When Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision contended with him,
Parallel translations
- KJV And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,
- BSB So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers took issue with him
- NKJV And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him,
- NASB And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, the Jewish believers took issue with him,
- NLT But when Peter arrived back in Jerusalem, the Jewish believers criticized him.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
When Peter returns to Jerusalem, the circumcision party challenges him. His association with Gentiles troubles some Jewish believers.
Overview
Believers who held strongly to Jewish customs confront Peter, revealing tension in the early church over Gentile inclusion. Their concern was not malicious but rooted in deep convictions about the law. The episode shows the church working through, by testimony and Scripture, how the gospel relates to Israel's heritage.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Acts 10:45They of the circumcision who believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Gentiles.
- Acts 21:20–23They, when they heard it, glorified God. They said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law.
- Acts 10:9Now on the next day as they were on their journey, and got close to the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray at about noon.
- Gal 2:12–14For before some people came from James, he ate with the Gentiles. But when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.
- Acts 15:1Some men came down from Judea and taught the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised after the custom of Moses, you can’t be saved.”
- Acts 15:5But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 11:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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