23 And they wrote G1125 letters by G1223 them G5495 G846 after this manner; G3592 The apostles G652 and G2532 elders G4245 and G2532 brethren G80 send greeting G5463 unto the brethren G80 which G3588 are of G1537 the Gentiles G1484 in G2596 Antioch G490 and G2532 Syria G4947 and G2532 Cilicia: G2791
James, G2385 a servant G1401 of God G2316 and G2532 of the Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 to the twelve G1427 tribes G5443 which G1722 are scattered abroad, G1290 greeting. G5463
Then G5119 pleased it G1380 the apostles G652 and G2532 elders, G4245 with G4862 the whole G3650 church, G1577 to send G3992 chosen G1586 men G435 of G1537 their own company G846 to G1519 Antioch G490 with G4862 Paul G3972 and G2532 Barnabas; G921 namely, Judas G2455 surnamed G1941 Barsabas, G923 and G2532 Silas, G4609 chief G2233 men G435 among G1722 the brethren: G80
But G1161 I trust G1679 I shall G1492 shortly G2112 see G1492 thee, G4571 and G2532 we shall speak G2980 face G4750 to G4314 face. G4750 Peace G1515 be to thee. G4671 Our friends G5384 salute G782 thee. G4571 Greet G782 the friends G5384 by G2596 name. G3686
When G1161 they heard G191 these things, G5023 they held their peace, G2270 and G2532 glorified G1392 God, G2316 saying, G3004 Then G686 hath G1325 God G2316 also G2534 to the Gentiles G1484 granted G1325 repentance G3341 unto G1519 life. G2222
Greet G782 Priscilla G4252 and G2532 Aquila G207 my G3450 helpers G4904 in G1722 Christ G5547 Jesus: G2424 Who G3748 have G5294 for G5228 my G3450 life G5590 laid down G5294 their own G1438 necks: G5137 unto whom G3739 not G3756 only G3441 I G1473 give thanks, G2168 but G235 also G2532 all G3956 the churches G1577 of the Gentiles. G1484 Likewise G2532 greet the church G1577 that is in G2596 their G846 house. G3624 Salute G782 my G3450 wellbeloved G27 Epaenetus, G1866 who G3739 is G2076 the firstfruits G536 of Achaia G882 unto G1519 Christ. G5547 Greet G782 Mary, G3137 who G3748 bestowed G2872 much G4183 labour G2872 on G1519 us. G2248 Salute G782 Andronicus G408 and G2532 Junia, G2458 my G3450 kinsmen, G4773 and G2532 my G3450 fellowprisoners, G4869 who G3748 are G1526 of note G1978 among G1722 the apostles, G652 who G3739 also G2532 were G1096 in G1722 Christ G5547 before G4253 me. G1700 Greet G782 Amplias G291 my G3450 beloved G27 in G1722 the Lord. G2962 Salute G782 Urbane, G3773 our G2257 helper G4904 in G1722 Christ, G5547 and G2532 Stachys G4720 my G3450 beloved. G27 Salute G782 Apelles G559 approved G1384 in G1722 Christ. G5547 Salute G782 them G3588 which are of G1537 Aristobulus' G711 household. Salute G782 Herodion G2267 my G3450 kinsman. G4773 Greet G782 them G3588 that be of G1537 the household of Narcissus, G3488 which G3588 are G5607 in G1722 the Lord. G2962 Salute G782 Tryphena G5170 and G2532 Tryphosa, G5173 who labour G2872 in G1722 the Lord. G2962 Salute G782 the beloved G27 Persis, G4069 which G3748 laboured G2872 much G4183 in G1722 the Lord. G2962 Salute G782 Rufus G4504 chosen G1588 in G1722 the Lord, G2962 and G2532 his G846 mother G3384 and G2532 mine. G1700 Salute G782 Asyncritus, G799 Phlegon, G5393 Hermas, G2057 Patrobas, G3969 Hermes, G2060 and G2532 the brethren G80 which are with G4862 them. G846 Salute G782 Philologus, G5378 and G2532 Julia, G2456 Nereus, G3517 and G2532 his G846 sister, G79 and G2532 Olympas, G3652 and G2532 all G3956 the saints G40 which are with G4862 them. G846 Salute G782 one another G240 with G1722 an holy G40 kiss. G5370 The churches G1577 of Christ G5547 salute G782 you. G5209
As G1161 touching G4012 the Gentiles G1484 which believe, G4100 we G2249 have written G1989 and concluded G2919 that they G846 observe G5083 no G3367 such thing, G5108 save only G1508 that they keep G5442 themselves G846 from G5037 things offered to idols, G1494 and G2532 from blood, G129 and G2532 from strangled, G4156 and G2532 from fornication. G4202
Now G1161 when we had discovered G398 Cyprus, G2954 G2532 we left G2641 it G846 on the left hand, G2176 and sailed G4126 into G1519 Syria, G4947 and G2532 landed G2609 at G1519 Tyre: G5184 for G1063 there G1566 the ship G4143 was G2258 to unlade G670 her burden. G1117
And G1161 Paul G3972 after this tarried G4357 there yet G2089 a good G2425 while, G2250 and then took his leave G657 of the brethren, G80 and sailed thence G1602 into G1519 Syria, G4947 and G2532 with G4862 him G846 Priscilla G4252 and G2532 Aquila; G207 having shorn G2751 his head G2776 in G1722 Cenchrea: G2747 for G1063 he had G2192 a vow. G2171
And G2532 certain men G5100 which came down G2718 from G575 Judaea G2449 taught G1321 the brethren, G80 and said, G3754 Except G3362 ye be circumcised G4059 after the manner G1485 of Moses, G3475 ye cannot G3756 G1410 be saved. G4982
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.