New International Version
Acts 15:10
10Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear?
Acts 15:10 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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?
- English Standard Version (ESV)Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?
- New King James Version (NKJV)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?
- New Living Translation (NLT)So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear?
Context of Acts 15:10
8God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? 11No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” 12The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
Read all of Acts 15Acts 15:10 word by word
νῦν οὖν τί πειράζετε τὸν θεὸν ἐπιθεῖναι ζυγὸν ἐπὶ τὸν τράχηλον τῶν μαθητῶν, ὃν οὔτε οἱ πατέρες ἡμῶν οὔτε ἡμεῖς ἰσχύσαμεν βαστάσαι;Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Nowνῦνnun · nowG3568
- thereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
- whyτίςtis · which?G5101
- tempt yeπειράζωpeirazō · to test/tempt: testG3985
- Godὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- to putἐπιτίθημιepitithēmi · to put/lay onG2007
- a yokeζυγόςzugos · yoke/scalesG2218
- uponἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
- the neckτράχηλοςtrachēlos · neckG5137
- of the disciplesμαθητήςmathētēs · discipleG3101
- whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- neitherοὔτεoute · neitherG3777
- ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- fathersπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
- were ableἰσχύωischuō · be strongG2480
- to bearβαστάζωbastazō · to carryG941
Cross-references for Acts 15:10
- Exodus 17:2So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?”
- Isaiah 7:12But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.”
- Matthew 4:7Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
- Hebrews 3:9where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for forty years they saw what I did.
- Matthew 11:28“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
- Matthew 23:4They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
- Galatians 5:1It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
- Galatians 4:1What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate.
- Hebrews 9:9This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper.
Commentaries on Acts 15:10
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10Now 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, to fulfill all its precepts, etc., why will ye provoke him to displeasure by doing what he evidently designs shall not be done? A yoke - which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? - This does not refer to the moral law - that was of eternal obligation - but to the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10Why 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 without his authority, and a against his manifest will? The argument is, that God had already accepted them. To attempt to impose these rites would be to provoke him to anger; to introduce observances which he had shown it was his purpose should now be abolished…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-21Verses 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 the gift of God. We have great cause to bless God that we have heard the gospel. May we have that faith which the great Searcher of hearts approves, and attests by the seal of the Holy Spirit. Then our hearts and consciences will be purified from the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-11Peter recalled his experience in Cornelius's household (chapter 10). He argued that God had accepted the Gentiles without circumcision by giving them the Holy Spirit. The grace of the Lord Jesus was available to people from all nations.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1010. why tempt--"try," "provoke" ye God--by standing in the way of His declared purpose. to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, &c.--He that was circumcised became thereby bound to keep the whole law. (See Ga 5:1-6). It was not then the mere yoke of burdensome ceremonies, but of an obligation which the more earnest and spiritual men became, the more impossible they felt it to fulfil. (See Ro 3:5; Ga 2:4, &c.).Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 15:10
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Acts 15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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