τινες κατελ. ἀπὸ τῆς Ἰ.: on the vagueness of the expression see Ramsay, _St. Paul_, pp. 158; I59. κατελ., _i.e._, to Antioch; see critical notes for [278] reading, and additional note at end of chapter on the identification of Galatians 2:1-10 with Acts 15 : in the early Church in favour of the iden... [ Continue Reading ]
στάσεως : the word, with the exception of Mark 15:7, and Hebrews 9:8 (in a totally different sense), is peculiar to St. Luke: twice in his Gospel, and five times in Acts; used in classical Greek of sedition, discord, faction, and so of the factious opposition of parties in the state; frequent in LXX... [ Continue Reading ]
οἱ μὲν οὖν : Phœnicia and Samaria on the one hand welcome them with joy, but on the other hand the Church in Jerusalem is divided, Acts 15:5, see Rendall, Appendix on μὲν οὖν, p. 161. Blass however thinks that the words are used “without opposition” as often. διήρχοντο τὴν Φ. καὶ Σ., see note on Act... [ Continue Reading ]
_Council at Jerusalem_. παραγεν., Lucan, see above on Acts 5:21. ἀπεδέχθησαν if we read παρεδέχ., _cf._ 2Ma 4:22 (but see Hatch and Redpath); with the idea of receiving with welcome, _cf._ Mark 4:20; Hebrews 12:6 (quotation); see Syn [280] δέχ. and λαμβ., Grimm-Thayer; in classical Greek = ὑποδέχομα... [ Continue Reading ]
For [281] see critical note. ἐξανέστησαν : compound verb in this sense here only in N.T. (only elsewhere in quotation, Mark 12:19; Luke 20:28), but in classical Greek and in LXX, _cf._ Obadiah 1:1, Sir 8:2; Sir 17:23, 1Ma 9:40. The double compound apparently gives at least some measure of emphasis,... [ Continue Reading ]
λόγου : “de causâ quæ in disceptationem venit” (Blass), _cf._ Acts 8:21; Acts 19:38. The Ecclesia at large was in some manner also present at this final assembly, _cf._ Acts 15:12; Acts 15:22, although the chief responsibility would rest with the Apostles and Elders, _cf._ Iren., _Hær._, iii., chap.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἀναστὰς, Lucan, see Acts 5:17; the position of Peter is one of authority, not of pre-eminence the latter belongs to James. The part which Peter had formerly taken in the conversion of Cornelius would naturally make him the most fitting person to introduce the discussion. From Galatians 2:3 we learn... [ Continue Reading ]
ὁ καρδιογνώστης, Acts 1:24, where the same word is used by St. Peter; _cf._ Jeremiah 17:10. ἐτάζων καρδίας, and _cf._ St. Peter's words in Acts 10:34. καθὼς καὶ ἡμῖν, Acts 10:44; Acts 11:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
τῇ πίστει καθαρίσας τ. κ.: the thought is described by Zöckler as equally Petrine, Pauline, and Johannine; _cf._ Acts 3:16; Acts 3:19; 1 Peter 1:18-21; Romans 2:24, 1 John 1:8; 1 John 2:2; Revelation 7:14; here it stands in contrast to the outward purification of circumcision upon which the Judaiser... [ Continue Reading ]
νῦν οὖν : in Acts four times, nowhere else in N.T.; _cf._ Acts 10:35, _nunc igitur:_ LXX, Genesis 27:8, etc.; 1Ma 10:71. τί πειράζετε τὸν Θ., _cf._ Acts 5:9, they put God to the proof, as to whether He had not admitted unworthy persons into the Church. ἐπιθ. ζυγὸν : on the infinitive see Burton, _N.... [ Continue Reading ]
διὰ τῆς χ.: twice in his First Epistle St. Peter speaks of the grace of God, of the God of all grace; so also of the grace prophesied beforehand, of the grace brought to them, _cf._ also Acts 3:7 and 2 Peter 3:18. The exact phrase here is not found elsewhere in St. Peter, although common in St. Paul... [ Continue Reading ]
ἐσίγησε : may mean “became silent,” “itaque antea non tacuerant” (Blass), _cf._ Burton, _N. T. Moods and Tenses_, 21, A. and R.V., “kept silence”. πᾶν τὸ πλῆθος : implying a general assembly of the Church; on the word see Acts 2:6; Acts 4:32, etc. ἤκουον : imperfect, marking a continuous hearing; th... [ Continue Reading ]
μετὰ δὲ τὸ σ., _i.e._, after Barnabas and Paul had ceased speaking. ἀπεκ. Ἰ. λ.: 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. ἀ. ἀκούσατέ μου : only here and in James 2:5.... [ Continue Reading ]
