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Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed for doing comparisons of different translations. Click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.
Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance=normal (All still tentative.)
OET (OET-RV) This is what they wrote: This letter is from the missionaries and elders, your brothers here in Yerushalem to our non-Jewish fellow believers in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.
OET-LV having_written by the_hand of_them:
The ambassadors and the elders, brothers, to_be_greeting to_the ones in the Antioⱪeia, and Suria/(ʼArām), and Kilikia, brothers which from the_pagans.
SR-GNT γράψαντες διὰ χειρὸς αὐτῶν, “Οἱ ἀπόστολοι καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι, ἀδελφοὶ, τοῖς κατὰ τὴν Ἀντιόχειαν, καὶ Συρίαν, καὶ Κιλικίαν, ἀδελφοῖς τοῖς ἐξ ἐθνῶν, χαίρειν. ‡
(grapsantes dia ⱪeiros autōn, “Hoi apostoloi kai hoi presbuteroi, adelfoi, tois kata taʸn Antioⱪeian, kai Surian, kai Kilikian, adelfois tois ex ethnōn, ⱪairein.)
Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).
ULT writing by their hand: “The apostles and the elders, brothers, to the brothers among the Gentiles throughout Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: Greetings!
UST They wrote the following letter, which they asked Judas and Silas to take to the believers at Antioch:
⇔ “We apostles and elders who are your fellow believers send our greetings to you. We are writing this to you non-Jewish believers who live in the city of Antioch and other places in the provinces of Syria and Cilicia.
BSB 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.
BLB having written by their hand: "The apostles and the elders, brothers, To those brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: Greetings.
AICNT having written by their own hand [[these things]][fn]: “The brothers, both the apostles and the {elders}[fn], to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings.
15:23 these things: Some manuscripts include.
15:23, elders: Some manuscripts read “elder brothers.”
OEB They were bearers of the following letter –
⇔ “The apostles, and the followers who are the church elders, send their greetings to the followers of the Lord of Gentile birth in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia.
WEBBE 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.
WMBB They wrote these things by their hand:
¶ “The emissaries, the elders, and the brothers, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: greetings.
NET 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!
LSV 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;
FBV and sent them with this letter:
¶ “Greetings from us, the apostles and elders and brothers, to the non-Jewish[fn] brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:
15:23 Literally, “Gentile.”
TCNT and to send with them [fn]this letter they had written: “The [fn]apostles, elders, and brothers, to the Gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.
15:23 this 90.9% ¦ a CT 1.2%
15:23 apostles, elders, and brothers, ¦ brothers, both the apostles and the elders, CT
T4T Then they wrote the following letter that they asked Judas and Silas to take to the believers at Antioch:
LEB writing this letter[fn] to be delivered by them:[fn] The apostles and the elders, brothers.
¶ To the brothers who are from among the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.
¶ Greetings!
¶
15:23 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
15:23 Literally “by their hand”
BBE And they sent a letter by them, saying, The Apostles and the older brothers, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, may joy be with you:
Moff No Moff ACTs book available
Wymth 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.
ASV 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:
DRA 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.
YLT 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;
Drby having by their hand written [thus]: The apostles, and the elders, and the brethren, to the brethren who are from among [the] nations at Antioch, and [in] Syria and Cilicia, greeting:
RV 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:
Wbstr 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.
KJB-1769 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:
(And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren/brothers send greeting unto the brethren/brothers which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: )
KJB-1611 And wrote letters by them after this maner, The Apostles and Elders, and brethren, send greeting vnto the brethren, which are of the Gentiles in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia.
(And wrote letters by them after this manner, The Apostles and Elders, and brethren/brothers, send greeting unto the brethren/brothers, which are of the Gentiles in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia.)
Bshps And wrote letters by them, after this maner.
(And wrote letters by them, after this manner.)
Gnva And wrote letters by them after this maner, THE APOSTLES, and the Elders, and the brethren, vnto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antiochia, and in Syria, and in Cilicia, send greeting.
(And wrote letters by them after this manner, THE APOSTLES, and the Elders, and the brethren/brothers, unto the brethren/brothers which are of the Gentiles in Antiochia, and in Syria, and in Cilicia, send greeting. )
Cvdl and gaue the letters in their handes after this maner: We the Apostles and Elders & brethren, wysh health vnto the brethre of the Heythe which are at Antioche, and Syria and Celicia.
