Acts 15:13

13 and after they are silent, James answered, saying, `Men, brethren, hearken 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 but, through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we believe to be saved, even as also they.'

12 And all the multitude did keep silence, and were hearkening to Barnabas and Paul, declaring as many signs and wonders as God did among the nations through them;

13 and after they are silent, James answered, saying, `Men, brethren, hearken to me;

14 Simeon did declare how at first God did look after to take out of the nations a people for His name,

15 and to this agree the words of the prophets, as it hath been written: