1ηκουσανG191{V-AAI-3P} δεG1161{CONJ} οιG3588{T-NPM} αποστολοιG652{N-NPM} καιG2532{CONJ} οιG3588{T-NPM} αδελφοιG80{N-NPM} οιG3588{T-NPM} οντεςG5607{V-PXP-NPM} καταG2596{PREP} τηνG3588{T-ASF} ιουδαιανG2449{N-ASF} οτιG3754{CONJ} καιG2532{CONJ} ταG3588{T-NPN} εθνηG1484{N-NPN} εδεξαντοG1209{V-ADI-3P} τονG3588{T-ASM} λογονG3056{N-ASM} τουG3588{T-GSM} θεουG2316{N-GSM} 2τσβκαιG2532{CONJ} οτεG3753{ADV} αδεG1161{CONJ} ανεβηG305{V-2AAI-3S} πετροςG4074{N-NSM} ειςG1519{PREP} αιερουσαλημG2419{N-PRI} τσβιεροσολυμαG2414{N-ASF} διεκρινοντοG1252{V-IMI-3P} προςG4314{PREP} αυτονG846{P-ASM} οιG3588{T-NPM} εκG1537{PREP} περιτομηςG4061{N-GSF} 3λεγοντεςG3004{V-PAP-NPM} οτιG3754{CONJ} αεισηλθεςG1525{V-2AAI-2S} προςG4314{PREP} ανδραςG435{N-APM} ακροβυστιανG203{N-ASF} εχονταςG2192{V-PAP-APM} τσβεισηλθεςG1525{V-2AAI-2S} καιG2532{CONJ} συνεφαγεςG4906{V-2AAI-2S} αυτοιςG846{P-DPM} 4αρξαμενοςG756{V-AMP-NSM} δεG1161{CONJ} τσβοG3588{T-NSM} πετροςG4074{N-NSM} εξετιθετοG1620{V-IMI-3S} αυτοιςG846{P-DPM} καθεξηςG2517{ADV} λεγωνG3004{V-PAP-NSM} 5εγωG1473{P-1NS} ημηνG2252{V-IXI-1S} ενG1722{PREP} πολειG4172{N-DSF} ιοππηG2445{N-DSF} προσευχομενοςG4336{V-PNP-NSM} καιG2532{CONJ} ειδονG1492{V-2AAI-1S} ενG1722{PREP} εκστασειG1611{N-DSF} οραμαG3705{N-ASN} καταβαινονG2597{V-PAP-ASN} σκευοςG4632{N-NSN} τιG5100{X-NSN} ωςG5613{ADV} οθονηνG3607{N-ASF} μεγαληνG3173{A-ASF} τεσσαρσινG5064{A-DPF} αρχαιςG746{N-DPF} καθιεμενηνG2524{V-PPP-ASF} εκG1537{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSM} ουρανουG3772{N-GSM} καιG2532{CONJ} ηλθενG2064{V-2AAI-3S} ααχριG891{PREP} τσβαχριςG891{PREP} εμουG1700{P-1GS} 6ειςG1519{PREP} ηνG3739{R-ASF} ατενισαςG816{V-AAP-NSM} κατενοουνG2657{V-IAI-1S} καιG2532{CONJ} ειδονG1492{V-2AAI-1S} ταG3588{T-APN} τετραποδαG5074{A-APN} τηςG3588{T-GSF} γηςG1093{N-GSF} καιG2532{CONJ} ταG3588{T-APN} θηριαG2342{N-APN} καιG2532{CONJ} ταG3588{T-APN} ερπεταG2062{N-APN} καιG2532{CONJ} ταG3588{T-APN} πετειναG4071{N-APN} τουG3588{T-GSM} ουρανουG3772{N-GSM} 7ηκουσαG191{V-AAI-1S} δεG1161{CONJ} ακαιG2532{CONJ} φωνηςG5456{N-GSF} λεγουσηςG3004{V-PAP-GSF} μοιG3427{P-1DS} ανασταςG450{V-2AAP-NSM} πετρεG4074{N-VSM} θυσονG2380{V-AAM-2S} καιG2532{CONJ} φαγεG5315{V-2AAM-2S} 8ειπονG2036{V-2AAI-1S} δεG1161{CONJ} μηδαμωςG3365{ADV} κυριεG2962{N-VSM} οτιG3754{CONJ} τσβπανG3956{A-ASN} κοινονG2839{A-ASN} ηG2228{PRT} ακαθαρτονG169{A-ASN} ουδεποτεG3763{ADV} εισηλθενG1525{V-2AAI-3S} ειςG1519{PREP} τοG3588{T-ASN} στομαG4750{N-ASN} μουG3450{P-1GS} 