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The apostles and elders and brethren <i>send</i> greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:</div><div id="jump">Jump to: <a href="/commentaries/alford/acts/15.htm" title="Henry Alford - 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>(23) <span class= "bld">And they wrote letters by them.</span>—Literally, <span class= "ital">wrote letters by their hands.</span> What follows, unless we assume a deliberate fraud, is clearly the transcript of a document—the first in the long list of decrees and canons and encyclical letters which mark the Church’s history.<p><span class= "bld">The apostles and elders and brethren.</span>—The MSS. present a singular variation of readings, some of the earliest omitting the conjunction and article before the last noun, and giving “the Apostles and elders, brethren.” Such a mode of speech, however, is foreign to the usage of the New Testament, and it is probable that this reading originated in a desire to bring the text into harmony with the later practice of the Church, which excluded the laity from all participation in its synods. (See Note on <a href="/acts/15-22.htm" title="Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brothers:">Acts 15:22</a>.)<p><span class= "bld">Send greeting.</span>—Literally, <span class= "ital">wish joy.</span> The formula was common in Greek epistles, but is not used in the New Testament, except here and in <a href="/james/1-1.htm" title="James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.">James 1:1</a>. As it is reasonable to suppose that this letter was written or dictated by him, its occurrence is <span class= "ital">primâ facie</span> evidence of the authorship of the Epistle that bears his name, and which, on the view taken in these Notes, had been already written to the Church of the Circumcision.<p><span class= "bld">Unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles.</span>—The letter was therefore addressed to them exclusively (see Note on <a href="/acts/15-20.htm" title="But that we write to them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.">Acts 15:20</a>), as the Epistle of St. James had probably been previously addressed to the Jews of the “dispersion,” and not to the Gentiles.<p><span class= "bld">In Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.</span>—The mention of the latter country is important as showing the extent of St. Paul’s work there prior to his joining Barnabas at Antioch (<a href="/acts/11-25.htm" title="Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:">Acts 11:25</a>). There also he had founded churches in which Gentile converts were admitted as such to full communion.<p><a name="mhc" id="mhc"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/mhc/acts/15.htm">Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary</a></div>15:22-35 Being warranted to declare themselves directed by the immediate influence of the Holy Ghost, the apostles and disciples were assured that it seemed good unto God the Holy Spirit, as well as to them, to lay upon the converts no other burden than the things before mentioned, which were necessary, either on their own account, or from present circumstances. It was a comfort to hear that carnal ordinances were no longer imposed on them, which perplexed the conscience, but could not purify or pacify it; and that those who troubled their minds were silenced, so that the peace of the church was restored, and that which threatened division was removed. All this was consolation for which they blessed God. Many others were at Antioch. Where many labour in the word and doctrine, yet there may be opportunity for us: the zeal and usefulness of others should stir us up, not lay us asleep.<a name="bar" id="bar"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/barnes/acts/15.htm">Barnes' Notes on the Bible</a></div>And wrote letters - Greek: "Having written." It does not mean that they wrote more than one epistle.<p>By them - Greek: by their hand."<p>After this manner - Greek: these things.<p>Send greeting - A word of salutation, expressing their desire of the happiness (χαίρειν chairein) of the persons addressed. Compare <a href="/matthew/26-49.htm">Matthew 26:49</a>; <a href="/matthew/27-29.htm">Matthew 27:29</a>; <a href="/luke/1-28.htm">Luke 1:28</a>; <a href="/john/19-3.htm">John 19:3</a>.<p>In Antioch - Where the difficulty first arose.<p>And Syria - Antioch was the capital of Syria, and it is probable that the dispute was not confined to the capital.