Acts 15:4 · Bible study
Acts 15:4 Commentary: Reporting with God
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why does Luke say 'God had done with them'? This study explores divine sovereignty and human agency in Paul and Barnabas' report to the Jerusalem church.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Paul and Barnabas are publicly welcomed by the Jerusalem church and report their missionary successes, attributing all to God.
- Key words: παρεδέχθησαν (received/welcomed), ἀνήγγειλαν (declared/reported), μετ᾽ αὐτῶν (with them), emphasizing partnership in divine work.
- Main debate: Does “God had done with them” stress God as the sole agent (Calvin) or a true cooperation between God and humans (Cambridge)?
- Theological theme: Divine sovereignty and human agency in mission, God does the work, but He does it with and through His people.
- Best use: As a model for missions reports, church accountability, and preparing the community for hard decisions by first celebrating God’s grace.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
On their arrival in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and apostles and elders, to whom they reported all that God had done through them.
WEB World English Bible 2000
When they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly and the apostles and the elders, and they reported everything that God had done with them.
KJV King James Version 1769
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.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church and the apostles and the elders, and they rehearsed all things that God had done with them.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And having come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly, and the apostles, and the elders, they declared also as many things as God did with them;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And being arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly, and the apostles, and the elders, and related all that God had wrought with them.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and by the apostles and ancients, declaring how great things God had done with them.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y llegados á Jerusalem, fueron recibidos de la iglesia y de los apóstoles y de los ancianos: y refirieron todas las cosas que Dios había hecho con ellos.
E tendo chegado a Jerusalém, eles foram recebidos pela igreja, e pelos apóstolos e anciãos; e lhes anunciaram quão grandes coisas Deus tinha feito com eles;
Arrivés à Jérusalem, ils furent reçus par l’ Église, les apôtres et les anciens, et ils racontèrent tout ce que Dieu avait fait avec eux.
Da sie aber hinkamen gen Jerusalem, wurden sie empfangen von der Gemeinde und von den Aposteln und von den Ältesten. Und sie verkündigten, wieviel Gott mit ihnen getan hatte.
En te Jeruzalem gekomen zijnde, werden zij ontvangen van de Gemeente, en de apostelen, en de ouderlingen; en zij verkondigden, wat grote dingen God met hen gedaan had.
Poi, giunti a Gerusalemme, furono accolti dalla chiesa, dagli apostoli e dagli anziani, e riferirono quanto grandi cose Dio avea fatte con loro.
A gdy przyszli do Jeruzalemu, przyjęci byli od zboru i od Apostołów, i starszych, i opowiedzieli, cokolwiek Bóg przez nie czynił.
По прибытии же в Иерусалим они были приняты церковью, Апостолами и пресвитерами, и возвестили все, что Бог сотворил с ними и как отверз дверь веры язычникам.
