It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements:
Parallel translations
- WEB For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things:
- KJV For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
- NKJV For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:
- NASB For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials:
- NLT “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these few requirements:
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 decision seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to them, imposing no greater burden than necessary. The ruling was guided by the Spirit and freed Gentiles from the yoke of the law.
Overview
The striking phrase 'it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us' claims divine guidance for the council's judgment. The deliberate refusal to add burdens beyond a few necessary items protects the gospel of grace. This verse shows the Spirit working through the church's prayerful, scriptural deliberation.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Matt 11:30For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
- John 16:13However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come.
- Rev 2:24But I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned the so-called deep things of Satan: I will place no further burden upon you.
- 1 Pet 1:12It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, when they foretold the things now announced by those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
- 1 Cor 14:37If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord’s command.
- 1 Cor 7:40In my judgment, however, she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
- Acts 5:32We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
- Acts 15:19It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not cause trouble for the Gentiles who are turning to God.
- Acts 15:8And God, who knows the heart, showed His approval by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us.
- Matt 23:4They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
- Acts 15:25So we all agreed to choose men to send to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
- 1 Th 4:8Anyone, then, who rejects this command does not reject man but God, the very One who gives you His Holy Spirit.
- 1 Cor 7:25Now about virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.
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 15:28 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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