Simon has told usThis refers to Simon Peter, one of Jesus' closest disciples and a leading figure in the early church. Peter's role in the early church is significant, as he was instrumental in spreading the Gospel beyond Jewish communities. His testimony carries weight due to his direct experiences with Jesus and his leadership among the apostles. This phrase highlights the importance of eyewitness accounts in the early church's decision-making processes.
how God first visited the Gentiles
This phrase refers to the pivotal moment when God extended His covenant to the Gentiles, marking a significant shift in the early Christian mission. The "visitation" of God to the Gentiles is exemplified in Peter's encounter with Cornelius, a Roman centurion, as recorded inActs 10. This event is a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, such asIsaiah 49:6, which speaks of salvation reaching the ends of the earth. It underscores the inclusivity of the Gospel and God's plan for all nations.
to take from them a people
This indicates God's sovereign choice in selecting individuals from among the Gentiles to be part of His covenant community. The language echoes Old Testament themes where God chose Israel as His people (Deuteronomy 7:6). The concept of God "taking" a people suggests divine initiative and grace, emphasizing that salvation is not based on human merit but on God's purpose and calling.
to be His own
This phrase signifies the establishment of a new identity and relationship with God. Being "His own" implies belonging, protection, and a special status as God's people. This mirrors the covenant relationship God had with Israel, now extended to include Gentiles. It reflects the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham that all nations would be blessed through his seed (Genesis 12:3), ultimately realized in Jesus Christ, who unites Jews and Gentiles into one body (Ephesians 2:14-16).
Persons / Places / Events
1.
Simon (Peter)One of Jesus' apostles, who played a crucial role in the early church. He shared the vision of God's plan for the Gentiles, emphasizing that salvation through Jesus Christ was available to all, not just the Jews.
2.
God's VisitationRefers to God's initiative in reaching out to the Gentiles, demonstrating His desire to include them in His redemptive plan. This visitation is a pivotal moment in the history of the early church, marking the expansion of the Gospel beyond Jewish boundaries.
3.
GentilesNon-Jewish people who were traditionally seen as outside the covenant community of Israel. The inclusion of the Gentiles signifies the fulfillment of God's promise to bless all nations through Abraham.
4.
Jerusalem CouncilThe meeting of early church leaders in Jerusalem to discuss and resolve the issue of whether Gentile converts needed to follow Jewish law.
Acts 15:14 is part of the discussion led by James, affirming Peter's testimony.
5.
JamesThe leader of the Jerusalem church, who supports Peter's account by referencing the prophets, showing that the inclusion of the Gentiles was in line with God's plan as revealed in Scripture.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereign PlanGod's plan for salvation is inclusive and sovereign, extending beyond ethnic and cultural boundaries. Believers are called to embrace and participate in this divine mission.
Unity in DiversityThe early church's acceptance of Gentiles highlights the importance of unity amidst diversity. Christians today should strive for unity in the body of Christ, celebrating diverse backgrounds and cultures.
Obedience to God's LeadingPeter's willingness to follow God's leading, even when it challenged traditional norms, serves as a model for believers to be open to God's direction, even when it requires stepping out of comfort zones.
Scriptural ConfirmationJames' use of Scripture to confirm God's work among the Gentiles underscores the importance of grounding our understanding and actions in the Word of God.
Mission to All NationsThe inclusion of the Gentiles reminds believers of the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations, encouraging active participation in global evangelism.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Acts 15:14?
2.How does Acts 15:14 illustrate God's plan for Gentile inclusion in salvation?
3.What role does Simon Peter play in Acts 15:14's message about Gentiles?
4.How can Acts 15:14 guide our approach to evangelism among diverse cultures?
5.Connect Acts 15:14 with Old Testament prophecies about Gentiles joining God's people.
6.How should Acts 15:14 influence our church's outreach and mission strategies today?
7.What does Acts 15:14 reveal about God's plan for the Gentiles?
8.How does Acts 15:14 support the inclusion of Gentiles in the early church?
9.Why is Simeon's testimony in Acts 15:14 significant for understanding God's purpose?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Acts 15?
11.What are the different Christian sects?
12.If Leviticus 11 is God's eternal command, why does Acts 10:9-16 appear to contradict these dietary laws?
13.Why would Acts 14:27 assert God 'opened a door of faith to the Gentiles' when earlier passages (e.g., Acts 10) already describe Gentile inclusion?
14.What makes Christianity unique compared to other religions?What Does Acts 15:14 Mean
Simon has told usPeter had personally recounted his experience with Cornelius (Acts 10:34-48), and the Jerusalem council accepted his eyewitness testimony as authoritative.
• Peter—formerly known as Simon—stood as a key apostle, so his words carried weight (Matthew 16:18).
• His report highlighted God’s direct initiative, reinforcing that the gospel was for “every nation” (Acts 10:35).
• The council recognized that Peter’s account aligned with the risen Lord’s command to be witnesses “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
how God first visited the GentilesThe phrase points to God’s intentional action: He “visited” or reached into Gentile territory before any human strategy could claim credit.
• The first clear outpouring on Gentiles came at Caesarea when “the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the message” (Acts 10:44).
