SEV Biblia, Chapter 15:12
Entonces toda la multitud call, y oyeron a Bernab y a Pablo, que contaban cun grandes maravillas y seales Dios había hecho por ellos entre los gentiles.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 15:12
Verse 12. All the multitude kept silence] The strong facts stated by St. Peter could not be controverted. His speech may be thus analyzed: 1. Circumcision is a sign of the purification of the heart. 2. That purification can only be effected by the Holy Ghost. 3. This Holy Spirit was hitherto supposed to be the portion of those only who had received circumcision.
4. But the Gentiles, who were never circumcised, nor kept any part of the law of Moses, have had their hearts purified by faith in Christ Jesus. 5. As God, therefore, has given them the thing signified, he evidently does not intend that the sign should be administered. 6. Should we impose this burthensome rite, we should most evidently be provoking God, who plainly shows us that he intends no more to save in this way. 7. Therefore it is evident that both Jews and Gentiles are to be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Gave audience to Barnabas and Paul] These apostles came forward next, to corroborate what Peter had said, by showing the miracles and wonders which God had by them wrought among the Gentiles. Peter stated facts: Paul and Barnabas confirmed the statement.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 12. Then all the multitude kept silence , etc.] Upon this oration of Peters, there was a profound silence in the whole assembly, among all the brethren of the church, who were come together on this occasion; they were all satisfied with, and by their silence acquiesced in, what Peter said; and waited to hear what might be further said about this matter, by other persons in the assembly; and even those who were on the other side of the question, were confounded and nonplussed, and knew not what to say, and the more so, when they perceived that the rest of the apostles and elders were of the same mind; for Bezas most ancient copy introduces this clause thus; then the elders agreeing to the things that were said by Peter, the whole multitude was silent: and this gave Paul and Barnabas an opportunity of being heard; who, perhaps, could not so well be heard before, for the clamour of the people against them, who might not have so good an opinion of them, and of their practices: and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul ; Barnabas is mentioned first, he being most known to the Jews, and of whom they might have the better opinion; and who probably gave the account of their proceedings and success among the Gentiles: declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them ; what wonders of grace were wrought in the conversion of multitudes of them, wherever they came; and what miracles in nature were wrought for the confirmation of the Gospel, such as the striking blind Elymas the sorcerer, at Paphos in Cyprus, and curing the cripple at Lystra; and which they ascribe not to themselves but to God, whose instruments they only were.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 7-21 - We see from the words "purifying their hearts by faith," and the address of St. Peter, that justification by faith, and sanctificatio 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, an attests by the seal of the Holy Spirit. Then our hearts and conscience will be purified from the guilt of sin, and we shall be freed from the burdens some try to lay upon the disciples of Christ. Paul and Barnaba showed by plain matters of fact, that God owned the preaching of the pure gospel to the Gentiles without the law of Moses; therefore to press that law upon them, was to undo what God had done. The opinion of James was, that the Gentile converts ought not to be troubled abou Jewish rites, but that they should abstain from meats offered to idols so that they might show their hatred of idolatry. Also, that the should be cautioned against fornication, which was not abhorred by the Gentiles as it should be, and even formed a part of some of their rites. They were counselled to abstain from things strangled, and from eating blood; this was forbidden by the law of Moses, and also here from reverence to the blood of the sacrifices, which being then stil offered, it would needlessly grieve the Jewish converts, and furthe prejudice the unconverted Jews. But as the reason has long ceased, we are left free in this, as in the like matters. Let converts be warne to avoid all appearances of the evils which they formerly practised, or are likely to be tempted to; and caution them to use Christian libert with moderation and prudence.
Greek Textus Receptus
εσιγησεν 4601 5656 V-AAI-3S δε 1161 CONJ παν 3956 A-NSN το 3588 T-NSN πληθος 4128 N-NSN και 2532 CONJ ηκουον 191 5707 V-IAI-3P βαρναβα 921 N-GSM και 2532 CONJ παυλου 3972 N-GSM εξηγουμενων 1834 5740 V-PNP-GPM οσα 3745 K-APN εποιησεν 4160 5656 V-AAI-3S ο 3588 T-NSM θεος 2316 N-NSM σημεια 4592 N-APN και 2532 CONJ τερατα 5059 N-APN εν 1722 PREP τοις 3588 T-DPN εθνεσιν 1484 N-DPN δι 1223 PREP αυτων 846 P-GPM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
12. Hearkened. The imperfect (hkouon) denotes attention to a continued narrative.Declaring (exhgoumenwn). Better, as Rev., rehearsing. See on Luke xxiv. 35.
What miracles, etc. Lit., how many (osa).
Robertson's NT Word Studies
15:12 {Kept silence} (esigesen). Ingressive first aorist active of sigaw, old verb, to hold one's peace. All the multitude became silent after Peter's speech and because of it. {Hearkened} (ekouon). Imperfect active of akouw, descriptive of the rapt attention, were listening. {Unto Barnabas and Paul} (barnaba kai paulou). Note placing Barnabas before Paul as in verse #25, possibly because in Jerusalem Barnabas was still better known than Paul. {Rehearsing} (exegoumenwn). Present middle participle of exegeomai, old verb, to go through or lead out a narrative of events as in #Lu 24:35; Ac 10:8 which see. Three times (#14:27; 15:4,12) Paul is described as telling the facts about their mission work, facts more eloquent than argument (Page). One of the crying needs in the churches is fuller knowledge of the facts of mission work and progress with enough detail to give life and interest. The signs and wonders which God had wrought among the Gentiles set the seal of approval on the work done through (dia) Barnabas and Paul. this had been Peter's argument about Cornelius (#11:17). this same verb (exegesato) is used by James in verse #14 referring to Peter's speech.
