Acts 15:1
in Acts 15Then 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.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And certain men came down from Judæa and taught the brethren, saying, Except ye be circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
KJV
And certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
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This verse in Acts 15
Commentary
12 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
And certain men - These were undoubtedly men who had been Jews, but who were now converted to Christianity. The fact that they were willing to refer the matter in dispute to the apostles and elders Act 15:2 shows that they had professedly embraced the Christian religion. The account which follows is a record of the first internal dissension which occurred in the Christian church. Hitherto the church had been struggling against external foes. Violent persecutions had raged, and had fully occupied the attention of Christians. But now the churches were at peace.
This site's exposition
according to the custom of Moses
on Acts 15:1-2
Men from Judea taught at Antioch that a Gentile had to be circumcised according to the custom of Moses to be saved. Their teaching makes salvation itself depend on the rite, and Paul and Barnabas are sent to Jerusalem over the question.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
Not those faithful from the Gentiles, but those from the Jews demanded that the faithful be circumcised, and that they perform other fleshly things of the law; whom, wishing to boast in their own peculiar circumcision, the disciples did not receive, although they themselves were …
Observe what he alleges as a proof of his statement: "Christians at first were few in number and held the same opinions, but when they grew to be a great multitude, they were divided and separated, each wishing to have his own individual party. This was their object from the beginning."
The reason why the Holy Spirit did, when the apostles at that time were consulting, relax the bond and yoke for us, was that we might be free to devote ourselves to the shunning of idolatry.
A commentator
Apostolic ConstitutionsConstitutions of the Holy Apostles Book 6 · Written before 380.
proposed
But because this heresy did then seem the more powerful to seduce men, and the whole Church was in danger, we the twelve assembled together at Jerusalem (for Matthias was chosen to be an apostle in the room of the betrayer, and took the lot of Judas; as it is said, "His bishopric let another take"). We deliberated, together with James the Lord's brother, what was to be done; and it seemed good to him and to the elders to speak to the people words of doctrine. For certain men likewise went down from Judea to Antioch, and taught the brethren who were there, saying: "Unless ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, and walk according to the other customs which he ordained, ye cannot be saved." When, therefore, there had been no small dissension and disputation, the brethren which were at Antioch, when they knew that we were all met together about this question, sent out unto us men who were faithful and understanding in the Scriptures to learn concerning this question.
In Jerusalem, then, there were not any believers from among the Gentiles: but in Antioch of course there were. Therefore there came down certain yet laboring under this disease of the love of rule, and wishing to have those of the Gentiles attached to them. And yet Paul, though he too was learned in the Law, was not thus affected.
5 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers1 voice
Mark how at every step of the right progress in respect of the Gentiles, the beginning is brought in as matter of necessity. Before this Peter being found fault with, justified himself, and said all that he said in the tone of apology, which was what made his words acceptable: then, the Jews having turned away, upon this Paul came to the Gentiles. Here again, seeing another extravagance coming in, upon this the apostle enacts the law. For as it is likely that they, as being taught of God, discoursed to all indifferently, this moved to jealousy them of the Jews who had believed. And they did not merely speak of circumcision, but they said, Ye cannot even be saved. Whereas the very opposite to this was the case, that receiving circumcision they could not be saved.
The Medieval Church1 voice
You see, the apostles were subjected to trials both external and internal. It was not simply said that circumcision was necessary, but: "unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." The opposite opinion to this was that by being …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Many that had been proselytes to the Jewish religion became Christians; and they would have such as were proselyted to the Christian religion to become Jews.
And certain men which came down from Judea,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Except ye be circumcised, etc. - The persons who taught this doctrine appear to have been converts to Christianity; but, supposing that the Christian religion was intended to perfect the Mosaic, and not to supersede it, they insisted on the necessity of circumcision, because, by that, a man was made debtor to the whole law, to observe all its rites and ceremonies. This question produced great disturbance in the apostolic Church; and, notwithstanding the decree mentioned in this chapter, the apostles were frequently obliged to interpose their authority in order to settle it; and we find a whole Church, that at Galatia, drawn aside from the simplicity of the Christian faith by the subtilty of Judaizing teachers among themselves, who insisted on the necessity of the converted Gentiles being circumcised. Ye cannot be saved - Ye can neither enjoy God’s blessing in time, nor his glory in eternity. Such an assertion as this, from any reputable authority, must necessarily shake the confidence of young converts.
The words behind it
20 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Καί | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τινες | tines | certain ones | G5100 → | 528 times |
| κατελθόντες | katelthontes | having come down | G2718 → | 16 times |
| ἀπὸ | apo | from | G575 → | 640 times |
| τῆς | tes | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Ἰουδαίας | ioudaias | Judea | G2449 → | 44 times |
| ἐδίδασκον | edidaskon | were teaching | G1321 → | 96 times |
| τοὺς | tous | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀδελφοὺς | adelphous | brothers | G80 → | 343 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| ἐὰν | ean | Only | G1437 → | 352 times |
| μὴ | me | unless | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| περιτμηθῆτε | peritmethete | you shall become circumcised | G4059 → | 17 times |
| τῷ | to | according to the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἔθει | ethei | custom | G1485 → | 12 times |
| τῷ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Μωϋσέως, | mouseos | of Moses, | G3475 → | 78 times |
| οὐ | ou | [then] not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| δύνασθε | dunasthe | you are able | G1410 → | 207 times |
| σωθῆναι. | sothenai | to be saved. | G4982 → | 105 times |
ΚαίAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τινεςcertain ones
tinesG5100 →528 times
κατελθόντεςhaving come down
katelthontesG2718 →16 times
ἀπὸfrom
apoG575 →640 times
τῆς<the>
tesG3588 →19766 times
ἸουδαίαςJudea
ioudaiasG2449 →44 times
ἐδίδασκονwere teaching
edidaskonG1321 →96 times
τοὺςthe
tousG3588 →19766 times
ἀδελφοὺςbrothers
adelphousG80 →343 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
ἐὰνOnly
eanG1437 →352 times
μὴunless
meG3361 →1066 times
περιτμηθῆτεyou shall become circumcised
peritmetheteG4059 →17 times
τῷaccording to the
toG3588 →19766 times
ἔθειcustom
etheiG1485 →12 times
τῷ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
Μωϋσέως,of Moses,
mouseosG3475 →78 times
οὐ[then] not
ouG3756 →1664 times
δύνασθεyou are able
dunastheG1410 →207 times
σωθῆναι.to be saved.
sothenaiG4982 →105 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
Colossians 2:8See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 6:20
O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid irreverent, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of so-called “knowledge,”
- Ephesians 5:6
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.
- Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
- Galatians 4:9
But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them…
- 1 Corinthians 3:18–19
Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, he should become a fool, so that he may become wise.
- 1 Timothy 6:20
Through
Galatians 5:6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. All that matters is faith, expressed through love.
it leads to
- Galatians 6:15
For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything. What counts is a new creation.
- 1 Corinthians 7:19
Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commandments is what counts.
- James 2:14–26
What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
- Galatians 6:15
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies19
On this chapter
About Acts
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 11 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); Apostolic Constitutions, Constitutions of the Holy Apostles Book 6; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 32; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts; Origen of Alexandria, AGAINST CELSUS 3.10-11; Tertullian, On Idolatry and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.