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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

Acts 15:10-11

ACTS—NOTE ON Acts 15:10 Yoke here refers to the whole of the Mosaic law (see note on v. 1). By speaking of the law as an unbearable yoke, Peter argued that even the Israelites were unable to fulfill it perfectly, and that salvation could never be obtained through the law (see Romans 2:17; Galatians 5:1). Only one means of salvation exists for both Jew and Gentile: faith in Jesus Christ. By contrast, Jesus calls people to take his new “yoke” upon them, a yoke that is easy (see note on Matt. 11:29).

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See also Acts 15:10-11 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Acts 15:10. _NOW THEREFORE WHY TEMPT YE GOD_] A God, by giving the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles, evidently shows he does not design them to be circumcised, in order to become debtors to the law,...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    WHY TEMPT YE GOD? - Why provoke him to displeasure? Why, since he has shown his determination to accept them without such rites, do you provoke him by attempting to impose on his own people rites with...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 15 _ 1. The false teachers from Judea. Paul and Barnabas sent to Jerusalem (Acts 15:1)._ 2. The Council in Jerusalem (Acts 15:6). 3. The Result made known (Acts 15:22). 4. The Consolation b...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    THE DELIBERATION. The meeting is a public one (see Acts 15:12 and Acts 15:22). In Galatians 2 Paul says he laid his manner of preaching before those of reputation, in private. Peter comes forward (D s...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE CRUCIAL PROBLEM (Acts 15:1-5) The influx of Gentiles into the Church produced a problem which had to be solved. The mental background of the Jew was founded on the fact that he belonged to the ch...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    The apostles and elders met together to investigate this question. After a great deal of discussion Peter stood up and said, "Brethren, you know that in the early days God made his choice among us, so...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    TEMPT. Greek. _peira,_ try, put to the test. Always transl "tempt" up to this verse, except John 6:6 (prove). Compare Acts 5:9. PUT. lay. YOKE. Not circumcision only, but obligation to keep the whol...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Now therefore_ When you have this evidence of how God has already accepted the Gentiles. _why tempt ye God_ Men are said "to tempt God" when they distrust his guidance, and in consequence disobey his...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΝΥ͂Ν ΟΥ̓͂Ν, _now therefore_, i.e. after you have had so much evidence of God’s acceptance of the Gentiles, both in the early days and in the journeys of St Paul and Barnabas. ΤΊ ΠΕΙΡΆΖΕΤΕ ΤῸΝ ΘΕΌΝ; _w...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    THE COUNCIL AT JERUSALEM; THE DEBATE AND THE SPEECH OF PETER. NARRATION OF THE WORK OF BARNABAS AND PAUL...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _AN ACCOUNT OF THE DISCUSSION ACTS 15:6-21:_ The church, with the apostles and elders, came together to discuss this problem concerning the Gentiles and the Law. Peter said that "God made choice among...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΠΕΙΡΆΖΕΤΕ _praes. ind. act. от_ ΠΕΙΡΆΖΩ (G3985) испытывать, искушать. Это напоминание об искушении Богом Израиля в пустыне (TLNT, 3:84-85). _Praes._ может быть конативным (_см._ James 1:13). ΈΠΙΘΕΊΝΑ...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 1783 THE QUESTION ABOUT THE OBLIGATION OF THE CEREMONIAL LAW DECIDED Acts 15:10. _Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers no...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    TO PUT A YOKE UPON THE NECK, &C.— "A grievous and heavy burden, which neither our fathers nor we have been able cheerfully and regularly _to bear,_ without being exposed to great inconveniences, and m...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    THE ELDERS AND APOSTLES MEET TO SETTLE THE DISPUTE. Acts 15:6-29 a. Peter's speech. Acts 15:6-11. Acts 15:6 And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider of this matter....

