Acts 15:32
in Acts 15Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And Judas and Silas, being themselves also prophets, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.
KJV
And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.
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This verse in Acts 15
Commentary
6 notes on this verseJudas and Silas, being prophets - That is, being teachers in the Church. This signification of the word prophet we have often already seen. See the notes on Act 11:27; Act 13:1. Exhorted the brethren - To abide steadily attached to God, and to each other, in peace, love, and unity. And confirmed them - In the blessed truths they had already received.
This site's exposition
gathered the multitude together
on Acts 15:30-33
So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch, and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle, the whole church hearing the decision rather than only its leaders, and which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation, the burden lifted exactly as the letter intended. Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them, the written decree reinforced by living ministry rather than left to stand alone on paper. After they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles, the matter closing without any recorded resentment on either side.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the Apostles." No more factions and fightings, but thenceforth Paul taught. After the epistle, then Judas and Silas also themselves exhort them by word: for this also was needful, that Paul and Barnabas might be quit of all suspicion. "Being prophets also themselves," it says, exhorted the brethren "with many words." It shows here the right that Paul and Barnabas have to be believed. For Paul also might have done this, but it behooved to be done by these.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And Judas and Silas being also prophets themselves,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
they rejoiced for the consolation--As the same word is in Ac 15:31 properly rendered "exhorted," the meaning probably is "rejoiced for the exhortation" (Margin), or advice; so wise in itself and so contrary to the imposition attempted to be practiced upon them by the Judaizers.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Being prophets - See the notes on Act 11:27. This evidently implies that they had been preachers before they went to Antioch. What was the precise nature of the office of a prophet in the Christian church it is not easy to ascertain. Possibly it may imply that they were teachers of unusual or remark able ability. Compare the notes on Rom 12:6. Confirmed them - Strengthened them; that is, by their instructions and exhortations. See the notes on Act 14:22.
The words behind it
16 Greek wordsEvery 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.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ἰούδας | ioudas | Judas | G2455 → | 41 times |
| τε | te | both | G5037 → | 213 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| Σιλᾶς, | silas | Silas, | G4609 → | 12 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| αὐτοὶ | autoi | themselves | G846 → | 5565 times |
| προφῆται | prophetai | prophets | G4396 → | 144 times |
| ὄντες, | ontes | being, | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| διὰ | dia | through | G1223 → | 664 times |
| λόγου | logou | talk | G3056 → | 329 times |
| πολλοῦ | pollou | much | G4183 → | 367 times |
| παρεκάλεσαν | parekalesan | exhorted | G3870 → | 108 times |
| τοὺς | tous | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀδελφοὺς | adelphous | brothers | G80 → | 343 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐπεστήριξαν. | epesterixan | strengthened [them]. | G1991 → | 4 times |
ἸούδαςJudas
ioudasG2455 →41 times
τεboth
teG5037 →213 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
Σιλᾶς,Silas,
silasG4609 →12 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
αὐτοὶthemselves
autoiG846 →5565 times
προφῆταιprophets
prophetaiG4396 →144 times
ὄντες,being,
ontesG1510 →2333 times
διὰthrough
diaG1223 →664 times
λόγουtalk
logouG3056 →329 times
πολλοῦmuch
pollouG4183 →367 times
παρεκάλεσανexhorted
parekalesanG3870 →108 times
τοὺςthe
tousG3588 →19766 times
ἀδελφοὺςbrothers
adelphousG80 →343 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐπεστήριξαν.strengthened [them].
epesterixanG1991 →4 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach 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
Acts 14:22strengthening 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.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish…
- 2 Timothy 3:12
Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
- John 16:33
I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”
- Romans 8:17
And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:2–4
We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,
- 1 Peter 5:10
Through
1 Thessalonians 5:14And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.
it leads to
- 2 Timothy 4:2
Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction.
- Romans 14:1
Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on his opinions.
- Acts 20:35
In everything, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
- 2 Timothy 4:2
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies3
On this verse
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About Acts

Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); 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) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.
