SEV Biblia, Chapter 15:13
Y despus que ellos callaron, Jacobo respondi, diciendo: Varones hermanos, oídme:
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 15:13
Verse 13. James 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 church." These men forget that there was not then what they term a Church on the face of the earth. The Church, or assembly of believers, then met in private houses; for there was no building for the exclusive purpose of Christian worship then, nor till long after. These writers also forget that the pope pretends to be the head of the catholic or universal Church; and, consequently, no man can preside where he is present, but himself. Peter did not preside here; and this was the first ecclesiastical council, and now, if ever, he should have assumed his character of prince and chief; but he did not; nor did any of the other apostles invite him to it, which they would have done had they thought that Jesus Christ constituted him head of the Church. From this very circumstance there is the most demonstrative evidence that Peter was no pope, and that the right of his pretended successor is a nonentity.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 13. And after they had held their peace , etc.] Meaning not the multitude, but Paul and Barnabas; when they had finished their account, and had done speaking: James answered ; or rose up, as the Syriac version reads, he stood up and began to speak. This was James the son of Alphaeus, one of the twelve apostles, sometimes called the brother of the Lord; for the other James, the son of Zebedee and brother of John, was dead, being killed by Herod, ( Acts 12:2) but this was the brother of Jude, and the same that wrote the epistle that bears his name: whether he was now bishop or pastor of the church at Jerusalem, is not certain; nor whether he was president in this council; the speeches made in it do not appear to be directed to him: he began his oration thus, saying, men and brethren, hearken to me ; the titles he uses, and the manner of desiring audience, were what were common with the Jews; (see Acts 2:14,22,29, 7:2).
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
μετα 3326 PREP δε 1161 CONJ το 3588 T-ASN σιγησαι 4601 5658 V-AAN αυτους 846 P-APM απεκριθη 611 5662 V-ADI-3S ιακωβος 2385 N-NSM λεγων 3004 5723 V-PAP-NSM ανδρες 435 N-VPM αδελφοι 80 N-VPM ακουσατε 191 5657 V-AAM-2P μου 3450 P-1GS
Vincent's NT Word Studies
13. James. See Introduction to Catholic Epistles.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
15:13 {After they had held their peace} (meta to sigesai autous). Literally, "after the becoming silent (ingressive aorist active of the articular infinitive) as to them (Barnabas and Paul, accusative of general reference)." {James answered} (apekriqe iakwbos). First aorist passive (deponent) indicative. It was expected that James, as President of the Conference, would speak last. But he wisely waited to give every one an opportunity to speak. The challenge of the Judaizers called for an opinion from James. Furneaux thinks that he may have been elected one of the twelve to take the place of James the brother of John since Paul (#Ga 1:19) calls him apostle. More likely he was asked to preside because of his great gifts and character as chief of the elders.
