Acts 15:23
New International Version
With them they sent the following letter: The apostles and elders, your brothers, To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Greetings.

New Living Translation
This is the letter they took with them: “This letter is from the apostles and elders, your brothers in Jerusalem. It is written to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Greetings!

English Standard Version
with the following letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings.

Berean Standard Bible
and sent them with this letter: The apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.

Berean Literal Bible
having written by their hand: "The apostles and the elders, brothers, To those brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: Greetings.

King James Bible
And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:

New King James Version
They wrote this letter by them: The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.

New American Standard Bible
and they sent this letter with them: “The apostles and the brothers who are elders, to the brothers and sisters in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia who are from the Gentiles: Greetings.

NASB 1995
and they sent this letter by them, “The apostles and the brethren who are elders, to the brethren in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia who are from the Gentiles, greetings.

NASB 1977
and they sent this letter by them, “ The apostles and the brethren who are elders, to the brethren in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia who are from the Gentiles, greetings.

Legacy Standard Bible
and they sent this letter by them, “The apostles and the brothers who are elders, to the brothers in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia who are from the Gentiles, greetings.

Amplified Bible
With them they sent the following letter: “The apostles and the brothers who are the elders, to the brothers and sisters who are from the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia, Greetings.

Christian Standard Bible
They wrote: “From the apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers and sisters among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They wrote this letter to be delivered by them: From the apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.

American Standard Version
and they wrote thus by them, The apostles and the elders, brethren, unto the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greeting:

Contemporary English Version
They wrote a letter that said: We apostles and leaders send friendly greetings to all of you Gentiles who are followers of the Lord in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia.

English Revised Version
and they wrote thus by them, The apostles and the elder brethren unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greeting:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They wrote this letter for them to deliver: From the apostles and the spiritual leaders, your brothers. To their non-Jewish brothers and sisters in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Dear brothers and sisters,

Good News Translation
and they sent the following letter by them: "We, the apostles and the elders, your brothers, send greetings to all our brothers of Gentile birth who live in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia.

International Standard Version
They wrote this letter for them to deliver: "From: The apostles and the elders, your brothers To: Their gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Greetings.

Majority Standard Bible
and sent them with this letter: The apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.

NET Bible
They sent this letter with them: From the apostles and elders, your brothers, to the Gentile brothers and sisters in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia, greetings!

New Heart English Bible
They wrote these things by their hand: "The apostles, the elders, and the brothers, to the non-Jewish brothers who are in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: greetings.

Webster's Bible Translation
And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles, and elders, and brethren, send greeting to the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia.

Weymouth New Testament
and they took with them the following letter: "The Apostles and the elder brethren send greeting to the Gentile brethren throughout Antioch, Syria and Cilicia.

World English Bible
They wrote these things by their hand: “The apostles, the elders, and the brothers, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: greetings.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
having written through their hand thus: “The apostles, and the elders, and the brothers, to those in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia, brothers, who [are] of the nations, greeting;

Berean Literal Bible
having written by their hand: "The apostles and the elders, brothers, To those brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: Greetings.

Young's Literal Translation
having written through their hand thus: 'The apostles, and the elders, and the brethren, to those in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia, brethren, who are of the nations, greeting;

Smith's Literal Translation
Having written by their hand thus; The sent and elders and brethren to the brethren in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia from the nations, health:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Writing by their hands: The apostles and ancients, brethren, to the brethren of the Gentiles that are at Antioch, and in Syria and Cilicia, greeting.

Catholic Public Domain Version
what was written by their own hands: “The Apostles and elders, brothers, to those who are at Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, brothers from the Gentiles, greetings.

New American Bible
This is the letter delivered by them: “The apostles and the presbyters, your brothers, to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia of Gentile origin: greetings.

New Revised Standard Version
with the following letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the believers of Gentile origin in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And they wrote a letter and sent it by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren to the brethren of the Gentiles in An’ti-och and Sy’ria and Ci-li’ci-a, greetings.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And they wrote an epistle by their hands thus: “The Apostles and Elders and the brethren, to those who are in Antiakia and in Syria and in Qiliqia, brethren who are of the Gentiles, peace.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
and they wrote by their hands as follows:The apostles, and the elders, and the brethren, to the brethren of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greeting:

Godbey New Testament
having written through their hand; The apostles and elders, brethren to the brethren who are from the Gentiles throughout Antioch and Syria and Cilicia greeting.

