acts-15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 15:10

Now therefore why tempt ye God ,.... By hesitating about this matter, by disputing upon this point, and by seeking for further proof and evidence of the will of God in this affair; when it is so plain a case, that it has been his will that the Gospel should be preached to Gentiles, without obliging them to circumcision; that he has given his Spirit both in his extraordinary gifts, and special grace, to uncircumcised persons; particularly he has bestowed faith in Christ upon them, whereby... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 15:11

But we believe ,.... Who are circumcised; the Arabic version adds, "and are sure"; for what follows is a sure and certain article of faith: that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ ; not through circumcision, or by any works of the law, moral or ceremonial; but through the grace of Christ undertaking for them, assuming their nature, and dying in their room and stead; through his redeeming, justifying, and pardoning grace: salvation is by Christ; Jehovah the Father appointed him to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 15:12

Then all the multitude kept silence ,.... Upon this oration of Peter's, there was a profound silence in the whole assembly, among all the brethren of the church, who were come together on this occasion; they were all satisfied with, and by their silence acquiesced in, what Peter said; and waited to hear what might be further said about this matter, by other persons in the assembly; and even those who were on the other side of the question, were confounded and nonplussed, and knew not what to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 15:13

And after they had held their peace ,.... Meaning not the multitude, but Paul and Barnabas; when they had finished their account, and had done speaking: James answered ; or rose up, as the Syriac version reads, he stood up and began to speak. This was James the son of Alphaeus, one of the twelve apostles, sometimes called the brother of the Lord; for the other James, the son of Zebedee and brother of John, was dead, being killed by Herod, Acts 12:2 but this was the brother of Jude, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 15:14

Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles ,.... James begins with taking notice of Peter's speech, and agrees to it, and confirms it; for by Simeon is not meant, as some have thought, the Simeon that took Christ in his arms, Luke 2:25 who had been dead long ago; but Simon Peter, who had spoken before. Simon and Simeon are one and the same name; the former is only a contraction of the latter in the Syriac language; Simeon was his pure Hebrew name, and James speaking... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 15:15

And to this agree the words of the prophets ,.... In several of the prophecies of the Old Testament, which plainly speak of the calling of the Gentiles; though James thought it sufficient to produce only one instead of many: as it is written ; in Amos 9:11 and this is agreeably to the Jewish way of citing Scriptures, as Surenhusius observes; so it is said F17 T. Bab. Yebamot, fol. 86, 2. & Beracot, fol. 4. 1, 2. , in twenty four places the priests are called Levites, and this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 15:16

After this I will return ,.... That is, after the Lord had destroyed the sinful kingdom from off the face of the earth, and had sifted the house of Israel among all nations, and the sinners of his people were slain with the sword; after all this he promises to return and show favour to them: this is the sense of the prophet which James gives; for these words are not at length in Amos; there it is only said, "in that day"; upon which Jarchi's note is, "after all these things shall have come... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 15:17

That the residue of men might seek after the Lord ,.... The rebuilder and proprietor of this tabernacle, and who dwells in it; that is, attend his worship, pray unto him, and seek unto him for life and salvation: in Amos these are called, "the remnant of Edom": and design the remnant according to the election of grace among the Gentiles; the Jews generally call all other nations, and especially the Roman empire, Edom: and all the Gentiles upon whom my name is called ; for God is the God... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 15:18

Known unto God are all his works ,.... These are the words of James, and not of Amos; all the things which God does in the church and in the world, they were all foreknown and predetermined by him: from the beginning of the world; or from eternity; even all his works of creation, providence and grace: the Alexandrian copy, and Beza's most ancient copy, and the Vulgate Latin version, read in the singular number, "his work"; the work of the conversion of the Gentiles; this was fixed and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 15:19

Wherefore my sentence is ,.... Opinion or judgment in this case, or what he reckoned most advisable to be done; for he did not impose his sense upon the whole body, but proposed it to them: that we trouble not them ; by obliging them to be circumcised, which would have been very afflicting and disturbing to them; not only because of the corporeal pain produced by circumcision, but because of the bondage their minds would be brought into, and they become subject to the whole law, and all... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 15:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 15:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 15:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 15:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 15:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 15:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 15:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 15:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 15:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 15:19

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