9απεκριθηG611{V-ADI-3S} δεG1161{CONJ} τσβμοιG3427{P-1DS} φωνηG5456{N-NSF} εκG1537{PREP} δευτερουG1208{A-GSN} εκG1537{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSM} ουρανουG3772{N-GSM} αG3739{R-APN} οG3588{T-NSM} θεοςG2316{N-NSM} εκαθαρισενG2511{V-AAI-3S} συG4771{P-2NS} μηG3361{PRT-N} κοινουG2840{V-PAM-2S} 10τουτοG5124{D-NSN} δεG1161{CONJ} εγενετοG1096{V-2ADI-3S} επιG1909{PREP} τριςG5151{ADV} καιG2532{CONJ} τσβπαλινG3825{ADV} ανεσπασθηG385{V-API-3S} απαλινG3825{ADV} απανταG537{A-NPN} ειςG1519{PREP} τονG3588{T-ASM} ουρανονG3772{N-ASM} 11καιG2532{CONJ} ιδουG2400{V-2AAM-2S} εξαυτηςG1824{ADV} τρειςG5140{A-NPM} ανδρεςG435{N-NPM} επεστησανG2186{V-2AAI-3P} επιG1909{PREP} τηνG3588{T-ASF} οικιανG3614{N-ASF} ενG1722{PREP} ηG3739{R-DSF} αημενG1510{V-IXI-1P} τσβημηνG1510{V-IXI-1S} απεσταλμενοιG649{V-RPP-NPM} αποG575{PREP} καισαρειαςG2542{N-GSF} προςG4314{PREP} μεG3165{P-1AS} 12ειπενG2036{V-2AAI-3S} δεG1161{CONJ} τσβμοιG3427{P-1DS} τοG3588{T-NSN} πνευμαG4151{N-NSN} αμοιG3427{P-1DS} συνελθεινG4905{V-2AAN} αυτοιςG846{P-DPM} μηδενG3367{A-ASN} αδιακρινανταG1252{V-AAP-ASM} τσβδιακρινομενονG1252{V-PMP-ASM} ηλθονG2064{V-2AAI-3P} δεG1161{CONJ} συνG4862{PREP} εμοιG1698{P-1DS} καιG2532{CONJ} οιG3588{T-NPM} εξG1803{A-NUI} αδελφοιG80{N-NPM} ουτοιG3778{D-NPM} καιG2532{CONJ} εισηλθομενG1525{V-2AAI-1P} ειςG1519{PREP} τονG3588{T-ASM} οικονG3624{N-ASM} τουG3588{T-GSM} ανδροςG435{N-GSM} 13απηγγειλενG518{V-AAI-3S} αδεG1161{CONJ} τσβτεG5037{PRT} ημινG2254{P-1DP} πωςG4459{ADV} ειδενG1492{V-2AAI-3S} α[τον]G3588{T-ASM} τσβτονG3588{T-ASM} αγγελονG32{N-ASM} ενG1722{PREP} τωG3588{T-DSM} οικωG3624{N-DSM} αυτουG846{P-GSM} σταθενταG2476{V-APP-ASM} καιG2532{CONJ} ειπονταG2036{V-2AAP-ASM} τσβαυτωG846{P-DSM} αποστειλονG649{V-AAM-2S} ειςG1519{PREP} ιοππηνG2445{N-ASF} τσβανδραςG435{N-APM} καιG2532{CONJ} μεταπεμψαιG3343{V-ADM-2S} σιμωναG4613{N-ASM} τονG3588{T-ASM} επικαλουμενονG1941{V-PPP-ASM} πετρονG4074{N-ASM} 14οςG3739{R-NSM} λαλησειG2980{V-FAI-3S} ρηματαG4487{N-APN} προςG4314{PREP} σεG4571{P-2AS} ενG1722{PREP} οιςG3739{R-DPN} σωθησηG4982{V-FPI-2S} συG4771{P-2NS} καιG2532{CONJ} παςG3956{A-NSM} οG3588{T-NSM} οικοςG3624{N-NSM} σουG4675{P-2GS} 