Acts 15:7

And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men [and] brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

And {G1161} when there had been {G1096} much {G4183} disputing {G4803}, Peter {G4074} rose up {G450}, and said {G2036} unto {G4314} them {G846}, Men {G435} and brethren {G80}, ye {G5210} know {G1987} how that {G3754} a good {G744} while {G2250} ago {G575} God {G2316} made choice {G1586} among {G1722} us {G2254}, that the Gentiles {G1484} by {G1223} my {G3450} mouth {G4750} should hear {G191} the word {G3056} of the gospel {G2098}, and {G2532} believe {G4100}.

After lengthy debate, Kefa got up and said to them, “Brothers, you yourselves know that a good while back, God chose me from among you to be the one by whose mouth the Goyim should hear the message of the Good News and come to trust.

After much discussion, Peter got up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you that the Gentiles would hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.

And when there had been much questioning, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Brethren, ye know that a good while ago God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

Commentary

Acts 15:7 captures a pivotal moment at the Jerusalem Council, where early church leaders debated whether Gentile converts needed to follow the Mosaic Law, specifically circumcision. After significant discussion, Peter rises to share his powerful testimony, reminding everyone of God's prior work in bringing the gospel to the Gentiles through his ministry.

Context

This verse is set within the critical Jerusalem Council (Acts 15), convened to address a major theological dispute threatening to divide the nascent Christian movement. Certain Jewish believers from Judea insisted that Gentile converts must be circumcised and observe the Law of Moses to be saved. This verse marks the point where Peter, an apostle of significant authority, steps in to offer a decisive historical and theological perspective, drawing upon his personal experience with Gentile conversion.

Key Themes

  • Divine Initiative and Choice: Peter emphasizes that "God made choice among us." This highlights God's sovereignty in directing the spread of the gospel and revealing His will, not human preference or tradition.
  • Inclusion of Gentiles: The core issue was the acceptance of non-Jews into the Christian community on equal footing. Peter's testimony serves as a foundational argument for the full inclusion of Gentiles into the covenant community through faith, without requiring adherence to Jewish ceremonial laws.
  • Salvation by Grace Through Faith: Peter's account underscores that Gentiles believed the gospel "by my mouth," implying that their salvation came through hearing and faith in Christ, not through works of the Law. This aligns with the broader New Testament emphasis on salvation by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).
  • Apostolic Witness: Peter's personal experience with Cornelius, detailed in Acts 10, where the Holy Spirit fell upon Cornelius's household even before their baptism or circumcision, provided irrefutable evidence of God's acceptance of Gentiles. His testimony was crucial in guiding the council's decision.

Linguistic Insights

  • The phrase "much disputing" (Greek: syzētēsis - συζήτησις) indicates a fervent and intense debate, underscoring the gravity of the issue being discussed by the apostles and elders.
  • "God made choice" (Greek: exelexato ho Theos - ἐξελέξατο ὁ Θεός) strongly emphasizes God's active role and sovereign decision in selecting Peter to be the instrument for this groundbreaking outreach to the Gentiles.
  • "The word of the gospel" (Greek: ton logon tou euangeliou - τὸν λόγον τοῦ εὐαγγελίου) is a standard New Testament phrase referring to the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Practical Application

Acts 15:7 reminds us that God's plan for salvation is expansive and inclusive, extending to all people regardless of their background or previous religious adherence. It encourages us to:

  • Value God's Past Leading: Like Peter, we should reflect on how God has worked in the past to discern His will for the present and future.
  • Embrace Inclusivity: The church should always strive to be welcoming and inclusive, removing unnecessary barriers that might hinder people from hearing and believing the gospel.
  • Prioritize the Gospel: The core message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ should remain central, guarding against adding human-made requirements for acceptance or spiritual standing.
  • Engage in Respectful Dialogue: Even amidst "much disputing," the early church leaders sought God's will through prayer, discussion, and listening to divine testimony, setting an example for resolving theological differences today.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Romans 10:17

    So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

  • Romans 10:18

    But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

  • Galatians 2:7

    But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as [the gospel] of the circumcision [was] unto Peter;

  • Galatians 2:9

    And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we [should go] unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

  • 1 Chronicles 28:4

    Howbeit the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah [to be] the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make [me] king over all Israel:

  • 1 Chronicles 28:5

    And of all my sons, (for the LORD hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.

  • Acts 15:2

    When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
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