3 And G3303 G3767 being brought on their way G4311 by G5259 the church, G1577 they passed through G1330 Phenice G5403 and G2532 Samaria, G4540 declaring G1555 the conversion G1995 of the Gentiles: G1484 and G2532 they caused G4160 great G3173 joy G5479 unto all G3956 the brethren. G80
And G1161 when they were come, G3854 and G2532 had gathered G4863 the church G1577 together, G4863 they rehearsed G312 all G3745 that God G2316 had done G4160 with G3326 them, G846 and G2532 how G3754 he had opened G455 the door G2374 of faith G4102 unto the Gentiles. G1484
Bring G4311 Zenas G2211 the lawyer G3544 and G2532 Apollos G625 on their journey G4311 diligently, G4709 that G2443 nothing G3367 be wanting G3007 unto them. G846
And G1161 it may be G5177 that I will abide, G3887 yea, G2228 and G2532 winter G3914 with G4314 you, G5209 that G2443 ye G5210 may bring G4311 me G3165 on my journey G4311 whithersoever G3757 G1437 I go. G4198
Whensoever G5613 G1437 I take my journey G4198 into G1519 Spain, G4681 I will come G2064 to G4314 you: G5209 for G1063 I trust G1679 to see G2300 you G5209 in my journey, G1279 and G2532 to be brought on my way G4311 thitherward G1563 by G5259 you, G5216 if G1437 first G4412 I be G1705 somewhat G3313 filled G1705 with G575 your G5216 company.
And G1161 when G3753 we G2248 had G1096 accomplished G1822 those days, G2250 we departed G1831 and went our way; G4198 and they all G3956 brought G4311 us G2248 on our way, G4311 with G4862 wives G1135 and G2532 children, G5043 till G2193 we were out of G1854 the city: G4172 and G2532 we kneeled down G5087 G1119 on G1909 the shore, G123 and prayed. G4336
Then G1161 all G3956 the multitude G4128 kept silence, G4601 and G2532 gave audience G191 to Barnabas G921 and G2532 Paul, G3972 declaring G1834 what G3745 miracles G4592 and G2532 wonders G5059 God G2316 had wrought G4160 among G1722 the Gentiles G1484 by G1223 them. G846
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 Now G3767 G3303 they which were scattered abroad G1289 upon G575 the persecution G2347 that arose G1096 about G1909 Stephen G4736 travelled G1330 as far as G2193 Phenice, G5403 and G2532 Cyprus, G2954 and G2532 Antioch, G490 preaching G2980 the word G3056 to none G3367 but G1508 unto the Jews G2453 only. G3440
Which G3739 have borne witness G3140 of thy G4675 charity G26 before G1799 the church: G1577 whom G3739 if thou bring forward on their journey G4311 after G516 a godly G2316 sort, G516 thou shalt do G4160 well: G2573 Because that G1063 for G5228 his G846 name's G3686 sake G5228 they went forth, G1831 taking G2983 nothing G3367 of G575 the Gentiles. G1484 We G2249 therefore G3767 ought G3784 to receive G618 such, G5108 that G2443 we might be G1096 fellowhelpers G4904 to the truth. G225
Lift up H5375 thine eyes H5869 round about, H5439 and see: H7200 all they gather themselves together, H6908 they come H935 to thee: thy sons H1121 shall come H935 from far, H7350 and thy daughters H1323 shall be nursed H539 at thy side. H6654 Then thou shalt see, H7200 H3372 and flow together, H5102 and thine heart H3824 shall fear, H6342 and be enlarged; H7337 because the abundance H1995 of the sea H3220 shall be converted H2015 unto thee, the forces H2428 of the Gentiles H1471 shall come H935 unto thee.
