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Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

Acts 15:13

James] James, the Lord's brother, presided at the Council, doubtless in the capacity of chief ruler of the local Church of Jerusalem. We should have expected Peter to preside.

14-21. St. James' speech proves him as decided an adherent of Gentile liberty as St. Peter. He approves St. Peter's conduct in baptising Cornelius, and quotes prophecies showing that the Messianic Church will embrace all nations. The Jews are to continue to keep the Law, but the Gentiles are only to be required to abstain from certain practices offensive to Jews.

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See also Acts 15:13 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Acts 15:13. _JAMES ANSWERED_] He was evidently _president_ of the council, and is generally called bishop of Jerusalem. The rest either _argued_ on the subject, or gave their _opinion_; James a...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    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 o...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 15 _ 1. The false teachers from Judea. Paul and Barnabas sent to Jerusalem (Acts 15:1)._ 2. The Council in Jerusalem (Acts 15:6). 3. The Result made known (Acts 15:22). 4. The Consolation b...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    SPEECH OF JAMES. Who is this James? In Galatians 2:9 Paul tells us of the agreement he made with James and Cephas and John. James and John in this account are _prima facie_ to be taken as the two sons...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE CRUCIAL PROBLEM (Acts 15:1-5) The influx of Gentiles into the Church produced a problem which had to be solved. The mental background of the Jew was founded on the fact that he belonged to the ch...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    After they had been silent James replied, "Brothers, listen to me. Symeon has told you how God first made provision for the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name, With this the words of th...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    HELD THEIR PEACE. Same as kept silence in Acts 15:12. JAMES. See note on Acts 12:17. ANSWERED. App-122. HEARKEN UNTO. hear. Same word as "gave audience" in Acts 15:12, and "hear", verses:...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    James sums up the discussion, and pronounces the decision of the Church on this Controversy 13. _James_ i.e. the brother of the Lord, and bishop of Jerusalem, see above on Acts 12:17. _Men and breth...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    JAMES SUMS UP THE DISCUSSION, AND PRONOUNCES THE DECISION OF THE CHURCH ON THIS CONTROVERSY...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΑΥ̓ΤΟΎΣ, i.e. Paul and Barnabas. ἸΆΚΩΒΟΣ, _James_, i.e. the brother of our Lord who was so called, and who was at the head of the Church in Jerusalem. See above on Acts 12:17. ἈΚΟΎΣΑΤΈ ΜΟΥ, _hearken...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _AN ACCOUNT OF THE DISCUSSION ACTS 15:6-21:_ The church, with the apostles and elders, came together to discuss this problem concerning the Gentiles and the Law. Peter said that "God made choice among...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΣΙΓΉΣΑΙ _aor. act. inf., см._ Acts 15:12. _Inf._ с _предл._ ΜΕΤΆ выражает время ("после"), ΆΠΕΚΡΊΘΗ _aor. ind. pass. (dep.) от_ ΆΠΟΚΡΊΝΟΜΑΙ (G611) отвечать, ΆΚΟΎΣΑΤΕ _aor. imper. act., см._ Acts 15...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    AND AFTER THEY HAD HELD THEIR PEACE,— The silence being renewed, the apostle James made a speech, in which he summed up the debate, and formed the question, to which they all unanimously agreed. Hence...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    THE ELDERS AND APOSTLES MEET TO SETTLE THE DISPUTE. Acts 15:6-29 a. Peter's speech. Acts 15:6-11. Acts 15:6 And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider of this matter....

  • Combined Bible Commentary

    13-21. So far as recent indications of God's will were concerned, the argument was now complete and unanswerable; but the Jewish mind was prone to an underestimate of passing events, while they looked...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: AND AFTER THEY HAD HELD THEIR PEACE, JAMES ANSWERED. Whether this was James the son of Alphaeus, or J...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    21 The report in Antioch that God _ had opened the door of faith to the nations _ sums up Paul's first missionary journey. This is given out as something new, unknown before. It is evident that Antioc...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    15:13 Brethren, (a-11) Lit. 'Men brethren.' as ch. 1.16, so ver. 13....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOOD NEWS FOR EVERYONE ACTS _MARION ADAMS_ CHAPTER 15 AN IMPORTANT MEETING IN *JERUSALEM, 15:1-21 V1 Some men came from *Judea to Antioch. They were teaching the *believers like this. ‘You must...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    JAMES ANSWERED. — The position which James the brother of the Lord (see Notes on Acts 12:17; and Matthew 12:46; Matthew 13:55) occupies in the Council is clearly that of pre-eminence, justifying the t...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    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)...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    A GENEROUS CONCLUSION Acts 15:12-21 When their turn came to speak, Paul and Barnabas contented themselves with emphasizing the signs and wonders by which God had set His seal on their words and metho...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    In the work among Gentiles the question of circumcision very naturally arose, and its difficulty is revealed in the calling of a council. That council seems to have opened with much desultory discussi...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    Resolving Conflict The matter was placed before the apostles and elders to be considered. Quite a discussion followed. Though Peter's actions were not always commendable, as when he dissembled in Anti...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    And after they had held their peace, (g) James answered, saying, Men [and] brethren, hearken unto me: (g) The son of Alphaeus, who is also called the Lord's brother....

