Because we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, ‘You must be circumcised and keep the law,’ to whom we gave no commandment;
Parallel translations
- KJV Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
- BSB It has come to our attention that some went out from us without our authorization and unsettled you, troubling your minds by what they said.
- NKJV Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law” —to whom we gave no such commandment—
- NASB Since we have heard that some of our number to whom we gave no instruction have confused you by their teaching, upsetting your souls,
- NLT “We understand that some men from here have troubled you and upset you with their teaching, but we did not send them!
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
The letter disowns the troublemakers who had unsettled them without authorization. The Jerusalem church repudiated the false teaching outright.
Overview
The apostles make clear they never commissioned those who demanded circumcision and law-keeping. The agitators had 'troubled' and 'unsettled' souls, the very harm the council acts to correct. This disavowal protects the gospel of grace and reassures the Gentile believers of their secure standing.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Gal 5:12I wish that those who disturb you would cut themselves off.
- Gal 5:10I have confidence toward you in the Lord that you will think no other way. But he who troubles you will bear his judgment, whoever he is.
- 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.”
- Titus 1:10–11For there are also many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,
- Gal 1:7and there isn’t another “good news.” Only there are some who trouble you, and want to pervert the Good News of Christ.
- Gal 6:12–13As many as desire to look good in the flesh, they compel you to be circumcised; only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.
- Gal 2:3–4But not even Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.
- 1 Jn 2:19They went out from us, but they didn’t belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have continued with us. But they left, that they might be revealed that none of them belong to us.
- 2 Tim 2:14Remind them of these things, charging them in the sight of the Lord, that they don’t argue about words, to no profit, to the subverting of those who hear.
- Jer 23:16Yahweh of Armies says, “Don’t listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They teach you vanity. They speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of Yahweh.
- Acts 15:9–10He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
- Gal 5:4You are alienated from Christ, you who desire to be justified by the law. You have fallen away from grace.
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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.
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Original language
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