What Does Acts 15:5 Mean in the King James?

But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

Acts 15:5 · 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.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The demand for an added boundary rises from people the verse already calls believers.

THE MEANING

The verse shows a demand rising inside a community already marked by trust: others are told that circumcision and keeping Moses’ instruction are necessary. You can see how a covenant sign and a body of instruction become a test placed on people whose trust is already acknowledged.

THE ROOT

πεπιστευκότες

pepisteukotes

GROWS FROM

πιστ-

pist-

Trust, rely on, or be persuaded.

“believed” in this verse is pepisteukotes. The perfect participle describes these people as having come to trust. The same word-family holds trust and steadiness together, so the demand rises from within a group already named for its trust.

ALSO GROWS

pistis: Trust, reliance

πίστις

This is the noun behind the familiar idea of faith; here it highlights trust already present before the added requirement is spoken.

pistos: Firm, steady; trustworthy

πιστός

The shared stem connects trusting with steadiness, showing that this word-family describes reliance as more than agreement.

περιτέμνειν

peritemnein

GROWS FROM

τέμν-

temn-

Cut or make an incision; ⁨περί⁩ (peri) adds the sense of around.

“circumcise” in this verse is peritemnein. The demanded act is literally a cut around the body, a visible boundary called necessary for others. The Greek makes the bodily nature of that requirement concrete.

ALSO GROWS

peritomē: Circumcision; a cutting around

περιτομή

The noun names the same bodily sign as the verb, making clear that this requirement is a physical mark.

tomē: A cut, incision

τομή

This related form brings the verb back to its simple image: a cut made in the body.

τηρεῖν

tērein

GROWS FROM

τηρ-

tēr-

Watch over, guard, keep, or observe.

The word for keeping can carry both the sense of guarding something and of observing it. “Keep the instruction” therefore holds preservation and ongoing observance together.

ALSO GROWS

tērēsis: Keeping, observance

τήρησις

This noun shows how the verb can describe the continuing observance of a command.

epitēreō: Watch closely, keep watch

ἐπιτηρέω

This related verb preserves the watchful sense inside “keep,” making the instruction something actively guarded.

THE PATTERN

A covenant marker can become a test of belonging when it is declared necessary for others.

This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.

Genesis 17:10 · KJVCircumcision is given as a covenant marker, the sign later treated as necessary for others in Acts 15.

Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

Acts 15:10 · KJVThe added requirement appears as a yoke placed upon people already being called disciples.

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Galatians 5:6 · KJVThe verse places trust active through love above the presence or absence of the bodily marker.

THE THREAD

But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

Acts 15:11 · KJV

The Greek verb translated “believed” in verse 5 appears again as “believe” here. The same trust-word stands beside deliverance through the Lord’s favor, bringing the added boundary into focus.

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