Acts 15:26

Then to show that they do not act despotically, that all are agreed in this, that with deliberation they write this - "It seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send men of ours whom we have chosen" - then, that it may not look like disparagement of Paul and Barnabas, that those men are sent, observe the encomium passed upon them - "together with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." If "beloved," they will not despise them, if they "have hazarded their lives," they have themselves a right to be believed. The encomium passed upon Paul stopped their mouths. For this is the reason why neither Paul comes alone nor Barnabas with him, but others also from the Church; that he may not be suspected, seeing it was he that advocated that doctrine: nor yet those from Jerusalem alone. It shows that they have a right to be believed.

Who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the Greek is added: In every temptation.

He says that "we, having gathered, unanimously decided," because all so determined and write this after careful deliberation. It is remarkable that neither Peter nor James dared, without the whole church, to establish a decree concerning circumcision, although they recognized it as necessary. But even all together they would not have relied upon themselves, if they had not been convinced that it was also well-pleasing to the Holy Spirit. And lest the embassy of Judas and Silas be considered a sign of dissatisfaction with Paul and Barnabas, praises of them follow: "men who have given over their souls for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."