What Does Acts 15:31 Mean in the King James?

Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

Acts 15:31 · KJV

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

Consolation is encouragement that can turn what you hear into joy.

THE MEANING

When words bring you comfort and encouragement, joy can rise in you. The consolation here is more than a soothing feeling: it is a message that steadies you and calls you forward.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

This verse undoes the belief that comfort is only passive sympathy; a word of encouragement can change how you receive what lies before you.

THE ROOT

παρακλήσει

paraklēsei

GROWS FROM

καλέω

kaleō

To call or summon; combined with ⁨παρά⁩ (para, beside or near), it forms a word for comfort, encouragement, or appeal.

English “consolation” can sound like passive soothing, but ⁨παράκλησις⁩ (paraklēsis, comfort or encouragement) belongs to a word family that also expresses comforting and urging. What they read gives them an encouragement they can receive as joy.

ALSO GROWS

parakaleō: To comfort, encourage, urge, or appeal.

παρακαλέω

This verb shows the active force within consolation: words can steady someone and move them forward.

paraklētos: Helper or advocate; one who brings aid.

παράκλητος

This related word shows how the same family of comfort and appeal can describe help that meets a person in need.

THE PATTERN

Words of comfort make hope and joy reachable when people receive them.

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.

Isaiah 40:1 · KJVThe repeated call to comfort meets distress with words that offer reassurance.

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Romans 15:4 · KJVHere, comfort received through scripture opens a path toward hope.

Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

2 Corinthians 1:4 · KJVComfort received becomes comfort that can reach another person in trouble.

THE THREAD

Then had the churches rest throughout all Judæa and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

Acts 9:31 · KJV

“Comfort” here is the same Greek word family as “consolation” in Acts 15:31. One passage shows comfort received in a message; the other shows a community sustained and growing within that comfort.

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