Acts 15:32

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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

Complete Jewish Bible:

Y’hudah and Sila, who were also prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers.

Berean Standard Bible:

Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers.

American Standard Version:

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

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Judas^{G2455} and^{G2532} Silas^{G4609}, being^{G5607} prophets^{G4396} also^{G2532} themselves^{G846}, exhorted^{G3870} the brethren^{G80} with^{G1223} many^{G4183} words^{G3056}, and^{G2532} confirmed^{G1991} them.

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Commentary for Acts 15:32

Acts 15:32 is part of a pivotal narrative in the New Testament that deals with the early Christian community's struggle to define its identity and relationship to Jewish law. This verse occurs within the context of the Council of Jerusalem, which was convened to address the question of whether Gentile converts to Christianity needed to follow Jewish customs, particularly circumcision, to be saved.

In the verse, Judas and Silas are noted as prophets, individuals recognized for their ability to speak authoritatively on behalf of God. They are part of the delegation sent from Jerusalem to Antioch to communicate the council's decision that Gentiles do not need to be circumcised or fully adhere to the Mosaic Law. Their role as prophets lends significant weight to their message.

The verse highlights the themes of encouragement and confirmation. Judas and Silas "exhorted the brethren with many words," indicating that they provided strong moral support and guidance to the Christian community in Antioch. Their exhortation would have included reinforcing the council's decision and encouraging unity and understanding between Jewish and Gentile Christians. The word "confirmed" suggests that they also provided assurance, strengthening the faith of the believers and affirming the correctness of the decision made by the council.

This verse reflects the early church's efforts to maintain unity while navigating doctrinal diversity. It underscores the importance of apostolic authority, the role of prophets in the early church, and the significant transition from a Jewish sect to a multi-ethnic faith community that would become a hallmark of Christianity. The decision communicated by Judas and Silas was a crucial step in Christianity's development as a distinct religion, allowing for the inclusion of Gentiles without the imposition of traditional Jewish identity markers.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: G2455
   There are 41 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: Ἰούδας
   Transliteration: Ioúdas
   Pronunciation: ee-oo-das'
   Description: of Hebrew origin (יְהוּדָה); Judas (i.e. Jehudah), the name of ten Israelites; also of the posterity of one of them and its region:--Juda(-h, -s); Jude.
   
2. Strong's Number: G2532
   There are 5212 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: καί
   Transliteration: kaí
   Pronunciation: kahee
   Description: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
   
3. Strong's Number: G4609
   There are 13 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: Σίλας
   Transliteration: Sílas
   Pronunciation: see'-las
   Description: contraction for Σιλουανός; Silas, a Christian:--Silas.
   
4. Strong's Number: G5607
   There are 154 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ὤν
   Transliteration: ṓn
   Pronunciation: on
   Description: present participle of εἰμί; being:--be, come, have.
   
5. Strong's Number: G4396
   There are 143 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: προφήτης
   Transliteration: prophḗtēs
   Pronunciation: prof-ay'-tace
   Description: from a compound of πρό and φημί; a foreteller ("prophet"); by analogy, an inspired speaker; by extension, a poet:--prophet.
   
6. Strong's Number: G846
   There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: αὐτός
   Transliteration: autós
   Pronunciation: ow-tos'
   Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ.
   
7. Strong's Number: G3870
   There are 104 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: παρακαλέω
   Transliteration: parakaléō
   Pronunciation: par-ak-al-eh'-o
   Description: from παρά and καλέω; to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation):--beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort(-ation), intreat, pray.
   
8. Strong's Number: G80
   There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἀδελφός
   Transliteration: adelphós
   Pronunciation: ad-el-fos'
   Description: from Α (as a connective particle) and (the womb); a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like Α):--brother.
   
9. Strong's Number: G1223
   There are 580 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: διά
   Transliteration: diá
   Pronunciation: dee-ah'
   Description: a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional):--after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) … fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, X though, through(-out), to, wherefore, with (-in). In composition it retains the same general importance.
   
10. Strong's Number: G4183
    There are 331 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: πολύς
    Transliteration: polýs
    Pronunciation: pol-oos'
    Description: including the forms from the alternate ; (singular) much (in any respect) or (plural) many; neuter (singular) as adverbial, largely; neuter (plural) as adverb or noun often, mostly, largely:--abundant, + altogether, common, + far (passed, spent), (+ be of a) great (age, deal, -ly, while), long, many, much, oft(-en (-times)), plenteous, sore, straitly. Compare πλεῖστος, πλείων.
    
11. Strong's Number: G3056
    There are 316 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: λόγος
    Transliteration: lógos
    Pronunciation: log'-os
    Description: from λέγω; something said (including the thought); by implication, a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (i.e. Christ):--account, cause, communication, X concerning, doctrine, fame, X have to do, intent, matter, mouth, preaching, question, reason, + reckon, remove, say(-ing), shew, X speaker, speech, talk, thing, + none of these things move me, tidings, treatise, utterance, word, work.
    
12. Strong's Number: G1991
    There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἐπιστηρίζω
    Transliteration: epistērízō
    Pronunciation: ep-ee-stay-rid'-zo
    Description: from ἐπί and στηρίζω; to support further, i.e. reestablish:--confirm, strengthen.