Acts 15:13

13 When they had finished speaking, James declared, “Brothers, listen to 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 On the contrary, we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

12 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.

13 When they had finished speaking, James declared, “Brothers, listen to me!

14 Simon has told us how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to be His own.

15 The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written: