Acts 15 12

Acts 15:12 kjv

Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

Acts 15:12 nkjv

Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles.

Acts 15:12 niv

The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.

Acts 15:12 esv

And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.

Acts 15:12 nlt

Everyone listened quietly as Barnabas and Paul told about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.

Acts 15 verses

Acts 15 12 Meaning

Acts 15:12 describes a pivotal moment during the Jerusalem Council, where the heated debate over the necessity of circumcision and adherence to the Mosaic Law for Gentile believers was paused. After Peter's influential speech affirming God's non-discriminatory grace toward Gentiles, the entire assembly became silent and listened intently. This silence indicated a readiness to hear divine confirmation. Barnabas and Paul then presented their direct, experiential testimony, recounting specific instances of "signs and wonders" that God had demonstrably performed through their ministry among the Gentile nations. Their account served as powerful evidence of God's direct approval of the Gentile mission without the legalistic requirements being debated.

Acts 15 12 Context

Acts 15:12 is embedded within the critical Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:1-35), a landmark event addressing the pivotal question for the early church: must Gentile converts to Christ undergo circumcision and observe the full Mosaic Law to be saved? The chapter opens with proponents of circumcision from Judea coming to Antioch, stirring up considerable dissension (v. 1-2). Paul and Barnabas were dispatched to Jerusalem to consult the apostles and elders on this matter. Prior to verse 12, "there was much debate" (v. 7) among the gathered leaders. Peter then rose to speak, recounting God's unreserved reception of Cornelius, a Gentile, through faith alone, without prior circumcision (v. 7-11), thereby arguing for salvation by grace through faith for both Jew and Gentile, without the burden of the Law. Acts 15:12 immediately follows Peter's influential address. The silence signifies that Peter's argument shifted the tenor of the meeting from heated debate to a reverent readiness to discern God's will. Barnabas and Paul's subsequent testimony provides practical, divine validation for Peter's theological assertion, demonstrating God's direct action among the Gentiles through "signs and wonders" apart from legalistic requirements. Historically and culturally, the Law of Moses, especially circumcision, defined Jewish identity and the Abrahamic covenant. For many Jewish believers, accepting uncircumcised Gentiles as full members of God's people was a profound challenge to their traditions and understanding of purity and covenant. The council addressed this significant tension, charting the future course of Christian evangelism and identity.

Acts 15 12 Word analysis

• And (Καί - Kai): A common conjunction, here signaling the immediate consequence and continuation of the proceedings following Peter's speech. It ties the assembly's response directly to Peter's words.
• all (πᾶν - pan): Refers to the entirety of the multitude. It emphasizes the unanimity of their response, indicating that the silence and attention were collective, not just from a few individuals.
• the assembly (τὸ πλῆθος - to plēthos): This term denotes the whole multitude or congregation of believers present at the council, including the apostles and elders, suggesting a broadly inclusive audience for the testimonies. It highlights that the decision-making process involved the entire church body.
• fell silent (ἐσιώπησεν - esiōpēsen): From siōpaō, meaning "to be silent" or "to hold one's peace." This implies a deliberate cessation of all previous discussion and a profound shift to attentive listening. This silence speaks volumes after "much debate" (Acts 15:7), signifying awe, expectation, and a collective receptiveness to divine revelation or confirming evidence.
• and they listened (καὶ ἤκουον - kai ēkouon): From akouō, to hear. The imperfect tense here (they were listening) emphasizes sustained, continuous attention, not merely passive hearing. It denotes a profound attentiveness and a willingness to understand the facts presented.
• to Barnabas and Paul (Βαρνάβα καὶ Παύλου - Barnaba kai Paulou): The order here (Barnabas before Paul) might reflect Barnabas's earlier prominent role, his connection to the Jerusalem church, or perhaps Paul's deferential posture at this specific gathering concerning Gentile ministry (though Paul became more central to Gentile missions later). Their combined testimony carries significant weight, offering unified, eyewitness accounts from their missionary journey.
• as they related (ἐξηγουμένων - exēgoumenōn): From exēgeomai, meaning "to explain," "to recount in full," or "to narrate." This word implies a systematic, detailed, and expository telling of events, rather than just a summary. It suggests they presented a thorough narrative of God's deeds.
• what signs (ὅσα σημεῖα - hosa sēmeia): Sēmeion (sign) refers to an indicator or proof, often something supernatural that authenticates a message or a messenger as coming from God. It points beyond itself to divine origin.
• and wonders (καὶ τέρατα - kai terata): Teras (wonder) refers to an extraordinary or astounding event that evokes awe and marvel. Often paired with sēmeia, "signs and wonders" refers to miraculous acts that confirm divine power and approval, providing undeniable evidence of God's activity.
• God had done (ἐποίησεν ὁ θεὸς - epoiēsen ho theos): This phrase unequivocally attributes the miraculous works to God Himself, not to Barnabas or Paul. They were merely the instruments. This crucial theological point removes any claim of human agency or skill, making the evidence divinely authenticated and thus irrefutable to those seeking God's will.
• through them (δι᾽ αὐτῶν - di' autōn): Dia (through, by means of) clearly indicates Barnabas and Paul served as God's chosen channels or instruments. This reinforces their role as faithful messengers and recipients of divine power, rather than the originators of that power.
• among the Gentiles (ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν - en tois ethnesin): Ethnos (nation, Gentiles). This is the climactic point of their testimony, directly addressing the core controversy. The powerful works of God were manifested among Gentiles, who were not subject to the Law of Moses or circumcision. This experiential evidence decisively validated the Gospel's unrestricted expansion to non-Jews.

