Acts 15:13
Acts 15:13 in Multiple Translations
When they had finished speaking, James declared, “Brothers, listen to me!
¶ And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Brethren, hearken unto me:
And when they had come to an end, James, answering, said, My brothers, give ear to me:
After they had finished speaking, James spoke up, saying, “Brothers, listen to me.
And when they helde their peace, Iames answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken vnto me.
and after they are silent, James answered, saying, 'Men, brethren, hearken to me;
After they were silent, James answered, “Brothers, listen to me.
And after they held their peace, James answered, saying, Men, brethren, hearken to me.
And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying: Men, brethren, hear me.
When Barnabas and Paul had finished speaking, James, the leader of the group of believers there in Jerusalem, spoke to all of them. He said, “Fellow believers, listen to me.
They finished talking, then James stood up and said, “My friends, listen to me.
Berean Amplified Bible — Acts 15:13
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Acts 15:13 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Greek Word Reference — Acts 15:13
Study Notes — Acts 15:13
- Context
- Cross References
- Acts 15:13 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Acts 15:13
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 15:13
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Acts 15:13
- Trapp's Commentary on Acts 15:13
- Ellicott's Commentary on Acts 15:13
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Acts 15:13
- Cambridge Bible on Acts 15:13
- Barnes' Notes on Acts 15:13
- Sermons on Acts 15:13
Context — The Council at Jerusalem
13When they had finished speaking, James declared, “Brothers, listen to me!
14Simon has told us how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to be His own. 15The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written:Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Acts 12:17 | Peter motioned with his hand for silence, and he described how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. “Send word to James and to the brothers,” he said, and he left for another place. |
| 2 | Galatians 2:12 | For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself, for fear of those in the circumcision group. |
| 3 | James 1:1 | James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes of the Dispersion: Greetings. |
| 4 | Galatians 2:9 | And recognizing the grace that I had been given, James, Cephas, and John—those reputed to be pillars—gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised. |
| 5 | Galatians 1:19 | But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. |
| 6 | Mark 15:40 | And there were also women watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. |
| 7 | Acts 2:14 | Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, lifted up his voice, and addressed the crowd: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen carefully to my words. |
| 8 | Acts 2:29 | Brothers, I can tell you with confidence that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. |
| 9 | Acts 21:18 | The next day Paul went in with us to see James, and all the elders were present. |
| 10 | James 1:19 | My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, |
Acts 15:13 Summary
[In Acts 15:13, James asks the assembly to listen to him, which means to pay attention and consider his words carefully, as seen in James 1:19, where it says to 'be quick to listen, slow to speak'. James is a leader in the early Christian church, and he wants to share his thoughts and guidance with the assembly, just like a shepherd guides his flock, as seen in John 10:11. By listening to James, the assembly is showing respect and trust in his leadership, just like we are called to respect and trust in our spiritual leaders, as seen in Hebrews 13:17. As we read Acts 15:13, we can reflect on how we listen to others, and how we can be better listeners, just like the assembly, and demonstrate our love and respect for one another, as seen in 1 Corinthians 13:2.]
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is James in Acts 15:13?
James is believed to be the brother of Jesus, mentioned in Matthew 13:55-56 and Mark 6:3, who became a leader in the early Christian church in Jerusalem, as seen in Acts 12:17 and Acts 15:13-21.
Why did James speak up after Barnabas and Paul finished speaking?
James spoke up to provide guidance and wisdom to the assembly, as a respected leader, after hearing the testimony of Barnabas and Paul about the Gentiles, as seen in Acts 15:12, and to bring the discussion to a conclusion, as seen in Acts 15:13-21.
What is the significance of James addressing the assembly as 'Brothers'?
By addressing the assembly as 'Brothers', James is emphasizing the unity and equality of all believers, as seen in Acts 15:13, and establishing a tone of brotherly love and respect, as encouraged in John 13:35 and Romans 12:10.
How does James' declaration relate to the rest of the chapter?
James' declaration in Acts 15:13 sets the stage for his summary of the situation and his recommendation for the Gentile believers, as seen in Acts 15:14-21, which ultimately leads to the conclusion of the Jerusalem Council, as seen in Acts 15:22-35.
Reflection Questions
- What does it mean to truly listen to someone, as James asks the assembly to do in Acts 15:13, and how can I apply this to my relationships with others?
- How can I, like James, provide wisdom and guidance to those around me, and what does it mean to be a respected leader in my community?
- In what ways can I, like the early Christian church, work towards unity and equality among all believers, as seen in Acts 15:13, and what are some potential challenges to this goal?
- How does James' declaration in Acts 15:13 relate to the concept of brotherly love, as seen in John 13:35, and what are some ways I can demonstrate this love to those around me?
Gill's Exposition on Acts 15:13
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 15:13
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Acts 15:13
Trapp's Commentary on Acts 15:13
Ellicott's Commentary on Acts 15:13
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Acts 15:13
Cambridge Bible on Acts 15:13
Barnes' Notes on Acts 15:13
Sermons on Acts 15:13
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Church - Part 1 by Ken Baird | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding the reasons behind our actions in the church. He encourages the congregation to be able to give good reasons |
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Two Roads Two Destinies 11 Ireland st.chapel by Worth Ellis | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of our heavenly citizenship and living for the Lord Jesus Christ. He talks about the resurrection of the body and the faith n |
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The Brethren of Our Lord by Andrew Bonar | Andrew Bonar reflects on the lack of belief from Jesus' own brethren, highlighting the emotional burden this placed on Christ during His ministry. He emphasizes the importance of f |
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Our Object in Service by Lewis Sperry Chafer | Lewis Sperry Chafer emphasizes the importance of preaching the Gospel to every creature as a world-wide ministry that continues through each generation until the heavenly Church is |
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James - the Lord's Brother by T. Austin-Sparks | T. Austin-Sparks explores the life of James, the Lord's brother, emphasizing how his close proximity to Jesus did not lead to belief until after the Resurrection. He highlights the |
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The Lord's Day and the New Creation by Lewis Sperry Chafer | Lewis Sperry Chafer emphasizes the celebration of the first day of the week by the church since Christ's resurrection, contrasting it with the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath |
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The Church Which Is His Body by Lewis Sperry Chafer | Lewis Sperry Chafer preaches about the new purpose of God in this age, focusing on the formation of a heavenly people who are part of the kingdom in its present mystery form but no |




