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 Living Translation (NLT)When they had finished, James stood and said, “Brothers, listen to me.

Context of Acts 15:13

11But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.” 12Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: 14Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. 15And with this the words of the prophets agree, just 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

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 anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent.
• James 1:19So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;
• Acts 12:17But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place.
• Acts 21:18On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.
• Mark 15:40There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome,
• Galatians 1:19But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.
• Galatians 2:9and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
• James 1:1James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.
• Acts 2:14But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.
• Acts 7:2And he said, “Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran,
• Acts 22:1“Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now.”

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