This letter was a noble document and fitted for its immediate purpose, but it does not apply directly to us, as the circumstances which called it forth have long since passed away. It was explicit in denying that the rite of circumcision was needful for salvation. It bore ample testimony to the character and work of the two great missionaries whose action had been impugned. It denounced the false teachers whose intrusion had broken the peace of the Church, and laid down the principles which had been embodied in James' speech. Notice the conjunction of the Holy Spirit with the persons who issued this letter, Acts 15:28. Here is convincing proof that the Spirit of God is a person; that He presides in the Church; and that He is willing to become our guide and teacher whenever we are perplexed.
The arrival of Judas and Silas, attesting by their presence the importance that the mother church attached to the question at issue, and the reading of the letter, brought great relief to the believers at Antioch, and a blessed season of teaching and preaching ensued.
It is unpleasant to see the contention between the two leaders over John Mark, but God overruled it for good and Paul could later write to Timothy, "Take Mark and bring him with thee; for he is useful to me for ministering," 2 Timothy 4:11, r.v. [source]
Chapter Summary: Acts 15
1Great dissensions arise regarding circumcision 5The apostles consult about it, 22and send their determination by letters to the churches 36Paul and Barnabas, thinking to visit the brothers together, 39disagree, and travel different ways
Greek Commentary for Acts 15:33
Some time [χρονον] Accusative after ποιησαντες poiēsantes “having done time.” How long we do not know. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 15:33
Acts 15:19My judgment is [εγω κρινω] Note expression of εγω egō I give my judgment. (Εγο χενσεο Ego censeo). James sums up the case as President of the Conference in a masterly fashion and with that consummate wisdom for which he is noted. It amounts to a resolution for the adoption by the assembly as happened (Acts 15:33). That we trouble not Present active infinitive with μη mē in an indirect command (Robertson, Grammar, p. 1046) of παρενοχλεω parenochleō a common late verb, occurring here alone in the N.T. This double compound (παρα εν paraενοχλεω en) is from the old compound εν enochleō (οχλος en and παρα ochlos crowd, annoyance) seen in Luke 6:18; Hebrews 12:15, and means to cause trouble beside (para) one or in a matter. This is the general point of James which he explains further concerning “those who are turning from the Gentiles unto God,” the very kind of people referred to in Amos. [source]
Acts 15:19I give my judgment [] . James sums up the case as President of the Conference in a masterly fashion and with that consummate wisdom for which he is noted. It amounts to a resolution for the adoption by the assembly as happened (Acts 15:33). [source]
Acts 15:30When they were dismissed [απολυτεντες] First aorist passive participle of απολυω apoluō common verb to loosen, to dismiss. Possibly (Hackett) religious services were held as in Acts 15:33 (cf. Acts 13:3) and perhaps an escort for part of the way as in Acts 15:3. The multitude (το πλητος to plēthos). Public meeting of the church as in Acts 15:1-3. Deissmann (Bible Studies, p. 232) gives illustrations from the inscriptions of the use of πλητος plēthos for official, political, and religious gatherings. The committee formally “delivered” (επεδωκαν epedōkan) the epistle to the church authorities. [source]
Acts 20:3When he had spent three months there [ποιησας μηνας τρεις] Literally, “having done three months,” the same idiom in Acts 15:33; Acts 18:23; James 4:13. During this period Paul may have written Galatians as Lightfoot argued and certainly did Romans. We do not have to say that Luke was ignorant of Paul‘s work during this period, only that he did not choose to enlarge upon it. [source]
2 Corinthians 11:25Have I been in the deep [ἐν τῷ βυθῷ πεποίηκα] Lit., I have made (spent) a night and a day in the deep. For a similar use of ποιέω tomake, see Acts 15:33; Acts 18:23; Acts 20:3; James 4:13. βυθός bottomor depth occurs only here. Of the event itself there is no record. [source]
Hebrews 11:31With peace [μετ ' εἰρήνηνς] The phrase only here and Acts 15:33. Quite often in lxx, as Genesis 15:15; Genesis 26:29; Exodus 18:23; Deuteronomy 20:20; Judges 8:9. In N.T. ἐν εἰρήνῃ inpeace (Acts 16:36; James 2:16): εἰς εἰρήνην intopeace (Mark 5:34; Luke 7:50; Luke 8:48); both these very often in lxx. Rahab received the spies without enmity, and did not allow them to suffer harm from others. An interesting parallel is furnished by Dante, Purg. ii. 99, in the case of the pilot-angel who conveys souls to the shore of Purgatory.“He, sooth to say, for three months past has takenWhoever wished to enter, with all peace ” (without interposing any obstacle.) [source]
James 4:13Continue there a year [ποιήσομεν ἐκεῖ ἐνιαυτὸν] Lit., we will make a year. See, for the same form of expression, Acts 15:33; Acts 18:23; 2 Corinthians 11:25. Better, as Rev., spend a year there. (Compare the A. V., Acts 18:23, rightly retained by Rev.) The word ποιήσομεν implies more than mere continuance; rather, a doing something with the year. [source]
Revelation 13:5To continue forty and two months [ποιῆσαι μῆνας τεσσεράκοντα δύο] Lit., to make forty and two months. Similarly, Acts 15:33, ποιήσαντες χρόνον havingtarried a space; lit., having made a time. See on continued there a year, James 4:13. The best expositors, however, render ποιῆσαι absolutely, to work, and the following accusative as the accusative of duration, “during forty and two months.” Rev., margin to do his works during, etc. See Daniel 11:28. [source]
What do the individual words in Acts 15:33 mean?
