Acts 15:5
New International Version
Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.”

New Living Translation
But 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.”

English Standard Version
But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”

Berean Standard Bible
But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and declared, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.”

Berean Literal Bible
Now certain of those who believed, from the sect of the Pharisees, rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the Law of Moses."

King James Bible
But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

New King James Version
But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”

New American Standard Bible
But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to keep the Law of Moses.”

NASB 1995
But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.”

NASB 1977
But certain ones of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed, stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.”

Legacy Standard Bible
But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the Law of Moses.”

Amplified Bible
But some from the sect of the Pharisees who had believed [in Jesus as the Messiah] stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise the Gentile converts and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.”

Christian Standard Bible
But some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But some of the believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses!”

American Standard Version
But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, It is needful to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses.

Contemporary English Version
But some Pharisees had become followers of the Lord. They stood up and said, "Gentiles who have faith in the Lord must be circumcised and told to obey the Law of Moses."

English Revised Version
But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, It is needful to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "People who are not Jewish must be circumcised and ordered to follow Moses' Teachings."

Good News Translation
But some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and told to obey the Law of Moses."

International Standard Version
But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The gentiles must be circumcised and ordered to keep the Law of Moses."

Majority Standard Bible
But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and declared, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.”

NET Bible
But some from the religious party of the Pharisees who had believed stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise the Gentiles and to order them to observe the law of Moses."

New Heart English Bible
But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the Law of Moses."

Webster's Bible Translation
But there rose certain of the sect of the Pharisees, who believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

Weymouth New Testament
But certain men who had belonged to the sect of the Pharisees but were now believers, stood up in the assembly, and said, "Yes, Gentile believers ought to be circumcised and be ordered to keep the Law of Moses."

World English Bible
But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and there rose up certain of those of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, “It is required to circumcise them, to command them also to keep the Law of Moses.”

Berean Literal Bible
Now certain of those who believed, from the sect of the Pharisees, rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the Law of Moses."

Young's Literal Translation
and there rose up certain of those of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying -- 'It behoveth to circumcise them, to command them also to keep the law of Moses.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And certain of them from the sect of the Pharisees having believed, rose up, saying, That they must be circumcised, and to enjoin to keep the law of Moses.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But there arose some of the sect of the Pharisees that believed, saying: They must be circumcised, and be commanded to observe the law of Moses.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But some from the sect of the Pharisees, those who were believers, rose up saying, “It is necessary for them to be circumcised and to be instructed to keep the Law of Moses.”

New American Bible
But some from the party of the Pharisees who had become believers stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and direct them to observe the Mosaic law.”

New Revised Standard Version
But some believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and said, “It is necessary for them to be circumcised and ordered to keep the law of Moses.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But some of the men who had been converted from the sect of the Phar’i-sees rose up and said, You must circumcise them and command them to keep the law of Moses.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But some of the school of The Pharisees who had believed stood up, and they were saying, “It is necessary for you to circumcise them and to command them to keep The Law of Moses.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
But some of the sect of the Pharisees, who believed, arose, saying, that it was necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

Godbey New Testament
And certain one of those from the sect of the Pharisees having believed arose up, saying that, It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

Haweis New Testament
But up rose some of the pharisaical sect, who professed the faith, insisting, That it was necessary to circumcise them, and to enjoin them to observe the law of Moses.

Mace New Testament
but some of the sect of the Pharisees who had embraced the faith, started up, pretending that the Gentiles ought to be circumcised, and observe the law of Moses.

Weymouth New Testament
But certain men who had belonged to the sect of the Pharisees but were now believers, stood up in the assembly, and said, "Yes, Gentile believers ought to be circumcised and be ordered to keep the Law of Moses."

Worrell New Testament
But there rose up some from the sect of the Pharisees, who believed, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses."

Worsley New Testament
But there rose up, said they, some of the sect of the pharisees that believed, saying, that it was necessary to circumcise them, and enjoin them to keep the law of Moses.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Council at Jerusalem
4On their arrival in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and apostles and elders, to whom they reported all that God had done through them. 5But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and declared, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.” 6So the apostles and elders met to look into this matter.…

Cross References
Galatians 5:2-4
Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. / Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. / You who are trying to be justified by the law have been severed from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

Galatians 2:3-5
Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. / 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. / We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.

