Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Acts 15:12 - 15:12

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Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Acts 15:12 - 15:12


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12. ἐσίγησεν δὲ πᾶν τὸ πλῆθος, then all the multitude kept silence. We see here, though the Apostles and Elders are alone mentioned (Act 15:6) as being gathered together, that the assembly was a very large one. The cause of their silence was the voice of authority with which he could speak through whom God had first opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. For while he told what God had done, he related how he, like themselves, had much prejudice to overcome before his mission to Cornelius.

καὶ ἤκουον, and gave audience. The verb is plural to correspond with the plural sense of πλῆθος, and the use of the imperfect tense is to indicate the continuous attention to the whole narrative of that, the first missionary journey for the spread of the faith.

ὅσα … σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα, what signs and wonders. The two nouns are the same which occur in the prayer of the disciples (Act 4:30) ‘that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Thy holy servant Jesus.’ The prayer had been abundantly answered in the experience of Paul and Barnabas.

δι' αὐτῶν, by them, i.e. through them as instruments. See above on Act 15:4.