And from thence, G2547 when the brethren G80 heard G191 of G4012 us, G2257 they came G1831 to meet G529 G1519 us G2254 as far as G891 Appii G675 forum, G5410 and G2532 The three G5140 taverns: G4999 whom G3739 when Paul G3972 saw, G1492 he thanked G2168 God, G2316 and took G2983 courage. G2294
And G2532 when he had saluted G782 them, G846 he declared G1834 particularly G2596 G1520 G1538 what things G3739 God G2316 had wrought G4160 among G1722 the Gentiles G1484 by G1223 his G846 ministry. G1248 And G1161 when they heard G191 it, they glorified G1392 the Lord, G2962 and G5037 said G2036 unto him, G846 Thou seest, G2334 brother, G80 how many G4214 thousands G3461 of Jews G2453 there are G1526 which G3588 believe; G4100 and G2532 they are G5225 all G3956 zealous G2207 of the law: G3551
Now G1161 when the apostles G652 which G3588 were at G1722 Jerusalem G2414 heard G191 that G3754 Samaria G4540 had received G1209 the word G3056 of God, G2316 they sent G649 unto G4314 them G846 Peter G4074 and G2532 John: G2491
It was G1161 meet G1163 that we should make merry, G2165 and G2532 be glad: G5463 for G3754 this G3778 thy G4675 brother G80 was G2258 dead, G3498 and G2532 is alive again; G326 and G2532 was G2258 lost, G622 and G2532 is found. G2147
And G2532 bring hither G5342 the fatted G4618 calf, G3448 and kill G2380 it; and G2532 let us eat, G5315 and be merry: G2165 For G3754 this G3778 my G3450 son G5207 was G2258 dead, G3498 and G2532 is alive again; G326 G2532 he was G2258 lost, G622 and G2532 is found. G2147 And G2532 they began G756 to be merry. G2165
And G2532 when he hath found G2147 it, he layeth G2007 it on G1909 his G1438 shoulders, G5606 rejoicing. G5463 And G2532 when he cometh G2064 G1519 home, G3624 he calleth together G4779 his friends G5384 and G2532 neighbours, G1069 saying G3004 unto them, G846 Rejoice G4796 with me; G3427 for G3754 I have found G2147 my G3450 sheep G4263 which G3588 was lost. G622 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 that G3754 likewise G3779 joy G5479 shall be G2071 in G1722 heaven G3772 over G1909 one G1520 sinner G268 that repenteth, G3340 more than G2228 over G1909 ninety and nine G1768 just persons, G1342 which G3748 need G2192 G5532 no G3756 repentance. G3341 Either G2228 what G5101 woman G1135 having G2192 ten G1176 pieces of silver, G1406 if G1437 she lose G622 one G3391 piece, G1406 doth not G3780 light G681 a candle, G3088 and G2532 sweep G4563 the house, G3614 and G2532 seek G2212 diligently G1960 till G2193 G3755 she find G2147 it? And G2532 when she hath found G2147 it, she calleth G4779 her friends G5384 and G2532 her neighbours G1069 together, G4779 saying, G3004 Rejoice G4796 with me; G3427 for G3754 I have found G2147 the piece G1406 which G3739 I had lost. G622 Likewise, G3779 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 there is G1096 joy G5479 in the presence G1799 of the angels G32 of God G2316 over G1909 one G1520 sinner G268 that repenteth. G3340
For thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 Behold, I will extend H5186 peace H7965 to her like a river, H5104 and the glory H3519 of the Gentiles H1471 like a flowing H7857 stream: H5158 then shall ye suck, H3243 ye shall be borne H5375 upon her sides, H6654 and be dandled H8173 upon her knees. H1290 As one H376 whom his mother H517 comforteth, H5162 so will I comfort H5162 you; and ye shall be comforted H5162 in Jerusalem. H3389 And when ye see H7200 this, your heart H3820 shall rejoice, H7797 and your bones H6106 shall flourish H6524 like an herb: H1877 and the hand H3027 of the LORD H3068 shall be known H3045 toward his servants, H5650 and his indignation H2194 toward his enemies. H341
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.