Devine Scripture

Acts 15:1

What does Acts 15:1 mean?

A plain-English look at Acts 15:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Acts 15:1 means

Men from Judæa arrived in Antioch insisting that Gentile believers must receive circumcision according to Moses’ custom or else they cannot be saved. This teaching struck at the heart of the gospel by making salvation depend on ritual law rather than God’s grace in Christ. It implied that faith in Jesus was insufficient unless completed by becoming Jewish. Such a demand would divide the church along ethnic and ceremonial lines and place a barrier before new believers. Luke presents this as a serious doctrinal error, not a mere cultural preference. The gospel declares that Christ’s finished work saves sinners who believe; to add circumcision as a condition is to subtract from grace.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And certain men came down from Judæa and taught the brethren, saying, Except ye be circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And certain men came down from Judæa and taught the brethren, saying, Except ye be circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Now certain men came down from Judaea, teaching the brothers and saying that without circumcision, after the rule of Moses, there is no salvation.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And certain having come down from Judea, were teaching the brethren--`If ye be not circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye are not able to be saved;'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And some, coming down from Judea, taught the brethren: That, except you be circumcised after the manner of Moses, you cannot be saved.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And certain persons, having come down from Judaea, taught the brethren, If ye shall not have been circumcised according to the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

Context

This opening verse introduces the central controversy that drives the entire chapter. After a season of fruitful Gentile mission in Antioch and beyond (Acts 13–14), teachers from Judæa bring a contrary requirement. Their claim threatens both the unity and the message of the church. What follows will move from sharp local dispute to a wider consultation in Jerusalem, where apostles and elders will weigh the matter. The scene sets the stage for Paul and Barnabas to contend for the gospel and for the church to seek an authoritative resolution.

v.1This passage

v.2And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and questioning with them, the brethren appointed that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:18

    Was any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Hath any been called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.

  • Galatians 5:6

    For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith working through love.

  • Philippians 3:2

    Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the concision:

  • John 7:22

    Moses hath given you circumcision (not that it is of Moses, but of the fathers); and on the sabbath ye circumcise a man.

  • Leviticus 12:3

    And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.

  • Acts 15:3

    They therefore, being brought on their way by the church, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

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