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 15:5KJV
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Acts 15:5 (KJV)

What does Acts 15:5 mean?

Acts 15:5 records a demand made by some believers from a Jewish religious group: people who were not Jews had to be circumcised and told to keep the law of Moses. Their demand concerned the conditions for accepting non-Jewish believers, not whether those people had heard the message.

The speakers belonged to the Pharisees, a Jewish group concerned with following God’s law. After Paul and Barnabas reported how non-Jews had responded to their message, these Pharisees stood up among the gathered believers in Jerusalem. Circumcision was the removal of the foreskin, a practice associated with Jewish belonging.

The Greek behind Acts 15:5

  • “needful” — δεῖ (dei): This word carries the sense of “necessary” or “required.” It shows that the speakers presented circumcision as an obligation, not merely a custom.
  • “keep” — τηρέω (tēreō): This word can mean to observe or follow instructions. Here it describes what the speakers wanted the non-Jewish believers to do with the law of Moses.

Why Acts 15:5 matters

  • The speakers were themselves believers. The phrase “of the sect of the Pharisees which believed” shows that the disagreement also arose among people who accepted the message about Jesus.
  • The demand went beyond circumcision alone. The speakers also wanted the non-Jewish believers commanded “to keep the law of Moses,” making the scope of their proposal much broader.
  • Acts presents the demand as a claim raised for discussion, not the gathering’s final decision. The apostles and elders meet to consider the matter in the next verse, and the letter later sent to non-Jewish believers gives their conclusion in Acts 15:23–29.

Where else these words appear

“up” Greek G1817 · used in 3 verses

  • Mark 12:19 Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man's brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
  • Luke 20:28 Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man's brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

“sect” Greek G139 · used in 9 verses

  • Acts 5:17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him,(which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
  • Acts 24:14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
  • 1 Corinthians 11:19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

“circumcise” Greek G4059 · used in 16 verses

  • Luke 1:59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.
  • Acts 15:24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
  • Galatians 5:2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.

“command” Greek G3853 · used in 30 verses

  • Matthew 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
  • Acts 5:28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
  • 1 Thessalonians 4:11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;