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Acts 15:22

in Acts 15

Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among the brothers,

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

KJV

Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

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This verse in Acts 15

Commentary

11 notes on this verse

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole Church - James determined what ought to be done; and the whole assembly resolved how that should be done. Chosen men of their own company - Paul and Barnabas were to return: they could have witnessed to the Church at Antioch what was done at the council at Jerusalem; but as it was possible that their testimony might be suspected, from the part they had already taken in this question at Antioch, it was necessary that a deputation from the council should accompany them.

This site's exposition

select men from among them

on Acts 15:22-23

The apostles and elders, with the whole church, chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas to carry the decision to Antioch. Silas returns as Paul's partner at verse 40.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers4 voices

A commentator

Cassiodorus

Complexiones on the Acts of the Apostles · Written before 585.

proposed

"Then it pleased the apostles, and the ancients, and the whole church, to choose men and to send to Antioch." It pleased the apostles and the ancients who dwelt in Jerusalem to send with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch Judas, who is surnamed Basabas, and …

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 33 · Written before 407.

proposed

Then the decree is made in common. "Then pleased it the Apostles and elders, together with the whole Church, to choose men of their own company" - do you observe they do not merely enact these matters, and nothing more? - "and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: and they wrote letters by them after this manner." And observe, the more to authenticate the decree, they send men of their own, that there may be no room for regarding Paul and his company with suspicion. There was a design of Providence in the disputation also, that after the disputation the doctrine might be more firm.

A commentator

Cyprian

Epistle XXXII · Written before 258.

proposed

In ordinations of the clergy, beloved brethren, we usually consult you beforehand, and weigh the character and deserts of individuals, with the general advice. But human testimonies must not be waited for when the divine approval precedes.

A commentator

Oecumenius

Commentary on Acts · Written before 550.

proposed

"to choose men from among them to send." They decided that it should not serve merely to have the letter present, for fear that they say that they had seized one thing for another by speaking falsely, but so that the matter might also become …

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

With the whole Church - Which therefore had a part therein; to send chosen men - Who might put it beyond all dispute, that this was the judgment of the apostles and all the brethren.
4 more voices on this verse

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

They are here named: Judas, who was called Barsabas (probably the brother of that Joseph who was called Barsabas, that was a candidate for the apostleship, ch. i.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens

Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church,....

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

The wisdom of these suggestions commended itself to all present. Judas surnamed Barsabas--therefore not the apostle "Judas the brother of James" (Ac 1:13), surnamed "Thaddeus" (Mt 10:3); nor can it be shown that he was a brother of "Joseph called Barsabas" (Ac 1:23). But nothing is known of him beyond what is here said. and Silas--the same as "Silvanus" in the Epistles.
Then pleased it - It seemed fit and proper to them. The apostles and elders - To whom the business had been particularly referred, Act 15:2. Compare Act 16:4. With the whole church - All the Christians who were there assembled together. They concurred in the sentiment, and expressed their approbation in the letter that was sent, Act 15:23. Whether they were consulted does not particularly appear. But as it is not probable that they would volunteer an opinion unless they were consulted, it seems most reasonable to suppose that the apostles and elders submitted the case to them for their approbation. It would seem that the apostles and elders deliberated on it, and decided it; but still, for the sake of peace and unity, they also took measures to ascertain that their decision agreed with the sentiment of the church. Chosen men - Men chosen for this purpose. Of their own company - From among themselves. Greater weight and authority would thus be attached to their message. Judas surnamed Barsabas - Possibly the same who was nominated to the vacant place in the apostleship, Act 1:23. But Grotius supposes that it was his brother. And Silas - He was afterward the traveling companion of Paul, Act 15:40; Act 16:25, Act 16:29; Act 17:4, Act 17:10, Act 17:15. He is also the same person, probably, who is mentioned by the name of Silvanus, 2Co 1:19; 1Th 1:1; 2Th 1:1; 1Pe 5:12. Chief men among the brethren - Greek: leaders. Compare Luk 22:26. Men of influence, experience, and authority in the church. Judas and Silas are said to have been prophets, Act 15:32. They had, therefore, been engaged as preachers and rulers in the church at Jerusalem.

The words behind it

34 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Acts 15:27Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to tell you in person the same things we are writing.7 worksActs 15:40but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.5 worksActs 15:32Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers.4 works2 Thessalonians 1:1Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:4 works1 Peter 5:12Through Silvanus, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.4 works1 Thessalonians 1:1Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.4 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Acts 18:5And when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself fully to the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.4 worksActs 1:23So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.4 worksActs 15:23and sent them with this letter: The apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.4 worksActs 17:4Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few leading women.3 worksActs 16:19When the girl’s owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the marketplace.3 worksActs 17:14The brothers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy remained in Berea.3 worksActs 16:25About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.3 worksActs 17:10As soon as night had fallen, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went into the Jewish synagogue.3 worksActs 16:29Calling for lights, the jailer rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.3 works2 Corinthians 1:19For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed among you by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in Him it has always been “Yes.”3 worksActs 11:19Meanwhile those scattered by the persecution that began with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message only to Jews.3 worksActs 15:25So we all agreed to choose men to send to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,3 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    1 Peter 5:12

    Through Silvanus, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.

    it leads to

    • Acts 11:23

      When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to abide in the Lord with all their hearts.

      Reached by 3 separate paths from here.

    • 2 Corinthians 1:19

      For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed among you by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in Him it has always been “Yes.”

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Hebrews 13:22

      I urge you, brothers, to bear with my word of exhortation, for I have only written to you briefly.

    • 1 Corinthians 15:1

      Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, and in which you stand firm.

    • Acts 20:24

      But I consider my life of no value to me, if only I may finish my course and complete the ministry I have received from the Lord Jesus—the ministry of testifying to the good…

  • Through

    Acts 15:32

    Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers.

    it leads to

    • Acts 14:22

      strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

    • Acts 13:1

      Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch), and Saul.

  • Through

    Acts 15:40

    but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.

    it leads to

    • Acts 14:26

      From Attalia they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had just completed.

Where this verse is studied

About Acts

The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
Acts: the study guide →Read Acts 15 →
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Cassiodorus, Complexiones on the Acts of the Apostles; Cyprian, Epistle XXXII; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 33; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts and William Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen.

Read on in Acts 15 →