15ενG1722{PREP} δεG1161{CONJ} τωG3588{T-DSM} αρξασθαιG756{V-AMN} μεG3165{P-1AS} λαλεινG2980{V-PAN} επεπεσενG1968{V-2AAI-3S} τοG3588{T-NSN} πνευμαG4151{N-NSN} τοG3588{T-NSN} αγιονG40{A-NSN} επG1909{PREP} αυτουςG846{P-APM} ωσπερG5618{ADV} καιG2532{CONJ} εφG1909{PREP} ημαςG2248{P-1AP} ενG1722{PREP} αρχηG746{N-DSF} 16εμνησθηνG3415{V-API-1S} δεG1161{CONJ} τουG3588{T-GSN} ρηματοςG4487{N-GSN} ατουG3588{T-GSN} κυριουG2962{N-GSM} ωςG5613{ADV} ελεγενG3004{V-IAI-3S} ιωαννηςG2491{N-NSM} μενG3303{PRT} εβαπτισενG907{V-AAI-3S} υδατιG5204{N-DSN} υμειςG5210{P-2NP} δεG1161{CONJ} βαπτισθησεσθεG907{V-FPI-2P} ενG1722{PREP} πνευματιG4151{N-DSN} αγιωG40{A-DSN} 17ειG1487{COND} ουνG3767{CONJ} τηνG3588{T-ASF} ισηνG2470{A-ASF} δωρεανG1431{N-ASF} εδωκενG1325{V-AAI-3S} αυτοιςG846{P-DPM} οG3588{T-NSM} θεοςG2316{N-NSM} ωςG5613{ADV} καιG2532{CONJ} ημινG2254{P-1DP} πιστευσασινG4100{V-AAP-DPM} επιG1909{PREP} τονG3588{T-ASM} κυριονG2962{N-ASM} ιησουνG2424{N-ASM} χριστονG5547{N-ASM} εγωG1473{P-1NS} τσβδεG1161{CONJ} τιςG5101{I-NSM} ημηνG2252{V-IXI-1S} δυνατοςG1415{A-NSM} κωλυσαιG2967{V-AAN} τονG3588{T-ASM} θεονG2316{N-ASM} 18ακουσαντεςG191{V-AAP-NPM} δεG1161{CONJ} ταυταG5023{D-APN} ησυχασανG2270{V-AAI-3P} καιG2532{CONJ} αεδοξασανG1392{V-AAI-3P} τσβεδοξαζονG1392{V-IAI-3P} τονG3588{T-ASM} θεονG2316{N-ASM} λεγοντεςG3004{V-PAP-NPM} ααραG686{PRT} τσβαραγεG686{PRT} καιG2532{CONJ} τοιςG3588{T-DPN} εθνεσινG1484{N-DPN} οG3588{T-NSM} θεοςG2316{N-NSM} τηνG3588{T-ASF} μετανοιανG3341{N-ASF} τσβεδωκενG1325{V-AAI-3S} ειςG1519{PREP} ζωηνG2222{N-ASF} αεδωκενG1325{V-AAI-3S} 19οιG3588{T-NPM} μενG3303{PRT} ουνG3767{CONJ} διασπαρεντεςG1289{V-2APP-NPM} αποG575{PREP} τηςG3588{T-GSF} θλιψεωςG2347{N-GSF} τηςG3588{T-GSF} γενομενηςG1096{V-2ADP-GSF} επιG1909{PREP} στεφανωG4736{N-DSM} διηλθονG1330{V-2AAI-3S} εωςG2193{CONJ} φοινικηςG5403{N-GSF} καιG2532{CONJ} κυπρουG2954{N-GSF} καιG2532{CONJ} αντιοχειαςG490{N-GSF} μηδενιG3367{A-DSM} λαλουντεςG2980{V-PAP-NPM} τονG3588{T-ASM} λογονG3056{N-ASM} ειG1487{COND} μηG3361{PRT-N} μονονG3440{ADV} ιουδαιοιςG2453{A-DPM} 20ησανG2258{V-IXI-3P} δεG1161{CONJ} τινεςG5100{X-NPM} εξG1537{PREP} αυτωνG846{P-GPM} ανδρεςG435{N-NPM} κυπριοιG2953{N-NPM} καιG2532{CONJ} κυρηναιοιG2956{N-NPM} οιτινεςG3748{R-NPM} αελθοντεςG2064{V-2AAP-NPM} τσβεισελθοντεςG1525{V-2AAP-NPM} ειςG1519{PREP} αντιοχειανG490{N-ASF} ελαλουνG2980{V-IAI-3P} ακαιG2532{CONJ} προςG4314{PREP} τουςG3588{T-APM} ελληνισταςG1675{N-APM} ευαγγελιζομενοιG2097{V-PMP-NPM} τονG3588{T-ASM} κυριονG2962{N-ASM} ιησουνG2424{N-ASM} 