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Acts 15:7-11

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

7. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men [and] brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as [he did] unto us; 9. And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11. But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

Acts 15:7-11 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Acts 15:7

Theological / Devotional

Disputing. Gr. zetesis (see on v. 2). The human element apparent in the handling of such a crucial question as was decided here strikingly demonstrates the fact that God’s guiding Spirit works with and through human beings and accomplishes His will in spite of their frailties and disagreements.

Peter rose. Peter was in a place of authority, but not of primacy. He did not preside, and although his speech set the keynote of the council’s decision, he did not propose the final resolution. The fact that it was he who had been instrumental in converting the first Gentile, Cornelius, a Roman, and that that conversion had been approved by the church (see ch. 11:1—18), placed him in a particularly favorable position to urge the acceptance of other Gentiles now.

Men and brethren. See on chs. 1:16; 2:37; 13:15.

A good while ago. Literally, “from early days.” Peter alluded to the conversion of Cornelius (ch. 10), which had occurred perhaps a decade or more before. Much that was relevant to the present problem had happened since that time.

By my mouth. Peter was not claiming distinction of position, but put himself forward as a mouthpiece for God.

By SdaBc