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Acts 15:5

in Acts 15

But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and declared, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, It is needful to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses.

KJV

But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

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This verse in Acts 15

Commentary

11 notes on this verse

A commentator

Tertullian

Against Marcion Book V · Written before 220.

He then cursorily touches on his own conversion from a persecutor to an apostle-confirming thereby the Acts of the Apostles, in which book may be found the very subject of this epistle, how that certain persons interposed, and said that men ought to be circumcised, and that the law of Moses was to be observed; and how the apostles, when consulted, determined, by the authority of the Holy Ghost, that "a yoke should not be put upon men's necks which their fathers even had not been able to bear."

This site's exposition

the party of the Pharisees

on Acts 15:5-6

Some believers from the party of the Pharisees declared that the Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses. Luke calls them believers, keeping them among the brothers while he names the school they came from.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 32 · Written before 407.

proposed

Great effrontery this, of the Pharisees, that even after faith they set up the Law, and will not obey the Apostles. But see these, how mildly they speak, and not in the tone of authority: such words are amiable, and more apt to fix themselves in the mind. Observe, it is nowhere a display of words, but demonstration by facts, by the Spirit. And yet, though they have such proofs, they still speak gently. But even if they would needs bring over the Gentiles to their side, they learn that neither must the Apostles overlook it.

The Medieval Church2 voices

A commentator

Bede

Commentary on Acts · Written before 735.

proposed

Saying that it is necessary to circumcise them. The Galatians were deceived by this error, believing that circumcision and the ceremonies of the law should be mixed with the grace of baptism.

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on Acts · Written before 1107.

proposed

The believers not from among the Gentiles, but from among the Jews, demanded that those who accepted the faith be circumcised and observe the other commandments of the law that pertained to the fleshly nature of man. The other disciples disagreed with them, who reasoned …

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

But certain Pharisees - For even believers are apt to retain their former turn of mind, and prejudices derived therefrom. The law of Moses - The whole law, both moral and ritual.

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

None are in Christ but those that are within their pale. We ought to see ourselves well warranted by the word of God before we say, "Except you do so and so, you cannot be saved." II. The opposition which Paul and Barnabas gave to this schismatical notion, which engrossed salvation to the Jews, now that Christ has opened the door of salvation to the Gentiles (

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4 more voices on this verse

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees,....

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

When Christ was here upon earth, few or none of the rulers and of the Pharisees believed on him; but now there are those of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, and many of them, we hope, in sincerity. That it is very hard for men suddenly to get clear of their prejudices: those that had been Pharisees, even after they became Christians, retained some of the old leaven.

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

But there rose up ... - It has been doubted whether these are the words of Paul and Barnabas, relating what occurred at Antioch, or whether they are the words of Luke recording what took place at Jerusalem. The correct exposition is probably what refers it to the latter. For: (1) This seems to be the most obvious interpretation. (2) The use of the words “rose up” implies that.

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees - This verse appears to be part of the declaration made by Paul and Barnabas to this council: for, having stated how God blessed their ministry among the Gentiles, they proceed to declare how all the good work was likely to be destroyed by certain Pharisees, who, having received the Christian faith, came down to Antioch, and began to teach the necessity of circumcision, etc., and thus filled the minds of the young converted Gentiles with doubtful disputations.

The words behind it

21 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

14 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.

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.”14 worksGalatians 5:1–3It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery.7 works1 Corinthians 7:18Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man still uncircumcised when called? He should not be circumcised.6 worksPhilippians 3:5–8circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;4 worksActs 24:5We have found this man to be a pestilence, stirring up dissension among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes,4 worksActs 15:24It has come to our attention that some went out from us without our authorization and unsettled you, troubling your minds by what they said.3 works
The other 8 cross-references, with their words ▾
Acts 21:20When they heard this, they glorified God. Then they said to Paul, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law.3 worksActs 26:5–6They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I lived as a Pharisee, adhering to the strictest sect of our religion.2 worksMatthew 3:7But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his place of baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?2 works1 Corinthians 11:19And indeed, there must be differences among you to show which of you are approved.2 worksActs 28:22But we consider your views worth hearing, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect.”2 worksActs 5:17Then the high priest and all his associates, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They went out2 worksGalatians 6:12Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. They only do this to avoid persecution for the cross of Christ.2 worksActs 11:2So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers took issue with him1 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 15:1

    Then 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.”

    it leads to

    • Galatians 5:6

      For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. All that matters is faith, expressed through love.

    • Colossians 2:8

      See 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.

    • Galatians 2:11–14

      When Cephas came to Antioch, however, I opposed him to his face, because he stood to be condemned.

    • 1 Corinthians 7:18–19

      Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man still uncircumcised when called? He should not be circumcised.

    • Leviticus 12:3

      And on the eighth day the flesh of the boy’s foreskin is to be circumcised.

  • Through

    Acts 15:24

    It has come to our attention that some went out from us without our authorization and unsettled you, troubling your minds by what they said.

    it leads to

    • Acts 15:1

      Then 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.”

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Galatians 5:12

      As for those who are agitating you, I wish they would proceed to emasculate themselves!

    • Galatians 5:10

      I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is troubling you will bear the judgment, whoever he may be.

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 9 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; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 32; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Tertullian, Against Marcion Book V and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.

Read on in Acts 15 →