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Acts 15:12

in Acts 15

The whole assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And all the multitude kept silence; and they hearkened unto Barnabas and Paul rehearsing what signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles through them.

KJV

Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

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This verse in Acts 15

Commentary

5 notes on this verse

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

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.

This site's exposition

The whole assembly fell silent

The whole assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. The testimony follows Peter's argument as evidence, the signs of chapter 14 now set before the council. The silence marks agreement before James speaks.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 33 · Written before 407.

proposed

"Then all the multitude kept silence." There was no arrogance in the Church. After Peter Paul speaks, and none silences him: James waits patiently, not starts up for the next word. Great the orderliness of the proceedings. No word speaks John here, no word the other Apostles, but held their peace, for James was invested with the chief rule, and think it no hardship. So clean was their soul from love of glory. Peter indeed spoke more strongly, but James here more mildly: for thus it behooves one in high authority, to leave what is unpleasant for others to say, while he himself appears in the milder part.

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

Then all the multitude kept silence,....

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Then all the multitude - Evidently the multitude of private Christians who were assembled on this occasion. That it does not refer to a synod of ministers and elders merely is apparent: (1) Because the church, the brethren, are represented as having been present, and as concurring in the final opinion Act 15:22-23; and, (2) Because the word “multitude” τὸ πλῆθος to plēthos would not have been used in describing the collection of apostles and elders merely. Compare Luk 1:10-11, Luk 1:13; Luk 5:6; Luk 6:17; Luk 19:37; Joh 5:3; Joh 21:6; Act 4:32; Act 6:2; Mat 3:7. Gave audience - Heard, listened attentively to. Barnabas and Paul - They were deeply interested in it, and they were qualified to give a fair statement of the facts as they had occurred. Declaring what miracles and wonders ... - The argument here evidently is, that God had approved their work by miracles; that he gave evidence that what they did had his approbation; and that as all this was done without imposing on them the rites of the Jews, so it would follow that those were not now to be commanded.

The words behind it

23 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.

Psalms 31:19How great is Your goodness which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have bestowed before the sons of men on those who take refuge in You!37 worksActs 14:27When they arrived, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.12 worksRomans 15:18I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed,9 worksActs 19:11God did extraordinary miracles through the hands of Paul,8 worksActs 15:4On their arrival in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and apostles and elders, to whom they reported all that God had done through them.5 worksJohn 4:48Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe.”3 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Acts 21:19Paul greeted them and recounted one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.3 works1 Samuel 14:45But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die—he who accomplished such a great deliverance for Israel? Never! As surely as the LORD lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for with God’s help he has accomplished this today.” So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.3 worksActs 15:3Sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers.3 worksGalatians 2:2I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I spoke privately to those recognized as leaders, for fear that I was running or had already run in vain.3 worksGalatians 2:7On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted to preach the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised.3 worksGalatians 2:8For the One who was at work in Peter’s apostleship to the circumcised was also at work in my apostleship to the Gentiles.3 worksNumbers 23:23For there is no spell against Jacob and no divination against Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and Israel, ‘What great things God has done!’3 worksJoshua 22:33The Israelites were satisfied with the report, and they blessed God and spoke no more about going to war against them to destroy the land where the Reubenites and Gadites lived.2 worksActs 4:36Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (meaning Son of Encouragement),2 worksExodus 18:1Now Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about all that God had done for Moses and His people Israel, and how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.2 worksRomans 15:19by the power of signs and wonders, and by the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.2 worksActs 21:22What then should we do? They will certainly hear that you have come.2 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

    Acts 14:27

    When they arrived, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

    it leads to

    • 1 Corinthians 16:9

      because a great door for effective work has opened to me, even though many oppose me.

    • Colossians 4:3

      as you pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.

    • 2 Corinthians 2:12

      Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and a door stood open for me in the Lord,

  • Through

    Acts 21:19

    Paul greeted them and recounted one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.

    it leads to

    • Acts 14:27

      When they arrived, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

  • Through

    John 4:48

    Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe.”

    it leads to

    • John 20:29

      Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

    • 1 Corinthians 1:22

      Jews demand signs and Greeks search for wisdom,

    • Hebrews 2:4

      and was affirmed by God through signs, wonders, various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.

    • Daniel 4:2

      I am pleased to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.

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 Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 33; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament and John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748).

Read on in Acts 15 →