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Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 15:11

By referring to the Jews being saved in the same manner as the Gentiles, instead of vise versa, Peter repudiated any thought of Jewish superiority. Clearly he had recovered from his temporary lapse at Syrian Antioch (Galatians 2:11-14). Salvation is by grace (Acts 15:11) through faith (Acts 15:9) plus nothing. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 15:1-41

The Question of Circumcision1-35. The Council of Jerusalem, 49 a.d. The usual view is that Galatians 2:1-10 describes the visit of St. Paul to Jerusalem on the occasion of this Council. Adopting this, the following was the course of events. The baptism of Gentiles by St. Paul on his First Missionary Journey, without requiring them to be circumcised or to keep the Law, was keenly criticised at Jerusalem by the Pharisaic party within the Church. Some of these malcontents even came to Antioch,... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Acts 15:11

(11) We believe that through the grace . . .—This comes, in what we may well regard as a summary of St. Peter’s speech, as the closing argument. The Pharisee might regard the Law as binding, but even he, if he believed in Christ, was compelled to confess that his hope of salvation was found in the work of Christ as the Saviour; and if so, then, as regards that hope, Jew and Gentile were on the same level, and the judgment that men could not be saved without the Law was but the inconsistency of... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Acts 15:1-41

Self-inquiry in Religion Acts 15:36 This was a proposal made by St. Paul to Barnabas after their first missionary journey; he suggested revisiting the Churches they had founded, to see if their members were continuing steadfast in the faith, growing in grace, advancing in the spiritual life standing still, or falling away. It was both a wise and useful proposal. And we, nineteen centuries after, may apply it to ourselves; let us 'consider our ways,' and find out how things stand between... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Acts 15:1-41

CHAPTER 15 1. The false teachers from Judea. Paul and Barnabas sent to Jerusalem (Acts 15:1-5 ). 2. The Council in Jerusalem (Acts 15:6-21 ). 3. The Result made known (Acts 15:22-29 ). 4. The Consolation brought to Antioch (Acts 15:30-35 ). 5. Paul and Barnabas separate (Acts 15:36-41 ). A very critical time had now arrived for the church. An important question had to be settled. That Gentiles can be saved and salvation must be extended to the Gentiles had been fully demonstrated. The... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 15:1-41

However, here at Antioch a matter arose of deeply serious significance, and it was clearly God's wisdom to have Paul and Barnabas there at the time. Men from Judea, professing the knowledge of Christ, came to Antioch, teaching the Gentile saints that they must be circumcised in order to be saved. Of course, such mixing of Judaism with Christianity would corrupt the whole character of the gospel of the grace of God, and Paul and Barnabas, discerning this, withstood this effort of the enemy. ... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Acts 15:1-35

FIRST GENERAL CHURCH COUNCIL This lesson is one of the most important in the whole historical part of the New Testament. It is the record of the first general council of the church, called to settle the fundamental question as to how a man may be just with God. We have become acquainted with “they of the circumcision” who, at chapter 2, objected to Peter’s fellowship with the Gentiles in the case of Cornelius. The party was strong and growing stronger. As Jews of the stricter sort they... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Acts 15:7-11

Chapter 48 Prayer Almighty God, may Christ thy Son be born in our hearts today, the hope of glory! We remember his birth-time upon the earth, and our prayer is that he may be born in our spirits the Child of our love and our delight, the beginning and the end, the seal and glory of our life. Thou didst make our hearts for him; thou didst intend us to receive him day by day, and to live in him, and thou didst mean him to live in us. As the branch abideth in the vine, so may our hearts abide in... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Acts 15:6-21

And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. (7) And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. (8) And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; (9) And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Acts 15:11

In the historical sense he is speaking of the prosperity of the house of Juda, in the reign of Ezechias, or their return from captivity. But in this respect, it is certain that the prophecy never had its entire accomplishment. The passage in the text is cited from the Septuagint. The Hebrew is, "I will raise up the house of David...that it may possess all the nations," &c. Now it is true that the nations never were subject to the house of David, or known by the name of the people of God;... read more

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