John Calvin Commentary Acts 13:15

"And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on." — Acts 13:15 (ASV)

After the reading of the law. No mention is made of prayers, and yet, undoubtedly, they were not omitted or neglected. But because Luke intended to record the sermon Paul delivered there, it is no wonder if he lists only those things that pertained to the order of teaching.

And this is a noteworthy passage, from which we learn how they handled doctrine at that time among the Jews. The law and the prophets had the first place, because nothing should be set before the Church that was not drawn from that source. We also gather from this that the Scripture was not suppressed and restricted to a few, but that people generally were allowed to read it; afterward, those who were able and had the gift to teach and exhort had the second place, as interpreters of the Scripture that was read.

Nevertheless, Luke shows, finally, that not everyone was permitted to speak, lest confusion should arise from such freedom; but the office of exhorting was entrusted to certain men, whom he calls rulers of the synagogue, or masters. Therefore, Paul and Barnabas do not immediately begin to speak, lest they disturb the established order with excessive haste, but they modestly wait until they are granted permission to speak, and then only with the permission of those who had authority by public consent.

We know how corrupt the condition of those people was then; and Luke will later declare, at the end of the chapter, that these men of Antioch were excessively obstinate and stubborn regarding receiving the grace of Christ. And yet this commendable practice remained among them: their assemblies were orderly and properly governed. For this reason, such ugly confusion as is seen today among those who profess to be Christians is all the more shameful.

The Papists do indeed sing the Scriptures in their churches with loud and high-pitched voices, but in a language unknown to the people, so that the people gain no benefit from it. Doctrine is seldom taught; and it would be better for the wicked babblers even then to remain silent, who insert their own impure fabrications instead of the Word of God, and pollute with the stench of their impiety whatever is holy.

If there be in you? This expression signifies that whatever gift men possess to build up the Church is, so to speak, entrusted to them; although the word in, according to Hebrew phrasing, may be redundant. Therefore, I do not place great emphasis on that, because the meaning is likely straightforward: If you have any exhortation that is suitable and beneficial for the people. An exhortation does not exclude doctrine. But it seems that this word was commonly used among them, because it is properly the teacher's role not to utter any new thing from his own mind, but to apply the Scripture, which contains the whole wisdom of godly people, for the present use of the people. Thus, they do not only teach, but also apply the doctrine contained in it for the building up of the Church, which I think is meant by the word exhortation.