21καιG2532{CONJ} ηνG2258{V-IXI-3S} χειρG5495{N-NSF} κυριουG2962{N-GSM} μετG3326{PREP} αυτωνG846{P-GPM} πολυςG4183{A-NSM} τεG5037{PRT} αριθμοςG706{N-NSM} αοG3588{T-NSM} πιστευσαςG4100{V-AAP-NSM} επεστρεψενG1994{V-AAI-3S} επιG1909{PREP} τονG3588{T-ASM} κυριονG2962{N-ASM} 22ηκουσθηG191{V-API-3S} δεG1161{CONJ} οG3588{T-NSM} λογοςG3056{N-NSM} ειςG1519{PREP} ταG3588{T-APN} ωταG3775{N-APN} τηςG3588{T-GSF} εκκλησιαςG1577{N-GSF} τηςG3588{T-GSF} αουσηςG5607{V-PXP-GSF} ενG1722{PREP} αιερουσαλημG2419{N-PRI} τσβιεροσολυμοιςG2414{N-DPN} περιG4012{PREP} αυτωνG846{P-GPM} καιG2532{CONJ} εξαπεστειλανG1821{V-AAI-3P} βαρναβανG921{N-ASM} α[διελθειν]G1330{V-2AAN} τσβδιελθεινG1330{V-2AAN} εωςG2193{CONJ} αντιοχειαςG490{N-GSF} 23οςG3739{R-NSM} παραγενομενοςG3854{V-2ADP-NSM} καιG2532{CONJ} ιδωνG1492{V-2AAP-NSM} τηνG3588{T-ASF} χαρινG5485{N-ASF} α[την]G3588{T-ASF} τουG3588{T-GSM} θεουG2316{N-GSM} εχαρηG5463{V-2AOI-3S} καιG2532{CONJ} παρεκαλειG3870{V-IAI-3S} πανταςG3956{A-APM} τηG3588{T-DSF} προθεσειG4286{N-DSF} τηςG3588{T-GSF} καρδιαςG2588{N-GSF} προσμενεινG4357{V-PAN} τωG3588{T-DSM} κυριωG2962{N-DSM} 24οτιG3754{CONJ} ηνG2258{V-IXI-3S} ανηρG435{N-NSM} αγαθοςG18{A-NSM} καιG2532{CONJ} πληρηςG4134{A-NSM} πνευματοςG4151{N-GSN} αγιουG40{A-GSN} καιG2532{CONJ} πιστεωςG4102{N-GSF} καιG2532{CONJ} προσετεθηG4369{V-API-3S} οχλοςG3793{N-NSM} ικανοςG2425{A-NSM} τωG3588{T-DSM} κυριωG2962{N-DSM} 25εξηλθενG1831{V-2AAI-3S} δεG1161{CONJ} ειςG1519{PREP} ταρσονG5019{N-ASF} τσβοG3588{T-NSM} τσββαρναβαςG921{N-NSM} αναζητησαιG327{V-AAN} σαυλονG4569{N-ASM} 26καιG2532{CONJ} ευρωνG2147{V-2AAP-NSM} τσαυτονG846{P-ASM} ηγαγενG71{V-2AAI-3S} τσβαυτονG846{P-ASM} ειςG1519{PREP} αντιοχειανG490{N-ASF} εγενετοG1096{V-2ADI-3S} δεG1161{CONJ} ααυτοιςG846{P-DPM} ακαιG2532{CONJ} τσβαυτουςG846{P-APM} ενιαυτονG1763{N-ASM} ολονG3650{A-ASM} συναχθηναιG4863{V-APN} ατσενG1722{PREP} τηG3588{T-DSF} εκκλησιαG1577{N-DSF} καιG2532{CONJ} διδαξαιG1321{V-AAN} οχλονG3793{N-ASM} ικανονG2425{A-ASM} χρηματισαιG5537{V-AAN} τεG5037{PRT} απρωτωςG4413{ADV} τσβπρωτονG4412{ADV} ενG1722{PREP} αντιοχειαG490{N-DSF} τουςG3588{T-APM} μαθηταςG3101{N-APM} χριστιανουςG5546{N-APM} 