Acts 13 · Verse 15

Acts 13:15

And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.
Acts 13:15, King James Version

Acts 13:15 in other translations

BSBAfter the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders sent word to them: “Brothers, if you have a word of encouragement for the people, please speak.”
WEBAfter the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, speak.”
ASVAnd after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.
YLTand after the reading of the law and of the prophets, the chief men of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, ‘Men, brethren, if there be a word in you of exhortation unto the people--say on.'
DARBYAnd after the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, Brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation to the people, speak.
BBEAnd after the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the Synagogue sent to them, saying, Brothers, if you have a word of comfort for the people, say on.
WebsterAnd after the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, Men, brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, speak.

What does Acts 13:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 13:15-17
15-17. Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand--as was his manner on such occasions (Ac 21:40; and see Ac 26:1). Men of Israel, and ye that fear God--by the latter expression meaning religious proselytes, who united with the Jews in all acts of ordinary worship. and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in Egypt--by marvellous interpositions for them in their deepest depression.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 15. And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets. Lk 4:16.

The rulers of the synagogue. These were persons who had the general charge of the synagogue and its service, to keep everything in order, and to direct the affairs of public worship. They designated the individuals who were to read the law; and called on those whom they pleased to address the people, and had the power also of inflicting punishment, and of excommunicating, etc.--(Schleusner.) Mk 5:22,35,36,38, Lk 8:49; Lk 13:14, Acts 18:8,17. Seeing that Paul and Barnabas were Jews, though strangers, they sent to them, supposing it probable that they would wish to address their brethren.

Men and brethren. An affectionate manner of commencing a discourse, recognizing them as their own countrymen, and as originally of the same religion.

Say on. Greek, Speak.

(d) "word of exhortation" Heb 13:22 (*) "say on" "Speak"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 15 After the reading of the law and the prophets - A certain portion of the law and another of the prophets, was read every Sabbath; and the law was so divided as to be read over once every year. In the notes at the conclusion of Deuteronomy, I have considered this subject at large, and given a complete table of the Parashoth, sections of the law, and Haphtaroth, sections of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath in the year in the Jewish synagogues. To have an exact view of every part of the Jewish ecclesiastical economy, the reader will do well to consult the above mentioned table, and those which follow it: they have been drawn up with great care, attention, and indescribable labor. It has been a question, in what language were the law and prophets read in a synagogue of Pisidia, for in that district Strabo informs us that four languages were spoken, viz. the Pisidian, the Solyman, the Greek, and the Lydian. Dr. Lightfoot conjectures, with great probability, that the Scriptures were read in the original Hebrew; and that an interpreter tendered the reading to the people in their mother tongue. There is no doubt that the Jews and proselytes understood the Greek tongue well; and they certainly had the Septuagint version among them. The rulers of the synagogue - These were the persons whose business it was to read the appointed sections, and to take care of the synagogue and its concerns; and to see that all was done decently and in order. Sent unto them - Seeing them to be Jews, they wished them to give some suitable address to the people, i.e. to the Jews who were then engaged in Divine worship; for the whole of the following discourse, which greatly resembles that of St. Stephen, Acts 7:1-53, is directed to the Jews alone; and this was probably spoken either in Hebrew or Greek. Ye men and brethren - Ανδρες αδελφοι, Men brethren, a Hebraism for, "Ye men who are our brethren," i.e. Jews, as we ourselves are; but ανδρες is often an expletive, as we have already seen. See the note on Act 7:2. If ye have any word of exhortation - Ει εϚι λογος εν ὑμιν παρακλησεως· If ye have any subject of consolation, any word of comfort to us, who are sojourners in this strange land, speak it. The Consolation of Israel was an epithet of the Messiah among the Jews; and it is probable that it was in reference to him that the rulers of the synagogue spoke. That παρακλησις is to be understood here as meaning consolation, and this in reference to the Messiah, the whole of the following discourse will prove to the attentive reader; in which Paul shows the care and protection of God towards his people Israel, and the abundant provision he had made for their salvation by Jesus Christ. They wished for consolation, and he declared unto them glad tidings, and many felt the power and comfort of the doctrine of the cross.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 13:14-31

When we come together to worship God, we must do it, not only by prayer and praise, but by the reading and hearing of the word of God. The bare reading of the Scriptures in public assemblies is not enough; they should be expounded, and the people exhorted out of them. This is helping people in doing that which is necessary to make the word profitable, to apply it to themselves. Every thing is touched upon in this…

Read the full comment on Acts 13:14-31 →

Acts 13:15 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

μετὰmetaAfterG3326
δὲdethenG1161
τὴνtēntheG3588
ἀνάγνωσινanagnōsinreadingG320
τοῦtouof theG3588
νόμουnomoulawG3551
καὶkaiandG2532
τῶνtōnof theG3588
προφητῶνprophētōnProphetsG4396
ἀπέστειλανapesteilansentG649
οἱhoitheG3588
ἀρχισυνάγωγοιarchisunagōgoirulers of the synagogueG752
πρὸςprostoG4314
αὐτοὺςautousthemG846
λέγοντες·legontessaying;G3004
ἄνδρεςandresMenG435
ἀδελφοί,adelphoibrothers,G80
εἴeiifG1487
τίςtisanyG5100
ἐστινestinthere isG1510
ἐνenamongG1722
ὑμῖνhuminyouG4771
λόγοςlogosa wordG3056
παρακλήσεωςparaklēseōsof exhortationG3874
πρὸςprostowardG4314
τὸνtontheG3588
λαόν,laonpeople,G2992
λέγετε.¶legetedo speak.G3004

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 13:15

  • Hebrews 13:22

    And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.

  • Acts 15:21

    For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

  • Mark 5:22

    And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,

  • Romans 12:8

    Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

  • Luke 4:16-18

    And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

  • Acts 18:17

    Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:3

    But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

  • Acts 22:1

    Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.

  • Acts 13:27

    For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.

  • Acts 2:37

    Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

  • Luke 16:16

    The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

  • Acts 1:16

    Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the reading.
27; 15:21; Lu 4:16-18
the rulers.
18:8,17; Mr 5:22
Ye men.
1:16; 2:29,37; 7:2; 15:7; 22:1
if.
2:4; 20:2; Ro 12:8; 1Co 14:3; Heb 13:22

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 13:14

    But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.

  • Acts 13:15

    And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.

  • Acts 13:16

    Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.

Read all of Acts 13

Acts 13:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y después de la lectura de la ley y de los profetas, los príncipes de la sinagoga enviaron á ellos, diciendo: Varones hermanos, si tenéis alguna palabra de exhortación para el pueblo, hablad.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et après la lecture de la loi et des prophètes, les chefs de la synagogue leur envoyèrent dire: Hommes frères, si vous avez quelque parole d’exhortation pour le peuple, parlez.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Aber nach dem Vorlesen des Gesetzes und der Propheten sandten die Vorsteher der Synagoge zu ihnen und sagten: Brüder, wenn in euch irgend ein Wort der Ermahnung an das Volk ist, so redet.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Post lectionem autem legis et prophetarum, miserunt principes synagogæ ad eos, dicentes: Viri fratres, si quis est in vobis sermo exhortationis ad plebem, dicite.