AND CERTAIN MEN CAME DOWN FROM JUDEA (κα τινες κατελθοντες απο της Ιουδαιας). Evidently the party of the circumcision in the church in Jerusalem (Acts 11:2) had heard of the spread of the gospel among the Gentiles in Cyprus, Pamphylia, and South Galatia (Phrygia, Pisidia, Lycaonia). Possibly John... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN PAUL AND BARNABAS HAD NO SMALL DISSENSION AND QUESTIONING WITH THEM (Γενομενης στασεως κα ζητησεως ουκ ολιγης τω Παυλω κα Βαρναβα προς αυτους). Genitive absolute of second aorist middle participle of γινομα, genitive singular agreeing with first substantive στασεως. Literally, "No little (lit... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY THEREFORE (ο μεν ουν). Luke's favourite method of resumptive narrative as we have seen (Acts 11:19, etc.), demonstrative ο with μεν (indeed) and ουν (therefore).BEING BROUGHT ON THEIR WAY BY THE CHURCH (προπεμφθεντες υπο της εκκλησιας). First aorist passive participle of προπεμπω, old verb... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE RECEIVED (παρεδεχθησαν). First aorist passive indicative of παραδεχομα, old verb, to receive, to welcome. Here it was a public reception for Paul and Barnabas provided by the whole church including the apostles and elders, at which an opportunity was given to hear the story of Paul and Barna... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THERE ROSE UP (εξανεστησαν δε). Second aorist active indicative (intransitive). Note both εξ and αν. These men rose up out of the crowd at a critical moment. They were believers in Christ (πεπιστευκοτες, having believed), but were still members of "the sect of the Pharisees" (της αιρεσεως των... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE GATHERED TOGETHER (συνηχθησαν). First aorist (effective) passive indicative. The church is not named here as in verse Acts 15:4, but we know from verses Acts 15:12-22 that the whole church came together this time also along with the apostles and elders.OF THIS MATTER (περ του λογου τουτου)... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THERE HAD BEEN MUCH QUESTIONING (πολλης ζητησεως γενομενης). Genitive absolute with second aorist middle participle of γινομα. Evidently the Judaizers were given full opportunity to air all their grievances and objections. They were allowed plenty of time and there was no effort to shut off... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH KNOWETH THE HEART (καρδιογνωστης). Late word from καρδια (heart) and γνωστης (known, γινωσκω). In the N.T. only here and Acts 1:24 which see.GIVING THEM THE HOLY SPIRIT (δους το πνευμα το αγιον). And before their baptism. This was the Lord's doing. They had accepted (Acts 11:18) this witn... [ Continue Reading ]
HE MADE NO DISTINCTION BETWEEN US AND THEM (ουθεν διεκρινεν μεταξυ ημων τε κα αυτων). He distinguished nothing (first aorist active ind.) between (both δια and μεταξυ) both (τε κα) us and them. In the matter of faith and conversion God treated us Jews as heathen and the heathen as Jews.CLEANSING... [ Continue Reading ]
WHY TEMPT YE GOD? (τ πειραζετε τον θεον;). By implying that God had made a mistake this time, though right about Cornelius. It is a home-thrust. They were refusing to follow the guidance of God like the Israelites at Massah and Meribah (Exodus 17:7; Deuteronomy 6:16; 1 Corinthians 10:9).THAT YE S... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WE SHALL BE SAVED (σωθηνα). First aorist passive infinitive in indirect discourse after πιστευομεν. More exactly, "We believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in like manner as they also." This thoroughly Pauline note shows that whatever hopes the Judaizers had about Pet... [ Continue Reading ]
KEPT SILENCE (εσιγησεν). Ingressive first aorist active of σιγαω, old verb, to hold one's peace. All the multitude became silent after Peter's speech and because of it.HEARKENED (ηκουον). Imperfect active of ακουω, descriptive of the rapt attention, were listening.UNTO BARNABAS AND PAUL (Βαρν... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THEY HAD HELD THEIR PEACE (μετα το σιγησα αυτους). Literally, "after the becoming silent (ingressive aorist active of the articular infinitive) as to them (Barnabas and Paul, accusative of general reference)."JAMES ANSWERED (απεκριθη Ιακωβος). First aorist passive (deponent) indicative. I... [ Continue Reading ]
