Acts 15:13
And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
Original Language Analysis
Μετὰ
after
G3326
Μετὰ
after
Strong's:
G3326
Word #:
1 of 12
properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession)
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 12
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
αὐτοὺς
they had held their
G846
αὐτοὺς
they had held their
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
5 of 12
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ἀπεκρίθη
answered
G611
ἀπεκρίθη
answered
Strong's:
G611
Word #:
6 of 12
to conclude for oneself, i.e., (by implication) to respond; by hebraism (compare h6030) to begin to speak (where an address is expected)
λέγων,
saying
G3004
λέγων,
saying
Strong's:
G3004
Word #:
8 of 12
properly, to "lay" forth, i.e., (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas g2036 and g5346 generally refer to an
Historical Context
James the Just, Jesus' half-brother, had become a believer after the resurrection (1 Cor. 15:7) and emerged as the Jerusalem church's primary leader. His reputation for piety gave him credibility with Jewish Christians.
Questions for Reflection
- What qualities should characterize those who lead theological discussions?
- How did God prepare James for this crucial leadership moment?
- What role does godly leadership play in resolving church conflicts?
Analysis & Commentary
James (the Lord's brother and Jerusalem church leader) rose to give the decisive judgment. His leadership role shows the transition from Peter's early prominence to James's position as head of the Jerusalem church. The Greek 'apekrithē' (answered) implies authoritative pronouncement. James would synthesize Peter's testimony, Paul's report, and scriptural evidence into a binding decision.