Acts 16:4

And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. AND AS THEY WENT THROUGH THE CITIES THEY DELIVERED THEM THE DECREES FOR TO KEEP, THAT WERE ORDAINED OF THE APOSTLES AND ELDERS WHICH WERE AT JERUSALEM....

− 4._They delivered them the decrees to keep. _In these words Luke doth signify unto us how desirous Paul was of peace. The best and strongest bond to keep and foster peace among the churches, was to keep that which was set down by the apostles. When Paul taketh great pains about that, he taketh great heed lest through his fault there arise any trouble. And let us remember that that continued but for a time. Because, so soon as he seeth the danger of offense cease, he doth quite unburthen the churches, and setting apart the decree, he maketh that free which the apostles had their forbidden. And yet doth he not cancel or violate by that abrogation that which the apostles had decreed, or contemn the authors themselves; because they were not determined to establish a perpetual law, but only to mitigate for a short time that which might hurt weak consciences; as I did more at large declare i...

1-5 Well may the church look for much service from youthful ministers who set out in the same spirit as Timothy. But when men will submit in nothing, and oblige in nothing, the first elements of the Christian temper seem to be wanting; and there is great reason to believe that the doctrines and precepts of the gospel will not be successfully taught. The design of the decree being to set aside the ceremonial law, and its carnal ordinances, believers were confirmed in the Christian faith, because it set up a spiritual way of serving God, as suited to the nature both of God and man. Thus the church increased in numbers daily....

Verse Acts 16:4. _THEY DELIVERED THEM THE DECREES FOR TO KEEP_] Τα δογματα, τα κεκριμενα ὑπο των ΑποϚολων. Bishop Pearce contends that τα δογματα, _the decrees_, is a gloss which was not in the text originally; and that the τα κεκριμενα, the _judgments_ or _determinations_ of the apostles, was all that was originally written here. He supports his opinion by a reference to the word κρινω, _I judge_, used by James, Acts 15:19, whence the whole decision, as it referred - 1. to the inexpediency of circumcising the Gentiles; and, 2. to the necessity of observing the four precepts laid down, was called τα κεκριμενα, the _things that were_ _judged_, or _decided_ on; _the judgments_ of the apostolic council. Instead of γεγραμμενα, the Syrian has a word that

AND AS THEY WENT THROUGH THE CITIES - The cities of Syria, Cilicia, etc. THEY DELIVERED THEM - Paul and Silas delivered to the Christians in those cities. THE DECREES - τὰ δόγματα ta dogmata. The decrees in regard to the four things specified in Acts 15:20, Acts 15:29. The word translated “decrees” occurs in Luke 2:1, “A decree from Caesar Augustus”; in Acts 17:7 “The decrees of Caesar”; in Ephesians 2:15

EXPOSITION ACTS 16:1 _And he came also _for _then came he, _A.V._ _and T.R.; _to Lystra _for _Lystra, _A.V._; Timothy _for _Timotheus, _A.V._; of a Jewess _for _of a certain woman which was a Jewess, _A.V. and T.R.; _which _for _and, _A.V. For DERBE and LYSTRA, see Acts 14:1. and notes. This time St. Paul visited Derbe first, whereas before he came from Lystra to Derbe (Acts 14:6, Acts 14:8, Acts 14:21). WAS THERE; viz

AND AS THEY WENT THROUGH THE CITIES,.... Of Derbe, Lystra, and Iconium, and others in Lycaonia, and in Phrygia and Galatia; the Arabic version reads, "they both"; that is, Paul and Barnabas: THEY DELIVERED THEM THE DECREES FOR TO KEEP; they gave the churches, in these cities, the sentiments, and determinations to be observed and followed by them: THAT WERE ORDAINED OF THE APOSTLES WHICH WERE AT JERUSALEM; concerning the abstinence of the Gentiles from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication, Acts 15:20....

ACTS 16:4 The Western text (D syrhmg Ephraem) expands the first part of the verse, reading dierco,menoi de. ta.j po,leij evkh,russon [kai. paredi,dosan auvtoi/j, so D, spoiling the syntax] meta. pa,shj parrhsi,aj to.n ku,rion VIhsou/n Cristo.n a[ma paradido,ntej kai. ta.j evntola.j avposto,lwn kai,…(“And while going through the cities _they preached [and delivered to them], with all boldness, the Lord Jesus Christ,_ delivering _at the same time also_ the commandments of the apostles and …”). It may well be that, as Weiss suggests, 311 the addition was made in order to provide an explanation for the growth of the church, described in ver....

CHAPTER 16 _ 1. In Derbe and Lystra again. Timotheus (Acts 16:1)._ 2. The Preaching forbidden in Asia (Acts 16:6). 3. The Vision of the Man from Macedonia (Acts 16:9). 4. The Gospel in Europe (Acts 16:13). Read in connection with the first verses of this chapter 1 Timothy 1:18; 1Ti 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 3:15. The circumcision of Timothy, the offspri

ACTS 15:36 TO ACTS 16:5. SHORTER ACCOUNT OF PAUL'S JOURNEY IN ASIA MINOR. The editor's hand is apparent throughout this section. We know from Galatians 2:13 the real reason of Paul's difference with Barnabas, which was one of principle; here it is reduced to a personal matter. Instead of Titus, who (Galatians 2:3) was not compelled to be circumcised, we have Timothy, who was circumcised by Paul (Acts 16:1). In Acts 16:4 Paul acts as a delegate of the Jerusalem church, handing to the faithf