Acts 15:13
New International Version
When they finished, James spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me.

New Living Translation
When they had finished, James stood and said, “Brothers, listen to me.

English Standard Version
After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me.

Berean Standard Bible
When they had finished speaking, James declared, “Brothers, listen to me!

Berean Literal Bible
And after they were silent, James answered, saying, "Men, brothers, hear me.

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

New King James Version
And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me:

New American Standard Bible
After they stopped speaking, James responded, saying, “Brothers, listen to me.

NASB 1995
After they had stopped speaking, James answered, saying, “Brethren, listen to me.

NASB 1977
And after they had stopped speaking, James answered, saying, “Brethren, listen to me.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now after they had stopped speaking, James answered, saying, “Brothers, listen to me.

Amplified Bible
When they had finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me.

Christian Standard Bible
After they stopped speaking, James responded, “Brothers, listen to me.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
After they stopped speaking, James responded: “Brothers, listen to me!

American Standard Version
And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Brethren, hearken unto me:

Contemporary English Version
After they had finished speaking, James said: My friends, listen to me!

English Revised Version
And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Brethren, hearken unto me:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
After they finished speaking, James responded, "Brothers, listen to me.

Good News Translation
When they had finished speaking, James spoke up: "Listen to me, my friends!

International Standard Version
After Paul and Barnabas had finished speaking, James responded, "Brothers, listen to me:

Majority Standard Bible
When they had finished speaking, James declared, ?Brothers, listen to me!

NET Bible
After they stopped speaking, James replied, "Brothers, listen to me.

New Heart English Bible
After they were silent, James answered, "Brothers, listen to me.

Webster's Bible Translation
And after they held their peace, James answered, saying, Men, brethren, hearken to me.

Weymouth New Testament
When they had finished speaking, James said, "Brethren, listen to me.

World English Bible
After they were silent, James answered, “Brothers, listen to me.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and after they were silent, James answered, saying, “Men, brothers, listen to me:

Berean Literal Bible
And after they were silent, James answered, saying, "Men, brothers, hear me.

Young's Literal Translation
and after they are silent, James answered, saying, 'Men, brethren, hearken to me;

Smith's Literal Translation
And after they were silent, James answered, saying, Men, brethren, hear me:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying: Men, brethren, hear me.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And after they had been silent, James responded by saying: “Noble brothers, listen to me.

New American Bible
After they had fallen silent, James responded, “My brothers, listen to me.

New Revised Standard Version
After they finished speaking, James replied, “My brothers, listen to me.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And when they had ceased speaking, James rose up and said, Men and brethren, hear me:

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And after they had ceased, Yaqob arose and he said, “Men, brothers, hear me.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And after they were silent, James answered and said: Brethren, hear me;

Godbey New Testament
And after they became silent, James responded, saying, Men, brethren, hear me.

Haweis New Testament
Now when they ceased speaking, James replied, saying, Men and brethren, hear me:

Mace New Testament
After they had done speaking, James assum'd the discourse, and said, my brethren, give me your attention.

Weymouth New Testament
When they had finished speaking, James said, "Brethren, listen to me.

Worrell New Testament
And, after they were silent, James answered, saying, "Brethren, hear me.

Worsley New Testament
And after they had done speaking, James rose up and said, Brethren, hearken unto me.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Council at Jerusalem
12The whole assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. 13 When they had finished speaking, James declared, Brothers, listen to me! 14Simon has told us how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to be His own.…

Cross References
James 1:1
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes of the Dispersion: Greetings.

Galatians 2:9
And recognizing the grace that I had been given, James, Cephas, and John—those reputed to be pillars—gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised.

Matthew 13:55
“Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother’s name Mary, and aren’t His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?

Mark 6:3
Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t His sisters here with us as well?” And they took offense at Him.

1 Corinthians 9:5
Have we no right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?

Jude 1:1
Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who are called, loved by God the Father, and kept in Jesus Christ:

John 7:5
For even His own brothers did not believe in Him.

1 Corinthians 15:7
Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

Matthew 12:46-50
While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, His mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to Him. / Someone told Him, “Look, Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to You.” / But Jesus replied, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?” ...

Luke 8:19-21
Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see Him, but they were unable to reach Him because of the crowd. / He was told, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see You.” / But He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and carry it out.”

John 2:12
After this, He went down to Capernaum with His mother and brothers and His disciples, and they stayed there a few days.

