Acts 15:4

And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. AND WHEN THEY WERE COME TO JERUSALEM. This was the apostle's third visit to Jerusalem after his conversion; and it was on this occasion that the circumstances related in Galatians 2:1 took place (see there). THEY WERE RECEIVED - `received cordially,' or 'welcomed' [ paredechtheesan (G3858), as the rarer form, is perhaps preferable to apedechtheesan-of the Received Text.] OF THE CHURCH - here evidently meaning the members of the church at Jerusalem generally, as distinguished from its office-bearers, who are next mentioned....

− 4._They were received of the Church. _By this word _Church _he meaneth the multitude itself and the whole body; that done, he assigneth a peculiar place to the apostles and elders, by whom Paul and Barnabas were specially received. Furthermore, because the apostles had no certain place of abode at Jerusalem, but went ever now and then sometimes to one place and sometimes to another, whithersoever occasion did call them, that church had elders to whom the ordinary government of the Church was committed; and what the one function differeth from the other we have before declared, ( Acts 14:23.) And hereby it appeareth what brotherly courtesy there was in the apostles and elders, because they do not only courteously receive Paul and Barnabas, but so soon as they hear what success they had with their pains they took, they magnify the grace of God. Luke repeateth again that fo

1-6 Some from Judea taught the Gentile converts at Antioch, that they could not be saved, unless they observed the whole ceremonial law as given by Moses; and thus they sought to destroy Christian liberty. There is a strange proneness in us to think that all do wrong who do not just as we do. Their doctrine was very discouraging. Wise and good men desire to avoid contests and disputes as far as they can; yet when false teachers oppose the main truths of the gospel, or bring in hurtful doctrines, we must not decline to oppose them....

Verse Acts 15:4. _THEY WERE RECEIVED OF THE CHURCH_] The whole body of Christian believers. _THE APOSTLES_] Either the whole or part of the _twelve_; though we read of none but _John, Peter_, and _James_. See Galatians 2:9. _AND ELDERS_] Those who were _officers_ in the Church, under the apostles. _THEY DECLARED_] To this council they gave a succinct account of the great work which God had wrought by them among the Gentiles. This was St. Paul's third journey to Jerusalem after his conversion. See an account of his _first_ journey, Acts 9:26, and of his _second_ in...

THEY WERE RECEIVED OF THE CHURCH - By the church, in a hospitable and friendly manner. They were acknowledged as Christian brethren, and received with Christian kindness. See Galatians 2:9. AND THEY DECLARED - Paul and Barnabas, and those with them. That is, they stated the case; the remarkable conversion of the Gentiles, the evidence of their piety, and the origin of the present dispute....

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.;...

AND WHEN THEY WERE COME TO JERUSALEM,.... Paul and Barnabas, and the rest that came from Antioch with them: THEY WERE RECEIVED OF THE CHURCH; that is, that was at Jerusalem, in a very kind and respectful manner; they were received into their houses, and accommodated with everything convenient for them: AND OF THE APOSTLES; particularly James, and Cephas, and John, who gave to Paul and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, in token of their approbation of them, affection for them, and agreement with them: AND ELDERS: the other ministers of the Gospel who preached in that place: AND THEY DECLARED ALL THINGS THAT GOD HAD DONE WITH THEM: just as they did to the church at Antioch, when they returned from their travels, Acts 14:27, the Arabic version here adds, as there, "and that God had opened to the Gentiles the door o

ACTS 15:4 avpo, The more Semitic avpo, of agent (B C 36a 94 307 326 431 1175), a construction that appears elsewhere in Acts (e.g. Acts 2:22; Acts 15:33; Acts 20:9), was replaced (perhaps under the influence of ver. Acts 15:3) by the more classical u`po, (î74 a A D E H L P most minuscules...

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 QUESTION OF CIRCUMCISION AT ANTIOCH AND AT JERUSALEM. IF. THE CUSTOM OF MOSES (_cf. Acts 6:14_) is the law of Moses as practised. Circumcision was no doubt the most important question to be settled; to exact it would have prevented the spread of the Church among the Gentiles; but there were other points. Acts 15:2. After WITH THEM Codex D reads: for Paul said that they should remain as they were when they believed, and was vehement to this effect, but those who had come from Jerusalem enjoined them, Paul and Barnabas and some others, to go up. The church at any rate resolved that this should be done. Acts 15:3 speaks of a leisurely and indirect journey, as if the envoys had no urgent commission to disc