Having continuedthena timethey were sent awayinpeacefromthebrotherstothosehaving sentthem
Greek Commentary for Acts 15:33
Accusative after ποιησαντες poiēsantes “having done time.” How long we do not know. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 15:33
Note expression of εγω egō I give my judgment. (Εγο χενσεο Ego censeo). James sums up the case as President of the Conference in a masterly fashion and with that consummate wisdom for which he is noted. It amounts to a resolution for the adoption by the assembly as happened (Acts 15:33). That we trouble not Present active infinitive with μη mē in an indirect command (Robertson, Grammar, p. 1046) of παρενοχλεω parenochleō a common late verb, occurring here alone in the N.T. This double compound (παρα εν paraενοχλεω en) is from the old compound εν enochleō (οχλος en and παρα ochlos crowd, annoyance) seen in Luke 6:18; Hebrews 12:15, and means to cause trouble beside (para) one or in a matter. This is the general point of James which he explains further concerning “those who are turning from the Gentiles unto God,” the very kind of people referred to in Amos. [source]
. James sums up the case as President of the Conference in a masterly fashion and with that consummate wisdom for which he is noted. It amounts to a resolution for the adoption by the assembly as happened (Acts 15:33). [source]
First aorist passive participle of απολυω apoluō common verb to loosen, to dismiss. Possibly (Hackett) religious services were held as in Acts 15:33 (cf. Acts 13:3) and perhaps an escort for part of the way as in Acts 15:3. The multitude (το πλητος to plēthos). Public meeting of the church as in Acts 15:1-3. Deissmann (Bible Studies, p. 232) gives illustrations from the inscriptions of the use of πλητος plēthos for official, political, and religious gatherings. The committee formally “delivered” (επεδωκαν epedōkan) the epistle to the church authorities. [source]
Literally, “having done three months,” the same idiom in Acts 15:33; Acts 18:23; James 4:13. During this period Paul may have written Galatians as Lightfoot argued and certainly did Romans. We do not have to say that Luke was ignorant of Paul‘s work during this period, only that he did not choose to enlarge upon it. [source]
Lit., I have made (spent) a night and a day in the deep. For a similar use of ποιέω tomake, see Acts 15:33; Acts 18:23; Acts 20:3; James 4:13. βυθός bottomor depth occurs only here. Of the event itself there is no record. [source]
The phrase only here and Acts 15:33. Quite often in lxx, as Genesis 15:15; Genesis 26:29; Exodus 18:23; Deuteronomy 20:20; Judges 8:9. In N.T. ἐν εἰρήνῃ inpeace (Acts 16:36; James 2:16): εἰς εἰρήνην intopeace (Mark 5:34; Luke 7:50; Luke 8:48); both these very often in lxx. Rahab received the spies without enmity, and did not allow them to suffer harm from others. An interesting parallel is furnished by Dante, Purg. ii. 99, in the case of the pilot-angel who conveys souls to the shore of Purgatory.“He, sooth to say, for three months past has takenWhoever wished to enter, with all peace ” (without interposing any obstacle.) [source]
Lit., we will make a year. See, for the same form of expression, Acts 15:33; Acts 18:23; 2 Corinthians 11:25. Better, as Rev., spend a year there. (Compare the A. V., Acts 18:23, rightly retained by Rev.) The word ποιήσομεν implies more than mere continuance; rather, a doing something with the year. [source]
Lit., to make forty and two months. Similarly, Acts 15:33, ποιήσαντες χρόνον havingtarried a space; lit., having made a time. See on continued there a year, James 4:13. The best expositors, however, render ποιῆσαι absolutely, to work, and the following accusative as the accusative of duration, “during forty and two months.” Rev., margin to do his works during, etc. See Daniel 11:28. [source]