32 And Judas G2455 and G2532 Silas, G4609 being G5607 prophets G4396 also G2532 themselves, G846 exhorted G3870 the brethren G80 with G1223 many G4183 words, G3056 and G2532 confirmed G1991 them.
Who, G3739 when he came, G3854 and G2532 had seen G1492 the grace G5485 of God, G2316 was glad, G5463 and G2532 exhorted G3870 them all, G3956 that with purpose G4286 of heart G2588 they would cleave unto G4357 the Lord. G2962
Confirming G1991 the souls G5590 of the disciples, G3101 and exhorting them G3870 to continue G1696 in the faith, G4102 and G2532 that G3754 we G2248 must G1163 through G1223 much G4183 tribulation G2347 enter G1525 into G1519 the kingdom G932 of God. G2316
Now G1161 there were G2258 in G2596 the church G1577 that was G5607 at G1722 Antioch G490 certain G5100 prophets G4396 and G2532 teachers; G1320 as G5037 Barnabas, G921 and G2532 Simeon G4826 that was called G2564 Niger, G3526 and G2532 Lucius G3066 of Cyrene, G2956 and G5037 Manaen, G3127 which had been brought up G4939 with Herod G2264 the tetrarch, G5076 and G2532 Saul. G4569
By G1223 Silvanus, G4610 a faithful G4103 brother G80 unto you, G5213 as G5613 I suppose, G3049 I have written G1125 briefly, G1223 G3641 exhorting, G3870 and G2532 testifying G1957 that this G5026 is G1511 the true G227 grace G5485 of God G2316 wherein G1519 G3739 ye stand. G2476
And G2532 he G846 gave G1325 some, G3303 apostles; G652 and G1161 some, prophets; G4396 and G1161 some, evangelists; G2099 and G1161 some, pastors G4166 and G2532 teachers; G1320 For G4314 the perfecting G2677 of the saints, G40 for G1519 the work G2041 of the ministry, G1248 for G1519 the edifying G3619 of the body G4983 of Christ: G5547 Till G3360 we all G3956 come G2658 in G1519 the unity G1775 of the faith, G4102 and G2532 of the knowledge G1922 of the Son G5207 of God, G2316 unto G1519 a perfect G5046 man, G435 unto G1519 the measure G3358 of the stature G2244 of the fulness G4138 of Christ: G5547
As G2509 ye know G1492 how G5613 we exhorted G3870 and G2532 comforted G3888 and charged G3140 every G1538 one G1520 of you, G5209 G5216 as G5613 a father G3962 doth his G1438 children, G5043
And G2532 sent G3992 Timotheus, G5095 our G2257 brother, G80 and G2532 minister G1249 of God, G2316 and G2532 our G2257 fellowlabourer G4904 in G1722 the gospel G2098 of Christ, G5547 to G1519 establish G4741 you, G5209 and G2532 to comfort G3870 you G5209 concerning G4012 your G5216 faith: G4102
Furthermore G3063 then G3767 we beseech G2065 you, G5209 brethren, G80 and G2532 exhort G3870 you by G1722 the Lord G2962 Jesus, G2424 that as G2531 ye have received G3880 of G3844 us G2257 how G4459 ye G5209 ought G1163 to walk G4043 and G2532 to please G700 God, G2316 so G2443 ye would abound G4052 more and more. G3123
Now G1161 them that are such G5108 we command G3853 and G2532 exhort G3870 by G1223 our G2257 Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 that G2443 with G3326 quietness G2271 they work, G2038 and eat G2068 their own G1438 bread. G740
Young men G3501 likewise G5615 exhort G3870 to be sober minded. G4993 In G4012 all things G3956 shewing G3930 thyself G4572 a pattern G5179 of good G2570 works: G2041 in G1722 doctrine G1319 shewing uncorruptness, G90 gravity, G4587 sincerity, G861 Sound G5199 speech, G3056 that cannot be condemned; G176 that G2443 he that is of G1537 the contrary part G1727 may be ashamed, G1788 having G2192 no G3367 evil G5337 thing G3367 to say G3004 of G4012 you. G5216 Exhort servants G1401 to be obedient G5293 unto their own G2398 masters, G1203 and to G1511 please them well G2101 in G1722 all G3956 things; not G3361 answering again; G483 Not G3361 purloining, G3557 but G235 shewing G1731 all G3956 good G18 fidelity; G4102 that G2443 they may adorn G2885 the doctrine G1319 of God G2316 our G2257 Saviour G4990 in G1722 all things. G3956 For G1063 the grace G5485 of God G2316 that bringeth salvation G4992 hath appeared G2014 to all G3956 men, G444 Teaching G3811 us G2248 that, G2443 denying G720 ungodliness G763 and G2532 worldly G2886 lusts, G1939 