HEARKEN UNTO ME (ακουσατε μου). Usual appeal for attention. James was termed James the Just and was considered a representative of the Hebraic as opposed to the Hellenistic wing of the Jewish Christians (Acts 6:1). The Judaizers had doubtless counted on him as a champion of their view and did lat... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THIS AGREE (τουτω συμφωνουσιν). Associative instrumental case (τουτω) after συμφωνουσιν (voice together with, symphony with, harmonize with), from συμφωνεω, old verb seen already in Matthew 18:19; Luke 5:36; Acts 5:9 which see. James cites only Amos 9:11; Amos 9:12 from the LXX as an example of... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL BUILD AGAIN (ανοικοδομησω). Here LXX has αναστησω. Compound (ανα, up or again) of οικοδομεω, the verb used by Jesus in Matthew 16:18 of the general church or kingdom as here which see.THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID (την σκηνην Δαυειδ), a poetical figure of the throne of David (2 Samuel 7:12) no... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THE RESIDUE OF MEN MAY SEEK AFTER THE LORD (οπως αν εκζητησωσιν ο καταλοιπο των ανθρωπων τον κυριον). The use of οπως with the subjunctive (effective aorist active) to express purpose is common enough and note αν for an additional tone of uncertainty. On the rarity of αν with οπως in the _Koi... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD (απ' αιωνος). Or, "from of old." James adds these words, perhaps with a reminiscence of Isaiah 45:21. His point is that this purpose of God, as set forth in Amos, is an old one. God has an Israel outside of and beyond the Jewish race, whom he will make his true "Isr... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE (διο). "Because of which," this plain purpose of God as shown by Amos and Isaiah.MY JUDGMENT IS (εγω κρινω). Note expression of εγω.I GIVE MY JUDGMENT . (Εγο χενσεο). James sums up the case as President of the Conference in a masterly fashion and with that consummate wisdom for whic... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THAT WE WRITE UNTO THEM (αλλα επιστειλα αυτοις). By way of contrast (αλλα). First aorist active infinitive of επιστελλω, old verb to send to one (message, letter, etc.). Our word επιστλε (επιστολη as in verse Acts 15:30) comes from this verb. In the N.T. only here, Hebrews 13:22, and possibly... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR MOSES (Μωυσης γαρ). A reason why these four necessary things (verse Acts 15:28) are named. In every city are synagogues where rabbis proclaim (κηρυσσοντας) these matters. Hence the Gentile Christians would be giving constant offence to neglect them. The only point where modern Christian senti... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN IT SEEMED GOOD (Τοτε εδοξεν). First aorist active indicative of δοκεω. A regular idiom at the beginning of decrees. This Eirenicon of James commended itself to the whole assembly. Apparently a vote was taken which was unanimous, the Judaizers probably not voting. The apostles and the elders... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY WROTE (γραψαντες). First aorist active participle of γραφω and the nominative as if a principal verb επεμψαν had been used instead of πεμψα, the first aorist active infinitive (anacoluthon). This committee of four (Judas, Silas, Barnabas, Paul) carried the letter which embodied the decis... [ Continue Reading ]
CERTAIN WHICH WENT FROM US (τινες εξ ÂημÂων, Aleph B omit εξελθοντες). A direct blow at the Judaizers, put in delicate language (we heard Âηκουσαμεν) as if only at Antioch (Acts 15:1), and not also in Jerusalem in open meeting (Acts 15:5).HAVE TROUBLED YOU WITH WORDS (εταραξαν υμας λογοις). Wha... [ Continue Reading ]
IT SEEMED GOOD UNTO US (εδοξεν ημιν). See statement by Luke in verse Acts 15:22, and now this definite decision is in the epistle itself. It is repeated in verse Acts 15:28.HAVING COME TO ONE ACCORD (γενομενοις ομοθυμαδον). On this adverb, common in Acts, see on Acts 1:14. But γενομενοις clearl... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVE HAZARDED THEIR LIVES (παραδεδωκοσ τας ψυχας αυτων). Perfect active participle dative plural of παραδιδωμ, old word, to hand over to another, and with ψυχας, to hand over to another their lives. The sufferings of Paul and Barnabas in Pisidia and Lycaonia were plainly well-known just as the st... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO THEMSELVES ALSO SHALL TELL YOU THE SAME THINGS BY WORD OF MOUTH (κα αυτους δια λογου απαγγελλοντας τα αυτα). Literally, "they themselves also by speech announcing the same things." The present participle, as here, sometimes is used like the future to express purpose as in Acts 3:26 ευλογουντα... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE HOLY SPIRIT AND TO US (τω πνευματ τω αγιω κα ημιν). Dative case after εδοξεν (third example, verses Acts 15:22; Acts 15:25; Acts 15:28). Definite claim that the church in this action had the guidance of the Holy Spirit. That fact was plain to the church from what had taken place in Caesarea... [ Continue Reading ]
