Acts 15:13-18

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 15:15

And to this agree the words of the prophets - Peter had asserted the fact of the conversion of the Gentiles; and James shows that that fact was the fulfillment of declarations made by the prophets. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 15:16

After this I will return, and will build again, etc. - These two verses, 16th and 17th, are quoted from Amos 9:11 , Amos 9:12 , nearly as they now stand in the best editions of the Septuagint, and evidently taken from that version, which differs considerably from the Hebrew text. As St. James quoted them as a prophecy of the calling of the Gentiles into the Church of God, it is evident the Jews must have understood them in that sense, otherwise they would have immediately disputed his... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 15:17

That the residue of men might seek - Instead of this, the Hebrew has, That they may possess the remnant of Edom. Now it is evident that, in the copy from which the Seventy translated, they found ידרשו yidreshu , they might seek, instead of יירשו yireshu , they may possess, where the whole difference between the two words is the change of the י yod for a ד daleth , which might be easily done; and they found אדם adam , man, or men, instead of אדום Edom , the Idumeans,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 15:18

Known unto God are all his works from the beginning - As if he had said, This is not a new counsel of God: he had purposed, from the time he called the Israelites, to make the Gentiles partakers of the same grace and mercy; and ultimately to destroy those rites and ceremonies which separated them from each other. He therefore has sent the Gospel of his Son, proclaiming equally peace to him that is afar off, the Gentiles, and to him that is nigh, the Jews. The whole of this verse is very... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 15:13

Verse 13− 13.James answered, saying. Some old writers of the Church think that this James was one of the disciples, whose surname was Justus and Oblia, whose cruel death is recorded by Josephus in the Twentieth Book of his Antiquities. But would to God the old writers had travailed rather to know the man, than to set forth, with reigned praises, the holiness of a man whom they knew not. It is a childish toy and surmise, in that they say that it was lawful for him alone to enter into the most... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 15:15

Verse 15− 15.Hereto agree the words of the prophets. We see now how the apostles took nothing to themselves imperiously, but did reverently follow that which was prescribed in the word of God. Neither did it grieve them, neither did they count it any disgrace to them to profess themselves to be the scholars of the Scripture. Also we must here note, that the use of the doctrine of the prophets is yet in force, which some brain-sick men would banish out of the Church. By citing the prophets, in... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 15:16

Verse 16− 16.After these things I will return. Because the place is not cited word for word as it is in the prophet, we must see what difference there is, though it be not necessary to examine straitly what diversity there is in the words, so it appear that the prophecy doth fitly agree with the matter which is in hand. After that God hath promised the restoring of the tabernacle of David, he saith also, that he will bring to pass that the Jews shall possess the remnants of Edom. In all that... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 15:17

Verse 17− 17.That those which remain may seek. James added this word seek by way of exposition, which is not found nor read in the prophet; and yet it is not superfluous, because, to the end we may be numbered among the people of God, and that he may take us for his own, we must, on the other side, [in our turn,] be encouraged to seek him. And it is to be thought that Luke did summarily comprehend those things whereof James did dispute in his own language among the Jews; whereby it came to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 15:18

Verse 18− 18.Known from the beginning. This is a prevention, − (133) to put away the hatred which might have risen upon the novelty; for the sudden change might have been suspected, and therefore did it trouble weak minds. Therefore James preventeth, showing that this was no new thing with God, though it fell out suddenly otherwise than men thought; because God saw, before the world was created, what he would do, and the calling of the Gentiles was hidden in his secret counsel. Whereupon it... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 15:1-21

The first council: spiritual liberty established. The controversy between a corrupt Judaism and the gospel of Christ certain to be brought to a crisis. The conversion of Saul, taken in connection with his special mission to the Gentiles, forced the matter on the attention of the Church. The scene of the controversy was Antioch, where Paul would have many supporters. But Jerusalem was the proper place for a settlement—not because any authority was assigned to the spot, but because there... read more

Group of Brands