AND CERTAIN MEN - These were undoubtedly men who had been Jews, but who were now converted to Christianity. The fact that they were willing to refer the matter in dispute to the apostles and elders Acts 15:2 shows that they had professedly embraced the Christian religion. The account which follows i... [ Continue Reading ]
HAD NO SMALL DISSENSION AN DISPUTATION - The word rendered “dissension” στάσις stasis denotes sometimes “sedition” or “intestine war,” and sometimes “earnest and violent disputation or controversy,” Acts 23:7, Acts 23:10. In this place it clearly denotes that there was earnest and warm discussion;... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BEING BROUGHT ON THEIR WAY BY THE CHURCH - Being attended and conducted by the Christian brethren. See the notes on Romans 15:24. It was customary for the Christians to attend the apostles in their travels. Compare 1 Corinthians 16:6, 1 Corinthians 16:11; 3 John 1:6. THROUGH PHENICE - See the n... [ Continue Reading ]
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 con... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THERE ROSE UP ... - It has been doubted whether these are the words of Paul and Barnabas, relating what occurred at Antioch, or whether they are the words of Luke recording what took place at Jerusalem. The correct exposition is probably what refers it to the latter. For: (1) This seems to be t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE APOSTLES AND ELDERS ... - They came together in accordance with the authority in Matthew 18:19. It would seem, also, that the whole church was convened on this occasion, and that the church concurred, at least, in the judgment expressed in this case. See Acts 15:12, Acts 15:22. FOR TO CONSID... [ Continue Reading ]
MUCH DISPUTING - Or rather, much inquiry or deliberation. With our word disputing we commonly connect the idea of heat and anger. This is not necessarily implied in the word used here. It might have been calm, solemn, deliberate inquiry; and there is no evidence that it was conducted with undue warm... [ Continue Reading ]
AND GOD, WHICH KNOWETH THE HEARTS - Acts 1:24. God thus knew whether they were true converts or not, and gave a demonstration that he acknowledged them as his. GIVING THEM THE HOLY GHOST ... - Acts 10:45.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND PUT NO DIFFERENCE ... - Though they had not been circumcised, and though they did not conform to the Law of Moses. Thus, God showed that the observance of these rites was not necessary in order to the true conversion of people, and to acceptance with him. He did not give us, who are Jews, any ad... [ Continue Reading ]
WHY TEMPT YE GOD? - Why provoke him to displeasure? Why, since he has shown his determination to accept them without such rites, do you provoke him by attempting to impose on his own people rites without his authority, and a against his manifest will? The argument is, that God had already accepted t... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WE BELIEVE - We apostles, who have been with them, and have seen the evidences of their acceptance with God. THROUGH THE GRACE ... - By the grace or mercy of Christ alone, without any of the rites and ceremonies of the Jews. WE SHALL BE SAVED, EVEN AS THEY - In the same manner, by the mere gra... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN ALL THE MULTITUDE - Evidently the multitude of private Christians who were assembled on this occasion. That it does not refer to a synod of ministers and elders merely is apparent: (1) Because the church, the brethren, are represented as having been present, and as concurring in the final opin... [ Continue Reading ]
JAMES ANSWERED - James the Less, son of Alpheus. See the notes on Acts 12:1. HEARKEN UNTO ME - This whole transaction shows that Peter had no such authority in the church as the papists pretend, for otherwise his opinion would have been followed without debate. James had an authority not less than t... [ Continue Reading ]
SIMEON - This is a Hebrew name. The Greek mode of writing it commonly was Simon. It was one of the names of Peter, Matthew 4:18. TO TAKE OUT OF THEM A PEOPLE - To choose from among the Gentries those who should be his friends.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WORDS OF THE PROPHETS - Amos 9:11. It was a very material point with them, as Jews, to inquire whether this was in accordance with the predictions of the Scriptures. The most powerful revivals of religion, and the most striking demonstrations of the divine presence, will be in accordance with th... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THIS - This quotation is not made literally either from the Hebrew or the Septuagint, which differs also from the Hebrew. The 17th verse is quoted literally from the Septuagint, but in the 16th the general sense only of the passage is retained. The main point of the quotation, as made by James... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THE RESIDUE OF MEN - This verse is quoted literally from the Septuagint, and differs in some respects from the Hebrew. The phrase, “the residue of men,” here is evidently understood, both by the Septuagint and by James, as referring to others than Jews, to the Gentiles the rest of the world - i... [ Continue Reading ]
KNOWN UNTO GOD ... - See the notes on Acts 1:24. The meaning of this verse, in this connection, is this. God sees everything future; he knows what he will accomplish; he has a plan; all his works are so arranged in his mind that he sees everything distinctly and clearly. As he foretold these, it was... [ Continue Reading ]