Συμεὼν : Peter so named only here and in 2 Peter 2:1. The use of the word here in its old Hebrew form by James is exactly what we should expect, _cf._ Luke 2:25; Luke 2:34, W.H [284]; probably therefore the form current in Jerusalem, a form which reappears in the list of the successors of St. James... [ Continue Reading ]
καὶ τούῳ, “and to this agree,” A. and R.V., _i.e._, to the fact just stated (so Wendt, Weiss, Blass, Ramsay); if the pronoun referred to St. Peter, as some take it, we should have had οἱ προφῆται, not as in text, οἱ λ. τῶν π. The quotation Amos 9:11-12, is freely cited from the LXX, and indeed the c... [ Continue Reading ]
Μετὰ ταῦτα : both Hebrew and LXX, ἐν τῇ ἐκει. τῇ ἡμέρᾳ, _i.e._, in the Messianic times, after the predicted chastisement of Israel: the house of David is in ruins, but it is to be re-erected, and from the restoration of its prosperity the Messianic blessings will flow: “the person of the Messiah doe... [ Continue Reading ]
ὅπως ἂν ἐκζητ. οἱ κ. τῶν ἀνθρώπων τόν Κ.: LXX and Hebrew are here considerably at variance. Hebrew: “that they may possess the remnant of Edom”. In LXX: “that the rest of men may seek after (the Lord)” (so also Arabic Version, whilst Vulgate, Peshitto, and Targum support the Massoretic text, see Bri... [ Continue Reading ]
In R.V. the phrase ἀπʼ αἰῶνος is connected closely with the preceding clause, see critical notes: “who maketh these things known from the beginning of the world” (“of time,” Ramsay), or margin, “who doeth these things which were known” etc. St. James may perhaps have added the words freely to the LX... [ Continue Reading ]
διὸ ἐγὼ κρίνω : “wherefore my judgment is”. St. James apparently speaks as the president of the meeting, Chrysostom, _Hom._, xxxiii., and his words with the emphatic ἐγώ (Weiss) may express more than the opinion of a private member he sums up the debate and proposes “the draught of a practical resol... [ Continue Reading ]
ἐπιστεῖλαι (Acts 21:25), Hebrews 13:22; the verb is used of a _written_ injunction, Westcott, _l. c._ (so Wendt here and in Acts 21:25, and so Klostermann), and so often in ecclesiastical writers; here it may mean to write or enjoin, or may well include both, _cf._ Hort, _Ecclesia_, p. 70, Westcott,... [ Continue Reading ]
ἐκ γενεῶν ἀρχαίων : pointing back to the first days when the Diaspora had first spread to any considerable extent in heathen lands: see on Acts 15:7. The exact phrase (ἀπὸ) γενεῶν ἀρχ. occurs in _Psalms of Solomon_, Acts 18:14 from the generations of old the lights of heaven have not departed from t... [ Continue Reading ]
ἔδοξε : the word is often found in public resolutions and official decrees, Herod., i., 3; Thuc., iv., 118 L) and.). τοῖς ἀποσ.… ἐκλεξ.… γράψ.: on the irregular construction see Page and Rendall, and instances in Alford and Lumby; and further, Burton, _N. T. Moods and Tenses_, p. 173. σὺν ὅλῃ τῇ ἐκκ... [ Continue Reading ]
οἱ ἀπόστ. καὶ οἱ πρεσβ. καὶ οἱ ἀδελ., 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, _Ecclesia_, p. 71, while admitting that the phrase is unusual, defends it as indicating that they who held the of... [ Continue Reading ]
On the similarity of this verse in phraseology to St. Luke's preface, Luke 1:1, Schwegler, Zeller, Weiss, Friedrich, Hilgenfeld, and others have commented. But, after all, in what does the likeness consist? Simply in the fact that here as there we have ἐπειδή introducing the antecedent clause, and ἔ... [ Continue Reading ]
γενομ. ὁμοθυμαδόν : “having come to one accord,” “einmutig geworden,” Weiss: ὁμοθ., though frequent in Acts, see Acts 1:14, only here with γεν. For the form of the phrase as indicating mutual deliberation on the part of the Church collectively see “Council,” _Dict. of Chr. Ant._, i., 474. ἐκλεξ. ἄνδ... [ Continue Reading ]
παραδεδωκόσι τὰς ψ. α.: “hazarded their lives,” A. and R.V.; so in classical Greek, and in LXX, Daniel 3:28 (95). The sufferings of the missionaries aries in their first journey were evidently well known, and appeal was fittingly made to them in recognition of their self-sacrifice, and in proof of t... [ Continue Reading ]
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 a... [ Continue Reading ]
