36 And G1161 some G5100 days G2250 after G3326 Paul G3972 said G2036 unto G4314 Barnabas, G921 G1211 Let us go again G1994 and visit G1980 our G2257 brethren G80 in G2596 every G3956 city G4172 where G1722 G3739 we have preached G2605 the word G3056 of the Lord, G2962 and see how G4459 they do. G2192
They were ware G4894 of it, and fled G2703 unto G1519 Lystra G3082 and G2532 Derbe, G1191 cities G4172 of Lycaonia, G3071 and G2532 unto the region that lieth round about: G4066
But G1161 they shook off G1621 the dust G2868 of their G846 feet G4228 against G1909 them, G846 and came G2064 unto G1519 Iconium. G2430
Now G1161 when Paul G3972 and his company G4012 loosed G321 from G575 Paphos, G3974 they came G2064 to G1519 Perga G4011 in Pamphylia: G3828 and G1161 John G2491 departing G672 from G575 them G846 returned G5290 to G1519 Jerusalem. G2414 But G1161 when they G846 departed G1330 from G575 Perga, G4011 they came G3854 to G1519 Antioch G490 in Pisidia, G4099 and G2532 went G1525 into G1519 the synagogue G4864 on the sabbath G4521 day, G2250 and sat down. G2523
So G3303 G3767 they, G3778 being sent forth G1599 by G5259 the Holy G40 Ghost, G4151 departed G2718 unto G1519 Seleucia; G4581 and from G1564 thence G5037 they sailed G636 to G1519 Cyprus. G2954
And G2532 after they had passed throughout G1330 Pisidia, G4099 they came G2064 to G1519 Pamphylia. G3828 And G2532 when they had preached G2980 the word G3056 in G1722 Perga, G4011 they went down G2597 into G1519 Attalia: G825
And G1161 it came to pass G1096 in G1722 Iconium, G2430 that they G846 went G1525 both G2596 together G846 into G1519 the synagogue G4864 of the Jews, G2453 and G2532 so G3779 spake, G2980 that G5620 a great G4183 multitude G4128 both G5037 of the Jews G2453 and also G2532 of the Greeks G1672 believed. G4100
But G1161 we, G2249 brethren, G80 being taken G642 from G575 you G5216 for G4314 a short G5610 time G2540 in presence, G4383 not G3756 in heart, G2588 endeavoured G4704 the more abundantly G4056 to see G1492 your G5216 face G4383 with G1722 great G4183 desire. G1939 Wherefore G1352 we would G2309 have come G2064 unto G4314 you, G5209 even G3303 I G1473 Paul, G3972 once G2532 G530 and G2532 again; G1364 but G2532 Satan G4567 hindered G1465 us. G2248
Greatly desiring G1971 to see G1492 thee, G4571 being mindful G3415 of thy G4675 tears, G1144 that G2443 I may be filled G4137 with joy; G5479
Night G3571 and G2532 day G2250 praying G1189 exceedingly G1537 G4053 G5228 that G1519 we might see G1492 your G5216 face, G4383 and G2532 might perfect G2675 that which is lacking G5303 in your G5216 faith? G4102 Now G1161 God G2316 himself G846 and G2532 our G2257 Father, G3962 and G2532 our G2257 Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 direct G2720 our G2257 way G3598 unto G4314 you. G5209
But G1161 now G737 when Timotheus G5095 came G2064 from G575 you G5216 unto G4314 us, G2248 and G2532 brought G2097 us G2254 good tidings G2097 of your G5216 faith G4102 and G2532 charity, G26 and G2532 that G3754 ye have G2192 good G18 remembrance G3417 of us G2257 always, G3842 desiring greatly G1971 to see G1492 us, G2248 as G2509 we G2249 also G2532 to see you: G5209
And Moses H4872 went H3212 and returned H7725 to Jethro H3500 his father in law, H2859 and said H559 unto him, Let me go, H3212 I pray thee, and return H7725 unto my brethren H251 which are in Egypt, H4714 and see H7200 whether they be yet H5750 alive. H2416 And Jethro H3503 said H559 to Moses, H4872 Go H3212 in peace. H7965
Only G3440 let your conversation be G4176 as it becometh G516 the gospel G2098 of Christ: G5547 that G2443 whether G1535 I come G2064 and G2532 see G1492 you, G5209 or G1535 else be absent, G548 I may hear G191 of your G5216 affairs, G4012 that G3754 ye stand fast G4739 in G1722 one G1520 spirit, G4151 with one G3391 mind G5590 striving together G4866 for the faith G4102 of the gospel; G2098
Beside G5565 those things that are without, G3924 that which G3588 cometh upon G1999 me G3450 daily, G2250 G2596 the care G3308 of all G3956 the churches. G1577
And G1161 when G5613 he G846 was full G4137 forty years G5063 old, G5550 it came G305 into G1909 his G846 heart G2588 to visit G1980 his G846 brethren G80 the children G5207 of Israel. G2474
Therefore thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 against the pastors H7462 that feed H7462 my people; H5971 Ye have scattered H6327 my flock, H6629 and driven them away, H5080 and have not visited H6485 them: behold, I will visit H6485 upon you the evil H7455 of your doings, H4611 saith H5002 the LORD. H3068
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.