27ενG1722{PREP} ταυταιςG3778{D-DPF} δεG1161{CONJ} ταιςG3588{T-DPF} ημεραιςG2250{N-DPF} κατηλθονG2718{V-2AAI-3P} αποG575{PREP} ιεροσολυμωνG2414{N-GPN} προφηταιG4396{N-NPM} ειςG1519{PREP} αντιοχειανG490{N-ASF} 28ανασταςG450{V-2AAP-NSM} δεG1161{CONJ} ειςG1520{A-NSM} εξG1537{PREP} αυτωνG846{P-GPM} ονοματιG3686{N-DSN} αγαβοςG13{N-NSM} εσημανενG4591{V-AAI-3S} διαG1223{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSN} πνευματοςG4151{N-GSN} λιμονG3042{N-ASM} αμεγαληνG3173{A-ASF} τσβμεγανG3173{A-ASM} μελλεινG3195{V-PAN} εσεσθαιG2071{V-FXN} εφG1909{PREP} οληνG3650{A-ASF} τηνG3588{T-ASF} οικουμενηνG3625{N-ASF} αητιςG3748{R-NSF} τσβοστιςG3748{R-NSM} τσβκαιG2532{CONJ} εγενετοG1096{V-2ADI-3S} επιG1909{PREP} κλαυδιουG2804{N-GSM} τσβκαισαροςG2541{N-GSM} 29τωνG3588{T-GPM} δεG1161{CONJ} μαθητωνG3101{N-GPM} καθωςG2531{ADV} αβευπορειτοG2141{V-IMI-3S} τσηυπορειτοG2141{V-INI-3S} τιςG5100{X-NSM} ωρισανG3724{V-AAI-3P} εκαστοςG1538{A-NSM} αυτωνG846{P-GPM} ειςG1519{PREP} διακονιανG1248{N-ASF} πεμψαιG3992{V-AAN} τοιςG3588{T-DPM} κατοικουσινG2730{V-PAP-DPM} ενG1722{PREP} τηG3588{T-DSF} ιουδαιαG2449{N-DSF} αδελφοιςG80{N-DPM} 30οG3739{R-ASN} καιG2532{CONJ} εποιησανG4160{V-AAI-3P} αποστειλαντεςG649{V-AAP-NPM} προςG4314{PREP} τουςG3588{T-APM} πρεσβυτερουςG4245{A-APM} διαG1223{PREP} χειροςG5495{N-GSF} βαρναβαG921{N-GSM} καιG2532{CONJ} σαυλουG4569{N-GSM}
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 PETER VINDICATES HIMSELF BEFORE THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM FOR HIS PROCEDURE TOWARDS THE GENTILES. (Acts 11:1-18)
the apostles and brethren . . . in Judea--rather, "throughout Judea."
2 they . . . of the circumcision--not the Jewish Christians generally, for here there were no other, but such as, from their jealousy for "the middle wall of partition" which circumcision raised between Jew and Gentile, were afterwards known as "they of the circumcision." They doubtless embraced apostles as well as others.
3 Thou wentest in . . . But Peter rehearsed the matter, &c.--These objectors scruple not to demand from Peter, though the first among the apostles, an explanation of his conduct; nor is there any insinuation on Peter's part of disrespect towards his authority in that demand--a manifest proof that such authority was unknown both to the complainers and to himself.
