Acts 15:14

Acts 15:14

Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

a. NLT: Peter has told you about the time God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for himself.

b. NIV: Simon has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles.

c. YLT: Simeon did declare how at first God did look after to take out of the nations a people for His name,

d. Amplified Bible Classic: Simeon [Peter] has rehearsed how God first visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people [to bear and honor] His name.

e. Worrell Translation: Simeon declared how God first visited the gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

1. “Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles…”

a. Simeon [Strong: 4826 * Sumeon soom-eh-one' from the same as 4613; Symeon (i.e. Shimon), the name of five Israelites:--Simeon, Simon.]

b. hath declared [Strong: 1834 * exegeomai ex-ayg-eh'-om-ahee from 1537 and 2233; to consider out (aloud), i.e. rehearse, unfold:--declare, tell.]

c. how [Strong: 2531 * kathos kath-oce' from 2596 and 5613; just (or inasmuch) as, that:--according to, (according, even) as, how, when.]

d. God [Strong: 2316 * theos theh'-os of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with 3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very:--X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).]

e. at the first [Strong: 4412 * proton pro'-ton neuter of 4413 as adverb (with or without 3588); firstly (in time, place, order, or importance):--before, at the beginning, chiefly (at, at the) first (of all).]

f. did visit [Strong: 1980 * episkeptomai ep-ee-skep'-tom-ahee middle voice from 1909 and the base of 4649; to inspect, i.e. (by implication) to select; by extension, to go to see, relieve:--look out, visit.]

g. the Gentiles [Strong: 1484 * ethnos eth'-nos probably from 1486; a race (as of the same habit), i.e. a tribe; specially, a foreign (non-Jewish) one (usually, by implication, pagan):--Gentile, heathen, nation, people.]

2.  “…to take out of them a people for his name.”

a. to take [2983 * lambano][Strong: a prolonged form of a primary verb, which is use only as an alternate in certain tenses; to take (in very many applications, literally and figuratively (properly objective or active, to get hold of; whereas 1209 is rather subjective or passive, to have offered to one; while 138 is more violent, to seize or remove)):--accept, + be amazed, assay, attain, bring, X when I call, catch, come on (X unto), + forget, have, hold, obtain, receive (X after), take (away, up).]

b. out of [Strong: 1537 * ek ek or ex ex a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; literal or figurative; direct or remote):--after, among, X are, at, betwixt(-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (+ abundantly above), for(- th), from (among, forth, up), + grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, X hereby, + very highly, in, ...ly, (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, X thenceforth, through, X unto, X vehemently, with(-out). Often used in composition, with the same general import; often of completion.

c. a people [Strong: 2992 * laos lah-os' apparently a primary word; a people (in general; thus differing from 1218, which denotes one's own populace):--people.]

d. for [Strong: 1909 * epi ep-ee' a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.:--about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).]

e. his [Strong: 846 * autos ow-tos' from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

f. name [Strong: 3686 * onoma on'-om-ah from a presumed derivative of the base of 1097 (compare 3685); a "name" (literally or figuratively) (authority, character):--called, (+ sur-)name(-d).]

1). The Apostle Peter used this same terminology in his first general epistle.

a). 1 Peter 1:9, 10 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

1:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

2).  It is clear to me that at this time in the early church around 50 A.D., that the church realized and accepted that God had planned for the Gentiles to be included in salvation of Christ Jesus. In his address to the Jewish leaders at Rome (approximately 61 A.D.), that lasted all day, Paul laid out from Moses and the Prophets the proof not only concerning Jesus the Messiah, but also Scripture showed because of the hard heartedness of the Jews, the gospel would be sent to the Gentiles and that they would receive it.

a). Acts 28:23-29 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.

25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,

26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:

27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.

29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.