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Robertson's Word Pictures of the NT

Acts 15:9

He made no distinction between us and them

(ουθεν διεκρινεν μεταξυ ημων τε κα αυτων). He distinguished nothing (first aorist active ind.) between (both δια and μεταξυ) both (τε κα) us and them. In the matter of faith and conversion God treated us Jews as heathen and the heathen as Jews.Cleansing their hearts by faith

(τη πιστε καθαρισας τας καρδιας αυτων). Not by works nor by ceremonies. Peter here has a thoroughly Pauline and Johannine idea of salvation for all both Jew and Greek. Cf. Acts 10:15.

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See also Acts 15:9 in other biblical comments:

  • A Textual Commentary On The Greek New Testament by Bruce M. Metzger

    ACTS 15:9 ouvqe,n During the Christian era the less usual form was ouvqe,n. 294 Copyists would therefore be inclined to change it to ouvde,n. ------------------------- 294 See He...

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Acts 15:9. _PUT NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US AND THEM_] Giving them the Holy Spirit, though _uncircumcised_, just as he had given it to us who were _circumcised_: an evident proof that, in the judg...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    AND PUT NO DIFFERENCE ... - Though they had not been circumcised, and though they did not conform to the Law of Moses. Thus, God showed that the observance of these rites was not necessary in order to...

  • 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

    PUT NO DIFFERENCE. discriminated in nothing. Greek. _diakrino._ PURIFYING. having cleansed. Greek. _katharizo._ Compare Acts 10:15; Acts 11:9. The Heartsearcher is the Heart-cleanser. FAITH. the fai...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _And put no difference_ i.e. made no distinction. The Apostle looks on God's testimony to the Gentiles in two lights. What was given to the new converts was the same which had been given at the first...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΚΑῚ ΟΥ̓ΘῈΝ ΔΙΈΚΡΙΝΕΝ, _and put no difference_, i.e. made no distinction. The Apostle looks on God’s testimony to the Gentiles in two lights. What was given to the new converts was the same which had b...

  • 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

    ΔΙΈΚΡΙΝΕΝ _aor. ind. act. от_ ΔΙΑΚΡΊΝΩ (G1252) отличать, делать различие, ΜΕΤΑΞΎ (G3342) между, ΠΊΣΤΕΙ _dat. sing. от_ ΠΊΣΤΙΣ (G4102) вера. _Instr. dat._ ("через"); эмфатическое по положению, ΚΑΘΑΡ...

  • 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

    And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. AND PUT NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US AND THEM, PURIFYING THEIR HEARTS BY FAITH. Whereas "the uncircumcision of the flesh" of...

  • 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)

    15:9 us (c-6) Lit. 'both us.'...

  • 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

    AND PUT NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US AND THEM. — It is obvious that this implies the most entire acceptance of the teaching which St. Paul had privately communicated to the three who were as the pillars o...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    τῇ πίστει καθαρίσας τ. κ.: the thought is described by Zöckler as equally Petrine, Pauline, and Johannine; _cf._ Acts 3:16; Acts 3:19; 1 Peter 1:18-21; Romans 2:

  • 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

    And put no (d) difference between us and them, purifying their hearts (e) by faith. (d) He put no difference between us and them, with regard to the benefit of his free favour. (e) Christ proclaims...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    _“And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.”_ This Scripture settles forever the fact that the hearts of the apostles on the day of Pentecost were purified by faith,...

  • 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

    − 9._And he put no difference. _There was indeed some difference, because the Gentiles who were uncircumcised were suddenly admitted unto the covenant of eternal life; whereas the Jews were prepared b...

  • 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

    AND PUT NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US AND THEM,.... Neither in the extraordinary gifts, nor special grace, of the Spirit; giving them the same graces of faith, hope, and love, admitting to the same privile...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as _he did_ unto us; 9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Ver. 9. _Pur...

  • 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)

    BY FAITH; by believing in Christ....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

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

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    AND PUT NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US AND THEM, PURIFYING THEIR HEARTS BY FAITH....

  • 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

    AND MADE NO DISTINCTION BETWEEN US AND THEM, PURIFYING THEIR HEARTS BY FAITH. 1. Under the Law of Moses there were many distinctions between Jews and Gentiles. 2. Now, there are NO DISTINCTIONS. 1....

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    "and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith": So there is only one plan of salvation for all men (Acts 4:12; Mark 16:16). Though Gentiles had not been circumcised,...

  • 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

    God had now broken down the middle wall of partition betwixt Jew and Gentile, EPHESIANS 2:14, and distributed his graces to these also, which was signified by the rending of the veil from the top to t...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    A Treatise on Re-Baptism by an Anonymous Writer Even as Peter also subsequently most abundantly taught us about the same Gentiles, saying: "And He put no difference between us and them, their hearts...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Acts 15:9 and G2532 made G1252 no G3762 distinction G1252 (G5656) between G3342 G5037 us G2257 and...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘And when there had been much questioning, Peter rose up, and said to them, “Brethren, you know that a good while ago God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of t...

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

    Acts 15:9. AND PUT NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US AND THEM. He no longer made any distinction between the Pagans who were converted and believed in the Lord Jesus, and the believing Israelite, after He had...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Acts 15:9 The three great outbreakings of selfishness in our unrenewed nature are: (1) Pride the inordinate valuing of ourselves; (2) Covetousness the inordinate valuing of created objects; (3) Self-...

  • 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 Biblical Illustrator

    _God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness._ GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY It is the sovereign’s stamp which settles the question as to the right of a coin to be counted current among loyal subjects of th...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 15:9 CLEANSED THEIR HEARTS BY FAITH. The faith of the Gentiles at Cornelius’s house is implicit in chs. Acts 10:1, but Peter refers to it clearly here. They were saved

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 15:6 Peter defended Paul’s Gentile mission. ⇐ ⇔...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 15:1 The Jerusalem Council. A conference was held in Jerusalem (c. A.D. 48 or 49) to discuss conditions for Gentile membership in the church. The “Pharisaic” group in the Jerusalem c...

  • 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

    1 Corinthians 1:2; 1 Corinthians 7:18; 1 Peter 1:22; Acts 10:15;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Purifying — This word is repeated from Acts 10:15; their hearts — The heart is the proper seat of purity; by faith — Without concerning themselves with the Mosaic law....

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Old Testament