{Held their peace} (h(8873)uchasan). Ingressive aorist active
indicative of h(8873)uchaz(935c), old verb to be quiet, to keep quiet.
The wrangling (verse  2 ) ceased. The critics even "glorified
God" (edoxasan, ingressive aorist again). {Then to the Gentiles
also} (Ara kai tois ethnesin). Ergo as in  Lu 11:20,48  and
like ara oun in  Ro 5:18 . In ancient Greek inferential ara
cannot come at the beginning of a clause as here. It was
reluctant acquiescence in the undoubted fact that God had
"granted repentance unto life" to these Gentiles in Caesarea, but
the circumcision party undoubtedly looked on it as an exceptional
case and not to be regarded as a precedent to follow with other
Gentiles. Peter will see in this incident ( Ac 15:8 ) the same
principle for which Paul contends at the Jerusalem Conference.
Furneaux suggests that this conduct of Peter in Caesarea, though
grudgingly acquiesced in after his skilful defence, decreased his
influence in Jerusalem where he had been leader and helped open
the way for the leadership of James the Lord's brother.