Acts 15:9
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
American King James Version (AKJV)
And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
American Standard Version (ASV)
and he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
Making no division between them and us, but making clean their hearts by faith.
Webster's Revision
And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
World English Bible
He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
English Revised Version (ERV)
and he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
Clarke's Acts 15:9 Bible Commentary
Put no difference between us and them - Giving them the Holy Spirit, though uncircumcised, just as he had given it to us who were circumcised: an evident proof that, in the judgment of God, circumcision was no preparation to receive the Gospel of Christ. And as the purification of the heart by the Holy Spirit was the grand object of the religion of God, and that alone by which the soul could be prepared for a blessed immortality, and the Gentiles had received that without circumcision, consequently, the shadow could not be considered of any worth, now the substance was communicated.
Barnes's Acts 15:9 Bible Commentary
And put no difference ... - Though they had not been circumcised, and though they did not conform to the Law of Moses. Thus, God showed that the observance of these rites was not necessary in order to the true conversion of people, and to acceptance with him. He did not give us, who are Jews, any advantage over them, but justified and purified all in the same manner.
Purifying their hearts - Thus, giving the best evidence that he had renewed them, and admitted them to favor with him.
By faith - By believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. This demonstrated that the plan on which God was now about to show favor to people was not by external rites and ceremonies, but by a scheme which required faith as the only condition of acceptance. It is further implied here that there is no true faith which does not purify the heart.
Wesley's Acts 15:9 Bible Commentary
15:9 Purifying - This word is repeated from Acts 10:15 ;their hearts - The heart is the proper seat of purity; by faith - Without concerning themselves with the Mosaic law.