What Does Acts 15:14 Mean in the King James?
Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
God’s attentive reach into the nations gathers people into the nature carried by his name.
THE MEANING
God’s attention reaches among the nations now, gathering people into a shared life shaped by God’s nature. Your belonging is not confined to ancestry or borders; it begins with God’s reaching toward you.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that belonging to God depends on being born inside one inherited people: here, God gathers a people from among the nations.
THE ROOT
ἐπεσκέψατο
epeskepsato
GROWS FROM
σκεπ- (skep-), in ἐπισκέπτομαι
To look toward or attend to; by extension, to visit or care for.
“visit” in this verse is epeskepsato. The Greek verb carries attentive regard, not merely arriving somewhere. In this verse, that attention reaches into the nations and results in a gathered people.
ALSO GROWS
episkopē: Oversight, visitation
ἐπισκοπή
This related word keeps the sense of attentive care in view: the visit is focused regard.
episkopos: Overseer, one who watches over
ἐπίσκοπος
The same word family connects visiting with watchful care, deepening the sense of God’s attention.
ὀνόματι
onomati
GROWS FROM
ὀνοματ-
onomat-
Name, designation, identity.
The phrase is “for his name”: the people are gathered in relation to God’s identity and character. The name is more than a label; it tells what kind of nature this people is gathered around.
ALSO GROWS
onomazō: To name or call
ὀνομάζω
Naming makes an identity explicit, illuminating the people gathered for God’s name.
onomastos: Named, renowned
ὀνομαστός
This branch shows how a name can carry a recognized identity or character.
ἐθνῶν
ethnōn
GROWS FROM
ἐθν-
ethn-
A nation, people, or distinct group.
“Gentiles” in this verse is ethnōn. The Greek says “from among nations” (ἐξ ἐθνῶν, ex ethnōn), then “a people” (λαόν, laon). The sentence moves from the many nations to a gathered people, opening the scope beyond a single inherited boundary.
ALSO GROWS
ethnikos: Of the nations; Gentile
ἐθνικός
This related form keeps the word’s connection to the nations visible.
ethnikōs: In the manner of the nations; in a Gentile manner
ἐθνικῶς
This adverbial form shows the same root describing conduct associated with the nations.
THE PATTERN
God gathers a people from among the nations, extending belonging across inherited boundaries.
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;THE THREAD
As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.Both verses use λαός (laos, “people”): Acts describes God gathering a people from among the nations, and Romans repeats the promise that those once called “not my people” are called “my people.” The shared word makes belonging across former boundaries visible.
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