The Meaning of Acts 16:4 Explained

Acts 16:4

KJV: And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.

YLT: And as they were going on through the cities, they were delivering to them the decrees to keep, that have been judged by the apostles and the elders who are in Jerusalem,

Darby: And as they passed through the cities they instructed them to observe the decrees determined on by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem.

ASV: And as they went on their way through the cities, they delivered them the decrees to keep which had been ordained of the apostles and elders that were at Jerusalem.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  as  they went through  the cities,  they delivered  them  the decrees  for to keep,  that were ordained  of  the apostles  and  elders  which  were at  Jerusalem. 

What does Acts 16:4 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Part of Paul"s ministry included acquainting the churches in Galatia with the directives formulated at the Jerusalem Council.

Context Summary

Acts 16:1-13 - Guided To New Fields
Paul had a wonderful influence over young men. Timothy, Titus, and Mark bore his impress. When circumcision was insisted upon, as in the previous chapter, no one opposed it more stoutly than Paul; when it conciliated Jewish prejudice, he was quite willing to concede it, since in itself it was a matter of perfect indifference. As the stoning of Stephen was the first step toward winning Paul, so his own stoning at Lystra on the former occasion, as we have noted, probably gave him Timothy.
Our path through life will often be indicated by the fact that the doors which lead off the straight track are barred and bolted, so that we have no option save to go on. Paul was blocked first on the left, that he should not go into the province of Asia; then on the right, that he should not go into Bithynia. Finally he reached Troas, and stood face to face with the ocean that lay between him and Europe.
Here he had a vision which made a deep impression upon him. He saw a man of Macedonia standing in an attitude of entreaty and saying, Come over into Macedonia and help us. Note that word, concluding, Acts 16:10. God often leaves us to infer our course. He does not ignore His own great gift of reason. [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 16

1  Paul and Silas are Joined by Timothy,
7  and being called by the Spirit from one country to another,
14  convert Lydia,
16  and cast out a spirit of divination;
19  for which cause they are whipped and imprisoned
25  The prison doors are opened
31  The jailor is converted,
35  and they are delivered

Greek Commentary for Acts 16:4

They delivered them [παρεδιδοσαν αυτοις]
Imperfect active, kept on delivering to them in city after city. This is a proof of Paul‘s loyalty to the Jerusalem compact (Knowling). The circumcision of Timothy would indicate also that the points involved were under discussion and that Paul felt no inconsistency in what he did. [source]
The decrees [τα δογματα]
Old word from δοκεω — dokeō to give an opinion. It is used of public decrees of rulers (Luke 2:1; Acts 17:7), of the requirements of the Mosaic law (Colossians 2:14), and here of the regulations or conclusions of the Jerusalem Conference. Silas was with Paul and his presence gave added dignity to the passing out of the decrees, a charter of Gentile freedom, since he was one of the committee from Jerusalem to Antioch (Acts 15:22, Acts 15:27, Acts 15:32). Which had been ordained (τα κεκριμενα — ta kekrimena). Perfect passive articular participle of κρινω — krinō to judge, emphasizing the permanence of the conclusions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. For to keep This present active infinitive likewise accents that it is a charter of liberty for continual living, not a temporary compromise. [source]
Which had been ordained [τα κεκριμενα]
Perfect passive articular participle of κρινω — krinō to judge, emphasizing the permanence of the conclusions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. [source]
For to keep [πυλασσειν]
This present active infinitive likewise accents that it is a charter of liberty for continual living, not a temporary compromise. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 16:4

Acts 15:29 It shall be well with you [πλην τουτων των επαναγκες]
Ye shall fare well. A classical idiom used here effectively. The peace and concord in the fellowship of Jews and Gentiles will justify any slight concession on the part of the Gentiles. This letter is not laid down as a law, but it is the judgment of the Jerusalem Christians for the guidance of the Gentiles (Acts 16:4) and it had a fine effect at once (Acts 15:30-35). Trouble did come later from the Judaizers who were really hostile to the agreement in Jerusalem, but that opposition in no way discredits the worth of the work of this Conference. No sane agreement will silence perpetual and professional disturbers like these Judaizers who will seek to unsettle Paul‘s work in Antioch, in Corinth, in Galatia, in Jerusalem, in Rome. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 16:4 mean?

While then they were passing through the cities they were delivering to them to keep the decrees - decided on by the apostles and elders who [were] in Jerusalem
Ὡς δὲ διεπορεύοντο τὰς πόλεις παρεδίδοσαν αὐτοῖς φυλάσσειν τὰ δόγματα τὰ κεκριμένα ὑπὸ τῶν ἀποστόλων καὶ πρεσβυτέρων τῶν ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις

Ὡς  While 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ὡς 
Sense: as, like, even as, etc.
διεπορεύοντο  they  were  passing  through 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Plural
Root: διαπορεύομαι  
Sense: to cause to pass through a place.
πόλεις  cities 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: πόλις  
Sense: a city.
παρεδίδοσαν  they  were  delivering 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: παραδίδωμι  
Sense: to give into the hands (of another).
αὐτοῖς  to  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
φυλάσσειν  to  keep 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: φυλάσσω  
Sense: to guard.
δόγματα  decrees 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: δόγμα  
Sense: doctrine, decree, ordinance.
τὰ  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
κεκριμένα  decided  on 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Participle Middle or Passive, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: κρίνω  
Sense: to separate, put asunder, to pick out, select, choose.
ἀποστόλων  apostles 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: ἀπόστολος  
Sense: a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders.
πρεσβυτέρων  elders 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: πρεσβύτερος  
Sense: elder, of age,.
τῶν  who  [were] 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἱεροσολύμοις  Jerusalem 
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Plural
Root: Ἱεροσόλυμα  
Sense: denotes either the city itself or the inhabitants.

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