  • Combined Bible Commentary

    See notes on verse 7...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? NOW THEREFORE WHY TEMPT (OR 'TRY')YEGOD - standing in the way of H...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    21 The report in Antioch that God _ had opened the door of faith to the nations _ sums up Paul's first missionary journey. This is given out as something new, unknown before. It is evident that Antioc...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    15:10 putting (d-8) The infinitive, equivalent to 'in putting.' It is explanatory of what precedes....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE QUESTION OF CIRCUMCISION 1-35. The Council of Jerusalem, 49 a.d. The usual view is that Galatians 2:1 describes the visit of St. Paul to Jerusalem on the occasion of this Council. Adopting this, t...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOOD NEWS FOR EVERYONE ACTS _MARION ADAMS_ CHAPTER 15 AN IMPORTANT MEETING IN *JERUSALEM, 15:1-21 V1 Some men came from *Judea to Antioch. They were teaching the *believers like this. ‘You must...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    WHY TEMPT YE GOD. — To tempt God was to make the experiment whether His will, manifested in the acceptance of the Gentiles, or man’s will, resenting and resisting it, was the stronger of the two. Noth...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    νῦν οὖν : in Acts four times, nowhere else in N.T.; _cf._ Acts 10:35, _nunc igitur:_ LXX, Genesis 27:8, etc.; 1Ma 10:71. τί πειράζετε τὸν Θ., _cf._ Acts 5:9, they put God to the proof, as to whether H...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    ONE WAY OF SALVATION FOR ALL Acts 15:1-11 Paul and Barnabas were quietly resting in Antioch after their arduous toils, when these persons from Jerusalem stealthily commenced to undermine their influe...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    In the work among Gentiles the question of circumcision very naturally arose, and its difficulty is revealed in the calling of a council. That council seems to have opened with much desultory discussi...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    Resolving Conflict The matter was placed before the apostles and elders to be considered. Quite a discussion followed. Though Peter's actions were not always commendable, as when he dissembled in Anti...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (5) Now therefore why (f) tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? (5) Peter, passing from the ceremonies to the Law itself in g...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Why tempt you God, by calling in question what he hath sufficiently attested, and approved, and by being incredulous to his promises of giving salvation to the Gentiles, and to all nations. (Witham)_...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    Here Peter pleads with them to put no yoke on the necks of the disciples, whether Gentiles or Jews, assuring them that all are saved by the free grace of God through faith, without works, legal obedie...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. (7) And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    We now enter on the missionary journeys, as they are called, of the apostle Paul. The work, under the Spirit, opens to the glory of the Lord. Not merely are Gentiles met in grace and brought into the...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    − 10._Now, therefore, why tempt ye? _This is the other part of the sermon wherein Peter showeth how deadly that doctrine is which Paul’s enemies sought to bring in; to wit, which might drown godly sou...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Chapter 15 contains the account of this. Certain persons come from Jerusalem, where all was still going on in connection with the requirements of the law; and they seek to impose these requirements on...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    NOW THEREFORE WHY TEMPT YE GOD,.... By hesitating about this matter, by disputing upon this point, and by seeking for further proof and evidence of the will of God in this affair; when it is so plain...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? Ver. 10. _Now, therefore, why tempt ye God_] Or (as Jerome in a certa...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _And the apostles, &c., came together to consider of this matter_ As the apostles commonly resided at Jerusalem, the greater part of them may have come together on this occasion; and the elders likewi...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    TEMPT YE GOD; by acting against the manifestations of his will. A YOKE; the burdensome rites and ceremonies of the Jewish religion....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    NOW, THEREFORE, WHY TEMPT YE GOD TO PUT A YOKE UPON THE NECK OF THE DISCIPLES WHICH NEITHER OUR FATHERS NOR WE WERE ABLE TO BEAR?...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The demand of the former Pharisees and Peter's answer:...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    However, here at Antioch a matter arose of deeply serious significance, and it was clearly God's wisdom to have Paul and Barnabas there at the time. Men from Judea, professing the knowledge of Christ,...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    NOW THEREFORE, WHY DO YOU TEST GOD BY PUTTING A YOKE ON THE NECK OF THE DISCIPLES WHICH NEITHER OUR FATHERS NOR WE WERE ABLE TO BEAR? 1. Peter concludes that any imposition is "putting a yoke" on the...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    "Why do you put God to the test": That is, why are these Pharisees contradicting the clear will of God on the matter? Why are they acting like God made. mistake when he had Peter baptize uncircumcised...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    7-21 We see from the words "purifying their hearts by faith," and the address of St. Peter, that justification by faith, and sanctification by the Holy Ghost, cannot be separated; and that both are t...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    WHY TEMPT YE GOD? Why would you make a doubt of, and put it to a trial, whether God did in good earnest admit the Gentiles to his favour, and whether he remains firm and constant in such his kindness...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Tertullian On Monogamy sometimes catch at such parts of the law as they choose; plainly do we too assert that the law has deceased in this sense, that its burdens-according to the sentence of the apo...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Acts 15:10 Now G3568 therefore G3767 why G5101 test G3985 (G5719) God G2316 putting G2007 (G5629) yoke...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    “Now therefore why do you test out God, that you should put a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?” Now if God had done this freely for these Gentiles...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Acts 15:10. NOW THEREFORE WHY TEMPT YE GOD, TO PUT A YOKE UPON THE NECK OF THE DISCIPLES? To impose new obligations upon these Gentile churches founded by Paul and Barnabas would be nothing else than...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    WHY TEMPT YE GOD? (τ πειραζετε τον θεον;). By implying that God had made a mistake this time, though right about Cornelius. It is a home-thrust. They were refusing to follow the guidance of God like...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: The council at Jerusalem and the question of circumcision. Paul's second missionary journey. Silas chosen. CHARACTERS: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Moses, Paul, Barnabas, apostles, elders, Phar...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Acts 15:1. _Certain men which came down from Judea._ Epiphanius says, Cerinthus the heretic was one of the principals in this dissension. But they were, no doubt, of the devil's sending, to disquiet t...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    AFTER A LONG DEBATE. Some Jews believed God was their personal property, and that the Gentiles had to accept their Law and Tradition and come to God through them. Paul and others knew that God had ter...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up._ PETER’S SPEECH Mark-- I. The time when peter spoke. “When there had been much disputing.” That was the critical moment. Speeches acquire forc...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised … ye cannot be saved._ DISTURBERS OF THE CHURCH I. Certain men came down from Judea. 1. Probably...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _HOMILETICAL ANALYSIS_.—_Acts 15:6_ The Council at Jerusalem; or, the Circumcision Controversy Settled I. THE COMPOSITION OF THE COUNCIL.— 1. The _apostles_. The twelve; Paul not yet included in the...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ACTS 15:1 _Came down … and taught _for _which came down_ …_ taught, _A.V.; _saying _for _and said, _A.V._; custom _(ἔθος) for _manner, _A.V. EXCEPT YE BE CIRCUMCISED, etc. The question t...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    And certain men which came down from Judea [to the church in Antioch] taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved (Acts 15:1). Unfortunately,...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Exodus 17:2; Galatians 4:1; Galatians 4:9; Galatians 5:1; Hebrews 3:9;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Were able [ι σ χ υ σ α μ ε ν]. See on Luke 14:30; Luke 16:3....

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Now therefore — Seeing these things are so: why tempt ye God? — Why do ye provoke him to anger, by putting so heavy a yoke on their neck?...

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