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Thursday, June 19th, 2025
the Week of Proper 6 / Ordinary 11
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Amplified Bible

Acts 15:5

But some from the sect of the Pharisees who had believed [in Jesus as the Messiah] stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise the Gentile converts and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Antioch;   Bigotry;   Catholicity;   Church;   Circumcision;   Council;   Elder;   Law;   Pharisees;   Titus;   Thompson Chain Reference - False;   Legalism;   Religion;   Religion, True-False;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Justification before God;   Pharisees, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Circumcision;   Council;   Heresy;   Meats;   Sect;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Antioch in syria;   Barnabas;   Circumcision;   Galatians, letter to the;   Gentile;   Heresy;   James the brother of jesus;   Jerusalem;   Paul;   Pharisees;   Timothy;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Amos, Theology of;   Circumcision;   Judaizers;   Sermon on the Mount;   Worship;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Abstinence;   Ordination;   Presbyterians;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Peter;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Heresy;   Pharisees;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Acts;   Barnabas;   Disciples;   Galatians, Letter to the;   Heresy;   Jews in the New Testament;   Romans, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Antioch;   Council;   Galatians, Epistle to the;   Heresy;   James;   James, Epistle of;   Law;   Paul the Apostle;   Peter;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Circumcision;   Cosmopolitanism;   Divisions;   Ebionism (2);   Heresy ;   Law;   Moses ;   Name ;   Persecution;   Resurrection of Christ;   Unity (2);   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Barnabas ;   Elders;   Heresy, Heretic;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Antioch;   Heresy;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Paul;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Heresy;   Synods;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Law of Moses, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Sect;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - New Testament;   Saul of Tarsus;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for November 10;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
But some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”
King James Version (1611)
But there rose vp certaine of the sect of the Pharisees which beleeued, saying, that it was needfull to circumcise them, and to comand them to keepe the Law of Moses.
King James Version
But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
English Standard Version
But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses."
New American Standard Bible
But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to keep the Law of Moses."
New Century Version
But some of the believers who belonged to the Pharisee group came forward and said, "The non-Jewish believers must be circumcised. They must be told to obey the law of Moses."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses."
Legacy Standard Bible
But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the Law of Moses."
Berean Standard Bible
But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and declared, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses."
Contemporary English Version
But some Pharisees had become followers of the Lord. They stood up and said, "Gentiles who have faith in the Lord must be circumcised and told to obey the Law of Moses."
Complete Jewish Bible
But some of those who had come to trust were from the party of the P'rushim; and they stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them and direct them to observe the Torah of Moshe."
Darby Translation
And some of those who were of the sect of the Pharisees, who believed, rose up from among [them], saying that they ought to circumcise them and enjoin them to keep the law of Moses.
Easy-to-Read Version
Some of the believers in Jerusalem had belonged to the Pharisees. They stood up and said, "The non-Jewish believers must be circumcised. We must tell them to obey the Law of Moses!"
Geneva Bible (1587)
But said they, certaine of the sect of the Pharises, which did beleeue, rose vp, saying, that it was needefull to circumcise them, and to commaunde them to keepe the lawe of Moses.
George Lamsa Translation
But some of the men who had been converted from the sect of the Phar''i-sees rose up and said, You must circumcise them and command them to keep the law of Moses.
Good News Translation
But some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and told to obey the Law of Moses."
Lexham English Bible
But some of those who had believed from the party of the Pharisees stood up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to observe the law of Moses!"
Literal Translation
But some of those rose up from the sect of the Pharisees who had believed, saying, It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the Law of Moses.
American Standard Version
But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, It is needful to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses.
Bible in Basic English
But some of the Pharisees, who were of the faith, got up and said, It is necessary for these to have circumcision and to keep the law of Moses.
Hebrew Names Version
But some of the sect of the Perushim who believed rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moshe."
International Standard Version
But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "They must be circumcised and ordered to keep the law of Moses."Acts 15:1;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
but (that) certain had arisen who had believed from the doctrine of the Pharishee, and said, It behoved you to circumcise them, and require them to keep the law of Musha.
Murdock Translation
And some who from the sect of the Pharisees had believed, rose up and said: It is necessary for you to circumcise them, and to command them to observe the law of Moses.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Then rose vp certayne of the sect of the pharisees, which dyd beleue, saying that it was needefull to circumcise the, and to commaunde to kepe the lawe of Moyses.
English Revised Version
But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, It is needful to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses.
World English Bible
But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses."
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But there rose up, said they, certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, That we ought to circumcise them, and command them to keep the law of Moses.
Weymouth's New Testament
But certain men who had belonged to the sect of the Pharisees but were now believers, stood up in the assembly, and said, "Yes, Gentile believers ought to be circumcised and be ordered to keep the Law of Moses."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But summe of the erise of Fariseis, that bileueden, risen vp, and seiden, That it bihoueth hem to be circumsidid, and to comaunde to kepe also the lawe of Moises.
Update Bible Version
But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, It is needful to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses.
Webster's Bible Translation
But there rose certain of the sect of the Pharisees, who believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command [them] to keep the law of Moses.
New English Translation
But some from the religious party of the Pharisees who had believed stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise the Gentiles and to order them to observe the law of Moses."
New King James Version
But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses."
New Living Translation
But then some of the believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and insisted, "The Gentile converts must be circumcised and required to follow the law of Moses."
New Life Bible
Some of the Christians there had been proud religious law-keepers. They got up and said, "Doing the religious act of becoming a Jew and keeping the Law of Moses are two things that must be done."
New Revised Standard
But some believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and said, "It is necessary for them to be circumcised and ordered to keep the law of Moses."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But there had stood forth some of those who, from the sect of Pharisees, had believed, saying - It is needful to be circumcising them, also to charge them to be keeping the law of Moses.
Douay-Rheims Bible
But there arose of the sect of the Pharisees some that believed, saying: They must be circumcised and be commanded to observe the law of Moses.
Revised Standard Version
But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up, and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses."
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Then arose ther vp certayne that were of the secte of the Pharises and dyd beleve sayinge that it was nedfull to circucise them and to enioyne the to kepe ye lawe of Moses.
Young's Literal Translation
and there rose up certain of those of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying -- `It behoveth to circumcise them, to command them also to keep the law of Moses.'
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then rose there vp certayne of the secte of ye Pharises (which beleued) and sayde: They must be circumcysed and comaunded, to kepe the lawe of Moses.
Mace New Testament (1729)
but some of the sect of the Pharisees who had embraced the faith, started up, pretending that the Gentiles ought to be circumcised, and observe the law of Moses.
Simplified Cowboy Version
But then some Pharisees, who believed in Jesus while also wanting to follow the code of Moses, stood up and said, "The Gentiles, or mavericks as you call them, must be circumcised and follow the code of Moses if they want to be saved."

