22 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
We have sent G649 therefore G3767 Judas G2455 and G2532 Silas, G4609 who G846 shall G518 also G2532 tell G518 you the same things G846 by G1223 mouth. G3056
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 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.
Paul, G3972 and G2532 Silvanus, G4610 and G2532 Timotheus, G5095 unto the church G1577 of the Thessalonians G2331 which is in G1722 God G2316 the Father G3962 and G2532 in the Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ: G5547 Grace G5485 be unto you, G5213 and G2532 peace, G1515 from G575 God G2316 our G2257 Father, G3962 and G2532 the Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ. G5547
And G1161 the brethren G80 immediately G2112 sent away G1599 G5037 Paul G3972 and G2532 Silas G4609 by G1223 night G3571 unto G1519 Berea: G960 who G3748 coming G3854 thither went G549 into G1519 the synagogue G4864 of the Jews. G2453
And G1161 when her G846 masters G2962 saw G1492 that G3754 the hope G1680 of their G846 gains G2039 was gone, G1831 they caught G1949 Paul G3972 and G2532 Silas, G4609 and drew G1670 them into G1519 the marketplace G58 unto G1909 the rulers, G758
It seemed good G1380 unto us, G2254 being assembled G1096 with one accord, G3661 to send G3992 chosen G1586 men G435 unto G4314 you G5209 with G4862 our G2257 beloved G27 Barnabas G921 and G2532 Paul, G3972
And they wrote G1125 letters by G1223 them G5495 G846 after this manner; G3592 The apostles G652 and G2532 elders G4245 and G2532 brethren G80 send greeting G5463 unto the brethren G80 which G3588 are of G1537 the Gentiles G1484 in G2596 Antioch G490 and G2532 Syria G4947 and G2532 Cilicia: G2791
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 When therefore G3767 Paul G3972 and G2532 Barnabas G921 had G1096 no G3756 small G3641 dissension G4714 and G2532 disputation G4803 with G4314 them, G846 they determined G5021 that Paul G3972 and G2532 Barnabas, G921 and G2532 certain G5100 other G243 of G1537 them, G846 should go up G305 to G1519 Jerusalem G2419 unto G4314 the apostles G652 and G2532 elders G4245 about G4012 this G5127 question. G2213
Then G1161 tidings G3056 of G4012 these things G846 came G191 unto G1519 the ears G3775 of the church G1577 which G3588 was in G1722 Jerusalem: G2414 and G2532 they sent forth G1821 Barnabas, G921 that he should go G1330 as far as G2193 Antioch. G490
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
But G1161 we G2249 will give ourselves continually G4342 to prayer, G4335 and G2532 to the ministry G1248 of the word. G3056 And G2532 the saying G3056 pleased G700 G1799 the whole G3956 multitude: G4128 and G2532 they chose G1586 Stephen, G4736 a man G435 full G4134 of faith G4102 and G2532 of the Holy G40 Ghost, G4151 and G2532 Philip, G5376 and G2532 Prochorus, G4402 and G2532 Nicanor, G3527 and G2532 Timon, G5096 and G2532 Parmenas, G3937 and G2532 Nicolas G3532 a proselyte G4339 of Antioch: G491
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.