SEV Biblia, Chapter 15:23
y escribir por mano de ellos: Los apstoles y los ancianos y los hermanos, a los hermanos de los gentiles que estn en Antioquía, y en Siria, y en Cilicia, salud:
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 15:23
Verse 23. Send greeting unto the brethren-of the Gentiles] There was no occasion to send such a letter to the brethren which were of the Jews, because that law which had been so long read in their synagogues taught them all those things; and therefore the epistle is sent exclusively to the Gentiles. The word greeting is in the original cairein, to be well, to be safe; a very usual form in Greek epistles, the word eucomai being understood, I wish thee to be well.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 23. And wrote letters by them after this manner , etc.] Not that they made use of them as their amanuenses, to write their letters for them; but being written they put them into their hands, and sent them by them, and they were written in the following form: the apostles, and elders, and brethren ; which belonged to, or were members of the church at Jerusalem; they are severally set in their proper place and order: the apostles, Peter, and James, and John, and it may be some others first; for these God had set in the first place in the church; then the elders, or preachers of the Gospel, such as were Judas and Silas: and then the brethren, or private members of the church; who are called so, because they are of one family, and have one Father, and are partakers of the same grace and privileges: these, send greeting ; or their Christian salutation, wishing all peace and prosperity, both for soul and body, temporal, spiritual and eternal: unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch, and Syria and Cilicia ; the brethren or members of the several churches in these parts, who were Gentiles, are particularly sent to; and not the brethren who were Jews; because they were especially concerned, and to them is the advice directed: Antioch is first mentioned, that being the place where the controversy began; but there being other churches in Syria, besides Antioch, in which were many Gentiles, and also in Cilicia, and particularly at Tarsus, Pauls native place, and where he had preached, ( Acts 9:30, Galatians 1:21) they are therefore mentioned, and being countries near to one another, it is very likely that the controversy had spread itself among them.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 22-35 - Being warranted to declare themselves directed by the immediat influence of the Holy Ghost, the apostles and disciples were assure 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 presen circumstances. It was a comfort to hear that carnal ordinances were n longer imposed on them, which perplexed the conscience, but could no purify or pacify it; and that those who troubled their minds wer silenced, so that the peace of the church was restored, and that whic threatened division was removed. All this was consolation for whic 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 an usefulness of others should stir us up, not lay us asleep.
Greek Textus Receptus
γραψαντες 1125 5660 V-AAP-NPM δια 1223 PREP χειρος 5495 N-GSF αυτων 846 P-GPM ταδε 3592 D-APN οι 3588 T-NPM αποστολοι 652 N-NPM και 2532 CONJ οι 3588 T-NPM πρεσβυτεροι 4245 A-NPM και 2532 CONJ οι 3588 T-NPM αδελφοι 80 N-NPM τοις 3588 T-DPM κατα 2596 PREP την 3588 T-ASF αντιοχειαν 490 N-ASF και 2532 CONJ συριαν 4947 N-ASF και 2532 CONJ κιλικιαν 2791 N-ASF αδελφοις 80 N-DPM τοις 3588 T-DPM εξ 1537 PREP εθνων 1484 N-GPN χαιρειν 5463 5721 V-PAN
Vincent's NT Word Studies
23. Greeting (cairein). The usual Greek form of salutation. It occurs nowhere else in the salutation of a New Testament epistle save in the Epistle of James (i. 1). See note there. It appears in the letter of Claudius Lysias (ch. xxiii. 26).
Robertson's NT Word Studies
15:23 {And they wrote} (grayantes). First aorist active participle of grafw and the nominative as if a principal verb epemyan had been used instead of pemyai, the first aorist active infinitive (anacoluthon). this committee of four (Judas, Silas, Barnabas, Paul) carried the letter which embodied the decision of the Conference. this letter is the writing out of the judgment of James and apparently written by him as the President. {The apostles and the elders, brethren} (hoi apostoloi kai hoi presbuteroi, adelfoi). So the oldest and best MSS. without kai (and) before "brethren." this punctuation is probably correct and not "elder brethren." The inquiry had been sent to the apostles and elders (verse #2) though the whole church joined in the welcome (verse #4) and in the decision (verse #22). The apostles and elders send the epistle, but call themselves "brothers to brothers," _Fratres Fratibus Salutem_. "The brothers" (tois adelfois) addressed (dative case) are of the Gentiles (ex eqnwn) and those in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia, because they were immediately involved. But the decision of this Conference was meant for Gentile Christians everywhere (#16:4). {Greeting} (cairein). The customary formula in the beginning of letters, the absolute infinitive (usually cairein) with the nominative absolute also as in #Jas 1:1; Ac 23:26 and innumerable papyri (Robertson, _Grammar_, pp. 1902f.).
