Acts 15 · Verse 3

Acts 15:3

And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
Acts 15:3, King James Version

Acts 15:3 in other translations

BSBSent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers.
WEBThey, being sent on their way by the assembly, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles. They caused great joy to all the brothers.
ASVThey therefore, being brought on their way by the church, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
YLTthey indeed, then, having been sent forward by the assembly, were passing through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the nations, and they were causing great joy to all the brethren.
DARBYThey therefore, having been set on their way by the assembly, passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, relating the conversion of those of the nations. And they caused great joy to all the brethren.
BBESo they, being sent on their way by the church, went through Phoenicia and Samaria, giving news of the salvation of the Gentiles, to the great joy of all the brothers.
WebsterAnd being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice, and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy to all the brethren.

What does Acts 15:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 15:3-6
3-6. being brought on their way by the church--a kind of official escort. they passed through Phenice--(See on Ac 11:19). and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles, and they caused great joy to the brethren--As the converts in those parts were Jewish (Ac 11:19), their spirit contrasts favorably with that of others of their nation.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 3. And being brought on their way by the church. Being attended and conducted by the Christian brethren. Rom 15:24. It was customary for the Christians to attend the apostles in their travels. Comp. 1Cor 16:6,11, 3Jn 1:6.

Through Phenice. Acts 11:19.

And Samaria. These places were directly on their route to Jerusalem.

Declaring the conversion, etc. Of the Gentiles in Antioch, and in the regions in Asia Minor, through which they had travelled. These remarkable events they would naturally communicate with joy to the Christians with whom they would have intercourse in their journey.

Caused great joy. At the news of the extensive spread of the gospel. It was an indication of their deep feeling in the interest of religion, that they thus rejoiced. Where Christians are themselves awake, and engaged in the service of Christ, they rejoice at the news of the conversion of sinners. Where they are cold, they hear such news with indifference, or with the utmost unconcern. One way of testing our feelings on the subject of religion is by the emotions which we have when we hear of extensive and glorious revivals of religion. Comp. Acts 8:8.

(a) "brought on their way" Rom 15:24, 1Cor 16:6,11, 3Jn 1:6 (b) "declaring the conversion" Acts 14:27 (c) "great joy" Lk 15:7,10

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 Being brought on their way by the Church - That is; the members of the Church provided them with all necessaries for their journey; for it does not appear that they had any property of their own. Declaring the conversion of the Gentiles - Much stress is laid on this: it was a miracle of God's mercy that the Gentiles should be received into the Church of God; and they had now the fullest proof that the thing was likely to become general, by the conversion of Cornelius, the conversion of the people of Antioch, of Cyprus, Pisidia, Pamphylia, Lycaonia, etc., etc.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 15:1-6

Some from Judea taught the Gentile converts at Antioch, that they could not be saved, unless they observed the whole ceremonial law as given by Moses; and thus they sought to destroy Christian liberty. There is a strange proneness in us to think that all do wrong who do not just as we do. Their doctrine was very discouraging. Wise and good men desire to avoid contests and disputes as far as they can; yet when false…

Read the full comment on Acts 15:1-6 →

Acts 15:3 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.

ΟἱHoiTheyG3588
μὲνmenindeedG3303
οὖνounthereforeG3767
προπεμφθέντεςpropemphthenteshaving been sent forwardG4311
ὑπὸhupobyG5259
τῆςtēstheG3588
ἐκκλησίαςekklēsiaschurchG1577
διήρχοντοdiērchontowere passing throughG1330
τήνtēn<the>G3588
ΦοινίκηνPhoinikēnPhoeniciaG5403
καὶkaiandG2532
ΣαμάρειανSamareianSamariaG4540
ἐκδιηγούμενοιekdiēgoumenoirelating in detailG1555
τὴνtēntheG3588
ἐπιστροφὴνepistrophēnconversionG1995
τῶνtōnof theG3588
ἐθνῶνethnōnGentilesG1484
καὶkaiandG2532
ἐποίουνepoiounthey were bringingG4160
χαρὰνcharanjoyG5479
μεγάληνmegalēngreatG3173
πᾶσινpasinto allG3956
τοῖςtoistheG3588
ἀδελφοῖς.adelphoisbrothers.G80

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

Cross references for Acts 15:3

  • Acts 14:27

    And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

  • Acts 21:5

    And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.

  • 1 Corinthians 16:11

    Let no man therefore despise him: but conduct him forth in peace, that he may come unto me: for I look for him with the brethren.

  • 1 Corinthians 16:6

    And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring me on my journey whithersoever I go.

  • Acts 11:18-19

    When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.

  • Acts 15:12

    Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

  • Titus 3:13

    Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.

  • Romans 15:24

    Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.

  • Acts 13:52

    And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

  • Isaiah 60:4-5

    Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.

  • Acts 21:19-20

    And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:

  • Acts 8:14

    Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
brought.
21:5; 28:15; Ro 15:24; 1Co 16:6,11; Tit 3:13; 3Jo 1:6-8
passed.
8:14; 11:19
declaring.
12; 14:27; 21:19,20
they caused.
11:18; 13:48,52; Isa 60:4,5; 66:12-14; Lu 15:5-10,23,24,32

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Acts 15:3

    And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

  • Acts 15:4

    And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.

Read all of Acts 15

Acts 15:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Ellos, pues, habiendo sido acompañados de la iglesia, pasaron por la Fenicia y Samaria, contando la conversión de los Gentiles; y daban gran gozo á todos los hermanos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Eux donc, ayant été accompagnés par l’assemblée, traversèrent la Phénicie et la Samarie, racontant la conversion des nations; et ils causèrent une grande joie à tous les frères.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Sie nun, nachdem sie von der Versammlung das Geleit erhalten hatten, durchzogen Phönizien und Samaria und erzählten die Bekehrung derer aus den Nationen; und sie machten allen Brüdern große Freude.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Illi ergo deducti ab ecclesia pertransibant Phœnicen et Samariam, narrantes conversionem gentium: et faciebant gaudium magnum omnibus fratribus.