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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Acts 15:23 - 15:23
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And they wrote (grapsantes). First aorist active participle of graphō and the nominative as if a principal verb epempsan had been used instead of pempsai, the first aorist active infinitive (anacoluthon). This committee of four (Judas, Silas, Barnabas, Paul) carried the letter which embodied the decision of the Conference. This letter is the writing out of the judgment of James and apparently written by him as the President.
The apostles and the elders, brethren (hoi apostoloi kai hoi presbuteroi, adelphoi). So the oldest and best MSS. without kai (and) before “brethren.” This punctuation is probably correct and not “elder brethren.” The inquiry had been sent to the apostles and elders (Act 15:2) though the whole church joined in the welcome (Act 15:4) and in the decision (Act 15:22). The apostles and elders send the epistle, but call themselves “brothers to brothers,” Fratres Fratibus Salutem. “The brothers” (tois adelphois) addressed (dative case) are of the Gentiles (exō ethnōn) and those in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia, because they were immediately involved. But the decision of this Conference was meant for Gentile Christians everywhere (Act 16:4).
Greeting (Chairein). The customary formula in the beginning of letters, the absolute infinitive (usually chairein) with the nominative absolute also as in Jam 1:1; Act 23:26 and innumerable papyri (Robertson, Grammar, pp. 1902f.).