John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 15:31
Which when they had read ,.... That is, when the brethren of the church at Antioch had read the letter delivered to them; for not Paul and Barnabas, or Judas and Silas, who were sent with it, read it, but the brethren to whom it was sent, as was proper. They rejoiced for the consolation , or "exhortation", as the word may be rendered, which was given them in the letter, to abstain from the above things, without being burdened with any other; and they rejoiced that there was such an... read more
John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 15:30
So when they were dismissed ,.... That is, Paul and Barnabas, with Judas and Silas, by the apostles, elders, and church at Jerusalem: they came to Antioch ; or "came down to Antioch", as the Alexandrian copy, the Vulgate Latin, and Ethiopic versions read, agreeably to Acts 15:1 and when they had gathered the multitude together ; the whole church, which consisted of many members; the company, or congregation of the faithful, as the Arabic version renders it: and as Paul and Barnabas... read more