Act 15:12 | KingComments | STEP | The silence of the crowd indicates that they have no response to what Peter said. A reply would mean that they would contradict God. While they remain silent, Barnabas and Paul take the floor. After Peter has looked back to the past, Barnabas and Paul speak about the deeds of God in the present. After them, James will look to the future. The whole crowd hears Barnabas and Paul recount the signs and wonders that God has done through them among the Gentiles. What God has done among the Gentiles proves that His grace also reaches out to them. Already in Barnabas and Paul have talked about God’s work among the Gentiles. Now they want to make clear that what took place in Caesarea as a one-time event is happening everywhere among the Gentiles. Thereby it is notable that God has not given any indication that there is anything lacking in His work, such as keeping the law. With their account Barnabas and Paul substantiate and underline the account of Peter. The signs and wonders they mention in their account are an underlining of God’s message of salvation also for the Gentiles. God has thus confirmed that their proclamation to the Gentiles is according to His will. As already mentioned in the comments on Acts 8, we see that where there are signs and wonders, they are done by the apostles and next to them only by Stephen and Philip. Thus, the practice of signs and wonders is not something generally done by all believers, but only by a select group that God has given the ability to do so.

‏ Acts 15:12

Report of Barnabas and Paul

The silence of the crowd indicates that they have no response to what Peter said. A reply would mean that they would contradict God. While they remain silent, Barnabas and Paul take the floor. After Peter has looked back to the past, Barnabas and Paul speak about the deeds of God in the present. After them, James will look to the future.

The whole crowd hears Barnabas and Paul recount the signs and wonders that God has done through them among the Gentiles. What God has done among the Gentiles proves that His grace also reaches out to them. Already in Acts 15:4 Barnabas and Paul have talked about God’s work among the Gentiles. Now they want to make clear that what took place in Caesarea as a one-time event is happening everywhere among the Gentiles. Thereby it is notable that God has not given any indication that there is anything lacking in His work, such as keeping the law.

With their account Barnabas and Paul substantiate and underline the account of Peter. The signs and wonders they mention in their account are an underlining of God’s message of salvation also for the Gentiles. God has thus confirmed that their proclamation to the Gentiles is according to His will.

As already mentioned in the comments on Acts 8, we see that where there are signs and wonders, they are done by the apostles and next to them only by Stephen and Philip. Thus, the practice of signs and wonders is not something generally done by all believers, but only by a select group that God has given the ability to do so.