Bible Strands
Acts 15:19
It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not cause trouble for the Gentiles who are turning to God.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The speaker addresses the Jerusalem council, instructing the assembled leaders on how to treat Gentile converts. He speaks at the conclusion of a debate regarding the obligations imposed on new believers.
The words — The Greek verb κρίνω (krinō) literally means "to judge" or "to decide," anchoring the speaker's authoritative conclusion. The participle παρενοχλεῖν (parenochlein) translates directly to "to trouble" or "to harass," specifying the action to be avoided.
The thread — The concern over causing trouble to new believers echoes in Acts 15:28, where the council affirms it seemed good to the Holy Spirit to avoid burdening them. This same warning against disturbing the faith appears in Acts 15:24 and Galatians 1:7, which condemn those who unsettle minds and distort the gospel.
Why it lands — The text commands readers to remove unnecessary legal burdens from those newly turning to God. It requires the church to prioritize spiritual freedom over external compliance when integrating new believers.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
Cross-references
- Acts 15:28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements:
- Galatians 1:7 which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ.
- Acts 15:24 It has come to our attention that some went out from us without our authorization and unsettled you, troubling your minds by what they said.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:9 For they themselves report what kind of welcome you gave us, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God
- Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.
- Hosea 14:2 Bring your confessions and return to the LORD. Say to Him: “Take away all our iniquity and receive us graciously, that we may present the fruit of our lips.
- Acts 26:20 First to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, then to everyone in the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I declared that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds worthy of their repentance.
- Acts 15:10 Now then, why do you test God by placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?
- Galatians 2:4 This issue arose because some false brothers had come in under false pretenses to spy on our freedom in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us.
- Galatians 5:11 Now, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.