(and gave the letters in their hands after this manner: We the Apostles and Elders and brethren/brothers, wysh health unto the brethren/brothers of the Heathen which are at Antioche, and Syria and Celicia.)
TNT and gave them lettres in their hondes after this maner. The Apostles elders and brethren send gretynges vnto the brethren which are of the gentyls in Antioche Siria and Celicia.
(and gave them lettres in their hands after this manner. The Apostles elders and brethren/brothers send gretynges unto the brethren/brothers which are of the gentiles in Antioche Siria and Celicia. )
Wyc and wroten bi the hondis of hem, Apostlis and eldre britheren to hem that ben at Antioche, and Sirie, and Silice, britheren of hethen men, greting.
(and wroten by the hands of them, Apostlis and eldre brethren/brothers to them that been at Antioche, and Sirie, and Silice, brethren/brothers of hethen men, greting.)
Luth Und sie gaben Schrift in ihre Hand also: Wir, die Apostel und Ältesten und Brüder, wünschen Heil den Brüdern aus den Heiden, die zu Antiochien und Syrien und Zilizien sind.
(And they/she/them gave Schrift in their/her hand also: Wir, the Apostel and elders and brothers, wünschen Heil the brothersn out_of the Heiden, the to Antiochien and Syrien and Zilizien sind.)
ClVg scribentes per manus eorum: Apostoli et seniores fratres, his qui sunt Antiochiæ, et Syriæ, et Ciliciæ, fratribus ex gentibus, salutem.[fn]
(scribentes through hands their: Apostoli and seniores brothers, his who are Antiochiæ, and Syriæ, and Ciliciæ, fratribus from gentibus, salutem. )
15.23 Apostoli et seniores. Apostolorum communis titulus præponitur, ne aliqua dissensionis relinquatur occasio. Fratribus ex gentibus. RAB. Primum styli beneficium est, quod apostoli gentiles vocant fratres, id est unius Dei filios. Salutem. Eclipsis, quia latitudine charitatis omne verbum angustius est, et ideo nullum verbum ponitur, ut omnia simul bona eis velle intelligantur.
15.23 Apostoli and seniores. Apostolorum communis titulus præponitur, not aliqua dissensionis relinquatur occasio. Fratribus from gentibus. RAB. Primum styli beneficium it_is, that apostoli gentiles vocant brothers, id it_is of_one of_God filios. Salutem. Eclipsis, because latitudine charitatis omne the_word angustius it_is, and ideo nullum the_word putsur, as everything simul good to_them velle intelligantur.
UGNT γράψαντες διὰ χειρὸς αὐτῶν, οἱ ἀπόστολοι καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι, ἀδελφοὶ, τοῖς κατὰ τὴν Ἀντιόχειαν, καὶ Συρίαν, καὶ Κιλικίαν, ἀδελφοῖς τοῖς ἐξ ἐθνῶν, χαίρειν.
(grapsantes dia ⱪeiros autōn, hoi apostoloi kai hoi presbuteroi, adelfoi, tois kata taʸn Antioⱪeian, kai Surian, kai Kilikian, adelfois tois ex ethnōn, ⱪairein.)
SBL-GNT γράψαντες διὰ χειρὸς ⸀αὐτῶν· Οἱ ἀπόστολοι καὶ οἱ ⸀πρεσβύτεροι ἀδελφοὶ τοῖς κατὰ τὴν Ἀντιόχειαν καὶ Συρίαν καὶ Κιλικίαν ἀδελφοῖς τοῖς ἐξ ἐθνῶν χαίρειν.
(grapsantes dia ⱪeiros ⸀autōn; Hoi apostoloi kai hoi ⸀presbuteroi adelfoi tois kata taʸn Antioⱪeian kai Surian kai Kilikian adelfois tois ex ethnōn ⱪairein.)
