Acts 16 · Verse 4

Acts 16:4

And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.

Acts 16:4, King James Version

Acts 16:4 in other translations

BSB	As they went from town to town, they delivered the decisions handed down by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.
WEB	As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered the decrees to them to keep which had been ordained by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem.
ASV	And as they went on their way through the cities, they delivered them the decrees to keep which had been ordained of the apostles and elders that were at Jerusalem.
YLT	And as they were going on through the cities, they were delivering to them the decrees to keep, that have been judged by the apostles and the elders who are in Jerusalem,
DARBY	And as they passed through the cities they instructed them to observe the decrees determined on by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem.
BBE	And on their way through the towns, they gave them the rules which had been made by the Apostles and the rulers of the church at Jerusalem, so that they might keep them.
Webster	And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep that were ordained by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem.

What does Acts 16:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 16:1-5

PAUL'S SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY. Ac 15:41-18:22. Ac 15:41-16:5. Visitation of the Churches Formerly Established, Timotheus Here Joining the Missionary Party. 41. he went through Syria and Cilicia--(See on Ac 15:23). Taking probably the same route as when despatched in haste from Jerusalem to Tarsus, he then went by land (see on Ac 9:30). 1-5. Then came he to Derbe and Lystra; and, behold, a certain disciple was…

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Barnes' Notes

Verse 4. And as they went through the cities. The cities of Syria, Cilicia, etc.

They delivered them. Paul and Silas delivered to the Christians in those cities.

The decrees. ταδογματα. The decrees in regard to the four things specified in Acts 15:20,29. The word translated decrees occurs in Lk 2:1, "A decree from Caesar Augustus;" in Acts 17:7, "The decrees of Caesar;" in Eph 2:15 and in Col 2:14. It properly means, a law or edict of a king or legislature. In this instance it was the decision of the council in a case submitted to it; and implied an obligation on the Christians to submit to that decision. The laws of the apostles would, and ought to be, in such cases, esteemed to be binding. It is probable that a correct and attested copy of the letter, Acts 15:23-29 would be sent to the various churches of the Gentiles.

To keep. To obey, or to observe.

That were ordained. Gr., That were adjudged, or determined.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 4 They delivered them the decrees for to keep - Τα δογματα, τα κεκριμενα ὑπο των ΑποϚολων. Bishop Pearce contends that τα δογματα, the decrees, is a gloss which was not in the text originally; and that the τα κεκριμενα, the judgments or determinations of the apostles, was all that was originally written here. He supports his opinion by a reference to the word κρινω, I judge, used by James, Act 15:19, whence the whole decision, as it referred - 1. to the inexpediency of circumcising the Gentiles; and, 2. to the necessity of observing the four precepts laid down, was called τα κεκριμενα, the things that were judged, or decided on; the judgments of the apostolic council. Instead of κεκριμενα, the Syrian has a word that answers to γεγραμμενα, the decrees that were written. The word δογμα, from δοκεω, to think proper, determine, decree, signifies an ordinance or decree, properly and deliberately made, relative to any important point, and which, in reference to that point, has the force of law. Our term dogma, which we often abuse, is the Greek word in English letters.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 16:1-5

Well may the church look for much service from youthful ministers who set out in the same spirit as Timothy. But when men will submit in nothing, and oblige in nothing, the first elements of the Christian temper seem to be wanting; and there is great reason to believe that the doctrines and precepts of the gospel will not be successfully taught. The design of the decree being to set aside the ceremonial law, and its…

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Acts 16:4 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.

ὡςhōsWhileG5613

δὲdethenG1161

διεπορεύοντοdieporeuontothey were passing throughG1279

τὰςtastheG3588

πόλεις,poleiscities,G4172

παρεδίδοσανparedidosanthey were deliveringG3860

αὐτοῖςautoisto themG846

φυλάσσεινphulasseinto keepG5442

τὰtatheG3588

δόγματαdogmatadecreesG1378

τὰtawhich [were]G3588

κεκριμέναkekrimenadecided onG2919

ὑπὸhupobyG5259

τῶνtōntheG3588

ἀποστόλωνapostolōnapostlesG652

καὶkaiandG2532

πρεσβυτέρωνpresbuterōneldersG4245

τῶνtōnwho [were]G3588

ἐνeninG1722

Ἱεροσολύμοις.¶Hi'erosolumoisJerusalem.G2414

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

Cross references for Acts 16:4

Acts 15:28-29
For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 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.
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 11:30
Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Acts 15:6
And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

they delivered.
15:6,28,29

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

Context

Acts 16:3
Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.
Acts 16:4
And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.
Acts 16:5
And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

Read all of Acts 16

Acts 16:4 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y como pasaban por las ciudades, les daban que guardasen los decretos que habían sido determinados por los apóstoles y los ancianos que estaban en Jerusalem.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et comme ils passaient par les villes, ils leur remirent pour les garder, les ordonnances établies par les apôtres et les anciens qui étaient à Jérusalem.
German Elberfelder 1871	Als sie aber die Städte durchzogen, teilten sie ihnen zur Beobachtung die Beschlüsse mit, welche von den Aposteln und Ältesten in Jerusalem festgesetzt waren.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Cum autem pertransirent civitates, tradebant eis custodiri dogmata quæ erant decreta ab Apostolis et senioribus qui erant Jerosolymis.