Acts 15:10 Meaning and Explanation
“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?”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Peter warns that demanding the law of the Gentiles tests God, laying on new disciples a yoke that neither the fathers nor the present generation could bear.
What Does Acts 15:10 Mean?
Peter turns from testimony to warning. To require circumcision and the law of Moses from those God has already accepted is to tempt God — to put his verdict on trial. The law, Peter confesses, proved a yoke that neither their fathers nor they themselves were able to bear.
There is humility in his words: he includes himself among those who could not carry the burden. Honest self-knowledge frees him from binding on others what never saved him. Jesus had said, 'Come unto me, all ye that labour... my yoke is easy, and my burden is light' (Matthew 11:28-30). The church must offer the world the yoke of Christ, not a heavier one of its own making.
Acts 15:10 in the Original Language
zygos (ζυγός), 'yoke' -- the crossbar binding an animal to its load.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 15:10
What does Acts 15:10 mean?
Peter warns that demanding the law of the Gentiles tests God, laying on new disciples a yoke that neither the fathers nor the present generation could bear.