For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach
him,
&c.] That is, for many years past, even from the times of
Ezra, the law of Moses has been publicly expounded by them, whom
the Jews call Derashim, preachers, or expounders, in every city
where there was a synagogue; and every city belonging to the
Jews, were obliged to build a synagogue, yea, they were obliged
to do it where there were but ten Israelites F14: this
is given by James as a reason why the Gentiles should be wrote
unto concerning the above things; because that they hearing the
law read and expounded every week, would be ready to conclude
that they were obliged to submit unto it, as to circumcision, and
other things; unless they were told that they were free from it;
only in order to maintain peace with their brethren the Jews, it
would be necessary for them to abstain from the above things: and
it may also carry in it a reason, why the Jews need not be wrote
unto, and why they had no reason to complain for thus writing to
the Gentiles; since they had the law read and explained to them
every week, and there would be no attempt to make any alteration
in that form of service:
being read in the synagogues every sabbath day;
(See Gill on Acts
13:15).