到了 耶路撒冷， 教會 和 使徒 並 長老 都接待他們，他們就 述說 神 同 他們 所行 的一切事。
And when they came to Jerusalem, they had a meeting with the church and the Apostles and the rulers, and they gave an account of all the things which God had done through them.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Acts 15:4
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators read this verse as the formal, welcoming reception of Paul and Barnabas by the Jerusalem church, followed by their report, a report that credits all missionary success to God. Calvin insists that the phrase “God had done with them” (μετὰ) gives God alone the praise, not making Him a fellow-laborer but the sole agent. The Cambridge Bible notes the same preposition implies the apostles were fellow-workers with God, while also pointing to Acts 15:12, where the same work is described as done “through them” (διὰ). Gill ties the phrase to the earlier report in Acts 14:27, showing a consistent pattern of attributing all to God. The “church” is named first because the whole body gathered to hear the story before the council discussed the circumcision question. All agree: the welcome was public and the report was humble.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The verse clearly depicts a warm reception of the missionaries and their report that credited God with all the fruit of their work.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The meaning of 'God had done with them' | The phrase attributes the success of the Gentile mission to God, not human effort. | Calvin argues that 'God is not made a fellow-laborer' but the sole worker; the Cambridge Bible sees the preposition μετὰ as indicating true partnership, while noting that Acts 15:12 uses διὰ to place God as the ultimate agent. |
| The order of reception (church, apostles, elders) | The welcome was public and included the whole Christian community and its leaders. | Some (e.g., Cambridge) suggest the church is named first because the whole body heard the mission report, while others (e.g., Calvin) see the apostles and elders as having a distinct role in governance. |
| The role of the Jerusalem council | This verse reports the arrival and reception that initiated the council’s discussion. | Traditions vary on the authority of this council: some see it as a model for later church councils, others as a specific, apostolic decision not universally binding in form. |
| Human agency in divine mission | God is the primary actor in evangelism. | Some traditions emphasize human partnership (God works 'with' people), while others stress that God is the sole efficient cause and humans are mere instruments. |
Historical & Cultural Context
This verse marks Paul’s third recorded visit to Jerusalem after his conversion (Clarke). The journey was prompted by a dispute in Antioch: some insisted Gentile believers must be circumcised and keep the Mosaic law to be saved (Acts 15:1). The Antioch church sent Paul, Barnabas, and others to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem to settle the question. On their way, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, reporting Gentile conversions and causing great joy (Acts 15:3).
Arriving in Jerusalem, they were met by the entire assembly, the local church, the apostles, and the elders. As Lange notes, the reception was “solemn and official,” honoring them as ambassadors. The phrase “received of the church” (παρεδέχθησαν) carries a sense of hearty welcome (Vincent). Paul and Barnabas then “declared all things that God had done with them.” This echoes the same language used in their earlier report to the Antioch church (Acts 14:27). The wording underscores a conviction central to Luke’s narrative: the spread of the gospel is God’s work, done through human agents. The surrounding context (Acts 15:5-12) shows that after this public report, the formal consultation began, and eventually James gave the decision. This verse thus stands at the beginning of the Council of Jerusalem, setting the tone of gratitude and divine dependence.
In a world where Jewish and Gentile believers were divided over the law, this public report affirmed that God Himself had received the Gentiles, a reality the Jerusalem church must now recognize and welcome.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for Acts 15:4. All standard editions and translations reflect the same Greek wording. The only minor variation appears in the Arabic version cited by Gill, which adds “and that God had opened to the Gentiles the door of faith,” but this is an addition to the text, not a variant in the manuscript tradition.
Reception History
Acts 15:4 has been used in church history to emphasize the importance of mission accountability. The Council of Jerusalem is seen by many traditions as a paradigm for how local churches relate to wider apostolic authority. In the Reformation, Calvin drew on this verse to argue that all glory in mission belongs to God alone, countering any human boasting. In modern mission movements, this verse is often cited in missionary commissioning services as a pattern for reporting back to the sending church. The phrase “God had done with them” appears in hymns that celebrate divine partnership in spreading the gospel. The verse also appears in discussions about the role of elders in church governance, echoing the threefold structure of church, apostles, and elders as a model for order.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Arrival into community. Paul and Barnabas were received by the whole church, apostles, and elders. Their mission was not isolated but accountable to the wider body.
- Report that glorifies God. They declared “all things that God had done with them.” Every success in ministry was credited to God, not to their skill or effort.
- Preparation for hard conversation. This public welcome and testimony happened before the dispute over circumcision (v.5). Gratitude for what God is doing must precede debate about how the church should live.
Five-point outline
- Jerusalem as the center of authority and fellowship (the church, apostles, elders).
- The nature of the welcome: solemn, hospitable, and official.
- The content of the report: a full account, not a selective summary.
- The grammar of grace: “God had done with them” (μετὰ), partnership without competing glory.
- The context of controversy: the report sets the stage for the council’s decision.
Illustration hooks
- A church missions report. When missionaries come back, do we celebrate their stories of God’s work or only listen to the logistics? This verse models putting God’s action first.
- A team project. A work team finishes a difficult task; the manager credits the effort of the employees. Paul and Barnabas flip it: they credit God for what they were part of.
