1And some men having come down from Judea were teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." [15:2] When Paul and Barnabas had no small uprising and formal debate against them, they arranged for Paul and Barnabas and some others among them to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this question. [15:3] So, having been sent on their way by the assembly, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the turning of the nations — and they were bringing great joy to all the brothers. [15:4] When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the assembly and the apostles and the elders, and they reported everything God had done with them.
ACT 15:1-4
The Dispute over Circumcision
In the world it was spoken into
In the 1st century, circumcision was a central marker of Jewish identity, tied to the covenant of Moses and the Torah. For Jewish followers of Jesus, this practice was non-negotiable, as it signified belonging to God’s people. When certain individuals from Judea arrived in Antioch, they insisted that Gentile converts must be circumcised to be saved, reflecting a deeply ingrained cultural and religious assumption. This demand sparked (commotion or division) and (formal debate), as it challenged the inclusivity of the gospel message Paul and Barnabas had been proclaiming. The (assembly) in Antioch, a mixed community of Jewish and Gentile believers, faced a crisis of identity and practice. Sending Paul, Barnabas, and others to Jerusalem to consult the apostles and elders was a pragmatic move, reflecting the Jewish custom of seeking authoritative rulings on disputed matters. The journey through Phoenicia and Samaria, regions with mixed Jewish and Gentile populations, highlighted the broader implications of this debate for the early Jesus movement.
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How other translations render this
ACT 15:1
- KJV
- And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
- BSB
- 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.”
- Koinōnos
- And some men having come down from Judea were teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.
ACT 15:2
- KJV
- When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
- BSB
- And 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.
- Koinōnos
- When Paul and Barnabas had no small uprising and formal debate against them, they arranged for Paul and Barnabas and some others among them to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this question.
ACT 15:3
- 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.
- BSB
- 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.
- Koinōnos
- So, having been sent on their way by the assembly, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the turning of the nations — and they were bringing great joy to all the brothers.
ACT 15:4
- KJV
- And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
- BSB
- 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.
- Koinōnos
- When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the assembly and the apostles and the elders, and they reported everything God had done with them.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
ACT 15:2
- commotion:The word translated 'commotion' here implies a standing up or uprising, suggesting a more active and potentially rebellious disturbance than a simple clamor.
- controversy:The term used here for 'controversy' literally means a 'seeking' or 'searching,' indicating an active inquiry or debate rather than just a disagreement.
ACT 15:3
- church:The word translated 'church' originally referred to a duly summoned assembly or gathering of citizens, not necessarily a religious body or building.
- Gentiles:The word translated 'Gentiles' literally means 'nations' or 'peoples,' referring to all those who were not ethnically Jewish.