Bible Strands
Acts 15:40
but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The narrator records Paul’s departure immediately after his sharp disagreement with Barnabas led to their parting company. Paul leaves Antioch with Silas following the Jerusalem council's decision to send representatives to the churches.
The words — The participle παραδοθεὶς (paradotheis) literally means having been committed or handed over. It describes Paul being entrusted by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
The thread — The phrasing parallels Acts 14:26, where missionaries sail to Antioch having been commended to the grace of God for their work. The pattern of church-commended departure also aligns with Acts 15:22, where the apostles, elders, and whole church select men to send to Antioch with Paul.
Why it lands — The text frames Paul’s renewed journey as dependent on God’s favor rather than human endorsement. It requires the reader to acknowledge that missionary authority and provision originate from divine grace, not institutional approval.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.
Cross-references
- Acts 15:22 Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among the brothers,
- Acts 11:23 When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to abide in the Lord with all their hearts.
- Acts 14:26 From Attalia they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had just completed.
- 1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
- Acts 13:3 And after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
- Acts 15:32 Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers.
- Acts 16:1 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where he found a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman and a Greek father.
- Acts 20:32 And now I commit you to God and to the word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified.
- 2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.
- 2 Timothy 4:22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.