Acts 15 · Verse 13

Acts 15:13

And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
Acts 15:13, King James Version

Acts 15:13 in other translations

BSBWhen they had finished speaking, James declared, “Brothers, listen to me!
WEBAfter they were silent, James answered, “Brothers, listen to me.
ASVAnd after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Brethren, hearken unto me:
YLTand after they are silent, James answered, saying, ‘Men, brethren, hearken to me;
DARBYAnd after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Brethren, listen to me:
BBEAnd when they had come to an end, James, answering, said, My brothers, give ear to me:
WebsterAnd after they held their peace, James answered, saying, Men, brethren, hearken to me.

What does Acts 15:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
13. James answered, saying, &c.--Whoever this James was (see on Ga 1:19), he was the acknowledged head of the church at Jerusalem, and here, as president of the assembly, speaks last, winding up the debate. His decision, though given as his own judgment only, could not be of great weight with the opposing party, from his conservative reverence for all Jewish usages within the circle of Israelitish Christianity.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 13. James answered. James the Less, son of Alpheus. Acts 12:1.

Hearken unto me. This whole transaction shows that Peter had no such authority in the church as the Papists pretend, for otherwise his opinion would have been followed without debate. James had an authority not less than that of Peter. It is possible that he might have been next in age, (comp. 1Cor 15:7;) and it seems morally certain that he remained for a considerable part of his life in Jerusalem, Acts 12:17, 21:18 Gal 1:19, 2:9,12.

(|) "peace" "were silent" (**) "saying" "spoke"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 James answered - He was evidently president of the council, and is generally called bishop of Jerusalem. The rest either argued on the subject, or gave their opinion; James alone pronounced the definitive sentence. Had Peter been prince and head of the apostles, and of the Church, he would have appeared here in the character of judge, not of mere counsellor or disputant. Thy popish writers say that "James presided because the council was held in his own church." These men forget that there was not then what they term a Church on the face of the earth. The Church, or assembly of believers, then met in private houses; for there was no building for the exclusive purpose of Christian worship then, nor till long after. These writers also forget that the pope pretends to be the head of the catholic or universal Church; and, consequently, no man can preside where he is present, but himself. Peter did not preside here; and this was the first ecclesiastical council, and now, if ever, he should have assumed his character of prince and chief; but he did not; nor did any of the other apostles invite him to it, which they would have done had they thought that Jesus Christ constituted him head of the Church. From this very circumstance there is the most demonstrative evidence that Peter was no pope, and that the right of his pretended successor is a nonentity.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 15:7-21

We see from the words "purifying their hearts by faith," and the address of St. Peter, that justification by faith, and sanctification by the Holy Ghost, cannot be separated; and that both are the gift of God. We have great cause to bless God that we have heard the gospel. May we have that faith which the great Searcher of hearts approves, and attests by the seal of the Holy Spirit. Then our hearts and consciences…

Read the full comment on Acts 15:7-21 →

Acts 15:13 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
δὲdenowG1161
τὸto<the>G3588
σιγῆσαιsigēsaibeing silentG4601
αὐτοὺςautoustheyG846
ἀπεκρίθηapekrithēansweredG611
ἸάκωβοςIakōbosJamesG2385
λέγων·legōnsaying;G3004
ἄνδρεςandresMenG435
ἀδελφοί,adelphoibrothers,G80
ἀκούσατέakousatedo hearG191
μου.moume.G3165

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

Cross references for Acts 15:13

  • Acts 12:17

    But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.

  • James 1:1

    James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

  • Galatians 2:12

    For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.

  • Galatians 2:9

    And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:30-33

    If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

  • James 1:19

    Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

  • Acts 7:2

    And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,

  • Acts 2:29

    Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.

  • Mark 15:40

    There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;

  • Galatians 1:19

    But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.

  • Acts 2:14

    But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

  • Acts 22:1

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

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
after.
1Co 14:30-33; Jas 1:19
James.
12:17; 21:18; Mr 15:40; Ga 1:19; 2:9,12; Jas 1:1
Men.
2:14,22,29; 7:2; 22:1

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

Context

  • Acts 15:12

    Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

  • Acts 15:13

    And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:

  • Acts 15:14

    Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

Read all of Acts 15

Acts 15:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y después que hubieron callado, Jacobo respondió, diciendo: Varones hermanos, oidme:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et après qu’ils se furent tus, Jacques répondit, disant: Hommes frères, écoutez-moi:
German
Elberfelder 1871
Nachdem sie aber ausgeredet hatten, antwortete Jakobus und sprach: Brüder, höret mich!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et postquam tacuerunt, respondit Jacobus, dicens: Viri fratres, audite me.