Acts 15:14
What does Acts 15:14 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 15:14 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 15:14 means
James summarizes Peter’s testimony: God visited the Gentiles first to take from them a people for His name. The phrase “a people for his name” echoes Israel’s calling, now astonishingly applied to Gentiles. God is not merely allowing outsiders to tag along; He is gathering a covenant people from among the nations. This initiative belongs to God—He visits, He takes—and aligns with His ancient purpose. James affirms that what Peter witnessed is not an accident or a deviation but the unfolding of God’s plan to glorify His name among all peoples through the gospel of Jesus, the promised Son of David.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Symeon hath rehearsed how first God visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Symeon hath rehearsed how first God visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Symeon has given an account of how God was first pleased to take from among the Gentiles a people for himself.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Simeon did declare how at first God did look after to take out of the nations a people for His name,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Simon hath related how God first visited to take to the Gentiles, a people to his name.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Simon has related howGod first visited to take out of [the] nations a people for his name.
Context
James begins by affirming Peter’s report, reframing it in covenant language. This sets up his scriptural citation to show continuity with the prophetic word. The strength of his argument is that experience and Scripture agree. Next, he will quote the prophets to demonstrate that the restoration God promised includes Gentiles who call upon His name, fitting exactly what the church is seeing.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Peter 2:9
But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
- Luke 2:31
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples;
- 2 Peter 1:1
Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and the Saviour Jesus Christ:
- Acts 15:7
And when there had been much questioning, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Brethren, ye know that a good while ago God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
- Isaiah 55:11
so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
- Isaiah 43:21
the people which I formed for myself, that they might set forth my praise.
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