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:
Parallel translations
- WEB 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;
- 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 would they were even cut off which trouble you.
- Gal 5:10I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.
- Acts 15:1And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
- Titus 1:10–11For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
- Gal 1:7Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
- Gal 6:12–13As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.
- Gal 2:3–4But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:
- 1 Jn 2:19They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
- 2 Tim 2:14Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
- Jer 23:16Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.
- Acts 15:9–10And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
- Gal 5:4Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
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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.
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Original language
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