- A family reunion. After a long trip, the whole family gathers to hear news. The Jerusalem church did the same for Paul and Barnabas, welcoming them before the debate began.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How can we celebrate what God is doing in our midst without making it about human achievement?
- Why does Luke mention the church, apostles, and elders separately? Is there a lesson for church structure today?
- When we face disagreement in the church, how do we keep from forgetting what God is already doing among us?
Leading a Discussion
Acts 15:4 shows how the early church handled both celebration and controversy. Paul and Barnabas were welcomed and reported God’s work. Then the debate began. Use these questions to explore what this verse teaches about mission, partnership, and humility in church life.
Discussion questions
- What does it mean that Paul and Barnabas were “received” by the church, apostles, and elders? (Look at the Greek verb παραδέχομαι.)
- Why do you think Luke names “the church” first, before the apostles and elders? (See Cambridge Bible note.)
- Compare Acts 15:4 with Acts 14:27. What does the repetition of “God had done with them” tell you about Paul and Barnabas’ mindset?
- How does the preposition “with” (μετὰ) differ from “through” (διὰ) in Acts 15:12? What does each emphasize about God’s role versus human role?
- In your own experience, when you share a “success” story from your life or ministry, do you tend to say “I did this” or “God did this with me”? What would shift your language?
- How did the welcome and report prepare the ground for the difficult discussion that followed (verses 5-11)? What can we learn about addressing disagreements in the church today?
- What would it look like for your group to “report all that God has done” together this week?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Matthew 10:40 | “He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me. |
| Acts 14:27 | When they had arrived and had gathered the assembly together, they reported all the things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith to the nations. |
| Acts 15:3 | They, 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. |
| Acts 15:12 | All the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the nations through them. |
| Acts 18:27 | When he had determined to pass over into Achaia, the brothers encouraged him; and wrote to the disciples to receive him. When he had come, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace; |
| Acts 21:17 | When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. |
| Acts 21:19 | When he had greeted them, he reported one by one the things which God had worked among the Gentiles through his ministry. |
| Romans 15:7 | Therefore accept one another, even as Christ also accepted you, to the glory of God. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes that Paul and Barnabas were welcomed by the entire congregation, not just the leaders. He identifies the apostles present as Peter, James, and John, citing Galatians 2:9, and clarifies that this visit was Paul’s third journey to Jerusalem since his conversion.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes highlights that the church received Paul and Barnabas with hospitality and recognition as fellow Christians. Their declaration was a straightforward report of the facts: the remarkable conversion of the Gentiles, clear evidence of genuine faith, and the circumstances that sparked the current dispute.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin points out that the term "the church" here refers to the whole believing community, not just the apostles and elders, who nevertheless had a special role. He stresses that when Paul and Barnabas reported what God had done with them,
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes observe that Paul and Barnabas were received first by the whole church, not only by the apostles and elders. Their report gave God the credit for what had been accomplished through them, not any human effort or skill.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill highlights the warm, respectful reception Paul and Barnabas received from the Jerusalem church, apostles, and elders. He notes that James, Cephas, and John gave them the right hand of fellowship as a token of approval, affection, and agreement. The Arabic version adds that God had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange emphasizes that the Judaizers did not reject Jesus but insisted on the law as necessary for salvation, which undermines Christ's all-sufficiency. He notes a distinction: in Antioch only circumcision was demanded, while in Jerusalem the demand escalated to full observance of the Mosaic law.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry contrasts the near-perfect peace and harmony of the church at Antioch, which he describes as a heaven on earth, with the sudden disturbance caused by teachers from Judea insisting on circumcision. He warns that even in the most joyful and settled church, unexpected controversies can arise, making it foolish to think the mountain stands so strong it cannot be moved.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent notes that the Greek word translated "were received" implies a hearty, genuine welcome. His observation is that the travelers had no guarantee of this kind of reception; they faced the possibility of rejection.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
They were received - That is solemnly welcomed.