Elihu Extols God's Greatness

361 Elihu also proceeded, and said, 2 Suffer me a little, and I will show thee; For I have yet somewhat to say on God's behalf. 3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar, And will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. 4 For truly my words are not false: One that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.

5 Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: He is mighty in strength of understanding. 6 He preserveth not the life of the wicked, But giveth to the afflicted [their] right. 7 He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: But with kings upon the throne He setteth them for ever, and they are exalted. 8 And if they be bound in fetters, And be taken in the cords of afflictions; 9 Then he showeth them their work, And their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly. 10 He openeth also their ear to instruction, And commandeth that they return from iniquity. 11 If they hearken and serve [him], They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures. 12 But if they hearken not, they shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge. 13 But they that are godless in heart lay up anger: They cry not for help when he bindeth them. 14 They die in youth, And their life [perisheth] among the unclean.

15 He delivereth the afflicted by their affliction, And openeth their ear in oppression. 16 Yea, he would have allured thee out of distress Into a broad place, where there is no straitness; And that which is set on thy table would be full of fatness. 17 But thou art full of the judgment of the wicked: Judgment and justice take hold [on thee]. 18 For let not wrath stir thee up against chastisements; Neither let the greatness of the ransom turn thee aside. 19 Will thy cry avail, [that thou be] not in distress, Or all the forces of [thy] strength? 20 Desire not the night, When peoples are cut off in their place. 21 Take heed, regard not iniquity: For this hast thou chosen rather than affliction. 22 Behold, God doeth loftily in his power: Who is a teacher like unto him? 23 Who hath enjoined him his way? Or who can say, Thou hast wrought unrighteousness?

24 Remember that thou magnify his work, Whereof men have sung. 25 All men have looked thereon; Man beholdeth it afar off. 26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not; The number of his years is unsearchable. 27 For he draweth up the drops of water, Which distil in rain from his vapor, 28 Which the skies pour down And drop upon man abundantly. 29 Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, The thunderings of his pavilion? 30 Behold, he spreadeth his light around him; And he covereth the bottom of the sea. 31 For by these he judgeth the peoples; He giveth food in abundance. 32 He covereth his hands with the lightning, And giveth it a charge that it strike the mark. 33 The noise thereof telleth concerning him, The cattle also concerning [the storm] that cometh up.

371 Yea, at this my heart trembleth, And is moved out of its place. 2 Hear, oh, hear the noise of his voice, And the sound that goeth out of his mouth. 3 He sendeth it forth under the whole heaven, And his lightening unto the ends of the earth. 4 After it a voice roareth; He thundereth with the voice of his majesty; And he restraineth not [the lightnings] when his voice is heard. 5 God thundereth marvellously with his voice; Great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.

6 For he saith to the snow, Fall thou on the earth; Likewise to the shower of rain, And to the showers of his mighty rain. 7 He sealeth up the hand of every man, That all men whom he hath made may know [it]. 8 Then the beasts go into coverts, And remain in their dens. 9 Out of the chamber [of the south] cometh the storm, And cold out of the north. 10 By the breath of God ice is given; And the breadth of the waters is straitened. 11 Yea, he ladeth the thick cloud with moisture; He spreadeth abroad the cloud of his lightning: 12 And it is turned round about by his guidance, That they may do whatsoever he commandeth them Upon the face of the habitable world, 13 Whether it be for correction, or for his land, Or for lovingkindness, that he cause it to come.

14 Hearken unto this, O Job: Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. 15 Dost thou know how God layeth [his charge] upon them, And causeth the lightning of his cloud to shine? 16 Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, The wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge? 17 How thy garments are warm, When the earth is still by reason of the south [wind]? 18 Canst thou with him spread out the sky, Which is strong as a molten mirror? 19 Teach us what we shall say unto him; [For] we cannot set [our speech] in order by reason of darkness. 20 Shall it be told him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?

21 And now men see not the light which is bright in the skies; But the wind passeth, and cleareth them. 22 Out of the north cometh golden splendor: God hath upon him terrible majesty. 23 [Touching] the Almighty, we cannot find him out: He is excellent in power; And in justice and plenteous righteousness he will not afflict. 24 Men do therefore fear him: He regardeth not any that are wise of heart.

22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; [namely], Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: 23 and they wrote [thus] by them, The apostles and the elders, brethren, unto the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greeting: 24 Forasmuch as we have heard that certain who went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls; to whom we gave no commandment; 25 it seemed good unto us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves also shall tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29 that ye abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, it shall be well with you. Fare ye well. 30 So they, when they were dismissed, came down to Antioch; and having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle. 31 And when they had read it, they rejoiced for the consolation. 32 And Judas and Silas, being themselves also prophets, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. 33 And after they had spent some time [there], they were dismissed in peace from the brethren unto those that had sent them forth. 34 [But it seemed good unto Silas to abide there.] 35 But Paul and Barnabas tarried in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

Paul Separates from Barnabas and Begins the Second Missionary Journey

36 And after some days Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us return now and visit the brethren in every city wherein we proclaimed the word of the Lord, [and see] how they fare. 37 And Barnabas was minded to take with them John also, who was called Mark. 38 But Paul thought not good to take with them him who withdrew from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 39 And there arose a sharp contention, so that they parted asunder one from the other, and Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away unto Cyprus; 40 but Paul choose Silas, and went forth, being commended by the brethren to the grace of the Lord. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Acts 15:22-41

Commentary on Acts 15:22-35

(Read Acts 15:22-35)

Being warranted to declare themselves directed by the immediate influence of the Holy Ghost, the apostles and disciples were assured that it seemed good unto God the Holy Spirit, as well as to them, to lay upon the converts no other burden than the things before mentioned, which were necessary, either on their own account, or from present circumstances. It was a comfort to hear that carnal ordinances were no longer imposed on them, which perplexed the conscience, but could not purify or pacify it; and that those who troubled their minds were silenced, so that the peace of the church was restored, and that which threatened division was removed. All this was consolation for which they blessed God. Many others were at Antioch. Where many labour in the word and doctrine, yet there may be opportunity for us: the zeal and usefulness of others should stir us up, not lay us asleep.

Commentary on Acts 15:36-41

(Read Acts 15:36-41)

Here we have a private quarrel between two ministers, no less than Paul and Barnabas, yet made to end well. Barnabas wished his nephew John Mark to go with them. We should suspect ourselves of being partial, and guard against this in putting our relations forward. Paul did not think him worthy of the honour, nor fit for the service, who had departed from them without their knowledge, or without their consent: see 13. Neither would yield, therefore there was no remedy but they must part. We see that the best of men are but men, subject to like passions as we are. Perhaps there were faults on both sides, as usual in such contentions. Christ's example alone, is a copy without a blot. Yet we are not to think it strange, if there are differences among wise and good men. It will be so while we are in this imperfect state; we shall never be all of one mind till we come to heaven. But what mischief the remainders of pride and passion which are found even in good men, do in the world, and do in the church! Many who dwelt at Antioch, who had heard but little of the devotedness and piety of Paul and Barnabas, heard of their dispute and separation; and thus it will be with ourselves, if we give way to contention. Believers must be constant in prayer, that they may never be led by the allowance of unholy tempers, to hurt the cause they really desire to serve. Paul speaks with esteem and affection both of Barnabas and Mark, in his epistles, written after this event. May all who profess thy name, O loving Saviour, be thoroughly reconciled by that love derived from thee which is not easily provoked, and which soon forgets and buries injuries.