Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 15:4
And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and [of] the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
4. they were received of the church ] “The church” is perhaps named first because there would on such a visit be an assembly of the whole Christian body to hear the story of the missionary labours of Paul and Barnabas before the question about which they had specially been sent from Antioch came to be discussed. The account of the spreading of the faith was for all, while the question of circumcision would be discussed only by the heads of the church, and those who could speak with authority. This preliminary meeting must have lasted for a considerable time, even if only a mere abstract of the labours, sufferings and success of Paul and Barnabas were given to those who met them. Such a recital was the best introduction that could be conceived for the question which was afterwards to be discussed and legislated on.
God had done with them ] The preposition ( ) implies that the Apostles deemed themselves fellow-workers with God (cp. Mar 16:20), but that they were only instruments whom God employed is also shewn below ( Act 15:12) where the same labours are spoken of as “what God had wrought among the Gentiles by ( ) them.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
They were received of the church – By the church, in a hospitable and friendly manner. They were acknowledged as Christian brethren, and received with Christian kindness. See Gal 2:9.
And they declared – Paul and Barnabas, and those with them. That is, they stated the case; the remarkable conversion of the Gentiles, the evidence of their piety, and the origin of the present dispute.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 4. They were received of the Church] The whole body of Christian believers.
The apostles] Either the whole or part of the twelve; though we read of none but John, Peter, and James. See Ga 2:9.
And elders] Those who were officers in the Church, under the apostles.
They declared] To this council they gave a succinct account of the great work which God had wrought by them among the Gentiles. This was St. Paul’s third journey to Jerusalem after his conversion. See an account of his first journey, Ac 9:26, and of his second in Ac 11:30.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
They were received of the church; they were owned with respect and thankfulness, for their great work and labour in the Lords vineyard.
All things that God had done with them: see Act 14:27.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
4. And when they were come toJerusalemThis was Paul’s THIRDVISIT TO JERUSALEMafter his conversion, and on this occasion took place what isrelated in Ga 2:1-10.(See there).
were received of the church,and the apostles and eldersevidently at a meeting formallyconvened for this purpose: the deputation being one so influential,and from a church of such note.
they declared all things thatGod had done with them(See on Ac14:14-27).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And when they were come to Jerusalem,…. Paul and Barnabas, and the rest that came from Antioch with them:
they were received of the church; that is, that was at Jerusalem, in a very kind and respectful manner; they were received into their houses, and accommodated with everything convenient for them:
and of the apostles; particularly James, and Cephas, and John, who gave to Paul and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, in token of their approbation of them, affection for them, and agreement with them:
and elders: the other ministers of the Gospel who preached in that place:
and they declared all things that God had done with them: just as they did to the church at Antioch, when they returned from their travels, [See comments on Ac 14:27], the Arabic version here adds, as there, “and that God had opened to the Gentiles the door of faith.”
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Were received (). First aorist passive indicative of , old verb, to receive, to welcome. Here it was a public reception for Paul and Barnabas provided by the whole church including the apostles and elders, at which an opportunity was given to hear the story of Paul and Barnabas about God’s dealings with them among the Gentiles. This first public meeting is referred to by Paul in Ga 2:2 “I set before them () the gospel, etc.”
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Were received [] . The word implies a cordial welcome, which they were not altogether sure of receiving.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And when they were come to Jerusalem,” (paragenomenoi de eis lerosoluma) “And when they had entered into or arrived in Jerusalem,” from the Antioch church from which they were recently sent forth.
2) “They were received of the church,” (paredechtesan apo tes ekklesias) “They were welcomed, cordially greeted from the church,” by the church in Jerusalem, as well as by the churches they visited on their way through Phoenecia and Samaria, Act 15:3. The whole church was concerned, involved in the matter, Act 15:12-22.
3) “And of the apostles and elders,” (kai ton apostolon kai ton presbuteron) “And of the apostles and elders of the church they were also welcomed as Christian fellowship brethren, guests from a sister church. It appears to have been an official public reception, a social Christian fellowship hour, followed by the serious doctrinal issue that was the occasion for the meeting.
4) “And they declared all things,” (anengeilan te hosa) “And they reported all the things,” gave an extended report of their mission experiences on the first journey into Asia Minor, similar to their former report to Antioch from which they had been sent forth, Act 14:26-28; Act 13:1-4.
5) “That God had done with them.” (ho theos epoiesen met’ auton) “Which God had done (did) with them,” when they had gone on their first missionary journey in regions beyond, beyond Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, Luk 24:46-51; Act 1:8. The events were recounted by Luke, Ac 114-14, 1-28.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
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4. They were received of the Church. By this word Church he meaneth the multitude itself and the whole body; that done, he assigneth a peculiar place to the apostles and elders, by whom Paul and Barnabas were specially received. Furthermore, because the apostles had no certain place of abode at Jerusalem, but went ever now and then sometimes to one place and sometimes to another, whithersoever occasion did call them, that church had elders to whom the ordinary government of the Church was committed; and what the one function differeth from the other we have before declared, ( Act 14:23.) And hereby it appeareth what brotherly courtesy there was in the apostles and elders, because they do not only courteously receive Paul and Barnabas, but so soon as they hear what success they had with their pains they took, they magnify the grace of God. Luke repeateth again that form of speech which we had before in the chapter next going before, when he saith, that they declared whatsoever things God had done with them. Wherein we must remember that which I said before, that God is not made a fellow-laborer, but all the whole praise of the work is ascribed to him. Therefore it is said, that he did that with Paul and Barnabas which he did by them, as he is said to deal mercifully with us when he helpeth our miseries. −
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(4) They were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders.The words imply a general gathering of the Church, members of different synagogues coining together, with the elders who presided over them. The position of the Apostles, though in some degree analogous in their relation to the elders to the later office of bishops, was yet in many ways unique. They had no local diocese, but remained at Jerusalem, guiding the progress of the Church at large, as a kind of central council, calling in the elders, or presbyters, to consult with them, and submitting the result of their deliberations to the Church at large. The three bodies stood to each other as the Boul, or council, the Gerusia, or senate, and the Ecclesia, or assembly, in a Greek republic.
They declared all things that God had done with them.This obviously implied a narrative of considerable length: the history of acts and sufferings, of signs and wonders, of the fruits of the Spirit as seen in the purity, and truth, and love of the Gentile converts. This took place apparently at a preliminary meeting.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
4. Come to Jerusalem Paul tells us in Gal 2:2, that he went up not solely by the prudential conclusion of the Church, but by or rather according to revelation. This may have been a revelation to the Church, or to Paul directing him now to go to the metropolis and obtain from the apostles the full acknowledgment of Gentile rights and his own Gentile apostleship.
They declared That is, in general conversations before the meeting in Act 15:6. And during this interval before the general meeting Paul held his private interviews with James, Peter, and John, (Gal 2:2-9,) which, together with the public discussions, resulted in settling Paul’s equal apostleship.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The Response of the Apostles and the Church in Jerusalem (15:4-21).
‘And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church and the apostles and the elders, and they rehearsed all things that God had done with them.’
Arriving in Jerusalem they were well received by ‘the Apostles and elders’, and by the whole church at Jerusalem, and they had fellowship together, and Paul and Barnabas gave them full details of all that had happened on their missionary journeys. That all the Apostles were there is very doubtful. A number were presumably out obediently proclaiming the Good News in distant parts, and while one or two who were not too far off may have been called in to welcome the deputation from Antioch, it would probably not have been practicable for all to return. Nor must we see this as an official council. It was simply a consultation between two sister churches. Thus ‘the Apostles’ here must mean those of them who were present, seen as representing the whole. Indeed there may only have been Peter and James the Lord’s brother, for only they are mentioned. And perhaps we may add John (Gal 2:9) who may well have been regularly ‘paired off’ with Peter (Act 3:1).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Act 15:4-5 . (see the critical remarks) denotes, in keeping with the delegation in Act 15:2 f., the reception, i.e. the formal receiving of the delegates as such. Comp. 2Ma 4:22 . Observe the prefixing of ; comp. Phi 1:1 .
] see on Act 14:27 ; comp. , Act 15:12 .
Act 15:5 belongs to the narrative of Luke , who here records as worthy of remark, that at the very first meeting of the delegates with the church receiving them, the very same thing was maintained by some who rose up in the assembly ( .), and was opposed ( ) to the narration of Paul and Barnabas , as had been brought forward by Jews at Antioch and had occasioned this mission. Those mentioned in Act 15:1 , and those who here came forward, belonged to one and the same party (the Pharisee-Christians), and therefore Act 15:5 is unjustly objected to by Schwanbeck. Beza, Piscator, Wakefield, and Heinrichs put Act 15:5 into the mouth of the delegates; holding that there is a rapid transition from the oblique to the direct form, and that is to be supplied after . . A harsh and arbitrary view, as the change in form of the discourse must naturally and necessarily have been suggested by the words, as in Act 1:4 and Act 17:3 . That the deputation had already stated the object of their mission, was indeed self-evident from , and hence it was not requisite that Luke should particularly mention it.