ἔδοξε γὰρ τῷ Ἁ. Π. καὶ ἡμῖν : “causa principalis” and “causa ministerialis” of the decree. The words of Hooker exactly describe the meaning and purpose of the words, _E. P._, iii., 10, 2, _cf._ Acts 8:6-7, and _cf._ St. Chrysostom's words, _Hom._, xxxiii., “not making themselves equal to Him [_i.e._... [ Continue Reading ]
ἀπέχ.: preposition omitted as in Acts 15:20, W.H [289]; so usually in classical Greek, but in N.T. ἀπέχ. ἀπό, 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:22; so in LXX, Job 1:1; Job 1:8; Job 2:3, etc. On the difference in meaning in the two constructions, see Alford and Wendt, _in loco._ εἰδωλοθύτων, see... [ Continue Reading ]
οἱ μὲν οὖν … ἀναγνόντες δέ : two parties are presented as acting in concert as here (or in opposition), see Rendall, _Acts_, Appendix on μὲν οὖν, p. 161. ἦλθον, but κατῆλθον, R.V., Jerusalem is still the centre from which Barnabas and Paul go down. See reading in, critical note. τὸ πλῆθος = ἡ ἐκκλησ... [ Continue Reading ]
παρακλήσει : A. and R.V. “consolation” (“exhortation” margin, R.V.). The former rendering seems suitable here, because the letter causes rejoicing, not as an exhortation, but as a message of relief and concord. Ramsay and Hort render “encouragement”. Barnabas was a fitting bearer of such a message,... [ Continue Reading ]
καὶ αὐτοὶ προφ. ὄντες : Wendt, so Meyer, takes καὶ αὐτοί not with προφ. ὄντες (these words in commas), but with the words which follow, indicating that Judas and Silas gave encouragement to the brethren personally (_cf._ Acts 15:27), as the letter had verbally; but punctuation of T.R. in R.V., W.H ... [ Continue Reading ]
ποιήσαντες δὲ χρόνον, _cf._ Acts 18:23, and Acts 20:3, only in Acts in N.T., _cf._ 2 Corinthians 11:25; James 4:13. For the phrase both in LXX and classical Greek (so in Latin), see Wetstein, Blass, Grimm. In LXX _cf._ Proverbs 13:23; Ecclesiastes 6:12 (Tob 10:7), so Hebrew עָשַׂה. μετʼ εἰρήνης : ex... [ Continue Reading ]
Omitted in R.V. text, but not in margin. See critical notes.... [ Continue Reading ]
διέτριβον, _cf._ Acts 12:19, and see also on Acts 16:12. In LXX _cf._ Leviticus 14:8; Jeremiah 42 (35):7, Jdt 10:2, 2Ma 14:23. So also in classics with or without χρόνον. διδάσ. καὶ εὐαγγ.: possibly the first may refer to work inside the Church, and the second to work outside, but the distinction ca... [ Continue Reading ]
μετὰ δέ : second missionary journey commences, ending Acts 18:22. ἐπιστρέψαντες, _reversi, cf._ Luke 2:39, W.H [291], Acts 17:31. The word is so used in LXX, and in modern Greek (Kennedy, p. 155). δὴ, see on Acts 13:2. ἐπισκεψ., see above on Acts 6:3. The word was characteristic of a man like St. Pa... [ Continue Reading ]
ἐβουλεύσατο, but ἐβούλετο see critical note, “wished,” _volebat_; R. V., “was minded” almost too strong. Possibly owing to his kinship, Barnabas may have taken a more lenient view than Paul.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἠξίου, _cf._ Acts 28:22 (Luke 7:7), and _cf._ 1Ma 11:28, Malachi 2:8; Malachi 2:8, etc. ἐβούλ. is a mild word compared with this. συμπαραλαβεῖν, _cf._ Acts 12:25, used also by Paul in Galatians 2:1 of taking Titus with him to Jerusalem, and nowhere else in N.T. except in this passage, _cf._ Job 1:4;... [ Continue Reading ]
παροξυσμός, Hebrews 10:24, in different sense, nowhere else in N.T. The verb is found twice, Acts 17:16, 1 Corinthians 13:5; in the former passage of Paul's righteous provocation in Athens, and in the latter of irritation of mind as here; the noun twice in LXX of God's righteous anger, Deuteronomy 2... [ Continue Reading ]
Π. δὲ ἐπιλεξ. Σ.: not in the place of Mark, but in the place of Barnabas, Ramsay, _St. Paul_, p. 171; having chosen, _i.e._, for himself: _sibi eligere_; only in N.T. in this sense, but in classical Greek and in LXX, 1 Samuel 2:28 A, 2 Samuel 10:9 R, Sir 6:18, Esther 9:16; Esther 9:16 1Ma 1:63 R, Ac... [ Continue Reading ]
διήρχετο, see above on Acts 13:6. Συρίαν καὶ Κιλικίαν : as Barnabas had turned to Cyprus, the scene of his early labours in the Gospel, and perhaps also his own home, so Paul turned to Syria and Cilicia, not only because his home was in Cilicia, but also because he had worked there in his early Chri... [ Continue Reading ]