Acts 15

Acts 15:1

Then the disciples. Those at Antioch. They were informed that the famine would be very severe in Judea. Every man according to his ability. Hence they contributed, each as he could, for the relief of their Jewish brethren, and sent it by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. The love of Christ was in their hearts. We see here the dawn of that new spirit that was to revolutionize the Gentile world. The Gentiles of Antioch extend their hands to relieve the distress of the Jews of Palestine.

Acts 15:4

Persecutions in Judea SUMMARY OF ACTS 12: The First Apostolic Martyr. Peter Seized by Herod. The Prayers of the Church. Peter’s Prison Opened by an Angel. His Appearance to the Praying Disciples. Herod Pronounced a God. His Pitiful Death. About that time. While Saul and Barnabas were at Antioch. Herod the king. Herod Agrippa, the grandson of Herod the Great. See PNT Matthew 2:1. In the year 41, the Emperor Claudius had added Judea and Samaria to his former dominions, so that, at this time, Herod ruled over all Palestine. While voluptuous, and exhibiting in life none of the restrains of religion, he was a strict observer of the Jewish ceremonies, and hostile to Christianity, because it was subversive to Judaism. To vex certain of the church. Some of its leaders.

Acts 15:5

He killed James the brother of John. One of the three apostles most intimate with the Savior. The first apostle to suffer martyrdom. He is the only apostle whose death is recorded in the New Testament, save Judas the betrayer. With the sword. He beheaded James. This James, the apostle, is to be distinguished from James, the brother of the Lord (Galatians 1:19), whose name appears after this in Acts, and who wrote the Epistle of James.

Acts 15:6

He saw it pleased the Jews. He would rather please men than God. Hence, he seized Peter. The days of unleavened bread. The Passover week. See Exodus 12:15,16. Called “Easter” in Acts 12:4.

Acts 15:7

Four quaterions of soldiers. Sixteen soldiers divided into four watches, so that four would be on watch all the time, two in the prison and two at the door.

Acts 15:8

But prayer was made without ceasing. By the whole church, in its assemblies, that God might deliver him.

Acts 15:9

When Herod would have brought him forth. To execution, probably on the day after the passover week ended. The Jews thought that executions during this week were a desecration. Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. The Roman method was adopted. He was chained to the soldiers who slept on each side of him, while the other two soldiers of the watch stood before the prison door. These precautions were taken for fear of a rescue.

Acts 15:10

The angel of the Lord. Coming in answer to prayer. Smote Peter. To arouse him.

Acts 15:11

Gird thyself. In other words, Dress thyself. His girdle was unfastened while sleeping, and his sandals laid off. The garment to be cast about him was a cloak. There was no haste.

Acts 15:12

Thought he saw a vision. All seemed so strange that, just aroused from sleep, he was uncertain whether it was real.

Acts 15:13

The first and second ward. Watches. The soldiers on watch seem to have been stationed apart, one near Peter’s door, the other near the gate. The iron gate. The outer gate of the prison. It was after it was passed, and the angel had left him in the street, that Peter was first sure that it was no vision, but that the Lord had delivered him.

Acts 15:15

Came to the house of Mary. This Mary was the mother of Mark, called in Acts both John and Mark. See Acts 13:5,13 15:39. She was related to Barnabas (Colossians 4:10). Many were assembled together praying. For Peter’s deliverance.

Acts 15:16

A damsel came to hearken. It was the night, and they were Christians. The knocker might be an enemy or a friend. The damsel, a maid-servant, had charge of the door.

Acts 15:17

When she knew Peter’s voice. In answer to her question who might be at the door. Instead of opening, in her gladness, she flew to tell the good news, a touch of nature.

Acts 15:18

It is his angel. The Jews held that every one had his guardian angel, and the thought his angel had assumed Peter’s voice. A mistake, and Luke does not say whether the idea on which it was based is true or not.

Acts 15:19

They were astonished. They could hardly believe their own eyes.

Acts 15:20

Beckoning . . . to hold their peace. Their joy was so tumultuous that he could not be heard. Go shew these things unto James. Not the apostle, but the brother of the Lord, so conspicuous after this as the pastor of the church at Jerusalem. Peter’s message seems to recognize the fact that he was a leading man. Perhaps the apostles had retired from the city for fear of Herod. For notices of James, see Acts 15:13 21:18 Galatians 1:19 2:9,12.

Acts 15:21

As soon as it was day. The sleeping soldiers did not discover that the prisoner was gone until morning.

Acts 15:22

Examined the keepers. Tries them for neglect of duty. Commanded. That those on guard, the four, should be executed. Went down from Judaea to Caesarea. In this city by the sea, the Roman capital of Palestine, he made his abode a part of the time, though Jerusalem was his usual residence. Josephus says that he went now to Caesarea to conduct games in honor of the Emperor Claudius.

Acts 15:23

Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon. The reason of this displeasure is not known. These cities were on the seacoast, but Herod’s dominions occupied the country behind them. Having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend. Probably by a bribe. The chamberlain guarded his bed-chamber and would be a trusted friend and adviser.

Acts 15:24

Upon a set day Herod. Josephus (Antiq. 19:8,2) confirms Luke’s account. He states why Herod was at Caesarea, speaks of the assembly, the royal robe, the oration, the impious shout of the people, the sudden death of Herod, and pronounces it a judgment.

Acts 15:25

The people gave a shout. The people of Caesarea were, many of them at least, heathen. As we learn from Josephus, on the second day of the games, Herod, clad in robes of silver cloth, entered the theater, and standing in the sunshine, his robes reflected his splendor. Then he made an oration, and the people raised their shout: [It is] the voice of a god. It is thought that his speech was an announcement of his decision in the matter of difficulty with Tyre and Sidon, and that the ambassadors were present.

Acts 15:26

The angel of the Lord smote him. Josephus says he lingered five days in great agony. This harmonizes with Luke’s account. He was eaten of worms. Josephus says he was taken with abdominal pains; Luke explains the cause. The disease is by no means unknown. Many cases of death from the same cause are on record. Among others the Emperor Galerius, the predecessor of Constantine the Great, so died.

Acts 15:27

But the word of God grew. Its influence kept extending, and all these exciting events.

Acts 15:28

Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem. This verse is introductory to the next chapter, which introduces the era of Gentile missions. Acts 11:29,30 explains why they had gone to Jerusalem. See note. Took with them John, whose surname was Mark. He was a relative of Barnabas (Colossians 4:10). In the next chapter he appears as an associate in their missionary labors (Acts 13:5).

Acts 15:30

The Era of Gentile Missions SUMMARY OF ACTS 13: Fasting and Prayer at Antioch. The Holy Spirit Directs Paul and Barnabas to Be Sent Forth. Their Ordination. They Preach the Word in Cyprus. Elymas Rebuked. The Proconsul Converted. The Missionaries Sail to Perga. The Gospel Preached in Antioch of Pisidia. The Persecution Raised by the Jews. The Departure to Iconium. The church that was at Antioch. For description of Antioch and account of the founding of the church in that city (see notes on Acts 11:19,26). This was the mother church of Gentile Christendom. It was at this period the most important city of Asia, and the third city of the world. For description, see notes on Acts 11:22. Prophets and teachers. These offices were not identical, though the first included the last (Ephesians 4:11). A prophet was an inspired teacher, not necessarily one who predicted the future, but one who spoke God’s message by inspiration. Barnabas. One of the prophets. See notes on “Acts 11:22” Simeon that was called Niger. Nothing more is known of him. As Niger means “black”, some have fancied that he was an African, but Niger was as common a Roman surname as Black is now. Lucius of Cyrene. The men who planted the church at Antioch were “of Cyprus and Cyrene”. See PNT Acts 11:20. Lucius was probably one of these. The name occurs again in Romans 16:21. Manaen. His mother was probably the nurse of Herod when the latter was a babe. Herod Antipas, the husband of Herodias, the murderer of John the Baptist, is meant. He was now dethroned and an exile in Gaul. Saul. The greatest of these men is named last. His greatness was not yet demonstrated.

Acts 15:31

As they ministered. These men worshiped before the Lord, fasting, and no doubt asking for guidance in the extension of Christianity. The Holy Ghost said. By an inspiration given to some one of these prophets. “God has spoken at sundry times and in divers manners unto the fathers by the one of these prophets” (Hebrews 1:1). Compare Acts 20:23. Separate me Barnabas and Saul. Both had been tried and shown to be worthy. They are now, by Divine direction, to be formally consecrated to the work of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles. From this time Antioch is the great missionary center. For the work whereunto I have called them. God called; men separated, or formally set apart.

Acts 15:32

When they had fasted and prayed. This verse shows how they were set apart. It was by fasting, prayer, and the laying on of hands. They were not thus set apart to an order or rank in the kingdom, but to a work unto which they were called. They were not made priests, or bishops, but missionaries. This act did not make Paul an apostle. Christ chose him, as he had Peter, John and the others. They sent [them] away. As the missionaries of the church at Antioch to the heathen. We find that they return to report to the church after a long missionary tour (Acts 14:27).

Acts 15:33

So they . . . departed unto Seleucia. This was the seaport of Antioch, at the mouth of the Orontes, about sixteen miles distant in a direct course. At that period it was crowded with shipping. The massive walls of its harbors are still seen, though the city is a ruin. They sailed to Cyprus. The large island which could be seen in clear air from the coast of Asia. It was chosen as the first field, probably because it was the old home of Barnabas (Acts 4:36). It had a large Jewish population.

Acts 15:34

Salamis. The eastern seaport. A day’s run would carry them from Seleucia to Salamis. The distance is only about fifty miles. Preached . . . in the synagogues. That there was more than one shows that the Jews were very numerous. In the reign of Trajan, a half century later, they were numerous enough in Cyprus to almost exterminate the Gentile population, and were only put down after the arrival of the Roman general, Hadrian, afterwards emperor, with a great army. They had also John. Mark. He probably acted as baptist. He was related to Barnabas (Colossians 4:10).

Acts 15:35

When they had gone through the isle. The island was about 130 miles long by fifty wide. Salamis being at the east and Paphos at the west extremity. Paphos. This was at this time the capital. It was noted for the worship of Venus. Found a certain sorcerer. A magician. Though the law forbade witchcraft and magic (Deuteronomy 18:9-22 Leviticus 19:31), yet contemporaneous history shows that at this period the Jewish magicians had great influence. Marius, Pompey, Crassus, and Tiberius were all more or less under their sway. A false prophet. Falsely professing inspiration.

Acts 15:36

Was with the deputy. “Proconsul” in the Revised Version. The Roman provinces at this time were divided into senatorial and imperial. The senatorial were ruled by a proconsul. We learn from other sources that Cyprus at this time was a senatorial province ruled by a proconsul. Sergius Paulus. Nothing more is known of him than is here related. A prudent man. Hence he was anxious to hear Barnabas and Saul.

Acts 15:37

But Elymas. Another name of Bar-Jesus, meaning, “the wise man”. He had probably assumed it. Withstood them. As a Jew he was opposed, and his interests, too, were opposed. He did not wish to lose his hold on the proconsul. Hence he sought to prevent his acceptance of the faith.

Acts 15:38

But Saul, (who also [is called] Paul). From this date he is the chief figure of the Acts. Barnabas, who had hitherto been the leader, falls behind. The origin of the name Paul is unknown. It is a Roman name, that of a great Roman family, and it is likely that the great apostle had two names, one Jewish, the other Gentile, a common thing anciently. Peter (Matthew 16:16), Daniel (Daniel 1:7), Esther (Es 2:7), and many others afford examples. Filled with the Holy Ghost. Acting under the impulse of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 15:39

Child of the devil. Under his influence. The right ways of the Lord. God’s plan of salvation in Christ.

Acts 15:40

The hand of the Lord [is] upon thee. In judgment. Thou shalt be blind. He was fighting against the light. Hence physical blindness for a season. A mist and a darkness. As though a cloud had gathered about him.

Acts 15:41

Then the deputy . . . believed. The language implies that he became a Christian. The “believers” were those who accepted Christ.