• This divine visitation fulfilled the promise that Christ would be “a light for revelation to the Gentiles” (Luke 2:32).
• God’s direct involvement echoes earlier moments when He “visited” His people to bless them (Genesis 21:1;Ruth 1:6), underscoring His sovereign timing.
to take from them a peopleGod’s purpose was not merely to bless individuals but to form a distinct people, unified in Christ.
• “There is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all” (Romans 10:12).
• The church became “a chosen people, a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9), now including former outsiders.
• This gathering fulfills the promise to Abraham: “All the families of the earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3), showing continuity between Old and New Covenants.
to be His ownThe end goal is relational: God claims this mixed congregation as His possession.
• Believers are “sealed with the promised Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 1:13-14), marking them as God’s treasured inheritance.
• Jesus prayed “that they may all be one… so the world may believe” (John 17:21), revealing divine ownership through unity.
• Revelation pictures a redeemed multitude “from every nation” standing before the throne (Revelation 7:9-10), the ultimate display of a people who belong to Him forever.
summaryActs 15:14 celebrates God’s sovereign initiative through Peter’s testimony: He personally reached into Gentile lives, gathered a diverse people, and made them His own cherished possession, fulfilling promises that stretch from Abraham to the final vision of glory.
(14)
Simeon hath declared . . .--The Greek form is
Symeon,as in
2Peter 1:1. The use of the old Hebrew form of the Apostle's name, instead of the more familiar Simon, was natural in the Galilean speaker, and is presumptive evidence in favour of our having a report from notes made at the time.
Did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people.--The two words present an emphatic contrast. The Jews claimed for themselves the exclusive right to the latter term. They alone were the "people," the rest of mankind were the "nations"--the "heathen." St. James proclaims that out of those heathen nations a people had been taken who were as truly God's people as Israel had ever been. He, too, recognises the change as fully as St. Paul does, when inRomans 9:26 he quotes the memorable prophecy ofHosea 1:10. St. James as well as St. Peter had, it is clear, profited by the private teaching referred to inGalatians 2:2.
Verse 14.- Symeon for
Simeon, A.V.; re
hearsed for
declared, A.V.;
first God for
God at the first, A.V.
Symeon. This is the only place (unless
Symeon is the right reading in
2 Peter 1:1) in which Simon Peter's name is given in this Hebrew form, which is most proper in the month of James speaking to Palestine Jews. Singularly enough, Chrysostom was misled by it, and thought the prophecy of Simeon in
Luke 1:31 was meant,
How first; corresponding to the" good while ago" of ver. 7.
Did visit, etc. The construction
ἐπεσκέψατο λαβεῖν is very unusual, and indeed stands alone. The verb always has an accusative case after it (
Acts 6:3;
Acts 7:23;
Acts 15:36), unless
Luke 1:68 is an exception, which, however, it hardly is. There are two ways of construing the phrase. One is to consider it as elliptical, and to supply, as the A.V. and R.V. do,
τὰἐθνή. So Alford, who compares the construction in
Luke 1:25, where
ἐπ ἐμέ must be supplied. But this is a harsh construction. The other and better way is to take
ἐπεσκεψατο, not in the sense of" visiting," but of" looking out," or "endeavoring to find something." The sense of the infinitive after the verb is nearly equivalent to" look out for and took," literally,
looked out how he might take. With a slight modification of meaning, Irenaeus (in 'Speaker's Commentary') renders it" Excogitavit accipere," "planned" or "contrived to take."
A people for his Name; 1.
e. to be called by his Name.
Λαός was the peculiar designation of "the people" of God, answering to the Hebrew
עַם (comp.
1 Peter 2:10,
Οἱ ποτὲ οὐ λαὸς νῦν δὲ λαὸς Θεοῦ).
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
SimonΣυμεὼν(Symeōn)Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4826:Simeon or Simon. From the same as Simon; Symeon, the name of five Israelites.has told usἐξηγήσατο(exēgēsato)Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1834:To lead, show the way; met: I unfold, narrate, declare. From ek and hegeomai; to consider out, i.e. Rehearse, unfold.howκαθὼς(kathōs)Adverb
Strong's 2531:According to the manner in which, in the degree that, just as, as. From kata and hos; just as, that.GodΘεὸς(Theos)Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316:A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.firstπρῶτον(prōton)Adverb - Superlative
Strong's 4412:First, in the first place, before, formerly. Neuter of protos as adverb; firstly.visited [the Gentiles]ἐπεσκέψατο(epeskepsato)Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1980:To look upon, visit, look out, select.to takeλαβεῖν(labein)Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 2983:(a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of.fromἐξ(ex)Preposition
Strong's 1537:From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.[them]ἐθνῶν(ethnōn)Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 1484:Probably from etho; a race, i.e. A tribe; specially, a foreign one.a peopleλαὸν(laon)Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2992:Apparently a primary word; a people.[to be]τῷ(tō)Article - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.Hisαὐτοῦ(autou)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
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.[own].ὀνόματι(onomati)Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3686:Name, character, fame, reputation. From a presumed derivative of the base of ginosko; a 'name'.
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NT Apostles: Acts 15:14 Simeon has reported how God first visited (Acts of the Apostles Ac) 