we should live G2198 soberly, G4996 G2532 righteously, G1346 and G2532 godly, G2153 in G1722 this present G3568 world; G165 Looking for G4327 that blessed G3107 hope, G1680 and G2532 the glorious G1391 appearing G2015 of the great G3173 God G2316 and G2532 our G2257 Saviour G4990 Jesus G2424 Christ; G5547 Who G3739 gave G1325 himself G1438 for G5228 us, G2257 that G2443 he might redeem G3084 us G2248 from G575 all G3956 iniquity, G458 and G2532 purify G2511 unto himself G1438 a peculiar G4041 people, G2992 zealous G2207 of good G2570 works. G2041 These things G5023 speak, G2980 and G2532 exhort, G3870 and G2532 rebuke G1651 with G3326 all G3956 authority. G2003 Let G4065 no man G3367 despise G4065 thee. G4675
The elders G4245 which are among G1722 you G5213 I exhort, G3870 who G3588 am also an elder, G4850 and G2532 a witness G3144 of the sufferings G3804 of Christ, G5547 and also G2532 a partaker G2844 of the glory G1391 that shall G3195 be revealed: G601
But G1161 the God G2316 of all G3956 grace, G5485 who G3588 hath called G2564 us G2248 unto G1519 his G846 eternal G166 glory G1391 by G1722 Christ G5547 Jesus, G2424 after that ye have suffered G3958 a while, G3641 G846 make G2675 you G5209 perfect, G2675 stablish, G4741 strengthen, G4599 settle G2311 you.
And G1161 he went through G1330 Syria G4947 and G2532 Cilicia, G2791 confirming G1991 the churches. G1577
Also I in the first H259 year H8141 of Darius H1867 the Mede, H4075 even I, stood H5977 to confirm H2388 and to strengthen H4581 him.
Wherefore, G1223 G5124 behold, G2400 I G1473 send G649 unto G4314 you G5209 prophets, G4396 and G2532 wise men, G4680 and G2532 scribes: G1122 and G2532 some of G1537 them G846 ye shall kill G615 and G2532 crucify; G4717 and G2532 some of G1537 them G846 shall ye scourge G3146 in G1722 your G5216 synagogues, G4864 and G2532 persecute G1377 them from G575 city G4172 to G1519 city: G4172
Therefore G1223 G5124 also G2532 said G2036 the wisdom G4678 of God, G2316 I will send G649 G1519 them G846 prophets G4396 and G2532 apostles, G652 and G2532 some of G1537 them G846 they shall slay G615 and G2532 persecute: G1559
And G2532 it shall come to pass G2071 in G1722 the last G2078 days, G2250 saith G3004 God, G2316 I will pour out G1632 of G575 my G3450 Spirit G4151 upon G1909 all G3956 flesh: G4561 and G2532 your G5216 sons G5207 and G2532 your G5216 daughters G2364 shall prophesy, G4395 and G2532 your G5216 young men G3495 shall see G3700 visions, G3706 and G2532 your G5216 old men G4245 shall dream G1798 dreams: G1797 And G2532 G1065 on G1909 my G3450 servants G1401 and G2532 on G1909 my G3450 handmaidens G1399 I will pour out G1632 in G1722 those G1565 days G2250 of G575 my G3450 Spirit; G4151 and G2532 they shall prophesy: G4395
And G1161 in G1722 these G5025 days G2250 came G2718 prophets G4396 from G575 Jerusalem G2414 unto G1519 Antioch. G490
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
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
Strengthen H2388 ye the weak H7504 hands, H3027 and confirm H553 the feeble H3782 knees. H1290 Say H559 to them that are of a fearful H4116 heart, H3820 Be strong, H2388 fear H3372 not: behold, your God H430 will come H935 with vengeance, H5359 even God H430 with a recompence; H1576 he will come H935 and save H3467 you.
Having G2192 then G1161 gifts G5486 differing G1313 according G2596 to the grace G5485 that is given G1325 to us, G2254 whether G1535 prophecy, G4394 let us prophesy according G2596 to the proportion G356 of faith; G4102
And G2532 G3739 God G2316 hath set G5087 some G3303 in G1722 the church, G1577 first G4412 apostles, G652 secondarily G1208 prophets, G4396 thirdly G5154 teachers, G1320 after that G1899 miracles, G1411 then G1534 gifts G5486 of healings, G2386 helps, G484 governments, G2941 diversities G1085 of tongues. G1100 Are all G3361 G3956 apostles? G652 are all G3361 G3956 prophets? G4396 are all G3361 G3956 teachers? G1320 are all G3361 G3956 workers of miracles? G1411
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.