Acts 15:15-18

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 15:6-21

We have here a council called, not by writ, but by consent, on this occasion (Acts 15:6): The apostles and presbyters came together, to consider this matter. They did not give their judgment separately, but came together to do it, that they might hear one another's sense in this matter; for in the multitude of counsellors there is safety and satisfaction. They did not give their judgment rashly, but considered of this matter. Though they were clear concerning it in their own minds, yet they... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 15:13-21

15:13-21 After they had been silent James replied, "Brothers, listen to me. Symeon has told you how God first made provision for the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name, With this the words of the prophets agree, as it stands written, 'After these things I will return and I will build again the tabernacle of David which has fallen. I will build its ruins again, and again I will set it upright, so that the rest of mankind will seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who are called... 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

Adam Clarke

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

Group of Brands