Acts 15:28
in Acts 15It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements:
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:
KJV
For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
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This verse in Acts 15
Commentary
14 notes on this verseFor it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us,.... By various things they had reason doubtless to conclude, that they were under the influence and direction of the Holy Ghost in this affair; as by the spirit of prayer that was among them; by that power and energy with which many of them spoke on this occasion, and that so agreeable to the word of God; and by that unanimity with which they came into the advice given.
This site's exposition
seemed good to the Holy Spirit
on Acts 15:28-29
It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us, the letter says, holding human deliberation and divine guidance together. The letter names the Spirit as the author of the decision.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
A commentator
CyprianTreatise XII Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews · Written before 258.
proposed
That the yoke of the law was heavy, which is cast off by us, and that the Lord's yoke is easy, which is taken up by us. In the second Psalm: "Wherefore have the heathen been in tumult, and the peoples meditated vain things? The kings of the earth have stood up, and their princes have been gathered together against the Lord, and against His Christ. Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away from us their yoke."
Do we not, in the apostles also, recognise the form of the Old Law with regard to the demonstration of adultery, how great (a crime) it is; lest perchance it be esteemed more trivial in the new stage of disciplines than in the old? When first the Gospel thundered and shook the old system to its base, when dispute was being held on the question of retaining or not the Law; this is the first rule which the apostles, on the authority of the Holy Spirit, send out to those who were already beginning to be gathered to their side out of the nations: "It has seemed (good)," say they, "to the Holy Spirit and to us to cast upon you no ampler weight than (that) of those (things) from which it is necessary that abstinence be observed; from sacrifices, and from fornications, and from blood: by abstaining from which ye act rightly, the Holy Spirit carrying you.
"For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us" - it is not man's doing, it says - "to lay upon you no greater burden" - again it calls the Law a burden: then apologizing even for these injunctions - "save these necessary things." For that was a superfluous burden. See here a brief Epistle, with nothing more in it than was needed, neither arts of persuasion nor reasonings, but simply a command: for it was the Spirit's legislating. "For it seemed good," say they, "to the Holy Ghost and to us": not making themselves equal to Him - they are not so mad. But why does it put this so? Why did they add, "And to us," and yet it had sufficed to say, "To the Holy Ghost?" The one, "To the Holy Ghost," that they may not deem it to be of man; the other, "To us," that they may be taught that they also themselves admit the Gentiles, although themselves being in circumcision. They have to speak to men who are still weak and afraid of them: this is the reason why this also is added. And it shows that it is not by way of condescension that they speak, neither because they spared them, nor as considering them weak, but the contrary; for great was the reverence of the teachers also.
They indicated clearly by what they wrote that though the decree had been written by men who were apostles, it was from the Holy Spirit and universal. Barnabas and Paul took this decree and confirmed it to the whole world.
"It seemed good," they say, "to the Holy Spirit and to us." For nowhere did Christ discuss these matters; rather they speak of them from the law. Therefore, for fear that it seem to be of human origin, they ascribe it to the Holy Spirit. …
7 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church4 voices
It says that it was "pleasing to the Holy Spirit," so that they would not think this was a human matter. As for what was added "and to us," this was so that everyone would know that they too, the circumcised, held precisely this opinion …
It has also seemed good to us; not by our will alone, but by the urging of the same Spirit.
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us. In the Greek it is written: For it has pleased the Holy Spirit, and us.
It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us; that is, it pleased the Holy Spirit, who, being the arbiter of his own power, breathes where he wills and speaks what he wills.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
These necessary things - All of these were necessary for that time. But the first of them was not necessary long; and the direction concerning it was therefore repealed by the same Spirit, as we read in the former Epistle to the Corinthians.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us - The whole council had met under his direction; had consulted under his influence; and gave forth their decree from his especial inspiration. Necessary things - They were necessary, howsoever burthensome they might appear; and necessary, not only for the time, place, or occasion; but for all times, all places, and all occasions. See this proved in the observations at the end of this chapter.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost - This is a strong and undoubted claim to inspiration. It was with special reference to the organization of the church that the Holy Spirit had been promised to them by the Lord Jesus, Mat 18:18-20; Joh 14:26. No greater burden - To impose no greater restraints to enjoin no other observances. See the notes on Act 15:10. Than these necessary things - Necessary: (1) In order to preserve the peace of the church. (2) To conciliate the minds of the Jewish converts, Act 15:21. (3) In their circumstances particularly, because the crime which is specified - licentiousness was one to which all early converts were especially exposed. See the notes on Act 15:20.
The words behind it
17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἔδοξεν | edoxen | It seemed good | G1380 → | 62 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| τῷ | to | to the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πνεύματι | pneumati | Spirit | G4151 → | 378 times |
| τῷ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἁγίῳ | hagio | Holy | G40 → | 220 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἡμῖν | hemin | to us | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| μηδὲν | meden | no | G3367 → | 90 times |
| πλέον | pleon | further | G4119 → | 45 times |
| ἐπιτίθεσθαι | epitithesthai | to lay | G2007 → | 38 times |
| ὑμῖν | humin | upon you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| βάρος | baros | burden | G922 → | |
| πλὴν | plen | except | G4133 → | 31 times |
| τούτων | touton | these | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| τῶν | ton | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐπάναγκες | epanagkes | necessary things | G1876 → |
ἔδοξενIt seemed good
edoxenG1380 →62 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
τῷto the
toG3588 →19766 times
πνεύματιSpirit
pneumatiG4151 →378 times
τῷ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
ἁγίῳHoly
hagioG40 →220 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἡμῖνto us
heminG3165 →1936 times
μηδὲνno
medenG3367 →90 times
πλέονfurther
pleonG4119 →45 times
ἐπιτίθεσθαιto lay
epitithesthaiG2007 →38 times
ὑμῖνupon you
huminG4771 →2973 times
βάροςburden
barosG922 →
πλὴνexcept
plenG4133 →31 times
τούτωνthese
toutonG3778 →1381 times
τῶν<the>
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἐπάναγκεςnecessary things
epanagkesG1876 →
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
John 16:13However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to…
it leads to
- John 14:26
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you.
- 1 Corinthians 2:10–13
But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
- John 15:26
When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—He will testify about Me.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- John 14:17
the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you.
- 1 John 2:27
And as for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His true and genuine anointing teaches you about all…
- John 14:26
Through
Matthew 11:30For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
it leads to
- 1 John 5:3
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome,
- John 16:33
I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”
- Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
- 1 John 5:3
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies19
On this verse
About Acts
This page draws on 14 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, Commentary on Acts; Bede, Retractions on Acts; Cyprian, Treatise XII Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews; Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lecture 17.29; John Calvin, Commentary upon the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 33; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts; Tertullian, On Modesty and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.