<p>And Cilicia - See the notes on <a href="/acts/6-9.htm">Acts 6:9</a>. Cilicia was adjacent to Syria. Paul and Barnabas had traveled through it, and it is probable that the same difficulty would exist there which had disturbed the churches in Syria. <a name="jfb" id="jfb"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/jfb/acts/15.htm">Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary</a></div>23. And they wrote … by them—This is the first mention in the New Testament history of writing as an element in its development. And the combination here of written and oral transmission of an important decision reminds us of the first occasion of writing mentioned in the Old Testament, where a similar combination occurs (Ex 17:14). But whereas there it is the deep difference between Israel and the Gentiles which is proclaimed, here it is the obliteration of that difference through faith in the Lord Jesus [Baumgarten].<p>greeting—The only other place in the New Testament where this word occurs (except in the letter of Lysias, Ac 23:26) is Jas 1:1, which seems to show that both letters were drawn up by the same hand [Bengel].<p>the Gentiles in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia—showing that churches then existed in Cilicia as well as Syria, which owed their existence, in all likelihood, to Paul's labors during the interval between his return to Tarsus (Ac 9:30) and his departure in company with Barnabas for Antioch (see on [2025]Ac 11:25).<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/poole/acts/15.htm">Matthew Poole's Commentary</a></div> <span class="bld">The apostles and elders and brethren; </span> the letter was wrote in the name of them all, that it might have the greater force, and better acceptance; that so strong a cord might not be broken by the false apostles. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">Of the Gentiles; </span> such as out of Gentilism, or paganism, were converted unto Christ; to whom the determination of this case was of the greatest concern; their right of belonging unto Christ, and having any hopes of salvation, being questioned, unless they would be circumcised. <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 wrote letters by them after this manner,.... Not that they made use of them as their amanuenses, to write their letters for them; but being written they put them into their hands, and sent them by them, and they were written in the following form: <p>the apostles, and elders, and brethren; which belonged to, or were members of the church at Jerusalem; they are severally set in their proper place and order: the apostles, Peter, and James, and John, and it may be some others first; for these God had set in the first place in the church; then the elders, or preachers of the Gospel, such as were Judas and Silas: and then the brethren, or private members of the church; who are called so, because they are of one family, and have one Father, and are partakers of the same grace and privileges: these, <p>send greeting; or their Christian salutation, wishing all peace and prosperity, both for soul and body, temporal, spiritual and eternal: <p>unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch, and Syria and Cilicia; the brethren or members of the several churches in these parts, who were Gentiles, are particularly sent to; and not the brethren who were Jews; because they were especially concerned, and to them is the advice directed: Antioch is first mentioned, that being the place where the controversy began; but there being other churches in Syria, besides Antioch, in which were many Gentiles, and also in Cilicia, and particularly at Tarsus, Paul's native place, and where he had preached, <a href="/acts/9-30.htm">Acts 9:30</a> they are therefore mentioned, and being countries near to one another, it is very likely that the controversy had spread itself among them. <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 they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.</span></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="/context/acts/15-23.htm" title="And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brothers send greeting to the brothers which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia....">Acts 15:23-24</a>. <span class="greekheb">Γράψαντες</span>] <span class="ital">while they wrote</span>, should properly agree in case with <span class="greekheb">ἐκλεξαμένους</span>. Anacoluthia in carrying out the construction by participles is frequent; here it conforms to the logical subject of <span class="greekheb">ἔδοξε τοῖς κ</span>.<span class="greekheb">τ</span>.<span class="greekheb">λ</span>. See Bernhardy, p. 463; Winer, p. 527 [E. T. 709]; also Pflugk, <span class="ital">ad Eur. Hec</span>. 970.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="greekheb">διὰ χειρὸς αὐτῶν</span>] so that they were to be the bearers of the letter.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span>As the letter was directed not only to <span class="ital">Antioch</span> and to <span class="ital">Syria</span> (whose capital and chief church was Antioch), but also to <span class="ital">Cilicia</span>, we are to infer that in this province also similar dissensions between Jewish and Gentile Christians had taken place, and had come to the knowledge of the apostolic assembly.