Acts 15:13

13 And after that they held peace, James answered, and said, Brethren, hear ye me [James answered, saying, Men brethren, hear me].

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 But by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ we believe to be saved, as also they.

12 And all the multitude held peace, and heard Barnabas and Paul, telling how great signs and wonders [how many signs and wonders] God did by them in heathen men.

13 And after that they held peace, James answered, and said, Brethren, hear ye me [James answered, saying, Men brethren, hear me].

14 Simon told, how God visited, first to take of heathen men a people to his name. [Simon told, how first God visited, to take of heathen men a people to his name.]

15 And the words of prophets accord to him [And to him the words of prophets accord], as it is written,