Acts 15:34

Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Notwithstanding ... - This whole verse is missing in many mss.; in the Syriac, Arabic, and Coptic versions; and is regarded as spurious by Mill, Griesbach, and by other critics. It was probably introduced by some early transcriber, who judged it necessary to complete the narrative. The Latin Vulgate reads, "It seemed good to Silas to remain, but Judas went alone to Jerusalem."

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

34, 35. it pleased Silas—Silas determined.

to abide there still—(The authorities against the insertion of this verse are strong. It may have been afterwards added to explain Ac 15:40). Doubtless the attraction to Antioch for Silas was Paul's presence there, to whom he seems to have now formed that permanent attachment which the sequel of this book and Paul's Epistles show to have existed.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Though, having performed his message, he was discharged, and might have returned; yet, for the further benefit of that church, he continued at Antioch.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still,.... Though he had leave to go, and was actually dismissed with Judas; and doubtless intended to have gone with him, but for some reason or another he changed his mind, and thought fit to continue at Antioch some time longer: and the design of Providence in it seems to have been this; that he might be a companion with the Apostle Paul in his travels among the Gentiles, as he afterwards was, and was very useful to him. This verse is wanting in the Alexandrian copy, and in the Syriac and Arabic versions; the Ethiopic version reads, "and Paul proposed", or "determined to abide", as he did some little time longer, as appears from the following verse: the Vulgate Latin version here adds, and "Judas went alone to Jerusalem"; and so it is read in one of Beza's copies, and in one of Stephens's.

Geneva Study Bible

Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Acts 15:34. Omitted in R.V. text, but not in margin. See critical notes.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

34. This verse is omitted in many ancient MSS., and in others the Greek words vary. It may very well be a marginal note placed to explain Acts 15:40, where Paul, who did not leave Antioch, is said to have chosen Silas for his companion in his next journey. Silas therefore must have remained in Antioch after Judas was gone, and such an explanation some reader put on the margin of his copy.

Bengel's Gnomen

Acts 15:34. Ἔδοξε δὲ τῷ Σίλᾳ ἐπιμεῖναι αὐτοῦ) All the editors have this little verse: nor has Mill removed it from the text of Robert Stephens, though he thinks it to be a gloss. The question is left in doubt by the Greek MSS., and by the arguments derived from the context: whence we have marked it in the Apparatus, pp. 625, 626, as equally balanced on both sides, although in the same place, and in the margin, we have prefixed an obelus. [But the case is otherwise in the margin of ed. ii., which is followed by the Vers. Germ. And now it will be of use to compare App. Crit., ed. ii., on this passage.[93]] But now we embrace the opinion derived from the Greek MSS. which contain the verse, especially since the versions, the Æthiopic and Arabic, quoted in Ludov. de Dieu, contain it, and the Coptic (Memphitic) in the excerpta sent by La Crozius is not opposed to it.[94] In the other authorities, when Luke, who is different both in name and in the derivation of his name, and in reality, from Silas (see Ord. Temp., p. 278; ed. ii., p. 239), had written, ἀπελύθησαν—πρὸς τοὺς ἀποστείλαντας αὐτοὺς· ἔδοξε δὲ τῷ Σίλᾳ ἐπιμεῖναι αὐτοῦ, the leap was made from αὐτοὺς to αὐτῦ, which caused the hiatus in the Codex Alexandrinus and others, and in the Greek commentators, concerning whom in this passage the Anti-Millius of Whitby is silent, and also in the Syriac version. I feel grateful to my very great friend, D. Hauber, who was the cause of my weighing the present passage more carefully. But the same friend thinks that Silas went to Jerusalem with the intention of returning, and that thence there is ascribed to him an abiding at Antioch.

[93] CD Vulg. MS. Vindobonensis alone, Theb. and later Syr. read this verse: Dd Vulg. Vindob. adding μόνος δὲ Ἰούδας ἐπορεύθη. But ABEe Vulg. Amiat. (the best MS.) Syr. Memph. omit the whole verse.—E. and T.

[94] But the best Memph. MSS. omit the verse.—E. and T.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 34. - This verse is omitted in the R.T. and by the best manuscripts and commentators. It seems to have been put in to explain ver. 40. But Silas may have returned to Jerusalem, as stated in ver. 33, and come back again to Antioch, from having formed a strong attachment to St. Paul and his views. Acts 15:34