Acts 15 · Verse 28

Acts 15:28

For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
Acts 15:28, King James Version

Acts 15:28 in other translations

BSBIt seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements:
WEBFor it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things:
ASVFor it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:
YLT‘For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, no more burden to lay upon you, except these necessary things:
DARBYFor it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:
BBEFor it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us, to put on you nothing more than these necessary things;
WebsterFor it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

What does Acts 15:28 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 15:28-29
28-29. For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, &c.--The One, inwardly guiding to and setting His seal on the decision come to: the other, the external ecclesiastical authority devoutly embracing, expressing, and conveying to the churches that decision:--a great principle this for the Church in all time. to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things ... from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well--The whole language of these prohibitions, and of Ac 15:20, 21, implies that they were designed as concessions to Jewish feelings on the part of the Gentile converts, and not as things which were all of unchanging obligation. The only cause for hesitation arises from "fornication" being mixed up with the other three things; which has led many to regard the whole as permanently prohibited. But the remarks on Ac 15:20 may clear this (see on Ac 15:20). The then state of heathen society in respect of all the four things seems the reason for so mixing them up.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 28. For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost. This is a strong and undoubted claim to inspiration. It was with special reference to the organization of the church that the Holy Spirit had been promised to them by the Lord Jesus, Mt 18:18-20, Jn 14:26.

No greater burthen. To impose no greater restraints; to enjoin no other observances. Acts 15:10.

Than these necessary things. Necessary,

(1.) in order to preserve the peace of the church.

(2.) To conciliate the minds of the Jewish converts, Acts 15:21.

(3.) Necessary in their circumstances, particularly, because the crime which is specified--licentiousness--was one to which all early converts were particularly exposed. Acts 15:20.

(|) "Ghost" "Spirit" (h) "burthen" Rev 2:24

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us - The whole council had met under his direction; had consulted under his influence; and gave forth their decree from his especial inspiration. Necessary things - They were necessary, howsoever burthensome they might appear; and necessary, not only for the time, place, or occasion; but for all times, all places, and all occasions. See this proved in the observations at the end of this chapter.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 15:22-35

Being warranted to declare themselves directed by the immediate influence of the Holy Ghost, the apostles and disciples were assured that it seemed good unto God the Holy Spirit, as well as to them, to lay upon the converts no other burden than the things before mentioned, which were necessary, either on their own account, or from present circumstances. It was a comfort to hear that carnal ordinances were no longer…

Read the full comment on Acts 15:22-35 →

Acts 15:28 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.

ἔδοξενedoxenIt seemed goodG1380
γὰρgarforG1063
τῷtōto theG3588
πνεύματιpneumatiSpiritG4151
ἁγίῳhagiōHolyG40
καὶkaiandG2532
ἡμῖνhēminto usG3165
μηδὲνmēdennoG3367
πλέονpleonfurtherG4119
ἐπιτίθεσθαιepitithesthaito layG2007
ὑμῖνhuminupon youG4771
βάροςbarosburdenG922
πλὴνplēnexceptG4133
τούτωνtoutōntheseG3778
τῶνtōn<the>G3588
ἐπάναγκεςepanagkesnecessary thingsG1876

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

Cross references for Acts 15:28

  • Matthew 11:30

    For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

  • Revelation 2:24

    But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.

  • John 16:13

    Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:37

    If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

  • 1 Peter 1:12

    Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:40

    But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

  • Acts 5:32

    And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

  • Acts 15:8

    And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

  • Acts 15:19

    Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

  • Acts 15:25

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

  • 1 Corinthians 7:25

    Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.

  • Matthew 23:4

    For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
it.
Joh 16:13; 1Co 7:25,40; 14:37; 1Th 4:8; 1Pe 1:12
greater.
Mt 11:30; 23:4; Re 2:24

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

Context

  • Acts 15:27

    We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

  • Acts 15:28

    For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

  • Acts 15:29

    That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

Read all of Acts 15

Acts 15:28 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Que ha parecido bien al Espíritu Santo, y á nosotros, no imponeros ninguna carga más que estas cosas necesarias:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car il a semblé bon au Saint Esprit et à nous de ne mettre sur vous aucun autre fardeau que ces choses-ci qui sont nécessaires:
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn es hat dem Heiligen Geiste und uns gut geschienen, keine größere Last auf euch zu legen, als diese notwendigen Stücke:
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Visum est enim Spiritui Sancto et nobis nihil ultra imponere vobis oneris quam hæc necessaria: