Acts 15 · Verse 14

Acts 15:14

Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
Acts 15:14, King James Version

Acts 15:14 in other translations

BSBSimon has told us how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to be His own.
WEBSimeon has reported how God first visited the nations to take out of them a people for his name.
ASVSymeon hath rehearsed how first God visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
YLTSimeon did declare how at first God did look after to take out of the nations a people for His name,
DARBYSimon has related how God first visited to take out of the nations a people for his name.
BBESymeon has given an account of how God was first pleased to take from among the Gentiles a people for himself.
WebsterSimeon hath declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take from among them a people for his name.

What does Acts 15:14 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 15:14-17
14-17. Simeon--a Hebrew variation of Simon, as in 2Pe 1:1; (Greek), the Jewish and family name of Peter. hath declared how God at the first--answering to Peter's own expression "a good while ago" (Ac 15:7). did visit the Gentiles to take out of them--in the exercise of His adorable sovereignty. a people for his name--the honor of his name, or for His glory.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 14. Simeon. This is a Hebrew name. The Greek mode of writing it commonly was Simon. It was one of the names of Peter, Mt 4:18.

To take out of them a people. To choose from among the Gentiles those who should be his friends.

(e) "declared" Lk 2:31,32

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 14 Simeon hath declared - It is remarkable that James does not give him even the title which he received from our Lord at the time in which he is supposed to have been made head of the Church, and vicar of Christ upon earth; so that, it is evident, James did not understand our Lord as giving Peter any such pre-eminence; and, therefore, he does not even call him Peter, but simply Simeon. It is truly surprising that such a vast number of important pretensions should rest on such slight foundations! If tradition, no matter how interrupted or precarious, did not lend its support, feeble as that necessarily must be, the cause tried by plain Scripture would fall to the ground. To take out of them a people for his name - To form among the Gentiles, as he had among the Jews, a people called by his name and devoted to his honor.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 15:7-21

We see from the words "purifying their hearts by faith," and the address of St. Peter, that justification by faith, and sanctification by the Holy Ghost, cannot be separated; and that both are the gift of God. We have great cause to bless God that we have heard the gospel. May we have that faith which the great Searcher of hearts approves, and attests by the seal of the Holy Spirit. Then our hearts and consciences…

Read the full comment on Acts 15:7-21 →

Acts 15:14 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΣυμεὼνSumeōnSimeonG4826
ἐξηγήσατοexēgēsatohas relatedG1834
καθὼςkathōseven asG2531
πρῶτονprōtonfirstG4413
ὁho<the>G3588
θεὸςtheosGodG2316
ἐπεσκέψατοepeskepsatovisitedG1980
λαβεῖνlabeinto takeG2983
ἐξexout ofG1537
ἐθνῶνethnōn[the] GentilesG1484
λαὸνlaona peopleG2992
τῷtōfor theG3588
ὀνόματιonomatinameG3686
αὐτοῦ·autouof Him;G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 15:14

  • 2 Peter 1:1

    Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

  • Acts 15:7-9

    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 God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

  • Luke 2:31-32

    Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

  • 1 Peter 2:9-10

    But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

  • Isaiah 43:21

    This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.

  • Romans 1:5

    By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

  • Isaiah 55:11-13

    So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Simeon.
2Pe 1:1; *Gr:
declared.
7-9; Lu 1:68,78; 2:31,32
to take.
Isa 43:21; 55:11-13; Ro 1:5; 11:36; 1Pe 2:9,10

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 15:13

    And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:

  • Acts 15:14

    Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

  • Acts 15:15

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

Read all of Acts 15

Acts 15:14 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Simón ha contado cómo Dios primero visitó á los Gentiles, para tomar de ellos pueblo para su nombre;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Siméon a raconté comment Dieu a premièrement visité les nations pour en tirer un peuple pour son nom.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Simon hat erzählt, wie Gott zuerst die Nationen heimgesucht hat, um aus ihnen ein Volk zu nehmen für seinen Namen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Simon narravit quemadmodum primum Deus visitavit sumere ex gentibus populum nomini suo.