12 we entered the man's house--No mention of Cornelius' name, much less of his high position, as if that affected the question. To the charge, "Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised," he simply speaks of the uncircumcised "man" to whom he had been divinely sent.
13 seen an angel--literally, "the angel," for the rumor took that definite shape.
14 Who shall tell thee words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved--The historian makes the angel express this much more generally (
Acts 10:6). So also the subsequent report of it by the deputies and by Cornelius himself to Peter (
Acts 10:22,
Acts 10:32). But as Peter tarried with Cornelius certain days, and they doubtless talked over the wonderful scene together, perhaps this fuller and richer form of what the angel said was given to Peter; or the apostle himself may have expressed what the angel certainly designed by directing them to send for him. Observe, "salvation" is here made to hang upon "words," that is, the Gospel message concerning Christ. But on the "salvation" of Cornelius, see on
Acts 10:34-
Acts 10:35. On that of his "house," see on
Luke 19:10.
16 Then remembered I the word . . . John . . . baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then, &c.--that is, "Since God Himself has put them on a level with ourselves, by bestowing on them what the Lord Jesus pronounced the higher baptism of the Holy Ghost, would it not have been to withstand God if I had withheld from them the lower baptism of water, and kept aloof from them as still 'unclean?'"
18 held their peace and glorified God--Well had it been if, when Paul afterwards adduced equally resistless evidence in justification of the same line of procedure, this Jewish party had shown the same reverential and glad submission!
Then hath God also granted to the Gentiles, &c.--rather, "granted to the Gentiles also." (See a similar misplacement of "also" in
Heb 12:1). To "grant repentance unto life"--that is, "such as issues in life" (compare
2Cor 7:10, "repentance unto salvation")--is more than to be willing to pardon upon repentance [GROTIUS]. The case of Cornelius is so manifestly one of grace reigning in every stage of his religious history, that we can hardly doubt that this was just the feature of it which they meant here to express. And this is the grace that reigns in every conversion.
19 THE GOSPEL BEING PREACHED TO GENTILES AT ANTIOCH ALSO BARNABAS IS SENT THITHER FROM JERUSALEM, WHO HAILS THEIR ACCESSION AND LABORS AMONG THEM. (
Acts 11:19-
Acts 11:24)
they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen--and who "went everywhere preaching the word" (
Acts 8:4).
travelled as far as Phenice--that part of the Mediterranean coast which, commencing a little north of Cćsarea, stretches northwards for upwards of one hundred miles, halfway to Antioch.
and Cyprus--(See on
Acts 4:36). An active commercial intercourse subsisted between Phenice and Cyprus.
and Antioch--near the head of the northeast coast of the Mediterranean, on the river Orontes, and containing a large colony of Jews, to whose religion there were there numerous proselytes. "It was almost an Oriental Rome, in which all the forms of the civilized life of the empire found some representative; and through the two first centuries of the Christian era it was what Constantinople became afterwards, 'the Gate of the East'" [HOWSON].
20 some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene--(see on
Luke 23:26); as Lucius, mentioned in
Acts 13:1.
spake unto the Grecians--rather, "the Greeks," that is, uncircumcised Gentiles (as the true reading beyond doubt is). The Gospel had, from the first, been preached to "the Grecians" or Greek-speaking Jews, and these "men of Cyprus and Cyrene" were themselves "Grecians." How, then, can we suppose that the historian would note, as something new and singular (
Acts 11:22), that some of the dispersed Christians preached to them?
21 a great number believed--Thus the accession of Cornelius and his party was not the first admission of uncircumcised Gentiles into the Church. (See on
Acts 10:1.) Nay, we read of no influence which the accession of Cornelius and his house had on the further progress of the Gospel among the Gentiles; whereas there here open upon us operations upon the Gentiles from quite a different quarter, and attended with ever growing success. The only great object served by the case of Cornelius was the formal recognition of the principles which that case afterwards secured. (See on
Acts 15:19-
Acts 15:29.)
22 sent . . . Barnabas . . . as far as Antioch--implying that even on the way to Antioch he found churches to visit [OLSHAUSEN]. It was in the first instance, no doubt, a mission of inquiry; and no one could be more suitable to inquire into the proceedings of those Cyprians and Cyrenians than one who was himself a "Grecian" of Cyprus (
Acts 4:36), and "a son of consolation."