MY SENTENCE - Greek: I judge κρίνω krinō that is, I give my opinion. It is the usual language in which a judge delivers his opinion; but it does not imply here that James assumed authority to settle the case, but merely that he gave his opinion, or counsel. THAT WE TROUBLE NOT THEM - That we do n... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WE WRITE UNTO THEM - Expressing our judgment, or our views of the case. THAT THEY ABSTAIN - That they refrain from these things, or wholly avoid them. POLLUTIONS OF IDOLS - The word rendered “pollutions” means any kind of “defilement.” But here it is evidently used to denote the flesh of those... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR MOSES - The meaning of this verse is, that the Law of Moses, prohibiting these things, was read in the synagogues constantly. As these commands wore constantly read, and as the Jewish converts would not soon learn that their ceremonial law had ceased to be binding, it was deemed to be a matter o... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN PLEASED IT - It seemed fit and proper to them. THE APOSTLES AND ELDERS - To whom the business had been particularly referred, Acts 15:2. Compare Acts 16:4. WITH THE WHOLE CHURCH - All the Christians who were there assembled together. They concurred in the sentiment, and expressed their approba... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WROTE LETTERS - Greek: “Having written.” It does not mean that they wrote more than one epistle. BY THEM - Greek: by their hand.” AFTER THIS MANNER - Greek: these things. SEND GREETING - A word of salutation, expressing their desire of the happiness (χαίρειν chairein) of the persons addresse... [ Continue Reading ]
FORASMUCH - Since we have heard. THAT CERTAIN - That some, Acts 15:1. HAVE TROUBLED YOU WITH WORDS - With doctrines. They have disturbed your minds, and produced contentions. SUBVERTING YOUR SOULS - The word used here occurs nowhere else in the New Testament ἀνασκευάζοντες anaskeuazontes. It pro... [ Continue Reading ]
MEN THAT HAVE HAZARDED THEIR LIVES ... - See Acts 14: This was a noble testimony to the character of Barnabas and Paul. It was a commendation of them to the confidence of the churches, and an implied expression that they wished their authority to be regarded in the establishment and organization of... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SAME THINGS - The same things that we wrote to you They will confirm all by their own statements.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IT SEEMED GOOD TO THE HOLY GHOST - This is a strong and undoubted claim to inspiration. It was with special reference to the organization of the church that the Holy Spirit had been promised to them by the Lord Jesus, Matthew 18:18; John 14:26. NO GREATER BURDEN - To impose no greater restraint... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM MEATS OFFERED TO IDOLS - This explains what is meant by “pollutions of idols,” Acts 15:20. YE SHALL DO WELL - You will do what ought to be done in regard to the subjects of dispute.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY REJOICED FOR THE CONSOLATION - They acquiesced in the decision of the apostles and elders, and rejoiced that they were not to be subjected to the burdensome rites and ceremonies of the Jewish religion. This closes the account of the first Christian council. It was conducted throughout on Christ... [ Continue Reading ]
BEING PROPHETS - See the notes on Acts 11:27. This evidently implies that they had been preachers before they went to Antioch. What was the precise nature of the office of a prophet in the Christian church it is not easy to ascertain. Possibly it may imply that they were teachers of unusual or remar... [ Continue Reading ]
A SPACE - For some time. THEY WERE LET GO IN PEACE - An expression implying that they departed with the affectionate regard of the Christians to whom they had ministered, and with their highest wishes for their prosperity, 1 Corinthians 16:11; 2 John 1:10. UNTO THE APOSTLES - At Jerusalem. Many ms... [ Continue Reading ]
NOTWITHSTANDING ... - This whole verse is missing in many mss.; in the Syriac, Arabic, and Coptic versions; and is regarded as spurious by Mill, Griesbach, and by other critics. It was probably introduced by some early transcriber, who judged it necessary to complete the narrative. The Latin Vulgate... [ Continue Reading ]
PAUL ALSO, AND BARNABAS, CONTINUED IN ANTIOCH - How long a time is unknown. It is probable that at this time the unhappy incident occurred between Paul and Peter which is recorded in Galatians 2:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
LET US GO AGAIN AND VISIT OUR BRETHREN - That is, in the churches which they had established in Asia Minor, Acts 13:14. This was a natural wish, and was an enterprise that might be attended with important advantages to those feeble churches.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BARNABAS DETERMINED - Greek: willed, or was disposed to (ἐβουλεύσαντο ebouleusanto). JOHN ... - See the notes on Acts 12:12. He had been with them before as a traveling companion, Acts 12:25; Acts 13:5. He was the son of a sister of Barnabas Colossians 4:10, and it is probable that Barnabas’... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT PAUL THOUGHT NOT GOOD - Did not think it proper. Because he could not confide in his perseverance with them in the toils and perils of their journey. WHO DEPARTED FROM THEM ... - Acts 13:13. Why he did this is not known. It was evidently, however, for some cause which Paul did not consider sati... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE CONTENTION WAS SO SHARP - The word used here παροξυσμός paroxusmos is that from which our word “paroxysm” is derived. It may denote “any excitement of mind,” and is used in a good sense in Hebrews 10:24. It here means, however, “a violent altercation” that resulted in their separation for a... [ Continue Reading ]
BEING RECOMMENDED - Being commended by prayer to God. See notes on Acts 14:26.... [ Continue Reading ]
SYRIA AND CILICIA - These were countries lying near to each other, which Paul, in company with Barnabas, had before visited. CONFIRMING THE CHURCHES - Strengthening them by instruction and exhortation. It has no reference to the rite of confirmation. See the notes on Acts 14:22. In regard to this... [ Continue Reading ]