13 And G1161 after G3326 they had held G4601 their G846 peace, G4601 James G2385 answered, G611 saying, G3004 Men G435 and brethren, G80 hearken G191 unto me: G3450
But G1161 he, beckoning G2678 unto them G846 with the hand G5495 to hold their peace, G4601 declared G1334 unto them G846 how G4459 the Lord G2962 had brought G1806 him G846 out of G1537 the prison. G5438 And G1161 he said, G2036 Go shew G518 these things G5023 unto James, G2385 and G2532 to the brethren. G80 And G2532 he departed, G1831 and went G4198 into G1519 another G2087 place. G5117
There G1161 were G2258 also G2532 women G1135 looking G2334 on afar G3113 off: G575 among G2532 G1722 whom G3739 was G2258 Mary G3137 Magdalene, G3094 and G2532 Mary G3137 the mother G3384 of James G2385 the less G3398 and G2532 of Joses, G2500 and G2532 Salome; G4539
But G1161 Peter, G4074 standing up G2476 with G4862 the eleven, G1733 lifted up G1869 his G846 voice, G5456 and G2532 said G669 unto them, G846 Ye men G435 of Judaea, G2453 and G2532 all G537 ye that dwell G2730 at Jerusalem, G2419 be G2077 this G5124 known G1110 unto you, G5213 and G2532 hearken G1801 to my G3450 words: G4487
Ye men G435 of Israel, G2475 hear G191 these G5128 words; G3056 Jesus G2424 of Nazareth, G3480 a man G435 approved G584 of G575 God G2316 among G1519 you G5209 by miracles G1411 and G2532 wonders G5059 and G2532 signs, G4592 which G3739 God G2316 did G4160 by G1223 him G846 in G1722 the midst G3319 of you, G5216 as G2531 ye yourselves G846 also G2532 know: G1492
Men G435 and brethren, G80 let G2036 me G1832 freely G3326 G3954 speak G2036 unto G4314 you G5209 of G4012 the patriarch G3966 David, G1138 that G3754 he is G5053 both G2532 dead G5053 and G2532 buried, G2290 and G2532 his G846 sepulchre G3418 is G2076 with G1722 us G2254 unto G891 this G5026 day. G2250
And G1161 the day following G1966 Paul G3972 went in G1524 with G4862 us G2254 unto G4314 James; G2385 and G5037 all G3956 the elders G4245 were present. G3854
Men, G435 brethren, G80 and G2532 fathers, G3962 hear ye G191 my G3450 defence G627 which I make now G3568 unto G4314 you. G5209
If G1161 G1437 any thing be revealed G601 to another G243 that sitteth by, G2521 let G4601 the first G4413 hold his peace. G4601 For G1063 ye may G1410 all G3956 prophesy G4395 one by one, G2596 G1520 that G2443 all G3956 may learn, G3129 and G2532 all G3956 may be comforted. G3870 And G2532 the spirits G4151 of the prophets G4396 are subject G5293 to the prophets. G4396 For G1063 God G2316 is G2076 not G3756 the author of confusion, G181 but G235 of peace, G1515 as G5613 in G1722 all G3956 churches G1577 of the saints. G40
But G1161 other G2087 of the apostles G652 saw I G1492 none, G3756 save G1508 James G2385 the Lord's G2962 brother. G80
And G2532 when James, G2385 G2532 Cephas, G2786 and G2532 John, G2491 who G3588 seemed G1380 to be G1511 pillars, G4769 perceived G1097 the grace G5485 that was given G1325 unto me, G3427 they gave G1325 to me G1698 and G2532 Barnabas G921 the right hands G1188 of fellowship; G2842 that G2443 we G2249 should go unto G1519 the heathen, G1484 and G1161 they G846 unto G1519 the circumcision. G4061
For G1063 before G4253 that certain G5100 came G2064 from G575 James, G2385 he did eat G4906 with G3326 the Gentiles: G1484 but G1161 when G3753 they were come, G2064 he withdrew G5288 and G2532 separated G873 himself, G1438 fearing G5399 them which were of G1537 the circumcision. G4061
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Acts 15
Commentary on Acts 15 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 15
Hitherto we have, with a great deal of pleasure, attended the apostles in their glorious travels for the propagating of the gospel in foreign parts, have seen the bounds of the church enlarged by the accession both of Jews and Gentiles to it; and thanks be to that God who always caused them to triumph. We left them, in the close of the foregoing chapter, reposing themselves at Antioch, and edifying the church there with the rehearsal of their experiences, and it is a pity they should ever be otherwise employed; but in this chapter we find other work (not so pleasant) cut out for them. The Christians and ministers are engaged in controversy, and those that should have been now busied in enlarging the dominions of the church have as much as they can do to compose the divisions of it; when they should have been making war upon the devil's kingdom they have much ado to keep the peace in Christ's kingdom. Yet this occurrence and the record of it are of great use to the church, both for warning to us to expect such unhappy discords among Christians, and direction to us what method to take for accommodating them. Here is,
Act 15:1-5
Even when things go on very smoothly and pleasantly in a state or in a church, it is folly to be secure, and to think the mountain stands strong and cannot be moved; some uneasiness or other will arise, which is not foreseen, cannot be prevented, but must be prepared for. If ever there was a heaven upon earth, surely it was in the church at Antioch at this time, when there were so many excellent ministers there, and blessed Paul among them, building up that church in her most holy faith. But here we have their peace disturbed, and differences arising. Here is,
Act 15:6-21
We have here a council called, not by writ, but by consent, on this occasion (v. 6): The apostles and presbyters came together, to consider this matter. They did not give their judgment separately, but came together to do it, that they might hear one another's sense in this matter; for in the multitude of counsellors there is safety and satisfaction. They did not give their judgment rashly, but considered of this matter. Though they were clear concerning it in their own minds, yet they would take time to consider of it, and to hear what might be said by the adverse party. Nor did the apostles give their judgment concerning it without the elders, the inferior ministers, to whom they thus condescended, and on whom they thus put an honour. Those that are most eminent in gifts and graces, and are in the most exalted stations in the church, ought to show respect to their juniors and inferiors; for, though days should speak, yet there is a spirit in man, Job 32:7, 8. Here is a direction to the pastors of the churches, when difficulties arise, to come together in solemn meetings for mutual advice and encouragement, that they may know one another's mind, and strengthen one another's hands, and may act in concert. Now here we have,
Act 15:22-35
We have here the result of the consultation that was held at Jerusalem about the imposing of the ceremonial law upon the Gentiles. Much more, it is likely, was said about it than is here recorded; but at length it was brought to a head, and the advice which James gave was universally approved and agreed to nemine contradicente-unanimously; and letters were accordingly sent by messengers of their own to the Gentile converts, acquainting them with their sentiments in this matter, which would be a great confirmation to them against the false teachers. Now observe here,
Act 15:36-41
We have seen one unhappy difference among the brethren, which was of a public nature, brought to a good issue; but here we have a private quarrel between two ministers, no less men than Paul and Barnabas, not compromised indeed, yet ending well.