The Meaning of Acts 15:25 Explained

Acts 15:25

KJV: It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

YLT: it seemed good to us, having come together with one accord, chosen men to send unto you, with our beloved Barnabas and Paul --

Darby: it seemed good to us, having arrived at a common judgment, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

ASV: it seemed good unto us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

It seemed good  unto us,  being assembled  with one accord,  to send  chosen  men  unto  you  with  our  beloved  Barnabas  and  Paul, 

What does Acts 15:25 Mean?

Context Summary

Acts 15:22-41 - "confirming The Churches"
This letter was a noble document and fitted for its immediate purpose, but it does not apply directly to us, as the circumstances which called it forth have long since passed away. It was explicit in denying that the rite of circumcision was needful for salvation. It bore ample testimony to the character and work of the two great missionaries whose action had been impugned. It denounced the false teachers whose intrusion had broken the peace of the Church, and laid down the principles which had been embodied in James' speech. Notice the conjunction of the Holy Spirit with the persons who issued this letter, Acts 15:28. Here is convincing proof that the Spirit of God is a person; that He presides in the Church; and that He is willing to become our guide and teacher whenever we are perplexed.
The arrival of Judas and Silas, attesting by their presence the importance that the mother church attached to the question at issue, and the reading of the letter, brought great relief to the believers at Antioch, and a blessed season of teaching and preaching ensued.
It is unpleasant to see the contention between the two leaders over John Mark, but God overruled it for good and Paul could later write to Timothy, "Take Mark and bring him with thee; for he is useful to me for ministering," 2 Timothy 4:11, r.v. [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 15:25

It seemed good unto us [εδοχεν ημιν]
See statement by Luke in Acts 15:22, and now this definite decision is in the epistle itself. It is repeated in Acts 15:28. [source]
Having come to one accord [γενομενοις ομοτυμαδον]
On this adverb, common in Acts, See note on Acts 1:14. But γενομενοις — genomenois clearly means that the final unity was the result of the Conference (private and public talks). The Judaizers are here brushed to one side as the defeated disturbers that they really were who had lacked the courage to vote against the majority. To choose out men and send them (εκλεχαμενοις ανδρας πεμπσαι — eklexamenois andras pempsai A B L, though Aleph C D read εκλεχαμενους — eklexamenous as in Acts 15:22). Precisely the same idiom as in Acts 15:22, “having chosen out to send.” With our beloved Barnabas and Paul The verbal adjective αγαπητοις — agapētois (common in the N.T.) definitely sets the seal of warm approval on Barnabas and Paul. Paul (Galatians 2:9) confirms this by his statement concerning the right hand of fellowship given. [source]
To choose out men and send them [εκλεχαμενοις ανδρας πεμπσαι]
Precisely the same idiom as in Acts 15:22, “having chosen out to send.” [source]
With our beloved Barnabas and Paul [συν τοις αγαπητοις ημων αρναβαι και Παυλωι]
The verbal adjective αγαπητοις — agapētois (common in the N.T.) definitely sets the seal of warm approval on Barnabas and Paul. Paul (Galatians 2:9) confirms this by his statement concerning the right hand of fellowship given. [source]
Barnabas and Paul []
Here, as in Acts 15:12, Barnabas is named first, contrary to the practice of Luke since Acts 13:9. Barnabas was the elder and better known, and in the church at Jerusalem his name would naturally precede Paul's. The use of the Greek salutation, and this order of the names, are two undesigned coincidences going to attest the genuineness of this first document preserved to us from the Acts of the primitive church. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 15:25

