What Does Acts 15:2 Mean in the King James?
When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
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
“Disputation” and “question” grow from the same Greek seeking-root, so the conflict is part of the inquiry taking shape.
THE MEANING
The disagreement is real, and the question remains open. It becomes something the community carries together toward a wider hearing. The verse holds conflict and shared discernment in the same moment.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
This undoes the belief that serious disagreement makes shared discernment impossible: even amid sharp dispute, the people reach a shared decision to carry the question forward.
THE ROOT
ζητήσεως
zētēseōs
GROWS FROM
ζητέω (zēteō; ζητ-)
to seek, inquire
“disputation and question” in this verse is zētēseōs. English gives the debate and its question different names, but both descend from ζητέω (zēteō, “to seek, inquire”). Their shared root makes the conflict part of the act of seeking: the question is worked through aloud and carried toward a wider hearing.
ALSO GROWS
zēteō: to seek, inquire
ζητέω
This is the verb beneath both forms, showing that the dispute and the question belong to one act of seeking.
zētēsis: inquiry, debate
ζήτησις
This is the word translated “disputation,” naming the active examination of the issue.
zētēma: question, matter for inquiry
ζήτημα
This is the word translated “question,” naming the issue the group carries forward.
THE PATTERN
A contested claim moves toward clarity through wider hearing and examination.
And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.THE THREAD
And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.“Disputing” in this verse is ζητήσεως (zētēseōs, “inquiry, debate”), from the same seeking-family as “disputation” in Acts 15:2. The shared question continues as more voices enter the conversation.
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