Acts 15:14

Simeon. Gr. Sumeon, a form of the name “Simon” that reflects more closely the Heb. Shim‘on. This form is used for Peter only here and perhaps in 2 Peter 1:1, and was natural for James as a speaker from Galilee.

How God at the first. Rather, “how God did first visit.” That is, what Peter had narrated marked the first acceptance of a Gentile into the church.

Visit. Gr. episkeptomai, “to look upon,” often, as here, having the connotation, with kindness (see Luke 1:68; 7:16; Heb. 2:6).

A people. The Jews believed that they alone were “the people” — God’s people — and that all others were outside the circle of God’s love. But James proclaimed that God was taking to Himself a people from these heathen nations also. Paul recognized this same change (Rom. 9:26). Since “the chosen people” were no longer in Christian eyes to be Jews only, the ceremonial requirements that had marked Jews from Gentiles were now unnecessary.