TC-GNT γράψαντες διὰ χειρὸς αὐτῶν [fn]τάδε, Οἱ ἀπόστολοι καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι [fn]καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ τοῖς κατὰ [fn]τὴν Ἀντιόχειαν καὶ Συρίαν καὶ Κιλικίαν ἀδελφοῖς τοῖς ἐξ ἐθνῶν, χαίρειν·
(grapsantes dia ⱪeiros autōn tade, Hoi apostoloi kai hoi presbuteroi kai hoi adelfoi tois kata taʸn Antioⱪeian kai Surian kai Kilikian adelfois tois ex ethnōn, ⱪairein; )
Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).
15:22-29 The Jerusalem church chose two of the church leaders to report its decision. They took with them a letter from the apostles and elders . . . in Jerusalem explaining the terms of the agreement.
Circumcision in the New Testament
Circumcision (cutting off the male foreskin) was widely practiced in the ancient Near East (see Jer 9:25-26). For Jews, it had religious significance as the sign of the covenant that God had established with the people of Israel (Gen 17:9-14; Josh 5:2; John 7:22; Acts 7:8; Sirach 44:20). It was normally performed on the eighth day of a male infant’s life (Gen 17:12; Lev 12:3; Luke 1:59; Acts 7:8). The New Testament notes the circumcision of John the Baptist, Jesus, Paul, and Timothy (Luke 1:59; 2:21; Acts 16:2-3; Phil 3:5). Circumcision became a metaphor for the renewal of a person’s relationship with God (Deut 10:16; 30:6; Jer 4:4; Rom 2:28-29). In the late 40s AD, some Jewish Christians tried to require Gentile Christians to undergo circumcision (Acts 15:1, 5; see 21:20-21; Gal 2:4, 11-13), to which Paul and Barnabas objected (Acts 15:2). The ensuing church council at Jerusalem settled the matter in favor of not requiring Gentiles to be circumcised (15:19-21, 28-29).
Paul insisted that “it makes no difference whether or not a man has been circumcised” (1 Cor 7:19). “What is important is faith expressing itself in love” (Gal 5:6). In Galatians, Paul argued against vigorous Jewish opponents and insisted that everyone enters God’s family simply through faith in Jesus Christ (Gal 2:14-21). Circumcision is not required for acceptance by God (Gal 5:6). The cross of Christ is the way that sinners enter into covenant with God (Gal 2:14-21; Col 2:11-15).
Passages for Further Study
Gen 17:9-14; Lev 12:3; Josh 5:2-9; Jer 9:25-26; Luke 1:59; 2:21; John 7:22-24; Acts 7:8; 15:1-5, 19-21, 28-31; 16:2-3; 21:18-24; Rom 2:25-29; 1 Cor 7:17-19; Gal 2:3-5, 11-21; 5:6; 6:15; Phil 3:5-9; Col 2:11-23
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy
γράψαντες διὰ χειρὸς αὐτῶν
/having/_written by /the/_hand ˱of˲_them
Luke does not mean that the apostles and elders ask Judas and Silas to write out this letter for them. Rather, Luke is using the word hand to mean that Judas and Silas carried the letter and delivered it. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “sending the following letter with them”
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / youdual
χειρὸς αὐτῶν
/the/_hand ˱of˲_them
Since Luke is referring to two people, it might be more natural in your language to use the dual or plural form here, as your language may require. Alternate translation: “their hands”
οἱ ἀπόστολοι καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι, ἀδελφοὶ, τοῖς κατὰ τὴν Ἀντιόχειαν, καὶ Συρίαν, καὶ Κιλικίαν, ἀδελφοῖς τοῖς ἐξ ἐθνῶν, χαίρειν
the ambassadors and the elders brothers ˱to˲_the_‹ones› in ¬the Antioch and Syria and Cilicia brothers ¬which from /the/_pagans /to_be/_greeting
This is the introduction of the letter. In the culture of this time, letter writers would give their own names first. Your language and culture may have its own way of introducing the author of a letter and saying to whom it is written. Alternate translation: “This letter is from your brothers, the apostles and elders. We are writing to you Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Greetings to you” or “To our Gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Greetings from the apostles and elders, your brothers”
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
ἀδελφοὶ & ἀδελφοῖς
brothers & brothers
The apostles and elders are using the term brothers to mean people who share the same faith. By doing this, they are assuring the Gentile believers that they accept them as fellow believers. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “to our fellow believers”