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Acts 15:3

in Acts 15

Sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

They therefore, being brought on their way by the church, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

KJV

And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

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This verse in Acts 15

Commentary

6 notes on this verse
And being brought on their way by the church - Being attended and conducted by the Christian brethren. See the notes on Rom 15:24. It was customary for the Christians to attend the apostles in their travels. Compare 1Co 16:6, 1Co 16:11; 3Jn 1:6. Through Phenice - See the note at Act 11:19. And Samaria - These places were directly on their route to Jerusalem. Declaring the conversion ... - Of the Gentiles in Antioch, and in the regions in Asia Minor through which they had traveled.

This site's exposition

recounting the conversion of the Gentiles

on Acts 15:3-4

The report of the Gentiles' conversion brought great joy to the brothers in Phoenicia and Samaria. In Jerusalem they reported all that God had done through them, the formula used at Antioch, with God named as the one who acted.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 32 · Written before 407.

proposed

And observe, the consequence is that all the Samaritans also, learn what has come to the Gentiles: and they rejoiced. Do you mark, as many as are not enamoured of rule, rejoiced in their believing? It was no ambitious feeling that prompted their recitals, neither was it for display, but in justification of the preaching to the Gentiles.

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

And being brought on their way by the church,....

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

Note, The progress of the gospel is and ought to be a matter of great joy. All the brethren, the faithful brethren in Christ's family, rejoice when more are born into the family; for the family will be never the poorer for the multitude of its children. In Christ and heaven there is portion enough, and inheritance enough for them all.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

Being brought on their way by the Church - That is; the members of the Church provided them with all necessaries for their journey; for it does not appear that they had any property of their own. Declaring the conversion of the Gentiles - Much stress is laid on this: it was a miracle of God’s mercy that the Gentiles should be received into the Church of God; and they had now the fullest proof that the thing was likely to become general, by the conversion of Cornelius, the conversion of the people of Antioch, of Cyprus, Pisidia, Pamphylia, Lycaonia, etc., etc.

The words behind it

25 Greek words

Every 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.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

John 12:40“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they cannot see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.”7 worksActs 14:27When they arrived, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.6 works3 John 1:6They have testified to the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.6 works1 Corinthians 16:6Perhaps I will stay with you awhile, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go.5 worksActs 21:5But when our time there had ended, we set out on our journey. All the disciples, with their wives and children, accompanied us out of the city and knelt down on the beach to pray with us.4 worksRomans 15:24I hope to see you on my way to Spain. And after I have enjoyed your company for a while, you can equip me for my journey.4 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Acts 15:1Then 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.”4 worksActs 15:4On their arrival in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and apostles and elders, to whom they reported all that God had done through them.4 worksActs 20:38They were especially grieved by his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.4 worksPsalms 51:13Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will return to You.4 worksActs 11:18–19When they heard this, their objections were put to rest, and they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”3 worksTitus 3:13Do your best to equip Zenas the lawyer and Apollos, so that they will have everything they need.3 works1 Corinthians 16:11No one, then, should treat him with contempt. Send him on his way in peace so that he can return to me, for I am expecting him along with the brothers.3 worksActs 15:12The whole assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.3 worksActs 11:19Meanwhile those scattered by the persecution that began with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message only to Jews.3 worksJohn 4:41And many more believed because of His message.3 worksLuke 15:6comes home, and calls together his friends and neighbors to tell them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep!’3 worksActs 2:39This promise belongs to you and your children and to all who are far off—to all whom the Lord our God will call to Himself.”3 works

The walk

8 stops

Each 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

    Acts 14:27

    When they arrived, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

    it leads to

    • 1 Corinthians 16:9

      because a great door for effective work has opened to me, even though many oppose me.

    • Acts 15:12

      The whole assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.

    • Colossians 4:3

      as you pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.

    • 2 Corinthians 2:12

      Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and a door stood open for me in the Lord,

    • 1 Corinthians 5:4

      When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, along with the power of the Lord Jesus,

  • Through

    Titus 3:13

    Do your best to equip Zenas the lawyer and Apollos, so that they will have everything they need.

    it leads to

    • Acts 18:24

      Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, well versed in the Scriptures.

  • Through

    Romans 15:24

    I hope to see you on my way to Spain. And after I have enjoyed your company for a while, you can equip me for my journey.

    it leads to

    • Romans 15:28

      So after I have completed this service and have safely delivered this bounty to them, I will set off to Spain by way of you.

  • Through

    Acts 21:5

    But when our time there had ended, we set out on our journey. All the disciples, with their wives and children, accompanied us out of the city and knelt down on the beach to…

    it leads to

    • Acts 20:36

      When Paul had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.

Where this verse is studied

About Acts

The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
Acts: the study guide →Read Acts 15 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 32; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and William Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen.

Read on in Acts 15 →