23 when he . . . had seen the grace of God--in the new converts.
was glad--owned and rejoiced in it at once as divine, though they were uncircumcised.
exhorted them all that with purpose of heart--as opposed to a hasty and fickle discipleship.
they would cleave unto the Lord--the Lord Jesus.
24 For he was a good man--The sense of "good" here is plainly "large-hearted," "liberal-minded," rising above narrow Jewish sectarianism, and that because, as the historian adds, he was "full of the Holy Ghost and of faith."
and much people were added unto the Lord--This proceeding of Barnabas, so full of wisdom, love, and zeal, was blessed to the great increase of the Christian community in that important city.
25 BARNABAS, FINDING THE WORK IN ANTIOCH TOO MUCH FOR HIM, GOES TO TARSUS FOR SAUL--THEY LABOR THERE TOGETHER FOR A WHOLE YEAR WITH MUCH SUCCESS, AND ANTIOCH BECOMES THE HONORED BIRTHPLACE OF THE TERM CHRISTIAN. (
Acts 11:25-
Acts 11:26)
Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus for to seek Saul--Of course, this was after the hasty despatch of Saul to Tarsus, no doubt by Barnabas himself among others, to escape the fury of the Jews at Jerusalem. And as Barnabas was the first to take the converted persecutor by the hand and procure his recognition as a disciple by the brethren at Jerusalem (
Acts 9:27), so he alone seems at that early period to have discerned in him those peculiar endowments by virtue of which he was afterwards to eclipse all others. Accordingly, instead of returning to Jerusalem, to which, no doubt, he sent accounts of his proceedings from time to time, finding that the mine in Antioch was rich in promise and required an additional and powerful hand to work, he leaves it for a time, takes a journey to Tarsus, "finds Saul" (seemingly implying--not that he lay hid [BENGEL], but that he was engaged at the time in some preaching circuit--see on
Acts 15:23), and returns with him to Antioch. Nor were his hopes disappointed. As co-pastors, for the time being, of the Church there, they so labored that the Gospel, even in that great and many-sided community, achieved for itself a name which will live and be gloried in as long as this world lasts, as the symbol of all that is most precious to the fallen family of man:--"The disciples were called CHRISTIANS first in Antioch." This name originated not within, but without, the Church; not with their Jewish enemies, by whom they were styled "Nazarenes" (
Acts 24:5), but with the heathen in Antioch, and (as the form of the word shows) with the Romans, not the Greeks there [OLSHAUSEN]. It was not at first used in a good sense (as
Acts 26:28;
1Pet 4:16 show), though hardly framed out of contempt (as DE WETTE, BAUMGARTEN, &c.); but as it was a noble testimony to the light in which the Church regarded Christ--honoring Him as their only Lord and Saviour, dwelling continually on His name, and glorying in it--so it was felt to be too apposite and beautiful to be allowed to die.
27 BY OCCASION OF A FAMINE BARNABAS AND SAUL RETURN TO JERUSALEM WITH A CONTRIBUTION FOR THE RELIEF OF THEIR SUFFERING BRETHREN. (
Acts 11:27-
Acts 11:30)
came prophets from Jerusalem--inspired teachers, a class we shall afterwards frequently meet with, who sometimes, but not necessarily, foretold future events. They are classed next to apostles (
1Cor 12:28-29;
Eph 4:11).
28 that there should be great dearth throughout all the world--the whole Roman empire.
which came to pass in the days of Claudius Cćsar--Four famines occurred during his reign. This one in Judea and the adjacent countries took place, A.D. 41 [JOSEPHUS, Antiquities, 20.2,5]. An important date for tracing out the chronology of the Acts. (But this subject is too difficult and extensive to admit of being handled here).
29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief, &c.--This was the pure prompting of Christian love, which shone so bright in those earliest days of the Gospel.
30 sent it to the elders--an office well known to be borrowed from the synagogue; after the model of which, and not at all of the temple, the Christian Churches were constituted by the apostles.
by the hands of Barnabas and Saul--This was Saul's SECOND VISIT TO JERUSALEM after his conversion.