Acts 15:28

For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; FOR IT SEEMED GOOD TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND TO US - the One inwardly guiding the other; as if it had been said (as Olshausen expresses it), 'It seemed good to the Holy Spirit in' or 'by us.' They acted throughout this whole business under the consciousness of divine guidance, the glorified Lord of the Church directing them by His Spirit, "to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;...

− 28._It seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us. _Whereas the apostles and elders match and join themselves with the Holy Ghost, they attribute nothing to themselves apart therein; but this speech importeth as much as if they should say, that the Holy Ghost was the captain, guide, and governor, and that they did set down, and decreed that which they write as he did indite it to them. − (149) For this manner of speech is used commonly in the Scripture, to give the ministers the second place after that the name of God is once expressed. When it is said that the people believed God and his servant Moses, ( Exodus 14:31,) faith is not rent in pieces, as if it did addict itself partly to God, and partly to mortal man. What then? to wit, whereas the people had God for the sole author of their faith, they believed or gave credence to his minister, f

22-35 Being warranted to declare themselves directed by the immediate influence of the Holy Ghost, the apostles and disciples were assured that it seemed good unto God the Holy Spirit, as well as to them, to lay upon the converts no other burden than the things before mentioned, which were necessary, either on their own account, or from present circumstances. It was a comfort to hear that carnal ordinances were no longer imposed on them, which perplexed the conscience, but could not purify or pacify it; and that those who troubled their minds were silenced, so that the peace of the church was restored, and that which threatened division was removed. All this was consolation for which they blessed God. Many others were at Antioch. Where many labour in the word and doctrine, yet there may be opportunity for us: the zeal and usefulness of others should stir us up, not lay us asleep....

Verse Acts 15:28. _FOR IT SEEMED GOOD TO THE HOLY GHOST, AND TO US_] The whole council had met under his _direction_; had consulted under his _influence_; and gave forth their decree from his especial _inspiration_. _NECESSARY THINGS_] They were _necessary_, howsoever burthensome they might appear; and necessary, not only for the time, place, or occasion; but for _all times, all places_, and _all occasions_. See this proved in the observations at the end of this chapter....

FOR IT SEEMED GOOD TO THE HOLY GHOST - This is a strong and undoubted claim to inspiration. It was with special reference to the organization of the church that the Holy Spirit had been promised to them by the Lord Jesus, Matthew 18:18; John 14:26. NO GREATER BURDEN - To impose no greater restraints to enjoin no other observances. See the notes on Acts 15:10. THAN THESE NECESSARY THINGS - Necessary: (1) In order to preserve the peace of the church. (2) To conciliate the minds of the Jewish converts,...

EXPOSITION ACTS 15:1 _Came down … and taught _for _which came down_ …_ taught, _A.V.; _saying _for _and said, _A.V._; custom _(ἔθος) for _manner, _A.V. EXCEPT YE BE CIRCUMCISED, etc. The question thus raised nearly effected the disruption of the Church, and was the most serious controversy that had yet arisen. If the views broached by these Judaean Christians had prevailed, the whole character of Christianity would have been changed, and its existence probably cut short. How great the danger was appears from even Peter and Barnabas having wavered in their opinion. (For St. Paul's treatment of the subject, see Romans 2:25, etc.; 4.;...

FOR IT SEEMED GOOD TO THE HOLY GHOST, AND TO US,.... By various things they had reason doubtless to conclude, that they were under the influence and direction of the Holy Ghost in this affair; as by the spirit of prayer that was among them; by that power and energy with which many of them spoke on this occasion, and that so agreeable to the word of God; and by that unanimity with which they came into the advice given. With respect to the form here used, compare 1 Chronicles 13:2 and the Targum on it, which renders the words thus; "if it be beautiful before you, and acceptable before the Lord, let us send, c.'' It follows here, TO LAY UPON YOU NO GREATER BURDEN THAN THESE NECESSARY THINGS not that they were necessary to salvation, but necessary to secure the peace of the churches, and at least were necessary, at that present time; and the

ACTS 15:28 tou,twn tw/n evpa,nagkej The difficulty of the Greek tou,twn tw/n evpa,nagkej (ac B C H 69 81 429 436 611 614 1799 2412 _al_) prompted the alteration to the easier sequence of tw/n evpa,nagkej tou,twn (E L P most minuscules, followed by the Textus Receptus). The reading tw/n evpa,nagkej (A 76 94 307 431) probably arose through the accidental omission of tou,twn. Whether tou,twn evpa,nagkej (a* D 33) arose from haplography or whether tw/n came into the other readings by dittography is uncertain, but the former is perhaps slightly more probable....

CHAPTER 15 _ 1. The false teachers from Judea. Paul and Barnabas sent to Jerusalem (Acts 15:1)._ 2. The Council in Jerusalem (Acts 15:6). 3. The Result made known (Acts 15:22). 4. The Consolation brought to Antioch (Acts 15:30). 5. Paul and Barnabas separate (Acts 15:36). A very critical time had now arrived for the church. An important question had to be settled. That Gentiles can be saved and salvation must be extended to the Gentiles had been fully demonstrated. The Apostle of the circumcision, Peter, had been used to prea

THE LETTER IS SENT. The apostles and elders have never in this chapter acted alone (see Acts 15:6); the action is that of the whole Church. Silas does not stand for Silvanus, but is a Semitic name, the Aramaic form of Saul (Schmiedel in EBi. 4519); in Ac. he is the companion of Paul. Judas and Silas are leading men in the Jerusalem church; in Acts 15:32 they are prophets, men holding official position. The letter they carry is addressed to Gentile believers in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia. Why not also in Pisidia and Lycaonia, the regions visited by Paul and Barnabas in chs. 13 f.? This verse is the strongest, though as we have seen not the only, evidence, that the Jerusalem meeting is in Acts misplaced. Its historical position is before Acts 13 f., when, as Paul tells us ...