Acts 15:13

Acts 15:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
• New International Version (NIV)When they finished, James spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me.
• English Standard Version (ESV)After they finished speaking, James replied, "Brothers, listen to me.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me:

Context of Acts 15:13

11But we believe that we are saved through the [precious, undeserved] grace of the Lord Jesus [which makes us free of the guilt of sin and grants us eternal life], in just the same way as they are.” 12All the people remained silent, and they listened [attentively] to Barnabas and Paul as they described all the signs and wonders (attesting miracles) that God had done through them among the Gentiles. When they had finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. 14Simeon (Simon Peter) has described how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name [to honor Him and be identified with Him]. 15The words of the Prophets agree with this, just as it is written [in Scripture],

Acts 15:13 word by word

Μετὰ δὲ τὸ σιγῆσαι αὐτοὺς ἀπεκρίθη Ἰάκωβος λέγων· ἄνδρες ἀδελφοί, ἀκούσατέ μου.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andδέde · thenG1161
• afterμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
• they had heldσιγάωsigaō · be silentG4601
• theirαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• JamesἸάκωβοςIakōbos · JamesG2385
• answeredἀποκρίνωapokrinomai · to answerG611
• sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Menἀνήρanēr · manG435
• brethrenἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
• hearkenἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
• unto meἐγώegō · I/weG1473

Cross-references for Acts 15:13

• 1 Corinthians 14:30But if an inspired revelation is made to another who is seated, then the first one must be silent.
• James 1:19Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving];
• Acts 12:17But motioning to them with his hand to be quiet and listen, he described how the Lord had led him out of the prison. And he said, “Report these things to James and the brothers and sisters.” Then he left and went to another place.
• Acts 21:18On the next day Paul went with us to [see] James, and all the elders of the church were present.
• Mark 15:40Now some women also were watching from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome.
• Galatians 1:19But I did not see any other apostle except James, the [half] brother of the Lord.
• Galatians 2:9And recognizing the grace [that God had] bestowed on me, James and Cephas (Peter) and John, who were reputed to be pillars [of the Jerusalem church], gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we could go to the Gentiles [with their blessing] and they to the circumcised (Jews).
• James 1:1James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve [Hebrew] tribes [scattered abroad among the Gentiles] in the dispersion: Greetings (rejoice)!
• Acts 2:14But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be explained to you; listen closely and pay attention to what I have to say.
• Acts 7:2And he answered, “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory [the Shekinah, the radiance of God] appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,
• Acts 22:1“Brethren and fathers (kinsmen), hear my defense which I now offer to you.”

Commentaries on Acts 15:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13James answered - He was evidently president of the council, and is generally called bishop of Jerusalem. The rest either argued on the subject, or gave their opinion; James alone pronounced the definitive sentence. Had Peter been prince and head of the apostles, and of the Church, he would have appeared here in the character of judge, not of mere counsellor or disputant. Thy popish writers say that "James presided because the council was held in his own…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13James answered - James the Less, son of Alpheus. See the notes on Acts 12:1. Hearken unto me - This whole transaction shows that Peter had no such authority in the church as the papists pretend, for otherwise his opinion would have been followed without debate. James had an authority not less than that of Peter. It is possible that he might have been next in age (compare 1 Corinthians 15:7); and it seems morally certain that he remained for a considerable…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-21Verses 7-21 We see from the words "purifying their hearts by faith," and the address of St. Peter, that justification by faith, and sanctification by the Holy Ghost, cannot be separated; and that both are the gift of God. We have great cause to bless God that we have heard the gospel. May we have that faith which the great Searcher of hearts approves, and attests by the seal of the Holy Spirit. Then our hearts and consciences will be purified from the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13-19James, the brother of Jesus, said that the turning of the Gentiles (non-Jewish people) to God agreed with Scripture. He strongly argued that it was against God’s will to place extra rules on Gentiles who wanted to join God’s people.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. James answered, saying, &c.--Whoever this James was (see on Ga 1:19), he was the acknowledged head of the church at Jerusalem, and here, as president of the assembly, speaks last, winding up the debate. His decision, though given as his own judgment only, could not be of great weight with the opposing party, from his conservative reverence for all Jewish usages within the circle of Israelitish Christianity.Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 15:13

• Antioch
• Catholicity
• Church
• Circumcision
• Council
• Doctrines
• Elder
• Gentiles
• James
• Law
• Titus

In the dictionaries

• Abstain
• Apostle
• Cause
• Choice
• Consider
• Conversion
• Council
• Declare
• Dissension
• Galatians, Epistle to

Commentaries on Acts 15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings