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Acts 15: 30-35.
A | 15: 30-35. ANTIOCH. The Answer.
Paul and Barnabas, Judas and Silas.
a | Apoluo. Dismissed.
b | The epistle delivered.
c | Paraklesis. Consolation.
c | Parakaleo. Exhorted.
a | Apoluo. Dismissed.
b | Teaching and preaching.
We learn from these verses that, upon reading the letter from Jerusalem, the Gentiles
"rejoiced for the consolation". The word here not only means "consolation" but also
"exhortation", as can be seen in the next verse. We read further that Judas and Silas,
"being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren . . . . . and confirmed them"; and
their work now being done, they return to Jerusalem. Verse 34 is an interpolation (see
Revised Text), being evidently added by some scribe because of the presence of Silas at
Antioch in verse 40.
There now remain two short passages to conclude our study of the large section that
we have had before us (Acts 12: 24 - 16: 5) of which the structure is given in outline in
Volume XXVII, page 149. These further passages contain one or two features that are
far-reaching, both in their effects, and in the way they manifest the superintending hand
of God, Who worketh all things according to the counsel of His own will, and these we
must consider in our next article.
#29. Preparation for a wider sphere of ministry (15: 36 - 16: 5).
pp. 185 - 188
We come now to Paul's second missionary journey. Although most of the ground that
was covered by Barnabas and Paul as recorded in chapters 13: and 14: is traversed
again here, the two apostles no longer share the joys and sufferings of mutual service for,
alas, as they had themselves declared at Lystra, they were men of like passions with
ourselves. We are sure that the removal of Barnabas and the substitution of Silas were of
God, but it is equally true that the Lord does not need the failure of man to accomplish
His purposes.
Paul early exhibited that lovable trait that shines out so brightly in his epistles--an
extreme solicitude for the spiritual well-being of his young converts. The untranslated de
in verse 36 indicates an element of urgency, and some think that its presence implies that
Paul had raised the question of revisiting the churches of Galatia earlier to Barnabas.
However this may be, we find that although Barnabas is named first in the separation to
the work in Acts 13:, it is Paul and not Barnabas who expresses the desire to revisit the
scenes of his sufferings and of the triumphs of the Lord's grace.