Acts 15:27

Ἰ. καὶ Σ. καὶ αὐτοὺς : “who themselves also shall tell you the same things by word of mouth,” R.V. Judas and Silas were sent to confirm personally the contents of the letter, as they could speak with authority as representing the Church at Jerusalem, while Barnabas and Saul alone would be regarded as already committed to the conciliatory side (Alford). The present participle, as the writer thinks of Judas and Silas as actually present with the letter at its reception, cf. ἀπεστάλκαμεν, “we have sent” by a common idiom, and also Acts 21:16; Blass compares Thuc., vii., 26, ἔπεμψαν ἀγγέλλοντας, Gram., p. 194. τὰ αὐτὰ : not the same things as Barnabas and Paul had preached, but, as διὰ λ. intimates, the same things as the letter contained, see critical notes.