Acts 15:28

Mace New Testament

for by the holy spirit it seemed good to us, to lay no greater burthen upon you, than these necessary injunctions;

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
It seemed like the right things to do, and we believe the Holy Spirit agrees we should not make y'all do anything burdensome besides these few things,

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials:

Legacy Standard Bible
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials:

Bible in Basic English
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us, to put on you nothing more than these necessary things;

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

New King James Version
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:

Christian Standard Bible®
For it was the Holy Spirit's decision—and ours—to put no greater burden on you than these necessary things:

World English Bible
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things:

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, that no further burden be laid upon you than these necessary things, To abstain from meats offered to idols and blood,

Weymouth's New Testament
For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no burden heavier than these necessary requirements--

King James Version (1611)
For it seemed good to the holy Ghost, and to vs, to lay vpon you no greater burden then these necessarie things;

Literal Translation
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to put not one greater burden on you than these necessary things:

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For it pleased the holy goost and vs, to laye no charge vpon you, more then these necessary poyntes:

THE MESSAGE
It seemed to the Holy Spirit and to us that you should not be saddled with any crushing burden, but be responsible only for these bare necessities: Be careful not to get involved in activities connected with idols; avoid serving food offensive to Jewish Christians (blood, for instance); and guard the morality of sex and marriage. These guidelines are sufficient to keep relations congenial between us. And God be with you!

Amplified Bible
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to place on you any greater burden than these essentials:

American Standard Version
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:

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

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For it semed good to the holy gost and to vs to put no grevous thinge to you more then these necessary thinges:

Update Bible Version
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay on you no greater burden than these necessary things:

Webster's Bible Translation
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

Young's Literal Translation
`For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, no more burden to lay upon you, except these necessary things:

New Century Version
It has pleased the Holy Spirit that you should not have a heavy load to carry, and we agree. You need to do only these things:

New English Translation
For it seemed best to the Holy Spirit and to us not to place any greater burden on you than these necessary rules:

Berean Standard Bible
It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements:

Contemporary English Version
The Holy Spirit has shown us that we should not place any extra burden on you.

Complete Jewish Bible
For it seemed good to the Ruach HaKodesh and to us not to lay any heavier burden on you than the following requirements:

English Standard Version
For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements:

Geneva Bible (1587)
For it seemed good to the holy Ghost, and to vs, to lay no more burden vpon you, then these necessary things,

George Lamsa Translation
For it is the will of the Holy Spirit and of us, to lay upon you no additional burden than these necessary things;

Hebrew Names Version
For it seemed good to the Ruach HaKodesh, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things:

International Standard Version
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to place on you any burden but these essential requirements:

Etheridge Translation
For it hath been the will of the Spirit of Holiness, and also of us, not to lay upon you greater burden beyond these things which are constraining;

Murdock Translation
For it was pleasing to the Holy Spirit, and to us, that there should not be laid upon you any additional burden, besides these necessary things:

New Living Translation
"For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these few requirements:

New Life Bible
It pleased the Holy Spirit and us to ask you to do nothing more than these things that have to be done.

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

New Revised Standard
For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose on you no further burden than these essentials:

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For it hath seemed good unto the Holy Spirit and unto us, no greater burden, to be laying upon you, than these necessary things: -

Douay-Rheims Bible
For it hath seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us to lay no further burden upon you than these necessary things:

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

Lexham English Bible
For it seemed best to the Holy Spirit and to us to place on you no greater burden except these necessary things:

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For it seemed good to the holy ghost, and to vs, to charge you with no more then these necessarie thynges [That is to say]

Easy-to-Read Version
We agree with the Holy Spirit that you should have no more burdens, except for these necessary things:

New American Standard Bible
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials:

Good News Translation
The Holy Spirit and we have agreed not to put any other burden on you besides these necessary rules:

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For it is seyn to the Hooly Goost and to vs, to putte to you no thing more of charge, than these nedeful thingis,

Contextual Overview

²² Then the apostles, the presbyters, and the whole church thought it proper to select some out of their own body to accompany Paul and Barnabas to Antioch: such as Judas surnam'd Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren, ²³ whom they charg'd with this letter. The apostles, the presbyters, and the brethren, to the Gentile brethren at Antioch, in Syria, and Cilicia, send greeting. ²⁴ Whereas we have been appriz'd, that some who went from us, have embarass'd you with their discourse, and unsettled your minds, maintaining, that you ought to be circumcised, and to observe the law, though we gave them no such injunction: after having been assembled, ²⁵ we unanimously judg'd it proper to send particular deputies to you, with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, ²⁶ men that have exposed their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁷ we therefore send Judas and Silas to inform you in person of this affair. ²⁸ for by the holy spirit it seemed good to us, to lay no greater burthen upon you, than these necessary injunctions; ²⁹ that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the flesh of strangled animals, and from fornication: you will do well to preserve your selves from these practices. farewel. ³⁰ Being thus dispatch'd, they went to Antioch; where having assembled all the faithful, they deliver'd the letter: from the reading of which, ³¹ they were affected with joy at the comfortable contents, as for Judas and Silas,

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

it: John 16:13, 1 Corinthians 7:25, 1 Corinthians 7:40, 1 Corinthians 14:37, 1 Thessalonians 4:8, 1 Peter 1:12

greater: Matthew 11:30, Matthew 23:4, Revelation 2:24

Reciprocal: Exodus 4:14 - anger Luke 1:3 - seemed John 14:26 - Holy Ghost Acts 15:19 - that Acts 15:25 - seemed Acts 16:4 - they delivered 1 Corinthians 7:18 - being 1 Corinthians 9:21 - them Galatians 2:14 - why

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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, c.''

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."

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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, Matthew 18:18-20; John 14:26.

No greater burden - To impose no greater restraints to enjoin no other observances. See the notes on 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) In their circumstances particularly, because the crime which is specified - licentiousness was one to which all early converts were especially exposed. See the notes on Acts 15:20.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 15:28. 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.