Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
Parallel translations
- WEB Simeon has reported how God first visited the nations, to take out of them a people for his name.
- BSB Simon has told us how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to be His own.
- NKJV Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.
- NASB Simeon has described how God first concerned Himself about taking a people for His name from among the Gentiles.
- NLT Peter has told you about the time God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for himself.
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
James notes that God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for His name. God's purpose was always to gather a people from all nations.
Overview
Referring to Peter (Simeon) and Cornelius, James affirms that God deliberately began saving Gentiles. The phrase 'a people for his name' applies covenant language once reserved for Israel to believing Gentiles. This shows the church as God's expanded people drawn from every nation, fulfilling His ancient purpose in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- 2 Pet 1:1Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
- Acts 15:7–9And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
- Luke 2:31–32Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
- Isa 43:21This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.
- 1 Pet 2:9–10But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
- Rom 1:5By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
- Isa 55:11–13So 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.
- Luke 1:68Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
- Rom 11:36For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
- Luke 1:78Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
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 15:14 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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