30 So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. 31 When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement. 32 Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words. 33 And after they had stayed there for a time, they were sent back with greetings from the brethren to the apostles. 34 However, it seemed good to Silas to remain there. 35 Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
Vs. 30-31 30 So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. 31 When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement.
The Apostles Paul and Barnabas then being sent off from Jerusalem now return to Antioch with the Apostles decision and letter, upon arriving there they assemble the brethren and deliver the letter to them. And so, when the brethren read it, they all rejoiced and were encouraged by it, for their faith was only to be in the Lord Jesus Christ and trusting Him alone, not in ones attempting to keep the circumcision and the Law according to Moses and all of the statutes and commandments and requirements that goes with all of that, as the troublers there were trying to make them do.
Vs. 32 “Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words.”
Here we learn that both Judas and Silas were themselves prophets, gifted by the Holy Spirit to be such, and so as such they themselves were only second to the Apostles (1 Cor. 12:28-30). And so, they too exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words to keep them all in grace of God with obedience towards God by obeying the Lord Jesus Christ and keeping His Commandments, not Moses and circumcision.
Vs. 33-35 33 And after they had stayed there for a time, they were sent back with greetings from the brethren to the apostles. 34 However, it seemed good to Silas to remain there. 35 Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
And so, it was that they stayed there for a time and strengthened the disciples. Now verses 34 and 35 maybe indicating that both Judas and Silas returned to Jerusalem and then Silas himself returned to Antioch where the Apostles Paul and Barnabas had remained. However, one understands it, the fact is the Silas himself was at Antioch when the Apostles Paul would begin his second missionary journey, for he accompanied him on it.
Scripture Quotations
New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson.
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