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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Acts 21:18 - 21:18
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18. τῇ δὲ ἐπιούσῃ εἰσῄει ὁ Παῦλος σὺν ἡμῖν πρός Ἰάκωβον, and the day following Paul went in with us unto James. This was the Church’s reception of the returned missionaries. Notice of their arrival would soon be given, and the authorities who were at the time resident in Jerusalem were gathered together. There was not any Apostle there or St Luke would hardly have failed to mention the fact, as he was one of those present. Paul took with him to this interview all who had shared in his labours, that their work as well as his own might receive the recognition of the mother Church of Christ. The James here mentioned is the same who appears recognised as the head of the congregation in Jerusalem (Act 12:17, Act 15:13). He was most probably one of our Lord’s brethren. See note on Act 12:17.
πάντες τε παρεγένοντο οἱ πρεσβύτεροι, and all the elders were present. These men, with James, formed the governing body of the Church, and were the persons to whom the Apostle would naturally desire to give an account of his labours. In the proceedings which follow, the narrative does not, as in the council at Jerusalem, represent James as taking the lead, or being spokesman; he is only mentioned as the person to whom the missionaries specially went. The advice given to St Paul is couched in the plural number, as if the elders had jointly tendered it.