Words-group analysis

• "all the assembly fell silent, and they listened": This sequence describes a profound shift in the meeting's atmosphere. It signifies a transition from contentious debate to reverent attention, indicating the weight placed on the testimonies to follow. The collective silence underlines the unity and seriousness with which the assembly prepared to receive confirmation of God's will.
• "Barnabas and Paul as they related": This highlights the credibility of the two apostles who had first-hand experience of the mission among Gentiles. Their joint witness offered undeniable, empirical data to supplement the theological arguments, providing practical, observable evidence from the field.
• "what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles": This comprehensive phrase forms the core of their testimony and the primary evidence presented. It powerfully asserts that divine validation (signs and wonders) occurred precisely within the Gentile mission. Crucially, it clarifies that God was the agent ("God had done") and that Barnabas and Paul were merely instruments ("through them"). The phrase "among the Gentiles" directly links this divine activity to the contested group, affirming God's active blessing upon their inclusion.

Acts 15 12 Bonus section

• Juxtaposition of Testimony Types: This verse effectively contrasts Peter's doctrinal argument (salvation by grace) with Barnabas and Paul's experiential narrative (God's manifest power). Both forms of testimony were essential and mutually reinforcing in guiding the Jerusalem Council to its crucial decision, demonstrating a balanced approach to discerning truth.
• Authenticity of Apostolic Ministry: The performance of "signs and wonders" was commonly recognized in the early church as a hallmark of divine accreditation for apostolic ministry, as seen elsewhere in Acts and Paul's own writings (Rom 15:19, 2 Cor 12:12). This was not merely about performing impressive feats, but about demonstrating God's endorsement of the messenger and the message, especially to a group grappling with radical theological shifts.
• Divine Initiative in Mission: The phrase "God had done through them" highlights God's sovereignty and initiative in the spread of the Gospel. It wasn't the charisma or skill of Paul and Barnabas that brought forth the miracles, but God Himself, working powerfully through His chosen instruments to confirm His word among the Gentiles, effectively answering the question of Gentile inclusion not with human logic, but with divine action.

Acts 15 12 Commentary

Acts 15:12 marks a decisive turn at the Jerusalem Council, transitioning from Peter's theological exposition to Barnabas and Paul's empirical testimony. The initial "much debate" ceased, replaced by a profound and expectant silence from "all the assembly." This hush underscores the gravity of the moment, indicating the church's collective readiness to discern God's direct will. Barnabas and Paul, drawing on their first missionary journey, did not present a theological argument but rather a simple, irrefutable factual report: a recounting of "what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles." This experiential evidence served as divine proof of God's approval of their work.

The crucial point of their testimony was the source of the miracles ("God had done") and the recipients of these manifestations ("among the Gentiles"). By explicitly attributing the miraculous to God and detailing that these divine acts occurred among the uncircumcised Gentiles, they presented undeniable validation for the inclusion of non-Jews into the Church without requiring the Mosaic Law. Their personal testimonies sealed Peter's argument that God had indeed cleansed Gentile hearts by faith, without the Law. This moment exemplifies the early church's process of discerning truth: theological reasoning (Peter) corroborated by demonstrable divine action and empirical evidence (Paul and Barnabas), all guided by the Spirit. It laid a foundational principle: God's works of grace, accompanied by confirming power, authenticate the message and the means by which it is delivered.