Lange Commentary - Acts 15:30 - 15:35

Online Resource Library

Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | Download

Lange Commentary - Acts 15:30 - 15:35


(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)

This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

D.—THE RETURN. THE EFFECT PRODUCED PARTLY BY THE EPISTLE, AND PARTLY BY THE REPORT OF THE MESSENGERS WHO CAME FROM JERUSALEM.

. Act_15:30-35

30So when they were dismissed, they [These were now dismissed ( ìὲí ïõ ̇̄ í ), and] came to Antioch: and when they had [then they] gathered the multitude together, they [together, and] delivered the epistle: 31Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation. 32And [But] Judas and Silas, being [who were] prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words [discourses], and confirmed [strengthened] them. 33And [But], after they had tarried there a space [for a time], they were let go [dismissed] in [with] peace from [by] the brethren [in order to return, ðñὸò ] unto the apostles. 34Notwithstanding [ äὲ ] it pleased Silas to abide there still [om. the whole verse]. 35Paul also [But Paul, äὲ ] and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, [in common, ìåôὰ ] with many others also [om. also].

EXEGETICAL AND CRITICAL

Act_15:30-32. a. So when they were dismissed.—Certain religious services were probably held, when the men took leave, as in the case mentioned in Act_13:3. ἈðïëíèÝíôåò , no doubt, refers primarily to the two messengers sent from Jerusalem, as the epistle was placed in hands, according to Act_15:23, compared with Act_15:27, and they alone could deliver it, on their arrival at Antioch, to the congregation. Still, it may be easily conjectured that all the travellers, including Paul, Barnabas, and other Antiochians, were sent away by the congregation of Jerusalem, in a fraternal spirit, and with special religious services.

b. Gathered the multitude together.—As soon as the messengers reached Antioch, they discharged the duties assigned to them, at a meeting which the whole congregation attended; the epistle was delivered and read. The result their was, that the Christians were conscious of no other feelings than those of joy, on account of the ðáèÜêëçóéò which it contained, that is, its fraternal and tranquillizing language, which completely silenced the Pharisaic demands by which they had been disturbed (Luther: “comfort,” and de Wette somewhat similarly: “tranquillizing assurance.”), [“ ÐáñåêÜëåóáí , exhorted (“comforted,” Bengel), which occurs in Act_15:32, does not render it necessary to interpret the noun here: exhortation (Beza, Meyer), for the letter contains but little hortatory matter.” (de Wette).—Tr.].—After the letter had been read, the two messengers, Judas and Silas addressed the assembly, as they too, ( êáὶ áὐôïὶ ), as well as Paul and Barnabas, were endowed with the gift of prophecy [see Act_13:1. b., and the references there.—Tr.], and, as inspired men, could utter holy and inspiring words. They now exhorted the congregation, and strengthened the souls of the believers in their faith, by copiously speaking the living word.

Act_15:33-35. And after they had tarried.—The two messengers of the congregation in Jerusalem, after having spent some time in Antioch, were dismissed by the Christians of the latter city, in order to return to the apostles. They were sent away with religious solemnities and with peace ( ìåô ʼ åἰñÞíçò , with sentiments of peace, and with good wishes, i.e., with blessings). [“The allusion is to the formula that was customary at parting: ðïñåýïõ , or, ὕðáãå åἰò åἰñÞíçí , or, ἐí åἰñÞíῃ , Mar_5:34; Luk_7:50; Luk_8:48; Act_16:36; Jam_2:16.” (Meyer).—Tr.]. It appears that both Judas and Silas now returned to Jerusalem; whereas, the conjecture that Silas remained behind in Antioch, was inserted in the text as early as the fifth and sixth centuries, to which Cod. Ephraemi (rescriptus), [C., see above, note 3, appended to the text.—Tr.] and Cod. Cantabrig. [or, Bezæ; D.] belong. [“There is no improbability in supposing, either that Paul sent for Silas before setting out upon his second mission, or that Silas had returned to Antioch in the mean time.” (Alexander).—Tr.]

DOCTRINAL AND ETHICAL

1. Many different modes of exhibiting Christian truth have already been mentioned in the present narrative: ðáñáêáëåῖí and ἐðéóôçñßæåéí 32, and comp. Act_15:41; Act_14:22; again, äéäÜóêåéí , ver 35, and åὐáããåëßæåóèáé ôὸí ëüãïí ôïῦ êõñßïõ , ibid. The latter phrase, as in Act_14:7; Act_14:21, means the preaching of the Gospel to those who are still unacquainted with its joyful tidings; it describes the work of missionaries. Hence the statement in Act_15:35 refers to certain labors of Paul and Barnabas, partly, in the bosom of the congregation, and partly, beyond its confines, that is, in the vicinity of Antioch. ÄéäÜóêåéí describes, specially, the act of communicating doctrinal truth, which is designed to afford still clearer views, and to produce a still deeper conviction of the truth which had already been acknowledged. Ðáñáêáëåῖí , on the other hand, designates the act of exhortation, and is applied to discourses which influence the will and the mind, and form the character of the hearer; its result is ἐðéóôçñßæåéí , that is, the actual strengthening of his soul.