Romans 2:25-29
Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. / If a man who is not circumcised keeps the requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? / The one who is physically uncircumcised yet keeps the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker. ...

Philippians 3:2-3
Watch out for those dogs, those workers of evil, those mutilators of the flesh! / For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—

Galatians 6:12-15
Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. They only do this to avoid persecution for the cross of Christ. / For the circumcised do not even keep the law themselves, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. / But as for me, may I never boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ...

Romans 4:9-12
Is this blessing only on the circumcised, or also on the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. / In what context was it credited? Was it after his circumcision, or before? It was not after, but before. / And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. ...

Colossians 2:11-14
In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands. / And having been buried with Him in baptism, you were raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead. / When you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses, ...

Galatians 5:6
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. What matters is faith expressing itself through love.

Romans 3:28-30
For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law. / Is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, / since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.

1 Corinthians 7:18-19
Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man still uncircumcised when called? He should not be circumcised. / Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commandments is what counts.

Genesis 17:10-14
This is My covenant with you and your descendants after you, which you are to keep: Every male among you must be circumcised. / You are to circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and this will be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. / Generation after generation, every male must be circumcised when he is eight days old, including those born in your household and those purchased from a foreigner—even those who are not your offspring. ...

Leviticus 12:3
And on the eighth day the flesh of the boy’s foreskin is to be circumcised.

Deuteronomy 10:16
Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and stiffen your necks no more.

Jeremiah 4:4
Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and remove the foreskins of your hearts, O men of Judah and people of Jerusalem. Otherwise, My wrath will break out like fire and burn with no one to extinguish it, because of your evil deeds.”

Ezekiel 44:9
This is what the Lord GOD says: No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and flesh may enter My sanctuary—not even a foreigner who lives among the Israelites.


Treasury of Scripture

But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

rose up certain.

Acts 21:20
And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:

Acts 26:5,6
Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee…

Philippians 3:5-8
Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; …

That it.

Acts 15:1,24
And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved…

Galatians 5:1-3
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage…

Jump to Previous
Assembly Believed Believers Belonged Charge Circumcise Circumcised Circumcision Command Direct Enjoin Faith Gentile Gentiles Law Moses Necessary Needful Obey Observe Ordered Ought Party Pharisees Required Rose Sect Stood
Jump to Next
Assembly Believed Believers Belonged Charge Circumcise Circumcised Circumcision Command Direct Enjoin Faith Gentile Gentiles Law Moses Necessary Needful Obey Observe Ordered Ought Party Pharisees Required Rose Sect Stood
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.














But some believers from the party of the Pharisees
This phrase introduces a group within the early Christian community who were originally from the Pharisaic tradition. The Pharisees were a Jewish sect known for their strict adherence to the Law of Moses and oral traditions. The Greek word for "believers" here is "πιστεύσαντες" (pisteusantes), indicating those who have come to faith in Christ. This highlights the diversity within the early church, where even those from a background of rigorous law observance were now followers of Jesus. Historically, the Pharisees were influential in Jewish society, and their conversion to Christianity signifies the powerful impact of the Gospel across different societal segments.

stood up and declared
The act of standing up and declaring suggests a formal and public assertion. The Greek word "ἀνέστησαν" (anestēsan) implies rising to make a significant statement. This reflects the seriousness with which these believers approached the issue at hand. In the context of the early church, such declarations were part of the communal decision-making process, emphasizing the importance of dialogue and discernment in resolving doctrinal disputes.

The Gentiles must be circumcised
Circumcision was a sign of the covenant between God and Abraham, as described in Genesis 17. The Greek word "περιτέμνεσθαι" (peritemnesthai) refers to this physical act, which was a central identity marker for the Jewish people. The insistence on circumcision for Gentile converts highlights the tension between maintaining Jewish identity and embracing the new covenant in Christ. This reflects a broader struggle within the early church to define the relationship between Jewish traditions and the inclusive message of the Gospel.

and required to obey the Law of Moses
The phrase "required to obey" translates the Greek "παραγγέλλειν" (parangellein), meaning to command or instruct. The "Law of Moses" refers to the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament, which contain the commandments and regulations given to Israel. This requirement underscores the challenge faced by the early church in integrating Gentile believers. The historical context reveals a community grappling with how to honor their Jewish heritage while embracing the transformative work of Christ, who fulfilled the law (Matthew 5:17).

