Acts 15:31 Meaning and Explanation
“Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →When the letter is read aloud, the church rejoices over its comfort.
What Does Acts 15:31 Mean?
The letter is read to the assembled church, and the response is immediate: they rejoiced for the consolation. The Gentile believers hear that they are counted as brethren, that no impossible yoke will be laid on them, and that salvation stands on the grace of the Lord Jesus.
Luke calls the letter a consolation — a word of comfort that lifts a weight from anxious hearts. That is what true words from God do: they console, steady, and gladden. Burdens men had added, the word of God removed. When the word is rightly heard and understood, the sound that follows is joy — as Israel learned when the Book was read and the people were sent away to feast, 'because they had understood the words' (Nehemiah 8:12).
Acts 15:31 in the Original Language
paraklesis (παράκλησις), 'consolation' -- comfort and encouragement given alongside.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 15:31
What does Acts 15:31 mean?
When the letter is read aloud, the church rejoices over its comfort.