Acts 15:22

Answer and deputation sent from Jerusalem. The letter of the Synod to the Christians of Antioch

22. Then pleased it The word is one often used in the official announcements of what has been decreed by authority, or of public resolutions (cp. Herod. i. 3; Thuc. iv. 118, &c.). So the more formal rendering, " It seemed good to," would come nearer to the force of the word.

the apostles and elders, with the whole church So the decree was the voice of the whole church, and the deputies sent were chosen by the whole body, and it is in the name of -apostles, elders and brethren" that the letter runs (Acts 15:23).

to send chosen men of their own company More literally (with R. V.), to choose men out of their company and send them, which rendering makes it clear that the election of those sent was the work of the whole assembly.

with Paul and Barnabas That the church of Antioch might have the confirmation of the decree from the lips of others beside these two, for they might be supposed to favour especially all that was considerate towards Gentile converts.

Judas surnamed Barsabas The oldest texts give -Judas called Barsabbas." Of this man nothing more is known than what we learn from this chapter. But as Barsabbas is clearly a patronymic, it has been conjectured that he was the brother of Joseph called Barsabbas, mentioned in Acts 1:23, where the MSS. and editions have the same variation of spelling.

Silas This is probably the same person who in St Paul's Epistles (2 Corinthians 1:19; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1) and by St Peter (1 Peter 5:12) is called Silvanus. For an account of similar contracted names cp. Winer's Gram. (ed. Moulton), pp. 127, 128. The mention of Silas is frequent in the Acts in this and the next three Chapter s. He was one of St Paul's companions in the first missionary journey into Europe.