Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
Parallel translations
- WEB Now therefore why do you tempt God, that you should put a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
- BSB Now then, why do you test God by placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?
- NKJV Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
- NASB Since this is the case, why are you putting God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear?
- NLT So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear?
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
Peter asks why they would test God by laying on Gentiles a yoke no one could bear. Imposing law-keeping for salvation burdens people God has already freed.
Overview
The 'yoke' is the law as a means of being saved, a burden Israel itself never carried successfully (compare Galatians 3:10-11). To require it of Gentiles would be to resist God's clear acceptance of them by grace. Peter's words point ahead to the rest that Christ gives in place of an unbearable burden (Matthew 11:28-30).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Gal 5:1Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
- Matt 23:4For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
- Gal 4:9But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
- Heb 9:9Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
- Matt 11:28–30Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
- Matt 4:7Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
- Isa 7:12But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD.
- Heb 3:9When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
- Exod 17:2Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?
- Gal 4:1–5Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
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 15:10 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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