(5) Certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed.--This is the first distinct mention of the conversion of any of the Pharisaic party, but there had been a drift in that direction going on for some time, beginning during our Lord's ministry (John 12:42), and showing itself in the moderate counsels of Gamaliel (Acts 5:38-39). The position which they occupied was that of accepting Jesus as a teacher sent from God, proved by the Resurrection to be the Christ, and as such the Head of a kingdom which was to present to mankind a restored and glorified Judaism, the Law kept in its completeness, the Temple ritual still maintained, Gentiles admitted only on their confessing their inferiority and accepting the sign of incorporation with the superior race. It appears, from Galatians 2:1, that here, as in so many later controversies, the general issue was debated on an individual case. Was Titus--a Greek, i.e., a Gentile, whom St. Paul had brought up with him--to be circumcised, or not? Was he to be admitted to communion with the Church, or treated as a heathen? Here, probably, there was no official rank as in the case of Cornelius, no previous transition stage in passing through the synagogue as a proselyte of the gate. He was a Gentile pure and simple, and as such his case was a crucial one. Circumcision, however, did not stand alone. It carried with it every jot and tittle of the Law, the Sabbaths and the feasts, the distinction between clean and unclean meats. It may be noted that the position which Titus occupied in this controversy gave him a special fitness for the work afterwards assigned to him, of contending against the party of the circumcision, with their "Jewish fables" and false standards of purity (Titus 1:10; Titus 1:14-15).

Verse 5. - Who for which, A.V.; it is for that it was, A.V.; charge for command, A.V. There rose up, etc. As soon as Paul and Barnabas had finished their recital of the conversion of the heathen to whom they had preached the gospel, certain Christian Pharisees who were at the meeting disturbed the joy of the brethren and the unanimity of the assembly by getting up and saying that all the Gentile converts must be circumcised and keep the Law. This, of course, would have included Titus, who was present with St. Paul (Galatians 2:1, 3). The Epistle to the Galatians deals directly and forcibly with this question.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
But
δέ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

some
τινες (tines)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.

believers
πεπιστευκότες (pepisteukotes)
Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4100: From pistis; to have faith, i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust.

from
ἀπὸ (apo)
Preposition
Strong's 575: From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.

the
τῆς (tēs)
Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

party
αἱρέσεως (haireseōs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 139: From haireomai; properly, a choice, i.e. a party or disunion.

of the
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive 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.

Pharisees
Φαρισαίων (Pharisaiōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 5330: Of Hebrew origin; a separatist, i.e. Exclusively religious; a Pharisean, i.e. Jewish sectary.

stood up
Ἐξανέστησαν (Exanestēsan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1817: From ek and anistemi; objectively, to produce, i.e. beget; subjectively, to arise, i.e. object.

[and] declared,
λέγοντες (legontes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

“[The Gentiles]
αὐτοὺς (autous)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

must
Δεῖ (Dei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1163: Third person singular active present of deo; also deon deh-on'; neuter active participle of the same; both used impersonally; it is Necessary.

be circumcised
περιτέμνειν (peritemnein)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 4059: To cut around, circumcise. From peri and the base of tomoteros; to cut around, i.e. to circumcise.

and
τε (te)
Conjunction
Strong's 5037: And, both. A primary particle of connection or addition; both or also.

required
παραγγέλλειν (parangellein)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 3853: To notify, command, charge, entreat solemnly. From para and the base of aggelos; to transmit a message, i.e. to enjoin.

to obey
τηρεῖν (tērein)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 5083: From teros; to guard, i.e. To note; by implication, to detain; by extension, to withhold; by extension, to withhold.

the
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Law
νόμον (nomon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3551: From a primary nemo; law, genitive case, specially, (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively.

of Moses.”
Μωϋσέως (Mōuseōs)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3475: Or Moses, or Mouses of Hebrew origin; Moseus, Moses, or Mouses, the Hebrew lawgiver.


Links
Acts 15:5 NIV
Acts 15:5 NLT
Acts 15:5 ESV
Acts 15:5 NASB
Acts 15:5 KJV

Acts 15:5 BibleApps.com
Acts 15:5 Biblia Paralela
Acts 15:5 Chinese Bible
Acts 15:5 French Bible
Acts 15:5 Catholic Bible

NT Apostles: Acts 15:5 But some of the sect (Acts of the Apostles Ac)
Acts 15:4
Top of Page
Top of Page