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Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 15:6-21

The council at Jerusalem. The claim of the Judaizers is sharply and absolutely put. Circumcision is a necessity; the Law of Moses must be observed. The whole question is open, and the air is full of debate. I. DISCOURSE OF PETER . 1. The question whether the Mosaic Law is binding upon the heathen or no is referred by him to experience. This is the great guide of all. In no case may it be neglected. In every case recurrence to it as a whole will be found helpful. Now, at... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 15:7

Questioning for disputing, A.V., as in Acts 15:2 ; brethren for men and brethren, A.V., as in Acts 7:2 , etc.; you for us, A.V. and T.R.; by my mouth the Gentiles for the Gentiles by my mouth, A.V. Questioning . It was a repetition of the same scene that took place at Antioch. Peter , etc. It seems to have been wise on Peter's part to allow the meeting to exhaust itself by fruitless disputations before he rose to speak. His rising, with all the authority of his person and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 15:8

Heart for hearts, A.V. ( καρδιογνώστης ). Bare them witness ; i . e. set the mark of his approval upon them, vouched for their sincerity (see the use of the verb μαρτυρέω in Luke 4:22 ; John 3:26 ; Acts 6:3 ; Acts 10:22 , etc.). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 15:9

He made no distinction for put no difference, A.V. (comp. Acts 10:20 , note); cleansing for purifying, A.V. This is exactly the doctrine of Galatians 2:16 and Romans 3:30 , with which compare also Romans 3:11 . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 15:9

The spirituality of the gospel. "Purifying [cleansing] their hearts by faith." Purity comes from within. The influence of pure thought and pure feeling on practice. The purification of Judaism typical. The Holy Ghost did the work. When the temple was closed, the kingdom of grace opened. The Spirit must operate upon the spirit. All ritualism, as such, contradicts the essential principles of gospel liberty. I. THE HEART NEEDS CLEANSING . 1. Of its falsehood. The heathen... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 15:9-11

Salvation by grace for all. This passage is part of the speech delivered by St. Peter at the conference, tits words ought to be weighty words, seeing that God had been pleased to reveal directly to him the relations in which the Gentiles should stand to his gospel. St. Peter would have been an intensely Jewish man but for his experiences at Joppa and Caesarea. He had evidently learned well the lesson of the broadness of the Christian platform; and yet even he subsequently faltered, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 15:10

That ye should put for to put, A.V. The Greek words cannot be construed as the A.V. takes them. It is not a Greek construction to say πειράζειν τινα ποιεῖν κακόν , "to tempt any one to do evil." The infinitive ἐπιθεῖναι must be taken gerundially, "by placing," or "putting," and the sense is—Why do you try God's patience by your provocation in putting an unbearable yoke upon the necks of those who believe? Or, "as if he had not power to save by faith" (Chrysostom). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 15:11

We shall be saved through the grace, etc., for through the grace … we shall be saved, A.V.; Jesus for Jesus Christ, A.V. and T.R.; in like manner for even, A.V. "How full of power are these words! The same that Paul says at large in the Epistle to the Romans, the same says Peter here" (Chrysost., ' Hem.,' 32.). read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 15:7

Much disputing - Or rather, much inquiry or deliberation. With our word disputing we commonly connect the idea of heat and anger. This is not necessarily implied in the word used here. It might have been calm, solemn, deliberate inquiry; and there is no evidence that it was conducted with undue warmth or anger.Peter rose up and said - Peter was probably the most aged, and was most accustomed to speak, Acts 2:14, etc.; Acts 3:6, Acts 3:12. Besides, there was a particular reason for his speaking... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 15:8

And God, which knoweth the hearts - Acts 1:24. God thus knew whether they were true converts or not, and gave a demonstration that he acknowledged them as his.Giving them the Holy Ghost ... - Acts 10:45-46. read more

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