Definition: For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
Explanation: Okay, let's break down this passage from Acts 15:28. It’s a really important verse about how the early church was handling a difficult situation. Here’s what it means in simple terms: The Basic Idea: The Church was feeling overwhelmed and burdened by a challenging task – they needed to decide on a specific action (likely involving giving gifts or leadership). They wanted to make sure it wasn't too much for anyone to handle, and that the burden wouldn’t be too heavy. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost…” – This is a bit poetic, but it means the Holy Spirit (God's power and guidance) was involved in this decision. It suggests there was something divine helping them. "...and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things.” – This is the core of the verse. "Necessary things" refers to the tasks, responsibilities, or challenges they were facing. The phrase “lay upon you” means "burden." It’s saying that they weren't asking for anything extra – just the basic requirements of their work. So, putting it all together: The Church was recognizing that they had a difficult situation ahead of them and wanted to make sure it wasn't too heavy on any single person. They were carefully considering what needed to be done and weren’t wanting to add any new, overwhelming demands. Why is this important? This verse shows early Christians that they valued cooperation and fairness. It emphasizes the importance of working together and avoiding unnecessary burdens. It highlights a sense of trust and responsibility within the community. In short, it's a reminder that when facing challenges, we should strive to make them manageable and avoid adding too much weight to our tasks. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse? Give you a more detailed explanation of a specific aspect (like the context of the time)?