22Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, having chosen men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, men who were leaders among the brothers. [15:23] They wrote through their hands: "The apostles and the elder brothers, to the brothers in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia who are from the Gentiles: greeting. [15:24] Inasmuch as we have heard that some from us went out and troubled you with words, upsetting your inner selves — to whom we gave no instructions to keep the law — [15:25] it seemed good to us, having come with one accord, having chosen men, to send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, [15:26] men who have handed over their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. [15:27] We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, and they themselves will report the same things by word of mouth. [15:28] For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no further burden beyond these necessary things: [15:29] to abstain from idol-sacrifices, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality. Keeping yourselves from these things, you will do well. Farewell!"
ACT 15:22-29
The Letter to the Gentile Believers
In the world it was spoken into
The letter in Acts 15:22-29 reflects the early church’s attempt to navigate the tension between Jewish and Gentile believers. The apostles and elders, representing the Jerusalem (a term rooted in civic assembly), address Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. These regions were hubs of Greco-Roman culture, where Gentile converts would have been unfamiliar with Jewish customs like circumcision and dietary laws. The letter emphasizes unity by avoiding unnecessary burdens on Gentile believers, such as circumcision, while upholding basic ethical standards rooted in Jewish tradition, like abstaining from (illicit sexual practices) and idolatry. The inclusion of Judas Barsabbas and Silas, respected leaders, underscores the letter’s authority and the Jerusalem community’s commitment to reconciliation. For Gentile listeners, this letter would have affirmed their inclusion in the community without requiring full adherence to Jewish law, a significant shift in the early church’s identity.
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How other translations render this
ACT 15:22
- KJV
- Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
- BSB
- 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 the brothers,
- Koinōnos
- Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, having chosen men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, men who were leaders among the brothers.
ACT 15:23
- KJV
- And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.
- BSB
- and sent them with this letter: The apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.
- Koinōnos
- They wrote through their hands: "The apostles and the elder brothers, to the brothers in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia who are from the Gentiles: greeting.
ACT 15:24
- KJV
- Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
- BSB
- 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.
- Koinōnos
- Inasmuch as we have heard that some from us went out and troubled you with words, upsetting your inner selves — to whom we gave no instructions to keep the law —
ACT 15:25
- KJV
- It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
- BSB
- So we all agreed to choose men to send to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
- Koinōnos
- it seemed good to us, having come with one accord, having chosen men, to send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
ACT 15:26
- KJV
- Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- BSB
- men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Koinōnos
- men who have handed over their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
ACT 15:27
- KJV
- We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.
- BSB
- Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to tell you in person the same things we are writing.
- Koinōnos
- We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, and they themselves will report the same things by word of mouth.
ACT 15:28
- KJV
- For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
- BSB
- It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements:
- Koinōnos
- For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no further burden beyond these necessary things:
ACT 15:29
- KJV
- That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
- BSB
- You must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.
- Koinōnos
- to abstain from idol-sacrifices, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality. Keeping yourselves from these things, you will do well. Farewell!
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
ACT 15:22
- church:The word translated 'church' referred to a public assembly of citizens, regularly summoned for civic purposes, not exclusively a religious gathering.
ACT 15:24
- minds:The word translated 'minds' here refers to the very essence of a person's being, their life force or inner self, not just their intellect or thoughts.
ACT 15:28
- burden:The word translated 'burden' implies a heavy weight or oppressiveness, suggesting something difficult to bear or a significant imposition.
ACT 15:29
- from sexual immorality;:The term translated 'sexual immorality' was a broad category encompassing various illicit sexual acts, including prostitution, adultery, and other forms of unchastity.