Contextual Overview

1Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised in accordance with the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." 2Paul and Barnabas disagreed greatly and debated with them, so it was determined that Paul and Barnabas and some of the others from their group would go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders [and confer with them] concerning this issue. 3So, after being supplied and sent on their way by the church, they went through both Phoenicia and Samaria telling in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they brought great joy to all the believers. 4When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were received warmly by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported to them all the things that God had accomplished through them. 5But some from the sect of the Pharisees who had believed [in Jesus as the Messiah] stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise the Gentile converts and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

rose up certain: or, rose up, said they

certain: the sect, Acts 21:20, Acts 26:5, Acts 26:6, Philippians 3:5-8

That it: Acts 15:1, Acts 15:24, Galatians 5:1-3

Reciprocal: Matthew 3:7 - the Pharisees Acts 11:2 - they Acts 24:5 - the sect Acts 28:22 - sect 1 Corinthians 7:18 - being 1 Corinthians 11:19 - heresies Galatians 6:12 - they constrain

Cross-References

Genesis 12:2
And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you [abundantly], And make your name great (exalted, distinguished); And you shall be a blessing [a source of great good to others];
Genesis 13:16
"I will make your descendants [as numerous] as the dust of the earth, so that if a man could count the [grains of] dust of the earth, then your descendants could also be counted.
Genesis 15:7
And He said to him, "I am the [same] LORD who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land as an inheritance."
Genesis 15:8
But Abram said, "Lord GOD, by what [proof] will I know that I will inherit it?"
Genesis 16:10
Then the Angel of the LORD said to her, "I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be too many to count."
Genesis 22:17
indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed like the stars of the heavens and like the sand on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies [by conquering them].
Genesis 26:4
"I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of the heavens, and will give to your descendants all these lands; and by your descendants shall all the nations of the earth be blessed,
Genesis 28:14
"Your descendants shall be as [countless as] the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and the east and the north and the south; and all the families (nations) of the earth shall be blessed through you and your descendants.
Exodus 32:13
"Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel (Jacob), Your servants to whom You swore [an oath] by Yourself, and said to them, 'I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heavens, and all this land of which I have spoken I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.'"
Deuteronomy 1:10
'The LORD your God has multiplied you, and look, today you are as numerous as the stars of heaven.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees,.... Which was the strictest sect of religion among the Jews:

which believed; that Jesus was the Messiah, and professed their faith in him, and were members of the church, though they still retained many of their pharisaical tenets, and are therefore said to be of that sect: these rose up in opposition to Paul and Barnabas, as they were relating their success among the Gentiles, and giving an account of the difference that had happened at Antioch, and their own sense of that matter:

saying, that it was needful to circumcise them: the Gentiles that believed:

and to command them to keep the law of Moses; both moral and ceremonial; the observance of which they reckoned was absolutely necessary to salvation. Some think these are not the words of Luke, relating what happened at Jerusalem, when Paul and Barnabas gave in their account of things to the apostles and elders; but that they are a continuation of their account, how that in the controversy raised at Antioch, certain Pharisees that came thither from Judea, rose up and asserted the necessity of the, Gentiles being circumcised, and of their keeping the law of Moses in order to their being saved; which is favoured by the Syriac version, especially by the Latin interpreter of it, who supplies the words thus, "but say they" (i.e. Paul and Barnabas) "there arose men", &c.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But there rose up ... - It has been doubted whether these are the words of Paul and Barnabas, relating what occurred at Antioch, or whether they are the words of Luke recording what took place at Jerusalem. The correct exposition is probably what refers it to the latter. For:

(1) This seems to be the most obvious interpretation.

(2) The use of the words “rose up” implies that. Those who disturbed the church at Antioch are said to have come down from Judea Acts 15:1, and if this place referred to that occurrence, the same words would have been retained.

(3) The particular specification here of “the sect of the Pharisees” looks as if this was an occurrence taking place at Jerusalem. No such specification exists respecting those who came down to Antioch; but it would seem here as if this party in Jerusalem resolved still to abide by the Law, and to impose those rites on the Christian converts. However, this interpretation is by no means certain.

Which believed - Who maintained or taught.

That it was needful ... - See the notes on Acts 15:1.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 15:5. But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees — This verse appears to be part of the declaration made by Paul and Barnabas to this council: for, having stated how God blessed their ministry among the Gentiles, they proceed to declare how all the good work was likely to be destroyed by certain Pharisees, who, having received the Christian faith, came down to Antioch, and began to teach the necessity of circumcision, &c., and thus filled the minds of the young converted Gentiles with doubtful disputations. See the margin.


 
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