9 And G2532 put G1252 no G3762 difference G1252 between G3342 G5037 us G2257 and G2532 them, G846 purifying G2511 their G846 hearts G2588 by faith. G4102
And G5037 he said G5346 unto G4314 them, G846 Ye G5210 know G1987 how G5613 that it is G2076 an unlawful thing G111 for a man G435 that is a Jew G2453 to keep company, G2853 or G2228 come unto G4334 one of another nation; G246 but G2532 God G2316 hath shewed G1166 me G1698 that I should not G3367 call G3004 any G3367 man G444 common G2839 or G2228 unclean. G169
Even G1161 the righteousness G1343 of God G2316 which is by G1223 faith G4102 of Jesus G2424 Christ G5547 unto G1519 all G3956 and G2532 upon G1909 all G3956 them that believe: G4100 for G1063 there is G2076 no G3756 difference: G1293
There is G1762 neither G3756 Jew G2453 nor G3761 Greek, G1672 there is G1762 neither G3756 bond G1401 nor G3761 free, G1658 there is G1762 neither G3756 male G730 nor G2532 female: G2338 for G1063 ye G5210 are G2075 all G3956 one G1520 in G1722 Christ G5547 Jesus. G2424
For G1063 if G1487 the blood G129 of bulls G5022 and G2532 of goats, G5131 and G2532 the ashes G4700 of an heifer G1151 sprinkling G4472 the unclean, G2840 sanctifieth G37 to G4314 the purifying G2514 of the flesh: G4561 How much G4214 more G3123 shall G2511 the blood G129 of Christ, G5547 who G3739 through G1223 the eternal G166 Spirit G4151 offered G4374 himself G1438 without spot G299 to God, G2316 purge G2511 your G5216 conscience G4893 from G575 dead G3498 works G2041 to G1519 serve G3000 the living G2198 God? G2316
For G1063 he G846 is G2076 our G2257 peace, G1515 who G3588 hath made G4160 both G297 one, G1520 and G2532 hath broken down G3089 the middle wall G3320 of partition G5418 between us; Having abolished G2673 in G1722 his G846 flesh G4561 the enmity, G2189 even the law G3551 of commandments G1785 contained in G1722 ordinances; G1378 for to G2443 make G2936 in G1722 himself G1438 of twain G1417 one G1519 G1520 new G2537 man, G444 so making G4160 peace; G1515 And G2532 that he might reconcile G604 both G297 unto God G2316 in G1722 one G1520 body G4983 by G1223 the cross, G4716 having slain G615 the enmity G2189 thereby: G1722 G846 And G2532 came G2064 and preached G2097 peace G1515 to you G5213 which G3588 were afar off, G3112 and G2532 to them that were nigh. G1451 For G3754 through G1223 him G846 we G2192 both G297 have G2192 access G4318 by G1722 one G1520 Spirit G4151 unto G4314 the Father. G3962 Now G3767 therefore G686 ye are G2075 no more G3765 strangers G3581 and G2532 foreigners, G3941 but G235 fellowcitizens G4847 with the saints, G40 and G2532 of the household G3609 of God; G2316 And are built G2026 upon G1909 the foundation G2310 of the apostles G652 and G2532 prophets, G4396 Jesus G2424 Christ G5547 himself G846 being G5607 the chief corner G204 stone; In G1722 whom G3739 all G3956 the building G3619 fitly framed together G4883 groweth G837 unto G1519 an holy G40 temple G3485 in G1722 the Lord: G2962 In G1722 whom G3739 ye G5210 also G2532 are builded together G4925 for G1519 an habitation G2732 of God G2316 through G1722 the Spirit. G4151
Is G2564 any man G5100 called G2564 being circumcised? G4059 let him G1986 not G3361 become uncircumcised. G1986 Is G2564 any G5100 called G2564 in G1722 uncircumcision? G203 let him G4059 not G3361 be circumcised. G4059
Unto the church G1577 of God G2316 which G3588 is G5607 at G1722 Corinth, G2882 to them that are sanctified G37 in G1722 Christ G5547 Jesus, G2424 called G2822 to be saints, G40 with G4862 all G3956 that in G1722 every G3956 place G5117 call upon G1941 the name G3686 of Jesus G2424 Christ G5547 our G2257 Lord, G2962 both G5037 theirs G846 and G2532 ours: G2257
For G1063 the scripture G1124 saith, G3004 Whosoever G3956 believeth G4100 on G1909 him G846 shall G2617 not G3756 be ashamed. G2617 For G1063 there is G2076 no G3756 difference G1293 between G5037 the Jew G2453 and G2532 the Greek: G1672 for G1063 the same G846 Lord G2962 over all G3956 is rich G4147 unto G1519 all G3956 that call upon G1941 him. G846 For G3956 G1063 whosoever G3739 G302 shall call upon G1941 the name G3686 of the Lord G2962 shall be saved. G4982
G3739 Even G2532 us, G2248 whom G3739 he hath called, G2564 not G3756 of G1537 the Jews G2453 only, G3440 but G235 also G2532 of G1537 the Gentiles? G1484
And G2532 he received G2983 the sign G4592 of circumcision, G4061 a seal G4973 of the righteousness G1343 of the faith G4102 which G3588 he had yet being G1722 uncircumcised: G203 that G1519 he G846 might be G1511 the father G3962 of all G3956 them that believe, G4100 though G1223 they be not circumcised; G203 that G1519 righteousness G1343 might be imputed G3049 unto them G846 also: G2532 And G2532 the father G3962 of circumcision G4061 to them who are not G3756 of G1537 the circumcision G4061 only, G3440 but G235 who also G2532 walk G4748 in the steps G2487 of that faith G4102 of our G2257 father G3962 Abraham, G11 which he had being G1722 yet uncircumcised. G203
Is he G2228 the God G2316 of the Jews G2453 only? G3440 is he not G3780 also G1161 G2532 of the Gentiles? G1484 Yes, G3483 of the Gentiles G1484 also: G2532 Seeing G1897 it is one G1520 God, G2316 which G3739 shall justify G1344 the circumcision G4061 by G1537 faith, G4102 and G2532 uncircumcision G203 through G1223 faith. G4102
What G5101 then? G3767 are we better G4284 than they? No, G3756 in no wise: G3843 for G1063 we have before proved G4256 both G5037 Jews G2453 and G2532 Gentiles, G1672 that they are G1511 all G3956 under G5259 sin; G266
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
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
To him G5129 give G3140 all G3956 the prophets G4396 witness, G3140 that through G1223 his G846 name G3686 whosoever G3956 believeth G4100 in G1519 him G846 shall receive G2983 remission G859 of sins. G266 While Peter G4074 yet G2089 spake G2980 these G5023 words, G4487 the Holy G40 Ghost G4151 fell G1968 on G1909 all G3956 them which heard G191 the word. G3056
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.