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Selected Verse: Acts 15:12 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Ac 15:12 |
King James |
Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
Then all . . . gave audience to Barnabas and Paul--On this order of the names here, see on Act 15:25.
declaring what miracles and signs God wrought among the Gentiles by them--This detail of facts, immediately following up those which Peter had recalled to mind, would lead all who waited only for divine teaching to see that God had Himself pronounced the Gentile converts to be disciples in as full standing as the Jews, without circumcision; and the attesting miracles to which Paul here refers would tend, in such an assembly to silence opposition. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Then all the multitude - Evidently the multitude of private Christians who were assembled on this occasion. That it does not refer to a synod of ministers and elders merely is apparent:
(1) Because the church, the brethren, are represented as having been present, and as concurring in the final opinion Act 15:22-23; and,
(2) Because the word "multitude" τὸ πλῆθος to plēthos would not have been used in describing the collection of apostles and elders merely. Compare Luk 1:10-11, Luk 1:13; Luk 5:6; Luk 6:17; Luk 19:37; Joh 5:3; Joh 21:6; Act 4:32; Act 6:2; Mat 3:7.
Gave audience - Heard, listened attentively to.
Barnabas and Paul - They were deeply interested in it, and they were qualified to give a fair statement of the facts as they had occurred.
Declaring what miracles and wonders ... - The argument here evidently is, that God had approved their work by miracles; that he gave evidence that what they did had his approbation; and that as all this was done without imposing on them the rites of the Jews, so it would follow that those were not now to be commanded. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Hearkened
The imperfect (ἤκουον) denotes attention to a continued narrative.
Declaring (ἐξηγουμένων)
Better, as Rev., rehearsing. See on Luk 24:35.
What miracles, etc
Lit., how many (ὅσα). |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Miracles and wonders - By which also what St. Peter had said was confirmed. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
All the multitude kept silence - The strong facts stated by St. Peter could not be controverted. His speech may be thus analyzed:
1. Circumcision is a sign of the purification of the heart.
2. That purification can only be effected by the Holy Ghost.
3. This Holy Spirit was hitherto supposed to be the portion of those only who had received circumcision.
4. But the Gentiles, who were never circumcised, nor kept any part of the law of Moses, have had their hearts purified by faith in Christ Jesus.
5. As God, therefore, has given them the thing signified, he evidently does not intend that the sign should be administered.
6. Should we impose this burthensome rite, we should most evidently be provoking God, who plainly shows us that he intends no more to save in this way.
7. Therefore it is evident that both Jews and Gentiles are to be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Gave audience to Barnabas and Paul - These apostles came forward next, to corroborate what Peter had said, by showing the miracles and wonders which God had by them wrought among the Gentiles. Peter stated facts: Paul and Barnabas confirmed the statement. |
25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;
17 And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;
6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:
35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.