THAN THESE NECESSARY THINGS (πλην τουτων των επαναγκες). This old adverb (from επ and αναγκη) means on compulsion, of necessity. Here only in the N.T. For discussion of these items see on verses Acts 15:20; Acts 15:21. In comparison with the freedom won this "burden" is light and not to be regard... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THEY (ο μεν ουν). As in verse Acts 15:3.WHEN THEY WERE DISMISSED (απολυθεντες). First aorist passive participle of απολυω, common verb to loosen, to dismiss. Possibly (Hackett) religious services were held as in verse Acts 15:33 (cf. Acts 13:3) and perhaps an escort for part of the way as in... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THEY HAD READ IT (αναγνοντες). Second aorist active participle of αναγινωσκω. Public reading, of course, to the church.THEY REJOICED (εχαρησαν). Second aorist (ingressive) passive indicative of χαιρω. They burst into exultant joy showing clearly that they did not consider it a weak comprom... [ Continue Reading ]
BEING THEMSELVES ALSO PROPHETS (κα αυτο προφητα οντες). As well as Paul and Barnabas and like Agabus (Acts 11:27-30), for-speakers for Christ who justify the commendation in the letter (verse Acts 15:27) "with many words" (δια λογου πολλου), "with much talk," and no doubt with kindly words concer... [ Continue Reading ]
SOME TIME (χρονον). Accusative after ποιησαντες, "having done time." How long we do not know.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IT SEEMED GOOD UNTO SILAS TO ABIDE THERE (εδοξε δε Σιλα επιμεινα αυτου). This verse is not in the Revised Version or in the text of Westcott and Hort, being absent from Aleph A B Vulgate, etc. It is clearly an addition to help explain the fact that Silas is back in Antioch in verse Acts 15:40... [ Continue Reading ]
TARRIED (διετριβον). Imperfect active of διατριβω, old verb to pass time, seen already in Acts 12:19; Acts 14:3; Acts 14:28.WITH MANY OTHERS ALSO (μετα κα ετερων πολλων). A time of general revival and naturally so after the victory at Jerusalem. It is at this point that it is probable that the s... [ Continue Reading ]
LET US RETURN NOW AND VISIT THE BRETHREN (επιστρεψαντες δε επισκεψωμεθα τους αδελφους). Paul takes the initiative as the leader, all the more so if the rebuke to Peter and Barnabas in Galatians 2:11-21 had already taken place. Paul is anxious, like a true missionary, to go back to the fields wher... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS MINDED TO TAKE WITH THEM (εβουλετο συνπαραλαβειν). Imperfect middle (εβουλετο), not aorist middle εβουλευσατο of the Textus Receptus. Barnabas willed, wished and stuck to it (imperfect tense). Συνπαραλαβειν is second aorist active infinitive of the double compound συνπαραλαμβανω, old verb to... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT PAUL THOUGHT NOT GOOD TO TAKE WITH THEM (Παυλος δε ηξιου--μη συνπαραλαμβανειν τουτον). The Greek is far more effective than this English rendering. It is the imperfect active of αξιοω, old verb to think meet or right and the present active infinitive of the same verb (συνπαραλαμβανω) with nega... [ Continue Reading ]
A SHARP CONTENTION (παροξυσμος). Our very word paroxysm in English. Old word though only twice in the N.T. (here and Hebrews 10:24), from παροξυνω, to sharpen (παρα, οξυς) as of a blade and of the spirit (Acts 17:16; 1 Corinthians 13:5). This "son of consolation" loses his temper in a dispute over... [ Continue Reading ]
CHOSE (επιλεξαμενος). First aorist middle (indirect) participle of επιλεγω, choosing for himself, as the successor of Barnabas, not of Mark who had no place in Paul's plans at this time.COMMENDED (παραδοθεις). First aorist passive of παραδιδωμ, the same verb employed about Paul and Barnabas (Act... [ Continue Reading ]
WENT THROUGH (διηρχετο). Imperfect middle. So Paul went forth on his second mission tour with heart-aches and high hopes mingled together.SYRIA AND CILICIA (την Συριαν κα την Κιλικιαν). He took the opposite course from the first tour, leaving Cyprus to Barnabas and Mark. Probably Paul had estab... [ Continue Reading ]