NLT Illustrated Study Bible - Book of Acts - Flipbook - Page 45
A cts 1 5 : 1 7
2001
15:5
Acts 15:11
t nomos (3551)
Rom
2:12
15:6
u logos (3056)
Rom
14:12
15:78
Acts 2:4; 10:44; 11:15
15:9
Acts 10:43
Rom 10:12
v kardia (2588)
Acts
21:13
15:10
Matt 23:4
Gal 5:1
15:11
Rom 3:24
Eph 2:58
15:12
Acts 14:27; 15:4
w se-meion (4592)
Rom
15:19
15:13
Acts 12:17
15:14
Acts 15:79
15:1617
*Amos 9:1112
believers. They told them—much to every
one’s joy—that the Gentiles, too, were being
converted.
4 When they arrived in Jerusalem, Barna
bas and Paul were welcomed by the whole
church, including the apostles and elders.
They reported everything God had done
through them. 5 But then some of the believ
ers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees
stood up and insisted, “The Gentile converts
must be circumcised and required to follow
the t law of Moses.”
6 So the apostles and elders met together
to resolve this u issue. 7 At the meeting, after
a long discussion, Peter stood and addressed
them as follows: “Brothers, you all know that
God chose me from among you some time ago
to preach to the Gentiles so that they could
hear the Good News and believe. 8 God knows
people’s hearts, and he confirmed that he ac
cepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit,
just as he did to us. 9 He made no distinction
between us and them, for he cleansed their
v hearts through faith. 10 So why are you now
challenging God by burdening the Gentile be
lievers* with a yoke that neither we nor our an
cestors were able to bear? 11We believe that we
are all saved the same way, by the undeserved
grace of the Lord Jesus.”
12 Everyone listened quietly as Barnabas
and Paul told about the miraculous w signs
and wonders God had done through them
among the Gentiles.
13 When they had finished, James stood
and said, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Peter*
has told you about the time God first visited
the Gentiles to take from them a people for
himself. 15 And this conversion of Gentiles is
exactly what the prophets predicted. As it is
written:
16 ‘Afterward I will return
and restore the fallen house* of David.
I will rebuild its ruins
and restore it,
17 so that the rest of humanity might seek
the Lord,
including the Gentiles—
all those I have called to be mine.
15:10 Greek disciples. 15:14 Greek Simeon. 15:16 Or kingdom; Greek reads tent.
Circumcision
Acts 15:15
Gen 17:914
Lev 12:3
Josh 5:29
Jer 9:2526
Luke 1:59; 2:21
John 7:2224
Acts 7:8; 15:1921,
2831; 16:23;
21:1824
Rom 2:2529
1 Cor 7:1719
Gal 2:35, 1121;
5:6; 6:15
Phil 3:59
Col 2:1123
Circumcision (cutting off the male foreskin) was widely practiced in the ancient Near East
(Jer 9:2526). For Jews, it had religious significance as the sign of the covenant that God had
established with the people of Israel (Acts 7:8; Gen 17:914; Josh 5:2; John 7:22; Sirach 44:20).
It was normally performed on the eighth day of a male infant’s life (Acts 7:8; Gen 17:12; Lev
12:3; Luke 1:59). The NT notes the circumcision of John the Baptist, Jesus, Paul, and Timothy
(Acts 16:3; Luke 1:59; 2:21; Phil 3:5). Circumcision became a metaphor for the renewal of a
person’s relationship with God (Deut 10:16; 30:6; Jer 4:4; Rom 2:2829). In the late 40s ad,
some Jewish Christians tried to require Gentile Christians to undergo circumcision (Acts
15:1, 5; see 21:2021; Gal 2:4, 1113), to which Paul and Barnabas objected (Acts 15:2). The
ensuing church council at Jerusalem settled the matter in favor of not requiring Gentiles to be
circumcised (15:1921, 2829).
Paul insisted that “it makes no difference whether or not a man has been circumcised”
(1 Cor 7:19). “What is important is faith expressing itself in love” (Gal 5:6). In Galatians, Paul
argued against vigorous Jewish opponents and insisted that everyone enters God’s family
simply through faith in Jesus Christ (Gal 2:1421). Circumcision is not required for acceptance
by God (Gal 5:6). The cross of Christ is the way that sinners enter into covenant with God (Gal
2:1421; Col 2:1115).
15:421 The first council of the church
met to resolve the dispute concerning
Gentiles and circumcision (15:12).
15:5 These Pharisees were believers, yet
they retained their strong adherence to
the law of Moses (see “The Pharisees,”
Matt 3:7). Paul argued against their mes
sage most strenuously (see Gal 1:69;
2:14–3:14).
15:711 Peter, no doubt remembering
his own experience in the household of
PROPHETS OF ISRAEL
Cornelius (ch 10), argued that God had
already confirmed his acceptance of the
Gentiles without circumcision by giving
them the Holy Spirit. The undeserved
grace of the Lord Jesus had been made
available to all.
15:1319 James, the brother of Jesus,
declared that the conversion of the Gen
tiles was clearly in accord with Scripture.
He argued forcefully that it was contrary
to the divine will to put unnecessary
GOSPELS & ACTS
requirements on the admission of the
Gentiles.
15:14 Peter: Greek Simeon. Peter’s given
name was Simon (see Matt 16:1719).
15:1519 Because God’s prophets had
predicted the conversion and inclusion
of the Gentiles, James argued that the
Gentiles should be accepted as Gentiles,
without requiring them to practice Juda
ism (15:1).
L E T T E R S O F PAU L
OTHER LET TERS
