Samaritan's Purse Is Aiding Communities Devastated by Hurricane Helene. You Can Help

Acts 15:28

28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:

Acts 15:28 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 15:28

For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us
By various things they had reason doubtless to conclude, that they were under the influence and direction of the Holy Ghost in this affair; as by the spirit of prayer that was among them; by that power and energy with which many of them spoke on this occasion, and that so agreeable to the word of God; and by that unanimity with which they came into the advice given. With respect to the form here used, compare ( 1 Chronicles 13:2 ) and the Targum on it, which renders the words thus;

``if it be beautiful before you, and acceptable before the Lord, let us send''

It follows here,

to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
not that they were necessary to salvation, but necessary to secure the peace of the churches, and at least were necessary, at that present time; and therefore since it appeared to be necessary to enjoin them for the present, they hoped they would not refuse to bear them; and especially, since, though they must own they were burdens, and a part of the yoke of bondage, yet they were not many, nor very heavy, and for the future they should lay no other, nor more upon them; and what they did, was to prevent any other or greater burden to be laid; and so the Syriac version renders it, "lest any more, or greater burden should be laid upon you."

Acts 15:28 In-Context

26 men who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth.
28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:
29 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from unchastity. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell."
30 So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch; and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.