HOMILETICAL AND PRACTICAL

Act_15:31. Which when they had read, they rejoiced.—This short epistle created joy among them. But how much more should we rejoice that we are permitted to read so many epistles of the apostles! And what a source of joy the entire Bible should be to us, which is, in truth, an epistle of God, addressed to men! (Quesnel).—No one can so fully enjoy the comfort which exemption from the law affords, as those who had previously felt the pressure of this heavy yoke. (Ap. Past.).

Act_15:32. And Judas and Silas … exhorted the brethren.—They have no wish to be idle in Antioch. How happy the faithful teacher’s heart is, when he can conduct souls to the Saviour! The slothful servant, on the other hand, imagines that he has accomplished a vast work, when he complies with his official obligations, and fulfils the public duties which are imperatively demanded. (Ap. Past.).—Even the apostolic age, although it enjoyed the ordinary means of edification furnished by the word of God, did not discard such extraordinary means of strengthening its faith. The glory of the Lord is reflected in each of his servants with a peculiar lustre; the old and well-known evangelical truth often makes a peculiar impression, when it is proclaimed in a manner to which we had not hitherto been accustomed (as at missionary festivals, ecclesiastical diets, etc.). (Williger).

Act_15:33. They were let go in peace from the brethren.—When we have faithfully delivered the message intrusted to us, we can return in peace to him who sent us; Joh_16:5; Joh_16:28. (Starke).—We should not be discouraged, nor apprehend that a religious controversy cannot be decided satisfactorily, provided that the parties fear God, and are willing to receive instruction, (id.).

Act_15:35. Paul also and Barnabas continued, etc.—Remember, O my soul, the weighty saying: “Go, when Jesus calls thee; hasten, when he draws thee; pause, when he restrains thee.”—When Jesus glorifies the day of his grace in any spot, then rejoice that mercy is granted to others.—But when he demands thy services, arise in strength; when his voice is silent in thy soul, make no attempts of thine own. (Zinzendorf).

The bond which unites the Christian congregations: we see it, I. In the teachers who went from one congregation to another with their message; II. In the truth, which, without change, was proclaimed to all alike. (Lisco).—The Gospel of the free grace of God in Christ Jesus, a consolatory epistle addressed to every conscience which is burdened by the law, Act_15:31.—The blessed journey of the messengers of peace, who carry the Gospel with them: I. They convey peace to anxious hearts, Act_15:31; II. They unite believing souls in peace, Act_15:32, comp. with Act_15:24; III. They depart in peace to the mother-church in the heavenly Jerusalem, Act_15:33.—[The Epistle of the church of Jerusalem, Act_15:23-29 : I. Occasion; II. Contents; III. Spirit in which it is written.—The effects produced by the Epistle of the church of Jerusalem, Act_15:30-31 : I. Described: (a) it assigned a proper position to the apostle of the Gentiles (opened a wider door); (b corrected the extreme views of Judæo-Christians (expelled the error concerning righteousness by works); (c) established the Gentile-Christians in their holy faith (free salvation in Christ). II. The circumstances which enabled it to produce such effects: (a) the holy source from which it proceeded; (b) the wisdom which pervaded it; (c) the important principles which it established. III. Lessons taught by these effects: (a) the Christian mode of conducting religious discussions; (b) the benefits arising from a judicious system of church government and discipline; (c) the value of the word of God as the source of light and grace. Tr.]

Footnotes:

Act_15:31. [Instead of consolation (Tynd., Cranm., Geneva, Rheims) the margin of the Engl. Bible offers exhortation. II áñÜêëçóéò , as well as Zuspruch (adopted by Lechler), admits of both versions, according to the context. Robinson (Lex. N. T.), regards the following as the sense: “instruction, teaching, i. e., hortatory.” See Exeg. note, below.—Tr.]

Act_15:33. [Instead of ἀðïóôüëïõò , of text. rec. from E. G. H., recent editors read ἀðïóôåßëáíôáò áὐôïõò , with A. B. C. D. Cod. Sin., Vulg. (ad eos qui miserant illos), many minuscules, etc.—Tr.]

Act_15:34. The words: ἒäïîå äὲ ôῷ Óßëá ἐðéìåῖíáῖ áὐôïῦ , of text. rec. [constituting the whole of Act_15:34], are unquestionably spurious, and have been rejected by Griesbach, Lachmann and Tischendorf; they are found only in two uncial MSS. [C.D. and some versions], whereas they are wanting in the other five uncial MSS. [A. B. E. G. H. and also Cod. Sin.], in 50 minuscule mss., several ancient versions, and Chrysostom and Theophylact. [The present text of the Vulg. exhibits the words with the following addition from D.: Judas autem solus abiit Jerusalem, but the latter is omitted in Cod. Amiatinus.] This addition to the text was doubtless made for the reason that, otherwise, Act_15:40 would seem to be unintelligible. [The verse is omitted by Alford, who, with others, supposes that the interpolation is intended “to account for Silas being found again at Antioch, Act_15:40.”—Tr.]