They therefore, being dismissed, went down to Antioch and, gathering together the multitude, delivered the epistle.
οι μεν ουν απολυθεντες ηλθον εις αντιοχειαν και συναγαγοντες το πληθος επεδωκαν την επιστολην
3 Church Fathers comment on this verse
The letter of the Council of Jerusalem, brought to Antioch by those sent from it, produced great joy among the Christians of Antioch. It calmed them after the disturbance caused by the false teaching of the Judaizers. It again established in their hearts the hope that they shared in the salvation accomplished by Christ. The oral conversations of Judas and Silas strengthened them still more in this hope, for they remained in Antioch for some time after arriving there.
“Having been sent,” or “released”: probably solemnly, after a general assembly of the believers for their farewell and dismissal, as in Acts 13:3. Those sent were Judas Barsabbas, Silas, Barnabas, and Paul. Whether anyone else was with them, the writer of Acts does not say. “Having gathered the people” is more precisely “the multitude,” that is, the believers. This was, as is evident, a special and solemn assembly of the Church of Antioch, corresponding to the importance of the event.
The delivery of the epistle to the Antiochians took place in the general assembly of the members of the Church. When they read it, they rejoiced at what was said in it.
The Apostles Judas and Silas strengthened the good impression by their discourses. They spoke as true prophets, that is, with great inspiration, power, and abundant instruction.
"There is no longer strife, no disagreement. Then, it seems to me," says Saint John Chrysostom, "they gave the right hand to the Apostles, as Paul himself says (see Gal 2:9), because they accepted his opinion and approved it with respect.
"Disagreements and disputes ceased. Therefore, having confirmed them, they departed in peace. They had disputes with Paul, but Paul continued teaching afterward.
"It would have been possible to command even without writing. Yet so that the law might be set down in writing, they write an epistle. Then, as a sign of obedience to the law, the former speak and the latter carry it out, and they do so in peace.
"Thus there was no arrogance in the Church, but great piety. Let the heretics not scandalize us either. See how many scandals there were at the beginning of the preaching of the Gospel.
"I am not speaking of external scandals. Those meant nothing. I speak of internal ones: first Ananias, then the murmuring, then Simon the Magician, then the indignation against Peter because of Cornelius, then the famine, and finally this, the chief of all evils.
"For as soon as some good appears, it is impossible that evil should not be mingled with it. Let us not be troubled, then, if some are scandalized. Rather, let us give thanks to God even for them, because He makes us more tested."
"When there is a measure by which everything can be determined, long arguments are not required. It is easy to expose the one who measures unbelief. So it is now. Let us therefore obey the laws of God, do what is pleasing to Him in all things, and walk according to His will."
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 14 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS