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

11On the contrary, we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” 12The whole assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. When 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:

Acts 15:13 word by word

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

• ·δέde · thenG1161
• Whenμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• theyαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• had finished speakingσιγάωsigaō · be silentG4601
• JamesἸάκωβοςIakōbos · JamesG2385
• declaredἀποκρίνωapokrinomai · to answerG611
• ·λέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Brothersἀνήρanēr · manG435
• Brothersἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
• listen toἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
• meἐγώegō · I/weG1473

Cross-references for Acts 15:13

• 1 Corinthians 14:30And if a revelation comes to someone who is seated, the first speaker should stop.
• James 1:19My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,
• Acts 12:17Peter 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.
• Acts 21:18The next day Paul went in with us to see James, and all the elders were present.
• Mark 15:40And 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.
• Galatians 1:19But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.
• Galatians 2:9And 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.
• James 1:1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes of the Dispersion: Greetings.
• Acts 2:14Then 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.
• Acts 7:2And Stephen declared: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,
• Acts 22:1“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before 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