Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
And they wrote . . . by them—This is the first mention in the New Testament history of writing as an element in its development. And the combination here of written and oral transmission of an important decision reminds us of the first occasion of writing mentioned in the Old Testament, where a similar combination occurs (Exodus 17:14). But whereas there it is the deep difference between Israel and the Gentiles which is proclaimed, here it is the obliteration of that difference through faith in the Lord Jesus [BAUMGARTEN].
greeting—The only other place in the New Testament where this word occurs (except in the letter of Lysias, Acts 23:26) is James 1:1, which seems to show that both letters were drawn up by the same hand [BENGEL].
the Gentiles in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia—showing that churches then existed in Cilicia as well as Syria, which owed their existence, in all likelihood, to Paul's labors during the interval between his return to Tarsus (Acts 9:30) and his departure in company with Barnabas for Antioch (see on Acts 11:25).
Judas surnamed Barsabas—therefore not the apostle "Judas the brother of James" (Acts 1:13), surnamed "Thaddeus" (Matthew 10:3); nor can it be shown that he was a brother of "Joseph called Barsabas" (Acts 1:23). But nothing is known of him beyond what is here said.
and Silas—the same as "Silvanus" in the Epistles. He became Paul's companion on his second missionary journey (Acts 15:40).
chief men among the brethren—selected purposely as such, to express the honor in which they held the church at Antioch, and the deputies they had sent to the council, and, as the matter affected all Gentile converts, to give weight to the written decision of this important assembly. They were "prophets," Acts 15:32 (and see on Acts 11:27), and as such doubtless their eminence in the church at Jerusalem had been obtained.
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Acts 15:23:
Song of Solomon 8:8
Acts 11:21
Acts 11:25
Acts 15:6
Acts 15:41
Acts 18:27-28
Acts 21:25
Galatians 1:21
DISCLAIMER: Church of the Great God (CGG) provides these resources to aid the individual in studying the Bible. However, it is up to the individual to "prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21). The content of these resources does not necessarily reflect the views of CGG. They are provided for information purposes only.
