Acts 15:27

Act 15:27. Διὰ λόγου, by word of mouth) In antithesis to the letter.—τὰ αὐτὰ) the same things as are presently after written. This proposition is followed by the discussion of it in the foll. ver., γὰρ, for.

Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Act 15:27 . Ἰ . καὶ Σ . καὶ αὐτοὺς : “who themselves also shall tell you the same things by word of mouth,” R.V. Judas and Silas were sent to confirm personally the contents of the letter, as they could speak with authority as representing the Church at Jerusalem, while Barnabas and Saul alone would be regarded as already committed to the conciliatory side (Alford). The present participle, as the writer thinks of Judas and Silas as actually present with the letter at its reception, cf. ἀπεστάλκαμεν , “we have sent” by a common idiom, and also Act 21:16 ; Blass compares Thuc., vii., 26, ἔπεμψαν ἀγγέλλοντας , Gram. , p. 194. τὰ αὐτὰ : not the same things as Barnabas and Paul had preached, but, as διὰ λ . intimates, the same things as the letter contained, see critical notes.

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Verse 27. Judas and Silas - shall - tell you the same things] These were proofs that the testimony of Paul and Barnabas was true; and that the letter was not forged, as they could witness the same things which the letter contained.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

27. by mouth] The Greek has by word. Our modern phrase com bines the two, by word of mouth, and is given in R. V.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

We have sent therefore Judas and Silas,.... The chosen men before mentioned,

who shall also tell you the same things by mouth; as are written in these letters; which would both confirm and explain things unto them.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

Ver. 27. We have sent Judas and Silas] Men skilful in comforting consciences and resolving cases, as Act 15:32. Conscience is a diamond, and will be wrought on by nothing but dust of diamond, such as contrition hath ground it to. How like the motion of a puppet, the language of a parrot, is the best discourse, in this subject of conscience, of the not interested man! He is one of a thousand that can declare unto man his righteousness, Job 33:23. Those that would have oil for their lamps, comfort for their consciences, must repair to them that sell it, Mat 25:9.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The same things - The same things that we wrote to you They will confirm all by their own statements.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

They shall inform you of the truth of what is contained in this epistle, that you may be more assured it is not forged or counterfeited. Of these men, see Act 15:22.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Themselves also shall for shall also, A.V.; by word of mouth for by mouth, A.V. Judas and Silas. (see Act_10:7, note)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Who will tell you the same things - Which we have written.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

See notes on verse 22

J. W. McGarvey (with Philip Y. Pendleton), Commentaries on the New Testament (The Fourfold Gospel, 1914; Acts; and the epistles) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Connecting Statement:

This concludes the letter from the Jerusalem church to the Gentile believers in Antioch.

General Information:

Here the words "We" and "us" refer to the leaders and believers in the church in Jerusalem. (See: Exclusive and Inclusive "We" and Acts 15:22)

who will tell you the same thing themselves in their own words

This phrase emphasizes that Judas and Silas will say the same things that the apostles and elders had written. AT: "who themselves will tell you the same things about which we have written" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things

This speaks about laws that people need to obey as if they were objects that people carry on their shoulders. (See: Metaphor)

from things sacrificed to idols

This means they are not allowed to eat the meat of an animal that someone sacrifices to an idol.

blood

This refers to drinking blood or eating meat from which the blood has not been drained. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

things strangled

A strangled animal was killed but its blood was not drained.

Farewell

This announces the end of the letter. AT: "Goodbye"

translationWords

Holy Spirit

turn

sacrifice

false god

sexual immorality

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

27. διὰ λόγου, by word, i.e. by word of mouth.

ἀπαγγέλλοντας, announcing. The present tense is however equivalent to a future. ‘We have sent them announcing,’ i.e. as announcers, as persons to announce. So that the A.V. ‘who shall tell you’ is the precise sense and excellent English. The use of this tense comes from the feeling of the senders that those whom they are despatching are as good as present at their destination.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

27.] τὰ αὐτά, as above, the contents of the Epistle (and any explanation required): not, as Neander, ‘the same things as P. and B. have preached:’ διὰ λόγου, by word of mouth, as opposed to ‘by letter,’decides against this interpretation.

Henry Alford, The Greek Testament (1849–1861) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.