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Greek Testament Critical Exegetical Commentary">Alford</a> • <a href="/commentaries/barnes/acts/15.htm" title="Barnes' Notes">Barnes</a> • <a href="/commentaries/bengel/acts/15.htm" title="Bengel's Gnomen">Bengel</a> • <a href="/commentaries/benson/acts/15.htm" title="Benson Commentary">Benson</a> • <a href="/commentaries/illustrator/acts/15.htm" title="Biblical Illustrator">BI</a> • <a href="/commentaries/calvin/acts/15.htm" title="Calvin's Commentaries">Calvin</a> • <a href="/commentaries/cambridge/acts/15.htm" title="Cambridge Bible">Cambridge</a> • <a href="/commentaries/chrysostom/acts/15.htm" title="Chrysostom Homilies">Chrysostom</a> • <a href="/commentaries/clarke/acts/15.htm" title="Clarke's Commentary">Clarke</a> • <a href="/commentaries/darby/acts/15.htm" title="Darby's Bible Synopsis">Darby</a> • <a href="/commentaries/ellicott/acts/15.htm" title="Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers">Ellicott</a> • <a href="/commentaries/expositors/acts/15.htm" title="Expositor's Bible">Expositor's</a> • <a href="/commentaries/edt/acts/15.htm" title="Expositor's Dictionary">Exp Dct</a> • <a href="/commentaries/egt/acts/15.htm" title="Expositor's Greek">Exp Grk</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gaebelein/acts/15.htm" title="Gaebelein's Annotated Bible">Gaebelein</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gsb/acts/15.htm" title="Geneva Study Bible">GSB</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gill/acts/15.htm" title="Gill's Bible Exposition">Gill</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gray/acts/15.htm" title="Gray's Concise">Gray</a> • <a href="/commentaries/guzik/acts/15.htm" title="Guzik Bible Commentary">Guzik</a> • <a href="/commentaries/haydock/acts/15.htm" title="Haydock Catholic Bible Commentary">Haydock</a> • <a href="/commentaries/hastings/acts/9-4.htm" title="Hastings Great Texts">Hastings</a> • <a href="/commentaries/homiletics/acts/15.htm" title="Pulpit Homiletics">Homiletics</a> • <a href="/commentaries/icc/acts/15.htm" title="ICC NT Commentary">ICC</a> • <a href="/commentaries/jfb/acts/15.htm" title="Jamieson-Fausset-Brown">JFB</a> • <a href="/commentaries/kelly/acts/15.htm" title="Kelly Commentary">Kelly</a> • <a href="/commentaries/king-en/acts/15.htm" title="Kingcomments Bible Studies">King</a> • <a href="/commentaries/lange/acts/15.htm" title="Lange Commentary">Lange</a> • <a href="/commentaries/maclaren/acts/15.htm" title="MacLaren Expositions">MacLaren</a> • <a href="/commentaries/mhc/acts/15.htm" title="Matthew Henry Concise">MHC</a> • <a href="/commentaries/mhcw/acts/15.htm" title="Matthew Henry Full">MHCW</a> • <a href="/commentaries/meyer/acts/15.htm" title="Meyer Commentary">Meyer</a> • <a href="/commentaries/parker/acts/15.htm" title="The People's Bible by Joseph Parker">Parker</a> • <a href="/commentaries/pnt/acts/15.htm" title="People's New Testament">PNT</a> • <a href="/commentaries/poole/acts/15.htm" title="Matthew Poole">Poole</a> • <a href="/commentaries/pulpit/acts/15.htm" title="Pulpit Commentary">Pulpit</a> • <a href="/commentaries/sermon/acts/15.htm" title="Sermon Bible">Sermon</a> • <a href="/commentaries/sco/acts/15.htm" title="Scofield Reference Notes">SCO</a> • <a href="/commentaries/ttb/acts/15.htm" title="Through The Bible">TTB</a> • <a href="/commentaries/vws/acts/15.htm" title="Vincent's Word Studies">VWS</a> • <a href="/commentaries/wes/acts/15.htm" title="Wesley's Notes">WES</a> • <a href="#tsk" title="Treasury of Scripture Knowledge">TSK</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="comtype">EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)</div><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/acts/15.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(13) <span class= "bld">James answered.</span>—The position which James the brother of the Lord (see Notes on <a href="/acts/12-17.htm" title="But he, beckoning to them with the hand to hold their peace, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go show these things to James, and to the brothers. And he departed, and went into another place.">Acts 12:17</a>; and <a href="/matthew/12-46.htm" title="While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood without, desiring to speak with him.">Matthew 12:46</a>; <a href="/matthew/13-55.htm" title="Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brothers, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?">Matthew 13:55</a>) occupies in the Council is clearly that of pre-eminence, justifying the title of Bishop of Jerusalem, which later writers give him. No one speaks after him; he sum up the whole debate; he proposes the decree which is to be submitted to the Council for approval.<p><a name="mhc" id="mhc"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/mhc/acts/15.htm">Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary</a></div>15:7-21 We see from the words purifying their hearts by faith, and the address of St. Peter, that justification by faith, and sanctification by the Holy Ghost, cannot be separated; and that both are the gift of God. We have great cause to bless God that we have heard the gospel. May we have that faith which the great Searcher of hearts approves, and attests by the seal of the Holy Spirit. Then our hearts and consciences will be purified from the guilt of sin, and we shall be freed from the burdens some try to lay upon the disciples of Christ. Paul and Barnabas showed by plain matters of fact, that God owned the preaching of the pure gospel to the Gentiles without the law of Moses; therefore to press that law upon them, was to undo what God had done. The opinion of James was, that the Gentile converts ought not to be troubled about Jewish rites, but that they should abstain from meats offered to idols, so that they might show their hatred of idolatry. Also, that they should be cautioned against fornication, which was not abhorred by the Gentiles as it should be, and even formed a part of some of their rites. They were counselled to abstain from things strangled, and from eating blood; this was forbidden by the law of Moses, and also here, from reverence to the blood of the sacrifices, which being then still offered, it would needlessly grieve the Jewish converts, and further prejudice the unconverted Jews. But as the reason has long ceased, we are left free in this, as in the like matters. Let converts be warned to avoid all appearances of the evils which they formerly practised, or are likely to be tempted to; and caution them to use Christian liberty with moderation and prudence.<a name="bar" id="bar"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/barnes/acts/15.htm">Barnes' Notes on the Bible</a></div>James answered - James the Less, son of Alpheus. See the notes on <a href="/acts/12-1.htm">Acts 12:1</a>.<p>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 that of Peter. It is possible that he might have been next in age (compare <a href="/1_corinthians/15-7.htm">1 Corinthians 15:7</a>); and it seems morally certain that he remained for a considerable part of his life in Jerusalem, <a href="/acts/12-17.htm">Acts 12:17</a>; <a href="/acts/21-18.htm">Acts 21:18</a>; <a href="/galatians/1-19.htm">Galatians 1:19</a>; <a href="http://biblehub.com/galatians/2-9.htm">Galatians 2:9</a>, <a href="/galatians/2-12.htm">Galatians 2:12</a>. <a name="jfb" id="jfb"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/jfb/acts/15.htm">Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary</a></div>13. James answered, saying, &c.—Whoever this James was (see on [2022]Ga 1:19), he was the acknowledged head of the church at Jerusalem, and here, as president of the assembly, speaks last, winding up the debate. His decision, though given as his own judgment only, could not be of great weight with the opposing party, from his conservative reverence for all Jewish usages within the circle of Israelitish Christianity.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/poole/acts/15.htm">Matthew Poole's Commentary</a></div> <span class="bld">After they had held their peace; </span> Barnabas and Paul had finished their narrative. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">James, </span> who was surnamed the Just, and was the son of Alpheus, and a kinsman to our Saviour, now being president of this council. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">Answered; </span> that is, began to speak. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="gil" id="gil"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/gill/acts/15.htm">Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible</a></div>And after they had held their peace,.... Meaning not the multitude, but Paul and Barnabas; when they had finished their account, and had done speaking: <p>James answered; or rose up, as the Syriac version reads, he stood up and began to speak. This was James the son of Alphaeus, one of the twelve apostles, sometimes called the brother of the Lord; for the other James, the son of Zebedee and brother of John, was dead, being killed by Herod, <a href="/acts/12-2.htm">Acts 12:2</a> but this was the brother of Jude, and the same that wrote the epistle that bears his name: whether he was now bishop or pastor of the church at Jerusalem, is not certain; nor whether he was president in this council; the speeches made in it do not appear to be directed to him: he began his oration thus, <p>saying, men and brethren, hearken to me; the titles he uses, and the manner of desiring audience, were what were common with the Jews; see <a href="/acts/2-14.htm">Acts 2:14</a>. <a name="gsb" id="gsb"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/gsb/acts/15.htm">Geneva Study Bible</a></div><span class="cverse2">And after they had held their peace, <span class="cverse3">{g}</span> James answered, saying, Men <i>and</i> brethren, hearken unto me:</span><p>(g) The son of Alphaeus, who is also called the Lord's brother.</div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><div class="comtype">EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)</div><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/meyer/acts/15.htm">Meyer's NT Commentary</a></div><a href="/acts/15-13.htm" title="And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brothers, listen to me:">Acts 15:13</a>. When these had finished speaking (<span class="greekheb">σιγῆσαι</span>), James, not the son of Alphaeus, but <span class="ital">the brother of the Lord</span> (<a href="/acts/12-17.htm" title="But he, beckoning to them with the hand to hold their peace, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go show these things to James, and to the brothers. And he departed, and went into another place.">Acts 12:17</a>), a strict legalist, and highly esteemed in Jerusalem as chief leader of the church, delivered his address having reference to these matters (<span class="greekheb">ἀπεκρίθη</span>). He first confirmed, by a prophetic testimony, the divine call of the Gentiles brought into prominence by Peter (<a href="/context/acts/15-13.htm" title="And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brothers, listen to me:...">Acts 15:13-17</a>), and then made his conciliatory proposal for the satisfaction of both parties—in concise, but all the more weighty language.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/egt/acts/15.htm">Expositor's Greek Testament</a></div><a href="/acts/15-13.htm" title="And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brothers, listen to me:">Acts 15:13</a>. <span class="greekheb">μετὰ δὲ τὸ σ</span>., <span class="ital">i.e.</span>, after Barnabas and Paul had ceased speaking.—<span class="greekheb">ἀπεκ</span>. <span class="greekheb">Ἰ</span>. <span class="greekheb">λ</span>.: his speech may be divided into two parts: (1) reference to the prophecy foretelling the reception of the Gentiles; (2) his opinion on the conditions of that reception. <span class="greekheb">ἀ</span>. <span class="greekheb">ἀκούσατέ μου</span>: only here and in <a href="/james/2-5.htm" title="Listen, my beloved brothers, Has not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to them that love him?">Jam 2:5</a>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/cambridge/acts/15.htm">Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges</a></div><span class="bld">13–21</span>. James sums up the discussion, and pronounces the decision of the Church on this Controversy<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">13</span>. <span class="ital">James</span>] i.e. the brother of the Lord, and bishop of Jerusalem, see above on <a href="/acts/12-17.htm" title="But he, beckoning to them with the hand to hold their peace, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go show these things to James, and to the brothers. And he departed, and went into another place.">Acts 12:17</a>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="ital">Men and brethren</span>] See note on <a href="/acts/1-16.htm" title="Men and brothers, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spoke before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.">Acts 1:16</a>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="ital">hearken unto me</span>] The president’s summary takes no note of the “much disputing” (<span class="ital"><a href="/acts/15-7.htm" title="And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said to them, Men and brothers, you know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.">Acts 15:7</a></span>) but points out that a divine revelation had been made to Peter, and that it was accordant with the words of Old Testament prophecy. On these warrants he based his decision.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/bengel/acts/15.htm">Bengel's Gnomen</a></div><a href="/acts/15-13.htm" title="And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brothers, listen to me:">Acts 15:13</a>. <span class="greekheb">Μετὰ</span>, <span class="ital">after that</span>) All things were done in order.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="pul" id="pul"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/acts/15.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 13.</span> <span class="accented">- Brethren</span> for <span class="accented">men and brethren</span>, A.V., as ver. 7. <span class="cmt_word">James answered</span>. James's place as presiding bishop is here distinctly marked by his summing up the debate. "This (James)was bishop, as they say, and, therefore, he speaks last" (Chrysost., ' Hem.,' 33.). And again, "No word speaks John here, no word the other apostles, but held their peace, for James was invested with the chief rule." "He says well with authority, '<span class="accented">My sentence is</span>" (ibid.). A remarkable testimony against papal supremacy. Acts 15:13<a name="vws" id="vws"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/vws/acts/15.htm">Vincent's Word Studies</a></div>James<p>See Introduction to Catholic Epistles. <div class="vheading2">Links</div><a href="/interlinear/acts/15-13.htm">Acts 15:13 Interlinear</a><br /><a href="/texts/acts/15-13.htm">Acts 15:13 Parallel Texts</a><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/niv/acts/15-13.htm">Acts 15:13 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/acts/15-13.htm">Acts 15:13 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/acts/15-13.htm">Acts 15:13 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/acts/15-13.htm">Acts 15:13 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/acts/15-13.htm">Acts 15:13 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="http://bibleapps.com/acts/15-13.htm">Acts 15:13 Bible Apps</a><br /><a href="/acts/15-13.htm">Acts 15:13 Parallel</a><br /><a href="http://bibliaparalela.com/acts/15-13.htm">Acts 15:13 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="http://holybible.com.cn/acts/15-13.htm">Acts 15:13 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="http://saintebible.com/acts/15-13.htm">Acts 15:13 French Bible</a><br /><a href="http://bibeltext.com/acts/15-13.htm">Acts 15:13 German Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a><br /></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td align="center"><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script><br /><br /> </div> <div id="left"><a href="../acts/15-12.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Acts 15:12"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Acts 15:12" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../acts/15-14.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Acts 15:14"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Acts 15:14" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div> <div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>