Acts 16:4
in Acts 16As they went from town to town, they delivered the decisions handed down by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And as they went on their way through the cities, they delivered them the decrees to keep which had been ordained of the apostles and elders that were at Jerusalem.
KJV
And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.
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This verse in Acts 16
Commentary
10 notes on this verseAnd as they went through the cities,.... Of Derbe, Lystra, and Iconium, and others in Lycaonia, and in Phrygia and Galatia; the Arabic version reads, "they both"; that is, Paul and Barnabas: they delivered them the decrees for to keep; they gave the churches, in these cities, the sentiments, and determinations to be observed and followed by them: that were ordained of the apostles which were at Jerusalem; concerning the abstinence of the Gentiles from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication, Act 15:20.
This site's exposition
they delivered the decisions handed down
on Acts 16:4-5
They delivered the council's decisions to the Galatian churches of the first mission. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers, the book's fourth report of growth after 6:7, 9:31 and 12:24.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
He called the abstaining of the sacrifices "doctrines," from sexual immorality and from blood, and from what is strangled; which he sees as a condition for canonical life. For these order a temperate life and are fitting for rational people.
"And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the Apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. And so were the Churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily." Dost thou mark fighting, and by fighting, edification? Not warred upon by others, but themselves doing contrary things, so they edified the Church! They introduced a decree not to circumcise, and he circumcises! "And so were the Churches," it says, "established in the faith," and in multitude: "increased," it says, "in number daily." Then he does not continue to tarry with these, as having come to visit them: but how? he goes further.
"And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep." For until then, there was no need for the Gentiles to keep any such. The beginning of the abrogation was the Gentiles' not keeping these things, and being none the worse for it: nor having any inferiority in respect of faith: anon, of their own will they abandoned the Law. "And so were the Churches established in the faith." Do you mark here also how from going counter (to his own object) a great good results? "And increased in number daily." Do you observe, that the circumcising not only did no harm, but was even of the greatest service?
The Medieval Church1 voice
They say that "they delivered the decrees to the faithful to observe," they delivered not the mysteries of the incarnation, but the instructions "to abstain from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication" (Acts 15:29) — everything that …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
36 ), to enquire into their state. That they delivered them copies of the decrees of the Jerusalem synod, to be a direction to them in the government of themselves, and that they might have wherewith to answer the judaizing teachers, and to justify themselves in adhering to the liberty with which Christ had made them free.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-citation-number+unbalanced-parens
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
They delivered them the decrees for to keep - Τα δογματα, τα κεκριμενα ὑπο των ΑποϚολων. Bishop Pearce contends that τα δογματα, the decrees, is a gloss which was not in the text originally; and that the τα κεκριμενα, the judgments or determinations of the apostles, was all that was originally written here.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
His would be one of "the souls of the disciples confirmed" at the apostle's second visit, "exhorted to continue in the faith, and" warned "that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God" (Ac 14:21, 22). the son of a certain . . .
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And as they went through the cities - The cities of Syria, Cilicia, etc. They delivered them - Paul and Silas delivered to the Christians in those cities. The decrees - τὰ δόγματα ta dogmata. The decrees in regard to the four things specified in Act 15:20, Act 15:29. The word translated “decrees” occurs in Luk 2:1, “A decree from Caesar Augustus”; in Act 17:7 “The decrees of Caesar”; in Eph 2:15; and in Col 2:14. It properly means a law or edict of a king or legislature. In this instance it Was the decision of the council in a case submitted to it, and implied an obligation on the Christians to submit to that decision, since they had submitted the matter to them. The same principles, also, would be applicable everywhere, and the decision, therefore, at Jerusalem became conclusive. It is probable that a correct and attested copy of the letter Act 15:23-29 would be sent to the various churches of the Gentiles. To keep - To obey, or to observe. That were ordained - Greek: that were adjudged or determined.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὡς | hos | While | G5613 → | 500 times |
| δὲ | de | then | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| διεπορεύοντο | dieporeuonto | they were passing through | G1279 → | |
| τὰς | tas | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πόλεις, | poleis | cities, | G4172 → | 163 times |
| παρεδίδοσαν | paredidosan | they were delivering | G3860 → | 119 times |
| αὐτοῖς | autois | to them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| φυλάσσειν | phulassein | to keep | G5442 → | 31 times |
| τὰ | ta | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δόγματα | dogmata | decrees | G1378 → | |
| τὰ | ta | which [were] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κεκριμένα | kekrimena | decided on | G2919 → | 114 times |
| ὑπὸ | hupo | by | G5259 → | 219 times |
| τῶν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀποστόλων | apostolon | apostles | G652 → | 79 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| πρεσβυτέρων | presbuteron | elders | G4245 → | 65 times |
| τῶν | ton | who [were] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| Ἱεροσολύμοις.¶ | hi'erosolumois | Jerusalem. | G2414 → | 62 times |
ὡςWhile
hosG5613 →500 times
δὲthen
deG1161 →2765 times
διεπορεύοντοthey were passing through
dieporeuontoG1279 →
τὰςthe
tasG3588 →19766 times
πόλεις,cities,
poleisG4172 →163 times
παρεδίδοσανthey were delivering
paredidosanG3860 →119 times
αὐτοῖςto them
autoisG846 →5565 times
φυλάσσεινto keep
phulasseinG5442 →31 times
τὰthe
taG3588 →19766 times
δόγματαdecrees
dogmataG1378 →
τὰwhich [were]
taG3588 →19766 times
κεκριμέναdecided on
kekrimenaG2919 →114 times
ὑπὸby
hupoG5259 →219 times
τῶνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἀποστόλωνapostles
apostolonG652 →79 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
πρεσβυτέρωνelders
presbuteronG4245 →65 times
τῶνwho [were]
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
Ἱεροσολύμοις.¶Jerusalem.
hi'erosolumoisG2414 →62 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
Acts 11:30This they did, sending their gifts to the elders with Barnabas and Saul.
it leads to
- Acts 15:4
On 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.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 14:23
Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church, praying and fasting as they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed.
- Acts 12:25
When Barnabas and Saul had fulfilled their mission to Jerusalem, they returned, bringing with them John, also called Mark.
- Acts 20:17
From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church.
- Titus 1:5
The reason I left you in Crete was that you would set in order what was unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.
- Acts 15:4
Through
Acts 15:2And after engaging these men in sharp debate, Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
it leads to
- Acts 15:22–23
Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among…
- Acts 15:6–7
So the apostles and elders met to look into this matter.
- Acts 15:22–23
Through
Acts 15:6So the apostles and elders met to look into this matter.
it leads to
- Proverbs 15:22
Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
- Proverbs 15:22
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies17
About Acts
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
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); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 34; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.