John 7:3-10
So Jesus’ brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go to Judea, so that Your disciples there may see the works You are doing. / For no one who wants to be known publicly acts in secret. Since You are doing these things, show Yourself to the world.” / For even His own brothers did not believe in Him. ...

Matthew 10:2-4
These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; / Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; / Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus.

Mark 3:16-19
These are the twelve He appointed: Simon (whom He named Peter), / James son of Zebedee and his brother John (whom He named Boanerges, meaning “Sons of Thunder”), / Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, ...

Luke 6:14-16
Simon, whom He named Peter, and his brother Andrew; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; / Matthew and Thomas; James son of Alphaeus and Simon called the Zealot; / Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.


Treasury of Scripture

And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brothers, listen to me:

after.

1 Corinthians 14:30-33
If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace…

James 1:19
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

James.

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.

Acts 21:18
And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.

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;

Men.

Acts 2:14,22,29
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: …

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 22:1
Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.

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Acts 15
1. Great dissensions arise regarding circumcision.
5. The apostles consult about it,
22. and send their determination by letters to the churches.
36. Paul and Barnabas, thinking to visit the brothers together,
39. disagree, and travel different ways.














When they had finished speaking
This phrase marks a transition in the Jerusalem Council, a pivotal moment in early church history. The council was convened to address the issue of whether Gentile converts to Christianity needed to follow Jewish law. The phrase indicates a pause after significant testimony, likely from Peter and Paul, who had shared their experiences with Gentile believers. This moment of silence underscores the gravity of the discussion and the need for careful consideration and discernment, reflecting the early church's commitment to unity and truth.

James declared
James, the brother of Jesus and a leader in the Jerusalem church, steps forward to speak. His role is significant, as he is respected for his wisdom and leadership. The Greek word for "declared" (ἀπεκρίθη) suggests a formal response or decision, indicating that James is about to offer a decisive statement. Historically, James was known for his piety and adherence to Jewish law, making his forthcoming declaration particularly impactful in bridging Jewish and Gentile believers.

Brothers
The use of "Brothers" (ἀδελφοί) is a term of endearment and solidarity, emphasizing the familial bond among the believers. It reflects the early Christian understanding of the church as a family united in Christ, transcending ethnic and cultural divisions. This address sets a tone of mutual respect and shared identity, crucial for resolving the contentious issue at hand.

listen to me
James calls for attention with "listen to me" (ἀκούσατέ μου), a phrase that carries authority and urgency. The Greek root ἀκούω implies not just hearing but understanding and heeding. James is about to present a solution that requires careful consideration and acceptance. This call to listen is a reminder of the importance of discernment and obedience to God's guidance in resolving conflicts within the church.

(13) James answered.--The position which James the brother of the Lord (see Notes on Acts 12:17; and Matthew 12:46; Matthew 13:55) occupies in the Council is clearly that of pre-eminence, justifying the title of Bishop of Jerusalem, which later writers give him. No one speaks after him; he sum up the whole debate; he proposes the decree which is to be submitted to the Council for approval.

Verse 13. - Brethren for men and brethren, A.V., as ver. 7. James answered. James's place as presiding bishop is here distinctly marked by his summing up the debate. "This (James)was bishop, as they say, and, therefore, he speaks last" (Chrysost., ' Hem.,' 33.). And again, "No word speaks John here, no word the other apostles, but held their peace, for James was invested with the chief rule." "He says well with authority, 'My sentence is" (ibid.). A remarkable testimony against papal supremacy.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
When
Μετὰ (Meta)
Preposition
Strong's 3326: (a) gen: with, in company with, (b) acc: (1) behind, beyond, after, of place, (2) after, of time, with nouns, neut. of adjectives.

they
αὐτοὺς (autous)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

had finished speaking,
σιγῆσαι (sigēsai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 4601: Intrans: I am silent, keep silence; trans: I keep secret; pass: I am kept secret. From sige; to keep silent.

James
Ἰάκωβος (Iakōbos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2385: The same as Iakob Graecized; Jacobus, the name of three Israelites.

declared,
ἀπεκρίθη (apekrithē)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 611: From apo and krino; to conclude for oneself, i.e. to respond; by Hebraism to begin to speak.

“Brothers,
ἀδελφοί (adelphoi)
Noun - Vocative Masculine Plural
Strong's 80: A brother, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. A brother near or remote.

listen to
ἀκούσατέ (akousate)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 191: To hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported. A primary verb; to hear.

me!
μου (mou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.


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