Acts 15 · Verse 40

Acts 15:40

And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.
Acts 15:40, King James Version

Acts 15:40 in other translations

BSBbut Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
WEBbut Paul chose Silas and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God.
ASVbut Paul chose Silas, and went forth, being commended by the brethren to the grace of the Lord.
YLTand Paul having chosen Silas, went forth, having been given up to the grace of God by the brethren;
DARBYbut Paul having chosen Silas went forth, committed by the brethren to the grace of God.
BBEBut Paul took Silas and went away with the blessing of the brothers.
WebsterAnd Paul chose Silas, and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God.

What does Acts 15:40 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
40. and departed, being recommended ... to the grace of God--(No doubt by some solemn service; see Ac 13:3), as in Ac 14:26. It does not follow from the historian's silence that Barnabas was not so recommended, too; for this is the last mention of Barnabas in the history, whose sole object now is to relate the proceedings of Paul. Nor does it seem quite fair (with De Wette, Meyer, Howson, Alford, Hacket, Webster and Wilkinson, &c.) to conclude from this that the Church at Antioch took that marked way of showing their sympathy with Paul in opposition to Barnabas.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 40. Being recommended. Being commended by prayer to God. Acts 14:26.

(a) "recommended by the" Acts 14:26, 20:32

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 40 Being recommended - unto the grace of God - Much stress has been laid upon this, to show that Barnabas was in the wrong, and Paul in the right, because "the brethren recommended Paul and Silas to the grace of God; but they did not recommend Barnabas and John Mark: this proves that the Church condemned the conduct of Barnabas, but approved that of Paul." Now, there is no proof that the Church did not recommend Barnabas to the grace of God, as well as Paul; but, as St. Luke had for the present dropped the story of Barnabas, and was now going on with that of Paul and Silas, he begins it at this point, viz. his being recommended by the brethren to the grace of God; and then goes on to tell of his progress in Syria, Derbe, Lystra, etc., etc. See the next chapter. And with this verse should the following chapter begin; and this is the division followed by the most correct copies of the Greek text.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 15:36-41

Here we have a private quarrel between two ministers, no less than Paul and Barnabas, yet made to end well. Barnabas wished his nephew John Mark to go with them. We should suspect ourselves of being partial, and guard against this in putting our relations forward. Paul did not think him worthy of the honour, nor fit for the service, who had departed from them without their knowledge, or without their consent: see…

Read the full comment on Acts 15:36-41 →

Acts 15:40 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.

ΠαῦλοςPaulosPaulG3972
δὲdehoweverG1161
ἐπιλεξάμενοςepilexamenoshaving chosenG1951
ΣιλᾶνSilanSilasG4609
ἐξῆλθενexēlthenwent forthG1831
παραδοθεὶςparadotheishaving been committedG3860
τῇtēato theG3588
χάριτιcharitigraceG5485
τοῦtouof theG3588
κυρίουkuriouLordG2962
ὑπὸhupobyG5259
τῶνtōntheG3588
ἀδελφῶν.adelphōnbrothers.G80

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

Cross references for Acts 15:40

  • Acts 15:22

    Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

  • Acts 11:23

    Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

  • Acts 14:26

    And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:10

    But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

  • 2 Corinthians 13:14

    The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. The second epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi, a city of Macedonia, by Titus and Lucas.

  • 2 Timothy 4:22

    The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen. The second epistle unto Timotheus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Ephesians, was written from Rome, when Paul was brought before Nero the second time.

  • Acts 20:32

    And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

  • Acts 16:1-3

    Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.

  • Acts 13:3

    And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

  • Acts 15:32

    And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.

  • 2 John 1:10-11

    If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

  • Titus 3:15

    All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen. It was written to Titus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Cretians, from Nicopolis of Macedonia.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
chose.
22,32; 16:1-3
being.
13:3; 14:26; 20:32; 1Co 15:10; 2Co 13:14; 2Ti 4:22; Tit 3:15
2Jo 1:10,11

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

Context

  • Acts 15:39

    And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

  • Acts 15:40

    And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.

  • Acts 15:41

    And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

Read all of Acts 15

Acts 15:40 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y Pablo escogiendo á Silas, partió encomendado de los hermanos á la gracia del Señor.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais Paul, ayant fait choix pour lui de Silas, partit, après avoir été recommandé à la grâce du Seigneur par les frères.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Paulus aber erwählte sich Silas und zog aus, von den Brüdern der Gnade Gottes befohlen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Paulus vero, electo Sila, profectus est, traditus gratiæ Dei a fratribus.