The Meaning of Acts 15:15 Explained

Acts 15:15

KJV: And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

YLT: and to this agree the words of the prophets, as it hath been written:

Darby: And with this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written:

ASV: And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  to this  agree  the words  of the prophets;  as  it is written, 

What does Acts 15:15 Mean?

Verse Meaning

James reminded his hearers that the Old Testament prophets supported the salvation of Gentiles apart from Judaism. Note that James did not say the salvation of Gentiles then was the fulfillment of these prophecies. He said the prophets" predictions of future Gentile salvation harmonized with the present salvation of Gentiles apart from Judaism (cf. Acts 2:16). [1] James then quoted Amos 9:11-12 as a representative prophecy. Another view is that by "the prophets" James meant the book of the12Minor Prophets of which Amos was a part. Neither Amos nor any other prophet said Gentiles had to become Jews to enjoy the blessings of salvation (cf. Romans 11:12).
"The passage in Amos refers primarily to the restoration of the Davidic empire, but also the Messiah"s Kingdom ([2]the throne of David his father," Luke 1:32)." [3]
"James"s major contribution to the decision of the council was to shift the discussion of the conversion of Gentiles from a proselyte model to an eschatological one.... James is saying, God"s people will consist of two concentric groups. At their core will be restored Israel (i.e, David"s rebuilt tent); gathered around them will be a group of Gentiles (i.e, "the remnant of men") who will share in the messianic blessings but will persist as Gentiles without necessarily becoming Jewish proselytes." [4]

Context Summary

Acts 15:12-21 - A Generous Conclusion
When their turn came to speak, Paul and Barnabas contented themselves with emphasizing the signs and wonders by which God had set His seal on their words and methods. Would He have done so if they had followed a wrong course? Notice the two prepositions that they used in describing their work. They first told of what God had done in co-operation with them and then of what He had done through or by them, Acts 14:27; Acts 15:4; Acts 15:12. Consider also that remarkable phrase about God bearing witness, Acts 15:8. See also Acts 14:3 and Hebrews 2:1-4.
James had a prominent position in the Jerusalem church, because he was the Lord's brother and a man of remarkable holiness and prayerfulness. He laid emphasis on the divine program, which moved forward from Jew to Gentile, from the rebuilding of the ruined Tabernacle of David to the seeking of the Lord by the residue of men. The implication was that though Jehovah dwelt in a special manner with His Chosen People, yet the Gentiles would come seeking Him directly and without becoming incorporated with the Jews. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

Greek Commentary for Acts 15:15

To this agree [τουτωι συμπωνουσιν]
Associative instrumental case (τουτωι — toutōi) after συμπωνουσιν — sumphōnousin (voice together with, symphony with, harmonize with), from συμπωνεω — sumphōneō old verb seen already in Matthew 18:19; Luke 5:36; Acts 5:9 which see. James cites only Amos 9:11, Amos 9:12 from the lxx as an example of “the words of the prophets” (οι λογοι των προπητων — hoi logoi tōn prophētōn) to which he refers on this point. The somewhat free quotation runs here through Acts 15:16-18 of Acts 15 and is exceedingly pertinent. The Jewish rabbis often failed to understand the prophets as Jesus showed. The passage in Amos refers primarily to the restoration of the Davidic empire, but also the Messiah‘s Kingdom (the throne of David his father,” Luke 1:32). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 15:15

James 1:1 Jesus Christ []
Only here and in James 2:1; nowhere in the speeches of James (Acts 15:14, Acts 15:15; Acts 21:20sq.). Had he used Jesus' name it might have been supposed to arise from vanity, because he was the Lord's brother. In all the addresses of epistles the full name, Jesus Christ, is given. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 15:15 mean?

And with this agree the words of the prophets as it is written
καὶ τούτῳ συμφωνοῦσιν οἱ λόγοι τῶν προφητῶν καθὼς γέγραπται

τούτῳ  with  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
συμφωνοῦσιν  agree 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: συμφωνέω  
Sense: to agree together.
λόγοι  words 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: λόγος  
Sense: of speech.
τῶν  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
προφητῶν  prophets 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: προφήτης  
Sense: in Greek writings, an interpreter of oracles or of other hidden things.
γέγραπται  it  is  written 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: γράφω 
Sense: to write, with reference to the form of the letters.

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