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span>The <span class="ital">genuineness</span> of the letter is supported as well by its whole form—which, with all distinctness as to the things forbidden (the designation of which is repeated exactly in <a href="/acts/21-25.htm" title="As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.">Acts 21:25</a>), yet has otherwise so little official circumstantiality, that it evidently appears intended to be orally supplemented as regards the particulars—as also by the natural supposition that this important piece of writing would soon be circulated in many copies (<a href="/acts/21-25.htm" title="As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.">Acts 21:25</a>), and therefore might easily, in an authentic form, pass into the collection of Luke’s sources.[40]<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="greekheb">καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοί</span>] <span class="ital">i.e.</span> the whole church, <a href="/acts/15-22.htm" title="Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brothers:">Acts 15:22</a>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="greekheb">Χαίρειν</span>] the well-known epistolary salutation of the Greeks.[41] Comp. <a href="/acts/23-26.htm" title="Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix sends greeting.">Acts 23:26</a>. The letter addressed to Greek Christians was certainly written in Greek. But that it was actually composed by <span class="ital">James</span> (Bengel, Bleek in the <span class="ital">Stud. u. Krit</span>. 1836, p. 1037) does not follow at least from <a href="/james/1-1.htm" title="James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.">Jam 1:1</a>, although it is in itself possible, and indeed from his position in Jerusalem even probable. The similarity in the <span class="ital">expression</span> of the decree with <a href="/luke/1-1.htm" title="For as much as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,">Luke 1:1</a>, does not justify us in doubting the originality of that expression (Schwegler, Zeller), as the subdivision in the protasis and apodosis was very natural, and the use of <span class="greekheb">ἔδοξεν</span> almost necessary.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="greekheb"><span class="bld"><span class="ital">ἈΝΑΣΚΕΥΆΖΟΝΤΕς</span></span></span>] <span class="ital">destroying, subverting</span>, elsewhere neither in the N.T. nor in the LXX. and Apocrypha; but see Xen. <span class="ital">Cyr</span>. vi. 2. 25; Polyb. ix. 31. 6, ix. 32. 8; Dem. 895. 5. “Non parcunt iis, qui dubitationes invexerant,” Bengel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="greekheb">λέγοντες περιτέμν</span>.] without <span class="greekheb"><span class="bld"><span class="ital">ΔΕῖΝ</span></span></span>, because in <span class="greekheb"><span class="bld"><span class="ital">ΛΈΓ</span>.<span class="greekheb"></span></span></span> the sense of commanding is implied. Kühner, <span class="ital">ad Xen. Anab</span>. v. 7. 34. Comp. on <a href="/acts/14-14.htm" title="Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,">Acts 14:14</a>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span>The <span class="greekheb">τηρεῖν τ</span>. <span class="greekheb">νόμον</span> is the <span class="greekheb"><span class="bld"><span class="ital">ΖΥΓΌς</span></span></span>, <a href="/acts/15-10.htm" title="Now therefore why tempt you God, to put a yoke on the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?">Acts 15:10</a>, which was imposed with circumcision, <a href="/galatians/5-3.htm" title="For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.">Galatians 5:3</a>. And the <span class="greekheb"><span class="bld"><span class="ital">ΝΌΜΟς</span></span></span> is the whole law, not merely the ceremonial part.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="greekheb"><span class="bld"><span class="ital">ΟἿς Οὐ ΔΙΕΣΤΕΙΛ</span>.<span class="greekheb"></span></span></span>] So <span class="ital">arbitrarily</span> had they acted.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span>[40] According to Schwanbeck, the letter is derived from the “Memoirs of Silas.” In this view, of course, it must be assumed that <span class="greekheb">ἄνδρας ἡγουμ</span>., ver. 22, did not stand in the text at all, or not <span class="ital">here</span>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span>[41] See Otto in the <span class="ital">Jahrb. f. D. Theol</span>. 1867, p. 678 ff.<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/15-23.htm" title="And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brothers send greeting to the brothers which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.">Acts 15:23</a>.