SEV Biblia, Chapter 15:7
Y despus de grande contienda, levantndose Pedro, les dijo: Varones hermanos, vosotros sabis cmo ya hace algn tiempo que Dios escogi que los gentiles oyesen por mi boca la Palabra del Evangelio, y creyesen.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 15:7
Verse 7. When there had been much disputing] By those of the sect of the believing Pharisees; for they strongly contended for circumcision, and at the head of these, tradition tells us, was Cerinthus, a name famous in the primitive Church, as one who laboured to unite the law and the Gospel, and to make the salvation promised by the latter dependent on the performance of the rites and ceremonies prescribed by the former. Though the apostles and elders were under the inspiration of the Almighty, and could by this inspiration have immediately determined the question, yet it was highly necessary that the objecting party should be permitted to come forward and allege their reasons for the doctrines they preached, and that these reasons should be fairly met by argument, and the thing proved to be useless in itself, inexpedient in the present case, and unsupported by any express authority from God, and serving no purpose to the Gentiles, who in their uncircumcised state, by believing in Christ Jesus, had been made partakers of the Holy Ghost. Peter rose up, and said] This was after the matters in dispute had been fully debated; and now the apostles, like judges, after hearing counsel on both sides, proceed to give judgment on the case.
A good while ago] af hmerwn arcaiwn, From the days of old: a phrase which simply signifies some years ago; and, if he here refers to the conversion of Cornelius, (see chap. x. 1-48,) he must mean about ten years before this time; but it is more likely that he refers to that time when Christ gave him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, that be might open the door of faith to the Gentiles.
God made choice among us] That is, he chose me to be the first apostle of the Gentiles.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 7. And when there had been much disputing , etc.] Pro and con upon this subject; many had spoken; and much had been said, and a great deal of time had been taken up about the thing in controversy: Peter rose up ; not only out of respect to this venerable assembly, but to signify that he had something to say; and he stood up that he might be the better heard. Bezas ancient copy reads, rose up in spirit; and said unto them, men and brethren : an usual form of address with the Jews; ( Acts 7:2) ye know how that a good while ago ; or from ancient days; or from the beginning, as the Ethiopic version renders it; from the beginning of the preaching of the Gospel, after the ascension of Christ; quickly after the effusion of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost: it is thought, by some, to be ten or eleven, and, by others, to be twenty years ago, or thereabout: God made choice among us ; the apostles; the Alexandrian copy reads, among you; the sense is the same, for Peter must be supposed as directing his discourse chiefly to the apostles: that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the Gospel , and believe; referring to the case of Cornelius, and his family: and his sense is, that some years ago it pleased God, in his providence, to single him out from the rest of the apostles, and in a very extraordinary manner to call him to go to Caesarea, and preach the gospel to Cornelius, and those that were in his house, that hearing they might believe in Christ.
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
πολλης 4183 A-GSF δε 1161 CONJ συζητησεως 4803 N-GSF γενομενης 1096 5637 V-2ADP-GSF αναστας 450 5631 V-2AAP-NSM πετρος 4074 N-NSM ειπεν 2036 5627 V-2AAI-3S προς 4314 PREP αυτους 846 P-APM ανδρες 435 N-VPM αδελφοι 80 N-VPM υμεις 5210 P-2NP επιστασθε 1987 5736 V-PNI-2P οτι 3754 CONJ αφ 575 PREP ημερων 2250 N-GPF αρχαιων 744 A-GPF ο 3588 T-NSM θεος 2316 N-NSM εν 1722 PREP ημιν 2254 P-1DP εξελεξατο 1586 5668 V-AMI-3S δια 1223 PREP του 3588 T-GSN στοματος 4750 N-GSN μου 3450 P-1GS ακουσαι 191 5658 V-AAN τα 3588 T-APN εθνη 1484 N-APN τον 3588 T-ASM λογον 3056 N-ASM του 3588 T-GSN ευαγγελιου 2098 N-GSN και 2532 CONJ πιστευσαι 4100 5658 V-AAN
Vincent's NT Word Studies
7. The word of the gospel (ton logou tou euaggeliou). This phrase occurs nowhere else; and eujaggelion, gospel, is found only once more in Acts (ch. xx. 24).
Robertson's NT Word Studies
15:7 {When there had been much questioning} (polles zetesews genomenes). Genitive absolute with second aorist middle participle of ginomai. Evidently the Judaizers were given full opportunity to air all their grievances and objections. They were allowed plenty of time and there was no effort to shut off debate or to rush anything through the meeting. {Peter rose up} (anastas petros). The wonder was that he had waited so long. Probably Paul asked him to do so. He was the usual spokesman for the apostles and his activities in Jerusalem were well-known. In particular his experience at Caesarea (#Ac 10) had caused trouble here in Jerusalem from this very same party of the circumcism (#Ac 11:1-18). It was fitting that Peter should speak. this is the last time that Peter appears in the Acts. {A good while ago} (af' hemerwn arcaiwn). From ancient days. The adjective arcaios is from arce, beginning, and its actual age is a matter of relativity. So Mnason (#Ac 21:16) is termed "an ancient disciple." It was probably a dozen years since God "made choice" (exelexato) to speak by Peter's mouth to Cornelius and the other Gentiles in Caesarea. His point is that what Paul and Barnabas have reported is nothing new. The Judaizers made objection qen as they are doing now.
