29 That ye abstain G567 from meats offered to idols, G1494 and G2532 from blood, G129 and G2532 from things strangled, G4156 and G2532 from fornication: G4202 from G1537 which G3739 if ye keep G1301 yourselves, G1438 ye shall do G4238 well. G2095 Fare ye well. G4517
But G235 that we write G1989 unto them, G846 that they abstain G567 from G575 pollutions G234 of idols, G1497 and G2532 from fornication, G4202 and G2532 from things strangled, G4156 and G2532 from blood. G129
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
Notwithstanding G235 I have G2192 a few things G3641 against G2596 thee, G4675 because G3754 thou sufferest G1439 that woman G1135 Jezebel, G2403 which G3588 calleth G3004 herself G1438 a prophetess, G4398 to teach G1321 and G2532 to seduce G4105 my G1699 servants G1401 to commit fornication, G4203 and G2532 to eat G5315 things sacrificed unto idols. G1494
But G235 I have G2192 a few things G3641 against G2596 thee, G4675 because G3754 thou hast G2192 there G1563 them that hold G2902 the doctrine G1322 of Balaam, G903 who G3739 taught G1722 G1321 Balac G904 to cast G906 a stumblingblock G4625 before G1799 the children G5207 of Israel, G2474 to eat G5315 things sacrificed unto idols, G1494 and G2532 to commit fornication. G4203
And G2532 when I was present G3918 with G4314 you, G5209 and G2532 wanted, G5302 I was G3756 chargeable G2655 to no man: G3762 for G1063 that which was lacking G5303 to me G3450 the brethren G80 which came G2064 from G575 Macedonia G3109 supplied: G4322 and G2532 in G1722 all G3956 things I have kept G5083 myself G1683 from being burdensome G4 unto you, G5213 and G2532 so will I keep G5083 myself.
Behold G991 Israel G2474 after G2596 the flesh: G4561 are G1526 not G3780 they G1526 which eat G2068 of the sacrifices G2378 partakers G2844 of the altar? G2379 What G5101 say I G5346 then? G3767 that G3754 the idol G1497 is G2076 any thing, G5100 or G2228 that G3754 which is offered in sacrifice to idols G1494 is G2076 any thing? G5100 But G235 I say, that G3754 the things which G3739 the Gentiles G1484 sacrifice, G2380 they sacrifice G2380 to devils, G1140 and G2532 not G3756 to God: G2316 and G1161 I would G2309 not G3756 that ye G5209 should have G1096 fellowship G2844 with devils. G1140
Pure G2513 religion G2356 and G2532 undefiled G283 before G3844 God G2316 and G2532 the Father G3962 is G2076 this, G3778 To visit G1980 the fatherless G3737 and G2532 widows G5503 in G1722 their G846 affliction, G2347 and to keep G5083 himself G1438 unspotted G784 from G575 the world. G2889
Now G1161 unto him that is able G1410 to keep G5442 you G5209 G846 from falling, G679 and G2532 to present G2476 you faultless G299 before the presence G2714 of his G846 glory G1391 with G1722 exceeding joy, G20
But G1161 ye, G5210 beloved, G27 building up G2026 yourselves G1438 on your G5216 most holy G40 faith, G4102 praying G4336 in G1722 the Holy G40 Ghost, G4151 Keep G5083 yourselves G1438 in G1722 the love G26 of God, G2316 looking for G4327 the mercy G1656 of our G2257 Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ G5547 unto G1519 eternal G166 life. G2222
Little children, G5040 keep G5442 yourselves G1438 from G575 idols. G1497 Amen. G281
For G1752 meat G1033 destroy G2647 not G3361 the work G2041 of God. G2316 All things G3956 indeed G3303 are pure; G2513 but G235 it is evil G2556 for that man G444 who eateth G2068 with G1223 offence. G4348 It is good G2570 neither G3361 to eat G5315 flesh, G2907 nor G3366 to drink G4095 wine, G3631 nor G3366 any thing whereby G1722 G3739 thy G4675 brother G80 stumbleth, G4350 or G2228 is offended, G4624 or G2228 is made weak. G770
I know, G1492 and G2532 am persuaded G3982 by G1722 the Lord G2962 Jesus, G2424 that G3754 there is nothing G3762 unclean G2839 of G1223 itself: G1438 but G1508 to him that esteemeth G3049 any thing G5100 to be G1511 unclean, G2839 to him G1565 it is unclean. G2839 But G1161 if G1487 thy G4675 brother G80 be grieved G3076 with G1223 thy meat, G1033 now G3765 walkest thou G4043 not G3765 charitably. G26 G2596 Destroy G622 not G3361 him G1565 with thy G4675 meat, G1033 for G5228 whom G3739 Christ G5547 died. G599
But G235 bade G657 them G846 farewell, G657 saying, G2036 I G3165 must G1163 by all means G3843 keep G4160 this feast G1859 that cometh G2064 in G1519 Jerusalem: G2414 but G1161 I will return G344 again G3825 unto G4314 you, G5209 if God G2316 will. G2309 And G2532 he sailed G321 from G575 Ephesus. G2181
And G1161 another G2087 also G2532 said, G2036 Lord, G2962 I will follow G190 thee; G4671 but G1161 let G2010 me G3427 first G4412 go bid them farewell, G657 which are at home at G1519 my G3450 house. G3624
For it is the life H5315 of all flesh; H1320 the blood H1818 of it is for the life H5315 thereof: therefore I said H559 unto the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 Ye shall eat H398 the blood H1818 of no manner of flesh: H1320 for the life H5315 of all flesh H1320 is the blood H1818 thereof: whosoever eateth H398 it shall be cut off. H3772
And G1161 when it was told G3377 me G3427 how that G5259 the Jews G2453 laid wait G1917 G3195 G1510 for G1519 the man, G435 I sent G3992 straightway G1824 to G4314 thee, G4571 and gave commandment G3853 to his accusers G2725 also G2532 to say G3004 before G1909 thee G4675 what they had against G4314 him. G846 Farewell. G4517
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.