Haweis New Testament
writing a letter by their hand, in these words:The apostles and presbyters and the brethren, to the brethren from among the Gentiles which are at Antioch, and in Syria, and Cilicia, greeting:

Mace New Testament
whom they charg'd with this letter. The apostles, the presbyters, and the brethren, to the Gentile brethren at Antioch, in Syria, and Cilicia, send greeting.

Weymouth New Testament
and they took with them the following letter: "The Apostles and the elder brethren send greeting to the Gentile brethren throughout Antioch, Syria and Cilicia.

Worrell New Testament
having written through their hand thus: "The apostles, and the elders, brethren, to the brethren from the gentiles throughout Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greeting:

Worsley New Testament
and they wrote by their hand, as follows, The apostles and elders and brethren here to the Gentile brethren which are in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia, send greeting.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Letter to the Gentile Believers
22Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among the brothers, 23and sent them with this letter: The apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings. 24It has come to our attention that some went out from us without our authorization and unsettled you, troubling your minds by what they said.…

Cross References
Acts 15:1-2
Then some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” / And after engaging these men in sharp debate, Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.

Acts 11:1-18
The apostles and brothers throughout Judea soon heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. / So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers took issue with him / and said, “You visited uncircumcised men and ate with them.” ...

Acts 21:25
As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality.”

Galatians 2:1-10
Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, accompanied by Barnabas. I took Titus along also. / I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I spoke privately to those recognized as leaders, for fear that I was running or had already run in vain. / Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. ...

Acts 10:34-48
Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism, / but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right. / He has sent this message to the people of Israel, proclaiming the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. ...

Acts 13:1-3
Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch), and Saul. / While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” / And after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

Acts 14:27-28
When they arrived, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. / And they spent a long time there with the disciples.

Acts 16:4-5
As they went from town to town, they delivered the decisions handed down by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. / So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.

Acts 9:15
“Go!” said the Lord. “This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel.

Acts 22:21
Then He said to me, ‘Go! I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”

Acts 26:17-18
I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them / to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’

Romans 15:18-19
I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed, / by the power of signs and wonders, and by the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23
Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. / To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), to win those under the law. / To those without the law I became like one without the law (though I am not outside the law of God but am under the law of Christ), to win those without the law. ...

Ephesians 3:6-8
This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus. / I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace, given me through the working of His power. / Though I am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

Isaiah 49:6
He says: “It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.”


Treasury of Scripture

And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brothers send greeting to the brothers which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.

The apostles.

Acts 15:4,22
And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them…

greeting.

Acts 23:26
Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.

Romans 16:3
Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:

James 1:1
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

brethren.

Acts 11:18
When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

Acts 14:27
And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

Acts 21:25
As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.

Syria.

Acts 15:41
And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

Acts 18:18
And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.

Acts 21:3
Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden.

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Antioch Apostles Cilicia Cili'cia Elder Elders Following Gentile Gentiles Greeting Greetings Hand Joy Letters Manner Nations Older Syria Throughout Written Wrote
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Antioch Apostles Cilicia Cili'cia Elder Elders Following Gentile Gentiles Greeting Greetings Hand Joy Letters Manner Nations Older Syria Throughout Written Wrote
Acts 15
1. Great dissensions arise regarding circumcision.
5. The apostles consult about it,
22. and send their determination by letters to the churches.
36. Paul and Barnabas, thinking to visit the brothers together,
39. disagree, and travel different ways.














and sent them with this letter
The phrase "and sent them with this letter" indicates the formal and deliberate action taken by the early church leaders. The Greek word for "sent" (πέμπω, pempō) implies a mission or purpose. This was not a casual communication but a significant directive from the Jerusalem Council. The use of a letter underscores the importance of written communication in the early church, serving as a means to convey authoritative decisions and maintain unity among believers spread across different regions.

The apostles and elders
This phrase highlights the leadership structure of the early church. "Apostles" (ἀπόστολοι, apostoloi) refers to those who were directly commissioned by Christ, while "elders" (πρεσβύτεροι, presbyteroi) were leaders within the local congregations. The inclusion of both groups signifies a collaborative decision-making process, emphasizing the unity and shared authority within the church. Historically, this reflects the early church's efforts to balance apostolic authority with local leadership.

your brothers
The term "brothers" (ἀδελφοί, adelphoi) is a familial term, indicating the close-knit relationship among believers. It reflects the early Christian understanding of the church as a family, transcending ethnic and cultural boundaries. This familial language is consistent with the teachings of Jesus and the apostles, who emphasized love and unity among believers.

