New Living Translation
Acts 15:3
3The church sent the delegates to Jerusalem, and they stopped along the way in Phoenicia and Samaria to visit the believers. They told them—much to everyone’s joy—that the Gentiles, too, were being converted.
Acts 15:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
- New International Version (NIV)The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the believers very glad.
- English Standard Version (ESV)So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.
- New King James Version (NKJV)So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren.
Context of Acts 15:3
1While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch of Syria, some men from Judea arrived and began to teach the believers: “Unless you are circumcised as required by the law of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2Paul and Barnabas disagreed with them, arguing vehemently. Finally, the church decided to send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem, accompanied by some local believers, to talk to the apostles and elders about this question. The church sent the delegates to Jerusalem, and they stopped along the way in Phoenicia and Samaria to visit the believers. They told them—much to everyone’s joy—that the Gentiles, too, were being converted. 4When they arrived in Jerusalem, Barnabas and Paul were welcomed by the whole church, including the apostles and elders. They reported everything God had done through them. 5But 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.”
Read all of Acts 15Acts 15:3 word by word
Οἱ μὲν οὖν προπεμφθέντες ὑπὸ τῆς ἐκκλησίας διήρχοντο τήν τε Φοινίκην καὶ Σαμάρειαν ἐκδιηγούμενοι τὴν ἐπιστροφὴν τῶν ἐθνῶν καὶ ἐποίουν χαρὰν μεγάλην πᾶσιν τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Andοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
- ·μένmen · on the other handG3303
- being brought on their wayπροπέμπωpropempō · to help on the wayG4311
- byὑπόhupo · by/under: byG5259
- the churchἐκκλησίαekklēsia · assemblyG1577
- they passed throughδιέρχομαιdierchomai · to pass throughG1330
- PheniceΦοινίκηPhoinikē · PhoeniciaG5403
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- SamariaΣαμάρειαSamareia · SamariaG4540
- declaringἐκδιηγέομαιekdiēgeomai · to tell in detailG1555
- the conversionἐπιστροφήepistrophē · conversionG1995
- of the Gentilesἔθνοςethnos · GentilesG1484
- they causedποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
- greatμέγαςmegas · greatG3173
- joyχαράchara · joyG5479
- unto allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- the brethrenἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
Cross-references for Acts 15:3
- Acts 21:5When we returned to the ship at the end of the week, the entire congregation, including women and children, left the city and came down to the shore with us. There we knelt, prayed,
- Acts 28:15The brothers and sisters in Rome had heard we were coming, and they came to meet us at the Forum on the Appian Way. Others joined us at The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and thanked God.
- Romans 15:24I am planning to go to Spain, and when I do, I will stop off in Rome. And after I have enjoyed your fellowship for a little while, you can provide for my journey.
- 1 Corinthians 16:6Perhaps I will stay awhile with you, possibly all winter, and then you can send me on my way to my next destination.
- 3 John 1:6They have told the church here of your loving friendship. Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that pleases God.
- Acts 8:14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God’s message, they sent Peter and John there.
- Acts 11:19Meanwhile, the believers who had been scattered during the persecution after Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria. They preached the word of God, but only to Jews.
- Acts 15:12Everyone listened quietly as Barnabas and Paul told about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.
- Acts 14:27Upon arriving in Antioch, they called the church together and reported everything God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles, too.
- Acts 21:19After greeting them, Paul gave a detailed account of the things God had accomplished among the Gentiles through his ministry.
- Acts 11:18When the others heard this, they stopped objecting and began praising God. They said, “We can see that God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of repenting of their sins and receiving eternal life.”
- Acts 13:48When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for his message; and all who were chosen for eternal life became believers.
- Isaiah 60:4“Look and see, for everyone is coming home! Your sons are coming from distant lands; your little daughters will be carried home.
- Isaiah 66:12This is what the Lord says: “I will give Jerusalem a river of peace and prosperity. The wealth of the nations will flow to her. Her children will be nursed at her breasts, carried in her arms, and held on her lap.
- Luke 15:5And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders.
Commentaries on Acts 15:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Being brought on their way by the Church - That is; the members of the Church provided them with all necessaries for their journey; for it does not appear that they had any property of their own. Declaring the conversion of the Gentiles - Much stress is laid on this: it was a miracle of God's mercy that the Gentiles should be received into the Church of God; and they had now the fullest proof that the thing was likely to become general, by the conversion…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3And being brought on their way by the church - Being attended and conducted by the Christian brethren. See the notes on Romans 15:24. It was customary for the Christians to attend the apostles in their travels. Compare 1 Corinthians 16:6, 1 Corinthians 16:11; 3 John 1:6. Through Phenice - See the note at Acts 11:19. And Samaria - These places were directly on their route to Jerusalem. Declaring the conversion - Of the Gentiles in Antioch, and in the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2-3The church in Antioch decided to send some delegates (representatives) to Jerusalem. They went to discuss this issue with the apostles and elders there. On the way, they visited believers in Phoenicia and Samaria. In these places, the Christian faith had already spread widely (chapter 8).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-63-6. being brought on their way by the church--a kind of official escort. they passed through Phenice--(See on Ac 11:19). and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles, and they caused great joy to the brethren--As the converts in those parts were Jewish (Ac 11:19), their spirit contrasts favorably with that of others of their nation.Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 15:3
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
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
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