] namely, the Gentile-Christians , as those to whom the narrative . . . had chiefly reference; not the , Act 15:2 (Lekebusch), which is erroneously inferred from Gal 2
They must be circumcised , etc., has a dictatorial and hierarchical tone.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
Ver. 4. They were received of the Church ] i.e. By the body of the people; for the apostles and elders have a peculiar place assigned them.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
4. ] On their arrival at Jerusalem, there seems to have taken place an official reception of them and their message, in public . There they related as a most important datum for the determination of the question God’s dealings with them (see on ch. Act 14:27 ), and recounted the places where churches of believing Gentiles had been founded. This having taken place, a protest was entered on the part of the Pharisee believers, in no way doubting the truth of these conversions, nor in any way disparaging the ministry of Paul and Barnabas, that it was necessary to circumcise , those of whom they had spoken , and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
It may be objected, that this view would not be consistent with Paul’s statement, Gal 2:2 , , , . But I cannot see any inconsistency, if the words used in both cases be accurately weighed. To the , , and Paul and Barnabas gave a simple recital of how God had dealt with them among the Gentiles: but Paul did not lay before the whole assembly the Gospel which he preached among the Gentiles , viz. the indifference of the Mosaic law to their salvation ( Gal 1:7-9 ), for fear of its being hastily disparaged or repudiated, and so his work being hindered ( . . .). But, in private interviews with the chief Apostles, James, Peter, and John ( Gal 2:9 ), he did unfold the whole freeness of this Gospel , and so effectually, as to prepare the way for their full and public accordance with him at the council.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 15:4 . Council at Jerusalem . ., Lucan, see above on Act 5:21 . if we read ., cf. 2Ma 4:22 (but see Hatch and Redpath); with the idea of receiving with welcome, cf. Mar 4:20 , Heb 12:6 (quotation); see Syn [280] . and ., Grimm-Thayer; in classical Greek = . .: the whole Church is regarded as concerned in the matter; as present at the public discussion in Act 15:12 and as concurring in the decision, Act 15:22 (30); the decree is issued by the Apostles and Elders, see on Act 15:23 . , see above on Act 14:27 .
[280] synonym, synonymous.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
come. This was Paul’s third visit. Not by revelation. No Divine action.
received. Greek. apodechomai. See note on Act 2:41.
of = by. Greek. hupo. App-104.
declared = – related. Greek. anangello, Same as “rehearsed” (Act 14:27).
God. App-98.
with. Greek. meta. App-104. as His instrument (Act 15:12).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
4.] On their arrival at Jerusalem, there seems to have taken place an official reception of them and their message, in public. There they related-as a most important datum for the determination of the question-Gods dealings with them (see on ch. Act 14:27), and recounted the places where churches of believing Gentiles had been founded. This having taken place, a protest was entered on the part of the Pharisee believers,-in no way doubting the truth of these conversions, nor in any way disparaging the ministry of Paul and Barnabas,-that it was necessary to circumcise , those of whom they had spoken, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
It may be objected, that this view would not be consistent with Pauls statement, Gal 2:2, , , . But I cannot see any inconsistency, if the words used in both cases be accurately weighed. To the , , and Paul and Barnabas gave a simple recital of how God had dealt with them among the Gentiles: but Paul did not lay before the whole assembly the Gospel which he preached among the Gentiles, viz. the indifference of the Mosaic law to their salvation (Gal 1:7-9), for fear of its being hastily disparaged or repudiated, and so his work being hindered ( …). But, in private interviews with the chief Apostles, James, Peter, and John (Gal 2:9), he did unfold the whole freeness of this Gospel, and so effectually, as to prepare the way for their full and public accordance with him at the council.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 15:4. , they were received) in due form.-, the Church) The Church is placed before Peter and the rest of the apostles themselves.-, they reported) Jerusalem, whilst the apostles remained there, was the metropolis of the churches, and to it all questions were to be referred: Act 15:33. By this very expounding (setting forth) of the facts, the way was prepared for the decision.- ) , Act 15:12, with them and by them. The apostles were as ministers and as instruments. [What hath God done with thee, O man; what with thee, O minister of the word? Canst thou mention anything at all?-V. g.]
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
received: Act 18:27, Act 21:17, Mat 10:40, Rom 15:7, Col 4:10, 2Jo 1:10, 3Jo 1:8-10
all: Act 15:3, Act 15:12, Act 14:27, Act 21:19, Rom 15:18, 1Co 15:10, 2Co 5:19, 2Co 6:1
Reciprocal: Act 7:25 – God Act 8:14 – when Act 11:30 – to the Act 14:23 – elders Act 15:2 – should Act 15:23 – The apostles Act 18:22 – the church Act 20:17 – the elders Gal 2:2 – communicated 1Ti 5:1 – an elder Jam 5:14 – for 1Pe 5:1 – elders
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Act 15:4. And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders. The word translated here were received, implies a cordial reception on the part of the apostles and elders of the Jerusalem community, who welcomed with affection Barnabas and Paul as the great missionaries of the faith.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
4. After a pleasant journey among rejoicing Churches, they reached Jerusalem. (4) “And when they arrived in Jerusalem, they were received by the Church, and by the apostles and elders, and they declared all that God had done with them.” They proceeded, in Jerusalem, as they had upon their return to Antioch, to give a history of their missionary tour. This was done in the presence of the Church, the apostles also being present.
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
When Paul’s party arrived in Jerusalem, the leaders there received them and listened to their story. Note again that Luke stressed the Lord’s initiative in spreading the gospel (cf. Act 14:27).