Acts 15:24

which went out These words are not represented in the Greek of some MSS., but they seem to give force to the history. The disturbing teachers had come from Jerusalem, but their want of any authority is contrasted strongly with the commission of Judas and Silas (Acts 15:27). The first men wentof themselves, the new messengers were the choice of the church.

subverting your souls In N. T. the verb occurs only here and is not found in the LXX. In classical Greek, it is applied mostly to an entire removal of goods and chattels either by the owners or by a plundering enemy. The devastation wrought in the minds of the Gentile converts through the new teaching is compared to an utter overthrow.

saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law The oldest authorities omit the Greek of these words, which look somewhat like a marginal explanation that has crept into the text, especially as "to keep the law" is an expansion, though of course a correct one, of the statement made in Acts 15:1, about the teaching that was given. There circumcision alone is mentioned as the point on which disturbance was created.

to whom we gave no such commandment The insertion of the italic suchwas made necessary by the presence of the clause "saying, &c." but if that be omitted, the sentence becomes a more complete disavowal of any connexion with the Judaizing disturbers. -To whom we gave no commandment at all." So the R. V.