—<span class="greekheb">οἱ ἀπόστ</span>. <span class="greekheb">καὶ οἱ πρεσβ</span>. <span class="greekheb">καὶ οἱ ἀδελ</span>., but in R.V. “the Apostles and the elder brethren,” see critical notes. The phrase as it stands in R.V. has been called meaningless (Page), but Hort, <span class="ital">Ecclesia</span>, p. 71, while admitting that the phrase is unusual, defends it as indicating that they who held the office of elder were to be regarded as bearing the characteristic from which the title itself had arisen, and that they were but elder brethren at the head of a great family of brethren (<span class="ital">cf.</span> Knabenbauer <span class="ital">in loco</span>). It is of course quite possible that <span class="greekheb">ἀδελ</span>. is merely to be taken as in apposition to <span class="greekheb">ἀπόστ</span>. and <span class="greekheb">πρεσβ</span>., meaning that as brethren they sent a message to brethren (Wendt, Felten, Page).—<span class="greekheb">τοῖς κατὰ τὴν Ἀ</span>. <span class="greekheb">κ</span>.<span class="greekheb">τ</span>.<span class="greekheb">λ</span>., see below.—<span class="greekheb">χαίρειν</span>: amongst the Epistles of the N.T. only that of St. James thus commences, as has been often pointed out by Bengel and others. The coincidence may be a chance one, but it is the more remarkable, since the letter may well have been written and dictated by St. James in his authoritative position. On the phrase in letters see Mayor’s interesting note on <a href="/james/1-1.htm" title="James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.">Jam 1:1</a>. It occurs again in <a href="/acts/23-26.htm" title="Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix sends greeting.">Acts 23:26</a>, but nowhere else in N.T.<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">23</span>. <span class="ital">And they wrote letters by them after this manner</span>] From the form in which the document is here given, we should judge that the original was in Greek. A translation from a Hebrew original would hardly have begun with a greeting and ended with “Fare ye well.” It seems likely that this was so too, because the population of Antioch, the chief town in Syria, would use Greek much more than Hebrew, at this date. The construction of the Greek in the beginning of this verse is not strictly grammatical, but such irregularities are not unusual in a passage which begins impersonally, as does <span class="ital"><a href="/acts/15-22.htm" title="Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brothers:">Acts 15:22</a></span>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="ital">by them</span> (lit. <span class="ital">by their hand</span>)] This is a Hebraism. The letter was not delivered to Paul and Barnabas, but to the two ambassadors from Jerusalem. It is the oldest synodical circular letter in existence, and the only one of Apostolic times which has come down to us. Bengel suggests that it was composed by James, in the name and at the request of the assembly.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="ital">The apostles and elders and brethren</span>] The oldest MSS. omit the second <span class="ital">and</span>, thus making the Epistle run in the name of <span class="ital">the apostles and elder brethren</span>, and this rendering is adopted in <span class="ital">R. V.</span> The conjunction of the two last words to signify ‘the elders’ is very unusual, and after what has been said in the previous verse about the decree expressing the voice of the whole church as well as of the apostles and elders, it seems much more in accord with the rest of the narrative to adhere to the <span class="ital">Text. Rec</span>. which has a large amount of good MS. support.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="ital">in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia</span>] As we have no mention of this decree of the synod of Jerusalem in St Paul’s Epistles, we may suppose that the agitation on the subject, begun at Antioch, had spread only into Syria and Cilicia, and that the authoritative decision of the mother church quieted the controversy there, while it did not arise in the same form in other places.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/bengel/acts/15.htm">Bengel's Gnomen</a></div><a href="/acts/15-23.htm" title="And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brothers send greeting to the brothers which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.">Acts 15:23</a>. <span class="greekheb">Γράψαντες</span>, <span class="ital">having written</span>) Who dictated the Epistle, or wrote it, and in what language, is not expressed. There could be no suspicion as to its genuineness. No other epistle given by the primitive Church is extant at the present day, although there were many given: ch. <a href="/acts/18-27.htm" title="And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brothers wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:">Acts 18:27</a>; <a