Acts 13:13 Paul and his company [οι περι Παυλον]
Neat Greek idiom as in Plato, Cratylus 440 C οι περι ερακλειτον — hoi peri Herakleiton On this idiom see Gildersleeve, Syntax, p. 264. It means a man and his followers, “those around Paul.” Now Paul ranks first always in Acts save in Acts 14:2; Acts 15:12, Acts 15:25 for special reasons. Heretofore Saul (Paul) held a secondary position (Acts 9:27; Acts 11:30; Acts 13:1.). “In nothing is the greatness of Barnabas more manifest than in his recognition of the superiority of Paul and acceptance of a secondary position for himself” (Furneaux). [source]
Acts 15:12 Hearkened [ηκουον]
Imperfect active of ακουω — akouō descriptive of the rapt attention, were listening. Unto Barnabas and Paul (αρναβα και Παυλου — Barnaba kai Paulou). Note placing Barnabas before Paul as in Acts 15:25, possibly because in Jerusalem Barnabas was still better known than Paul. Rehearsing Present middle participle of εχηγεομαι — exēgeomai old verb, to go through or lead out a narrative of events as in Luke 24:35; Acts 10:8 which see. Three times (Acts 14:27; Acts 15:4, Acts 15:12) Paul is described as telling the facts about their mission work, facts more eloquent than argument (Page). One of the crying needs in the churches is fuller knowledge of the facts of mission work and progress with enough detail to give life and interest. The signs and wonders which God had wrought among the Gentiles set the seal of approval on the work done through This same verb (εχηγησατο — exēgēsato) is used by James in Acts 15:14 referring to Peter‘s speech. [source]
Acts 15:12 Unto Barnabas and Paul [αρναβα και Παυλου]
Note placing Barnabas before Paul as in Acts 15:25, possibly because in Jerusalem Barnabas was still better known than Paul. [source]
Acts 15:22 With the whole church [συν ολει τηι εκκλησιαι]
Probably by acclamation. It was a great victory. But James was a practical leader and he did not stop with speeches and a vote. To choose men out of their company (εκλεζαμενους ανδρας εχ αυτων — eklezamenous andras exō autōn). Accusative case, though dative just before (τοις αποστολοις — tois apostolois etc.), of first aorist middle participle of εκλεγω — eklegō to select. This loose case agreement appears also in γραπσαντες — grapsantes in Acts 15:23 and in MSS. in Acts 15:25. It is a common thing in all Greek writers (Paul, for instance), especially in the papyri and in the Apocalypse of John. Judas called Barsabbas Not otherwise known unless he is a brother of Joseph Barsabbas of Acts 1:23, an early follower of Jesus. The other, Silas, is probably a shortened form of Silvanus Chief men (ηγουμενους — hēgoumenous). Leaders, leading men (participle from ηγεομαι — hēgeomai to lead). [source]
Acts 15:22 To choose men out of their company [εκλεζαμενους ανδρας εχ αυτων]
Accusative case, though dative just before (τοις αποστολοις — tois apostolois etc.), of first aorist middle participle of εκλεγω — eklegō to select. This loose case agreement appears also in γραπσαντες — grapsantes in Acts 15:23 and in MSS. in Acts 15:25. It is a common thing in all Greek writers (Paul, for instance), especially in the papyri and in the Apocalypse of John. [source]
Acts 4:24 With one accord [ομοτυμαδον]
A concert of voices as already seen by the word in Acts 1:14; Acts 2:46 and later in Acts 5:12; Acts 7:57; Acts 15:25. [source]
Acts 5:12 With one accord [ομοτυμαδον]
As already in Acts 1:14; Acts 2:46; Acts 4:24 and later Acts 7:57; Acts 8:6; Acts 12:20; Acts 15:25; Acts 18:21; Acts 19:29, old adverb and only in Acts in the N.T. Here “all” is added. In Solomon‘s Porch again as in Acts 3:11 which see. [source]
2 Corinthians 3:1 Epistles of commendation [συστατικων επιστολων]
Late verbal adjective from συνιστημι — sunistēmi and often in the papyri and in just this sense. In the genitive case here after χρηιζομεν — chrēizomen Such letters were common as seen in the papyri (Deissmann, Light from the Ancient East, p. 226). N.T. examples of commending individuals by letters occur in Acts 15:25.; Acts 18:27 (Apollos), 1 Corinthians 16:10. (Timothy); Romans 16:1 (Phoebe with the verb συνιστημι — sunistēmi); Colossians 4:10 (Mark); 2 Corinthians 8:22. (Titus and his companion). [source]
1 Peter 2:11 Beloved [ἀγαπητοί]
A favorite term with Peter, occurring eight times in the epistles. See the phrase, our beloved. Barnabas and Paul, Acts 15:25, in the letter sent by the council at Jerusalem to the Gentile Christians, the account of which, doubtless, came from Peter. Compare our beloved brother Paul, 2 Peter 3:15. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 15:25 mean?

it seemed good to us having come with one accord having chosen men to send to you with the beloved of us Barnabas and Paul
ἔδοξεν ἡμῖν γενομένοις ὁμοθυμαδὸν ἐκλεξαμένοις ἄνδρας πέμψαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς σὺν τοῖς ἀγαπητοῖς ἡμῶν Βαρνάβᾳ καὶ Παύλῳ

ἔδοξεν  it  seemed  good 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: δοκέω  
Sense: to be of opinion, think, suppose.
ἡμῖν  to  us 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
γενομένοις  having  come 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Middle, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: γίνομαι  
Sense: to become, i.
ὁμοθυμαδὸν  with  one  accord 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ὁμοθυμαδόν  
Sense: with one mind, with one accord, with one passion.
ἐκλεξαμένοις  having  chosen 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Middle, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: ἐκλέγομαι  
Sense: to pick out, choose, to pick or choose out for one’s self.
ἄνδρας  men 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀνήρ  
Sense: with reference to sex.
πέμψαι  to  send 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: πέμπω  
Sense: to send.
ἀγαπητοῖς  beloved 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀγαπητός  
Sense: beloved, esteemed, dear, favourite, worthy of love.
ἡμῶν  of  us 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
Βαρνάβᾳ  Barnabas 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: Βαρναβᾶς  
Sense: the surname of Joses or Joseph, a Levite, a native of Cyprus He was a distinguished Christian teacher and companion and colleague of Paul.
Παύλῳ  Paul 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: Παῦλος  
Sense: Paul was the most famous of the apostles and wrote a good part of the NT, the 4 Pauline epistles.