Acts 15:13

13 The silence deepened; you could hear a pin drop.

Acts 15:13 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 15:13

And after they had held their peace
Meaning not the multitude, but Paul and Barnabas; when they had finished their account, and had done speaking:

James answered;
or rose up, as the Syriac version reads, he stood up and began to speak. This was James the son of Alphaeus, one of the twelve apostles, sometimes called the brother of the Lord; for the other James, the son of Zebedee and brother of John, was dead, being killed by Herod, ( Acts 12:2 ) but this was the brother of Jude, and the same that wrote the epistle that bears his name: whether he was now bishop or pastor of the church at Jerusalem, is not certain; nor whether he was president in this council; the speeches made in it do not appear to be directed to him: he began his oration thus,

saying, men and brethren, hearken to me;
the titles he uses, and the manner of desiring audience, were what were common with the Jews; see ( Acts 2:14 Acts 2:22 Acts 2:29 ) ( 7:2 ) .

Acts 15:13 In-Context

11 Don't we believe that we are saved because the Master Jesus amazingly and out of sheer generosity moved to save us just as he did those from beyond our nation? So what are we arguing about?"

12 There was dead silence. No one said a word. With the room quiet, Barnabas and Paul reported matter-of-factly on the miracles and wonders God had done among the other nations through their ministry.

13 The silence deepened; you could hear a pin drop.

14 Simeon has told us the story of how God at the very outset made sure that racial outsiders were included.

15 This is in perfect agreement with the words of the prophets: