out of them a people for his name - That is to believe in him, to be called by his name.
The result of this debate, and the circular letter that was written to the Gentile converts, directing them how to govern themselves with respect to Jews,
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Simeon--a Hebrew variation of Simon, as in 2Pe 1:1; (Greek), the Jewish and family name of Peter. hath declared how God at the first--answering to Peter's own expression "a good while ago" (Ac 15:7). did visit the Gentiles to take out of them--in the exercise of His adorable sovereignty. a people for his name--the honor of his name, or for His glory.
Simeon hath declared - It is remarkable that James does not give him even the title which he received from our Lord at the time in which he is supposed to have been made head of the Church, and vicar of Christ upon earth; so that, it is evident, James did not understand our Lord as giving Peter any such pre-eminence; and, therefore, he does not even call him Peter, but simply Simeon. It is truly surprising that such a vast number of important pretensions should rest on such slight foundations!
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Simeon - This is a Hebrew name. The Greek mode of writing it commonly was Simon. It was one of the names of Peter, Mat 4:18. To take out of them a people - To choose from among the Gentries those who should be his friends.
The words behind it
14 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Συμεὼν | sumeon | Simeon | G4826 → | |
| ἐξηγήσατο | exegesato | has related | G1834 → | 6 times |
| καθὼς | kathos | even as | G2531 → | 182 times |
| πρῶτον | proton | first | G4413 → | 152 times |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεὸς | theos | God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| ἐπεσκέψατο | epeskepsato | visited | G1980 → | 11 times |
| λαβεῖν | labein | to take | G2983 → | 257 times |
| ἐξ | ex | out of | G1537 → | 911 times |
| ἐθνῶν | ethnon | [the] Gentiles | G1484 → | 161 times |
| λαὸν | laon | a people | G2992 → | 141 times |
| τῷ | to | for the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὀνόματι | onomati | name | G3686 → | 227 times |
| αὐτοῦ· | autou | of Him; | G846 → | 5565 times |
ΣυμεὼνSimeon
sumeonG4826 →
ἐξηγήσατοhas related
exegesatoG1834 →6 times
καθὼςeven as
kathosG2531 →182 times
πρῶτονfirst
protonG4413 →152 times
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
θεὸςGod
theosG2316 →1312 times
ἐπεσκέψατοvisited
epeskepsatoG1980 →11 times
λαβεῖνto take
labeinG2983 →257 times
ἐξout of
exG1537 →911 times
ἐθνῶν[the] Gentiles
ethnonG1484 →161 times
λαὸνa people
laonG2992 →141 times
τῷfor the
toG3588 →19766 times
ὀνόματιname
onomatiG3686 →227 times
αὐτοῦ·of Him;
autouG846 →5565 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Isaiah 43:21The people I formed for Myself will declare My praise.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
- Hebrews 13:15
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name.
- Psalms 102:18
Let this be written for the generation to come, so that a people not yet created may praise the LORD.
- 1 Corinthians 6:19–20
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
- Luke 1:74–75
deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,
- 1 Peter 2:9
Through
2 Peter 1:1Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:
it leads to
- Titus 2:13
as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
- Romans 3:21–26
But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets.
- John 12:26
If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, My servant will be as well. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
- Titus 2:13
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies15
On this verse
About Acts
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, On the Acts of the Apostles; Irenaeus, Against Heresies Book 3; J. A. Alexander, The Acts of the Apostles Explained; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 33; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.