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    Now James, the brother of our Lord and pastor of the Apostolic church at Jerusalem, rises after Peter and proceeds, delivering a number of focalized statements, which speak volumes appertaining to the...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. (7) And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    We now enter on the missionary journeys, as they are called, of the apostle Paul. The work, under the Spirit, opens to the glory of the Lord. Not merely are Gentiles met in grace and brought into the...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    − 13._James answered, saying. _Some old writers of the Church think that this James was one of the disciples, whose surname was Justus and Oblia, whose cruel death is recorded by Josephus in the Twent...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Chapter 15 contains the account of this. Certain persons come from Jerusalem, where all was still going on in connection with the requirements of the law; and they seek to impose these requirements on...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    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: JAMES ANSWERED; or rose up, as the Syriac versi...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men _and_ brethren, hearken unto me: Ver. 13. _James answered_] Who seemed to be a pillar, Galatians 2:9, and was so, both of the college...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Then all the multitude kept silence_ Having nothing further to object to what had been advanced; _and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul_ Who confirmed Peter's reasoning, by _declaring what miracles...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    JAMES; see note to chap Acts 12:17....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    AND AFTER THEY HAD HELD THEIR PEACE, JAMES ANSWERED, SAYING, MEN AND BRETHREN, HEARKEN UNTO ME:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The proposal of James:...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    However, here at Antioch a matter arose of deeply serious significance, and it was clearly God's wisdom to have Paul and Barnabas there at the time. Men from Judea, professing the knowledge of Christ,...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    AND AFTER THEY HAD BECOME SILENT, JAMES ANSWERED, SAYING, " MEN _AND_ BRETHREN, LISTEN TO ME: 1. The background was laid by Peter at Cornelius' house. 2. The Gentile conversions were multiplied by P...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    "James": Most feel that this is James the Lord's brother, who became. prominent voice in the early church (Galatians 1:19; Acts 21:18), and who wrote the book of James around 62 AD...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    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 t...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    AFTER THEY HAD HELD THEIR PEACE; Barnabas and Paul had finished their narrative. JAMES, who was surnamed the Just, and was the son of Alpheus, and a kinsman to our Saviour, now being president of this...

  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

    13-21. So far as recent indications of God's will were concerned, the argument was now complete and unanswerable; but the Jewish mind was prone to an underestimate of passing events, while they looked...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Seventh Council of Carthage Under Cyprian Cyprian of Carthage said: The letter which was written to our colleague Jubaianus very fully expresses my opinion, that, according to evangelical and apostol...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Acts 15:13 And G1161 after G3326 become G846 silent G4601 (G5658) James G2385 answered G611 (G5662) saying...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying,' Once all had listened to the long account of what God had done through Barnabas and Paul, there was silence. They had been given much to...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Acts 15:13. AND AFTER THEY HAD HELD THEIR PEACE, JAMES ANSWERED. The discussion was closed by a very famous character in the early Church. James, the so-called brother of the Lord (see Galatians 1:19;...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    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 ge...

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    MEN AND BRETHREN dispensationally, this is the most important passage in the New Testament It gives the divine purpose for this age, and for the beginning of the next. (1) The taking out from among...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: The council at Jerusalem and the question of circumcision. Paul's second missionary journey. Silas chosen. CHARACTERS: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Moses, Paul, Barnabas, apostles, elders, Phar...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Acts 15:1. _Certain men which came down from Judea._ Epiphanius says, Cerinthus the heretic was one of the principals in this dissension. But they were, no doubt, of the devil's sending, to disquiet t...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    JAMES SPOKE UP. Note it is James, the brother of Jesus, who takes charge of the situation. See Galatians 2:9 and the introduction to_ James._...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised … ye cannot be saved._ DISTURBERS OF THE CHURCH I. Certain men came down from Judea. 1. Probably...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And after they had held their peace, James answered._ THE DECISION OF THE COUNCIL This was a crisis in the history of the Church. The greatest disasters might have befallen it at this critical time....

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 15:1 The Jerusalem Council. A conference was held in Jerusalem (c. A.D. 48 or 49) to discuss conditions for Gentile membership in the church. The “Pharisaic” group in the Jerusalem c...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 15:12 When some apostles had begun to leave Jerusalem for a wider witness, the Jerusalem leadership was continued by others. Jesus’ brother James had a prominent role (see Acts 12:17...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _HOMILETICAL ANALYSIS_.—_Acts 15:6_ The Council at Jerusalem; or, the Circumcision Controversy Settled I. THE COMPOSITION OF THE COUNCIL.— 1. The _apostles_. The twelve; Paul not yet included in the...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ACTS 15:1 _Came down … and taught _for _which came down_ …_ taught, _A.V.; _saying _for _and said, _A.V._; custom _(ἔθος) for _manner, _A.V. EXCEPT YE BE CIRCUMCISED, etc. The question t...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    And certain men which came down from Judea [to the church in Antioch] taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved (Acts 15:1). Unfortunately,...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 14:30; Acts 12:17; Acts 2:14; Acts 2:22; Acts 2:29;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    James. See Introduction to Catholic Epistles....

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    THE PLAN AND PURPOSE OF GOD Acts 15:13 INTRODUCTORY WORDS We are once more back in Jerusalem in attendance at the council called by the Church at Jerusalem to consider the demands of certain from t...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    Observe here, 1. The excellent order in which this grand debate was managed by the apostles; they do not break in upon one another like proud magisterial talkers, so full of themselves that they could...

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