To the Gentile believers
This phrase addresses the recipients of the letter, specifically "Gentile believers" (ἐθνῶν, ethnōn). The inclusion of Gentiles in the early church was a significant development, as it marked the expansion of the gospel beyond Jewish communities. This reflects the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham that all nations would be blessed through his seed (Genesis 12:3). Theologically, it underscores the universality of the Christian message and the breaking down of barriers between Jews and Gentiles.

in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia
These geographical locations indicate the areas where the letter was to be distributed. Antioch was a major center of early Christianity and the place where believers were first called Christians (Acts 11:26). Syria and Cilicia were regions with significant Gentile populations. The mention of these areas highlights the spread of Christianity and the need for clear guidance as the church grew in diverse cultural contexts.

Greetings
The word "Greetings" (χαίρειν, chairein) is a common Greek salutation, conveying goodwill and peace. It reflects the desire of the apostles and elders to establish a positive and harmonious relationship with the Gentile believers. This simple yet profound greeting sets the tone for the letter, emphasizing the unity and fellowship that should characterize the Christian community.

(23) And they wrote letters by them.--Literally, wrote letters by their hands. What follows, unless we assume a deliberate fraud, is clearly the transcript of a document--the first in the long list of decrees and canons and encyclical letters which mark the Church's history.

The apostles and elders and brethren.--The MSS. present a singular variation of readings, some of the earliest omitting the conjunction and article before the last noun, and giving "the Apostles and elders, brethren." Such a mode of speech, however, is foreign to the usage of the New Testament, and it is probable that this reading originated in a desire to bring the text into harmony with the later practice of the Church, which excluded the laity from all participation in its synods. (See Note on Acts 15:22.)

Send greeting.--Literally, wish joy. The formula was common in Greek epistles, but is not used in the New Testament, except here and in James 1:1. As it is reasonable to suppose that this letter was written or dictated by him, its occurrence is prima facie evidence of the authorship of the Epistle that bears his name, and which, on the view taken in these Notes, had been already written to the Church of the Circumcision.

Unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles.--The letter was therefore addressed to them exclusively (see Note on Acts 15:20), as the Epistle of St. James had probably been previously addressed to the Jews of the "dispersion," and not to the Gentiles.

In Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.--The mention of the latter country is important as showing the extent of St. Paul's work there prior to his joining Barnabas at Antioch (Acts 11:25). There also he had founded churches in which Gentile converts were admitted as such to full communion. . . .

Verse 23. - Wrote thus by them for wrote letters by them after this manner, A.V.; the elder brethren for elders and brethren, A.V.; unto... greeting for send greeting unto, etc., A.V., as Acts 23:26. The elder brethren, etc. The grammar of the sentence is irregular, as there is nothing for γράψαντες to agree with. But "the elder brethren" is a phrase unknown to the Scriptures, and it is much more in accordance with the feeling of the times that "the brethren," i.e. the whole Church, should be included in the salutation. Greeting. It is remarkable that the only other place in the New Testament where this Greek salutation occurs is James 1:1.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
[and sent them with]
γράψαντες (grapsantes)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1125: A primary verb; to 'grave', especially to write; figuratively, to describe.

this letter:
χειρὸς (cheiros)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 5495: A hand.

“The
Οἱ (Hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

apostles
ἀπόστολοι (apostoloi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 652: From apostello; a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

the
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

elders,
πρεσβύτεροι (presbyteroi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural - Comparative
Strong's 4245: Comparative of presbus; older; as noun, a senior; specially, an Israelite Sanhedrist or Christian 'presbyter'.

[your] brothers,
ἀδελφοὶ (adelphoi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 80: A brother, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. A brother near or remote.

To the
Τοῖς (Tois)
Article - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

brothers
ἀδελφοῖς (adelphois)
Noun - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 80: A brother, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. A brother near or remote.

among
ἐξ (ex)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

[the] Gentiles
ἐθνῶν (ethnōn)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 1484: Probably from etho; a race, i.e. A tribe; specially, a foreign one.

in
κατὰ (kata)
Preposition
Strong's 2596: A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).

Antioch,
Ἀντιόχειαν (Antiocheian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 490: From Antiochus; Antiochia, a place in Syria.

Syria,
Συρίαν (Syrian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4947: Syria, a great Roman imperial province, united with Cilicia. Probably of Hebrew origin; Syria, a region of Asia.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

Cilicia:
Κιλικίαν (Kilikian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2791: Probably of foreign origin; Cilicia, a region of Asia Minor.

Greetings.
Χαίρειν (Chairein)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 5463: A primary verb; to be 'cheer'ful, i.e. Calmly happy or well-off; impersonally, especially as salutation, be well.


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NT Apostles: Acts 15:23 They wrote these things by their hand: (Acts of the Apostles Ac)
Acts 15:22
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