Acts 15

Acts 15:1

Then - Understanding the distress they would otherwise be in on that account, the disciples determined to send relief to the brethren in Judea - Who herein received a manifest proof of the reality of their conversion.

Acts 15:2

Sending it to the elders - Who gave it to the deacons, to be distributed by them, as every one had need.

Acts 15:4

About that time - So wisely did God mix rest and persecution in due time and measure succeeding each other. Herod - Agrippa; the latter was his Roman, the former his Syrian name. He was the grandson of Herod the Great, nephew to Herod Antipas, who beheaded John the Baptist; brother to Herodias, and father to that Agrippa before whom St. Paul afterward made his defence. Caligula made him king of the tetrarchy of his uncle Philip, to which he afterward added the territories of Antipas. Claudius made him also king of Judea, and added thereto the dominions of Lysanias.

Acts 15:5

James the brother of John - So one of the brothers went to God the first, the other the last of the apostles.

Acts 15:6

Then were the days of unleavened bread - At which the Jews came together from all parts.

Acts 15:7

Four quaternions - Sixteen men, who watched by turns day and night.

Acts 15:8

Continual prayer was made for him - Yet when their prayer was answered, they could scarce believe it, Acts 12:15. But why had they not prayed for St. James also? Because he was put to death as soon as apprehended.

Acts 15:9

Peter was sleeping - Easy and void of fear; between two soldiers - Sufficiently secured to human appearance.

Acts 15:10

His chains - With which his right arm was bound to one of the soldiers, and his left arm to the other.

Acts 15:11

Gird thyself - Probably he had put off his girdle, sandals, and upper garment, before he lay down to sleep.

Acts 15:13

The first and second ward - At each of which doubtless was a guard of soldiers. The gate opened of its own accord - Without either Peter or the angel touching it. And they went on through one street - That Peter might know which way to go. And the angel departed from him - Being himself sufficient for what remained to be done.

Acts 15:14

Now I know of a truth - That this is not a vision, Acts 12:9.

Acts 15:15

And having considered - What was best to be done. Many were gathered together - At midnight.

Acts 15:16

The gate - At some distance from the house; to hearken - If any knocked.

Acts 15:17

And knowing Peter’s voice - Bidding her open the door.

Acts 15:18

They said, Thou art mad - As we say, Sure you are not in your senses to talk so. It is his angel - It was a common opinion among the Jews, that every man had his particular guardian angel, who frequently assumed both his shape and voice. But this is a point on which the Scriptures are silent.

Acts 15:20

Beckoning to them - Many of whom being amazed, were talking together. And he said, Show these things to James - The brother or kinsman of our Lord, and author of the epistle which bears his name. He appears to have been a person of considerable weight and importance, probably the chief overseer of that province, and of the Church in Jerusalem in particular. He went into another place - Where he might be better concealed till the storm was over.

Acts 15:22

Herod commanded them to be put to death - And thus the wicked suffered in the room of the righteous. And going down from Judea - With shame, for not having brought forth Peter, according to his promise.

Acts 15:23

Having gained Blastus - To their side, they sued for, and obtained peace - Reconciliation with Herod. And so the Christians of those parts were, by the providence of God, delivered from scarcity. Their country was nourished - Was provided with, corn, by the king’s country - Thus Hiram also, king of Tyre, desired of Solomon food or corn for his household, 1 Kings 5:9.

Acts 15:24

And on a set day - Which was solemnized yearly, in honour of Claudius Cesar; Herod, arrayed in royal apparel - In a garment so wrought with silver, that the rays of the rising sun striking upon, and being reflected from it, dazzled the eyes of the beholders. The people shouted, It is the voice of a god - Such profane flattery they frequently paid to princes. But the commonness of a wicked custom rather increases than lessens the guilt of it.

Acts 15:26

And immediately - God does not delay to vindicate his injured honour; an angel of the Lord smote him - Of this other historians say nothing: so wide a difference there is between Divine and human history! An angel of the Lord brought out Peter; an angel smote Herod. Men did not see the instruments in either case. These were only known to the people of God. Because he gave not glory to God - He willingly received it to himself, and by this sacrilege filled up the measure of his iniquities. So then vengeance tarried not. And he was eaten by worms, or vermin - How changed! And on the fifth day expired in exquisite torture. Such was the event! The persecutor perished, and the Gospel grew and multiplied.

Acts 15:28

Saul returned - To Antioch; taking John, surnamed Mark - The son of Mary, (at whose house the disciples met, to pray for Peter,) who was sister to Barnabas.

Acts 15:30

Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod - His foster brother, now freed from the temptations of a court.

Acts 15:31

Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them - This was not ordaining them. St. Paul was ordained long before, and that not of men, neither by man: it was only inducting him to the province for which our Lord had appointed him from the beginning, and which was now revealed to the prophets and teachers. In consequence of this they fasted, prayed, and laid their hands on them, a rite which was used not in ordination only, but in blessing, and on many other occasions.

Acts 15:32

Then having fasted - Again. Thus they did also, Acts 14:23.

Acts 15:34

In the synagogues - Using all opportunities that offered.

Acts 15:35

Paphos was on the western, Salamis on the eastern part of the island.

Acts 15:36

The proconsul - The Roman governor of Cyprus, a prudent man - And therefore not overswayed by Elymas, but desirous to inquire farther.

Acts 15:38

Then Saul, who was also called Paul - It is not improbable, that coming now among the Romans, they would naturally adapt his name to their own language, and so called him Paul instead of Saul. Perhaps the family of the proconsul might be the first who addressed to or spoke of him by this name. And from this time, being the apostle of the Gentiles, he himself used the name which was more familiar to them.

Acts 15:39

O full of all guile - As a false prophet, and all mischief - As a magician. Thou son of the devil - A title well suited to a magician; and one who not only was himself unrighteous, but laboured to keep others from all goodness. Wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? - Even now thou hast heard the truth of the Gospel.

Acts 15:40

And immediately a mist - Or dimness within, and darkness without, fell upon him.

Acts 15:41

Being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord - Confirmed by such a miracle.