href="/1_corinthians/7-1.htm" title="Now concerning the things whereof you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.">1 Corinthians 7:1</a>; <a href="/2_corinthians/3-1.htm" title="Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, letters of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?">2 Corinthians 3:1</a>. <span class="greekheb">Γράψαντες</span>, in the nominative case, coheres with <span class="greekheb">πέμψαι</span>. Comp. <a href="/2_corinthians/10-2.htm" title="But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, with which I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.">2 Corinthians 10:2</a>; <a href="/2_corinthians/8-23.htm" title="Whether any do inquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellow helper concerning you: or our brothers be inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.">2 Corinthians 8:23</a>, <span class="greekheb">εἴτε ὑπὲρ Τίτου</span>, <span class="greekheb">κοινωνὸς ἐμός</span>, etc., note.—<span class="greekheb">διὰ</span>, <span class="ital">by</span>) An abbreviated expression for, <span class="ital">they wrote</span>, and <span class="ital">by their hand</span> (<span class="greekheb">διὰ χειρὸς αὐτῶν</span>) <span class="ital">sent</span>.—<span class="greekheb">τάδε</span>, <span class="ital">these things</span>) Many things are put down in this letter out of the speeches of Peter and James.—<span class="greekheb">Συρίαν</span>, <span class="ital">Syria</span>) It is not to be wondered at, that the books of the New Testament were soon (early) translated into the Syriac language.—<span class="greekheb">χαίρειν</span>) wish <span class="ital">joy</span> (‘greeting’), in truth: see <a href="/acts/15-31.htm" title="Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.">Acts 15:31</a>. Believers do not always use very warm forms of compliment, but sometimes employ every-day forms in a more elevated sense. So <a href="/acts/15-29.htm" title="That you abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if you keep yourselves, you shall do well. Fare you well.">Acts 15:29</a>, <span class="greekheb">ἔῤῥωσθε</span>, <span class="ital">farewell</span>. So <a href="/james/1-1.htm" title="James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.">Jam 1:1</a>, <span class="greekheb">χαίρειν</span>, <span class="ital">greeting</span> (bids salutation). Peter employs other words. From this we may infer, that <span class="ital">this</span> epistle was composed by James in the Council, as being especially in consonance with the <span class="ital">speech</span> of James; for instance, <span class="greekheb">παρενοχλεῖν</span>, <span class="ital">to trouble unnecessarily</span>, <a href="/acts/15-19.htm" title="Why my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:">Acts 15:19</a>, and <span class="greekheb">ταράττειν</span>, <span class="ital">to trouble</span>, <a href="/acts/15-24.htm" title="For as much as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, You must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:">Acts 15:24</a>, <span class="greekheb">ἀπέχεσθαι</span>, <span class="ital">to abstain</span>, <a href="/acts/15-20.htm" title="But that we write to them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.">Acts 15:20</a>; <a href="/acts/15-29.htm" title="That you abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if you keep yourselves, you shall do well. Fare you well.">Acts 15:29</a>.<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 23.</span> <span class="accented">- Wrote thus by them</span> for <span class="accented">wrote letters by them after this manner</span>, A.V.; the <span class="accented">elder brethren</span> for <span class="accented">elders and brethren</span>, A.V.; <span class="accented">unto</span>... <span class="accented">greeting</span> for <span class="accented">send greeting unto</span>, etc., A.V., as <a href="/acts/23-26.htm">Acts 23:26</a>. <span class="cmt_word">The elder brethren</span>, etc. The grammar of the sentence is irregular, as there is nothing for <span class="greek">γράψαντες</span> to agree with. But "the elder brethren" is a phrase unknown to the Scriptures, and it is much more in accordance with the feeling of the times that "the brethren," i.<span class="accented">e.</span> the whole Church, should be included in the salutation. <span class="cmt_word">Greeting</span>. It is remarkable that the only other place in the New Testament where this Greek salutation occurs is <a href="/james/1-1.htm">James 1:1</a>. Acts 15:23<a name="vws" id="vws"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/vws/acts/15.htm">Vincent's Word Studies</a></div>Greeting (χαίρειν)<p>The usual Greek form of salutation. It occurs nowhere else in the salutation of a New Testament epistle save in the Epistle of James (<a href="/james/1-1.htm">James 1:1</a>). See note there. 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