1AndG1161 the apostlesG652 andG2532 brethrenG80 that wereG5607 inG2596 JudaeaG2449 heardG191 thatG3754 the GentilesG1484 hadG1209 alsoG2532 receivedG1209 the wordG3056 of GodG2316. 2AndG2532 whenG3753 PeterG4074 was come upG305 toG1519 JerusalemG2414, they that were ofG1537 the circumcisionG4061 contendedG1252 withG4314 himG846, 3SayingG3004,G3754 Thou wentest inG1525 toG4314 menG435 uncircumcisedG203 G2192, andG2532 didst eatG4906 with themG846. 4ButG1161 PeterG4074 rehearsed the matter from the beginningG756, and expoundedG1620 it by orderG2517 unto themG846, sayingG3004, 5IG1473 wasG2252 inG1722 the cityG4172 of JoppaG2445 prayingG4336 : andG2532 inG1722 a tranceG1611 I sawG1492 a visionG3705, A certainG5100 vesselG4632 descendG2597, as it had beenG5613 a greatG3173 sheetG3607, let downG2524 fromG1537 heavenG3772 by fourG5064 cornersG746; andG2532 it cameG2064 evenG891 to meG1700: 6UponG1519 the whichG3739 when I had fastened mine eyesG816, I consideredG2657, andG2532 sawG1492 fourfooted beastsG5074 of the earthG1093, andG2532 wild beastsG2342, andG2532 creeping thingsG2062, andG2532 fowlsG4071 of the airG3772. 7AndG1161 I heardG191 a voiceG5456 sayingG3004 unto meG3427, AriseG450, PeterG4074; slayG2380 andG2532 eatG5315 . 8ButG1161 I saidG2036, Not soG3365, LordG2962: forG3754 nothingG3956 commonG2839 orG2228 uncleanG169 hathG1525 at any timeG3763 enteredG1525 intoG1519 myG3450 mouthG4750. 9ButG1161 the voiceG5456 answeredG611 meG3427 againG1537 G1208 fromG1537 heavenG3772, WhatG3739 GodG2316 hath cleansedG2511, that callG2840 notG3361 thouG4771 commonG2840 . 10AndG1161 thisG5124 was doneG1096 G1909 three timesG5151: andG2532 allG537 were drawn upG385 againG3825 intoG1519 heavenG3772. 11AndG2532, beholdG2400, immediatelyG1824 there wereG2186 threeG5140 menG435 alreadyG1824 comeG2186 untoG1909 the houseG3614 whereG1722 G3739 G3739 I wasG2252, sentG649 fromG575 CaesareaG2542 untoG4314 meG3165. 12AndG1161 the SpiritG4151 badeG2036 meG3427 go withG4905 themG846, nothingG3367 doubtingG1252 . MoreoverG1161 G2532 theseG3778 sixG1803 brethrenG80 accompaniedG4862 G2064 meG1698, andG2532 we enteredG1525 intoG1519 the man'sG435 houseG3624: 13AndG5037 he shewedG518 usG2254 howG4459 he had seenG1492 an angelG32 inG1722 hisG846 houseG3624, which stoodG2476 andG2532 saidG2036 unto himG846, SendG649 menG435 toG1519 JoppaG2445, andG2532 call forG3343 SimonG4613, whose surname isG1941 PeterG4074; 14WhoG3739 shall tellG2980 theeG4314 G4571 wordsG4487, wherebyG1722 G3739 thouG4771 andG2532 allG3956 thyG4675 houseG3624 shall be savedG4982 . 15AndG1161 asG1722 IG3165 beganG756 to speakG2980, the HolyG40 GhostG4151 fellG1968 onG1909 themG846, asG5618 G2532 onG1909 usG2248 atG1722 the beginningG746. 16ThenG1161 remembered IG3415 the wordG4487 of the LordG2962, howG5613 that he saidG3004, JohnG2491 indeedG3303 baptizedG907 with waterG5204; butG1161 yeG5210 shall be baptizedG907 withG1722 the HolyG40 GhostG4151. 17ForasmuchG1487 thenG3767 asG5613 GodG2316 gaveG1325 themG846 the likeG2470 giftG1431 asG2532 he did unto usG2254, who believedG4100 onG1909 the LordG2962 JesusG2424 ChristG5547;G1161 whatG5101 wasG2252 IG1473, that I couldG1415 withstandG2967 GodG2316? 18WhenG1161 they heardG191 these thingsG5023, they held their peaceG2270, andG2532 glorifiedG1392 GodG2316, sayingG3004, ThenG686 hathG1325 GodG2316 alsoG2534 to the GentilesG1484 grantedG1325 repentanceG3341 untoG1519 lifeG2222. 19NowG3767 G3303 they which were scattered abroadG1289 uponG575 the persecutionG2347 that aroseG1096 aboutG1909 StephenG4736 travelledG1330 as far asG2193 PheniceG5403, andG2532 CyprusG2954, andG2532 AntiochG490, preachingG2980 the wordG3056 to noneG3367 butG1508 unto the JewsG2453 onlyG3440. 20AndG1161 someG5100 ofG1537 themG846 wereG2258 menG435 of CyprusG2953 andG2532 CyreneG2956, whichG3748, when they were comeG1525 toG1519 AntiochG490, spakeG2980 untoG4314 the GreciansG1675, preachingG2097 the LordG2962 JesusG2424. 21AndG2532 the handG5495 of the LordG2962 wasG2258 withG3326 themG846: andG5037 a greatG4183 numberG706 believedG4100, and turnedG1994 untoG1909 the LordG2962. 22ThenG1161 tidingsG3056 ofG4012 these thingsG846 cameG191 untoG1519 the earsG3775 of the churchG1577 whichG3588 was inG1722 JerusalemG2414: andG2532 they sent forthG1821 BarnabasG921, that he should goG1330 as far asG2193 AntiochG490. 23WhoG3739, when he cameG3854, andG2532 had seenG1492 the graceG5485 of GodG2316, was gladG5463, andG2532 exhortedG3870 them allG3956, that with purposeG4286 of heartG2588 they would cleave untoG4357 the LordG2962. 24ForG3754 he wasG2258 a goodG18 manG435, andG2532 fullG4134 of the HolyG40 GhostG4151 andG2532 of faithG4102: andG2532 muchG2425 peopleG3793 was addedG4369 unto the LordG2962. 25ThenG1161 departedG1831 BarnabasG921 toG1519 TarsusG5019, for to seekG327 SaulG4569: 26AndG2532 when he had foundG2147 himG846, he broughtG71 himG846 untoG1519 AntiochG490. AndG1161 it came to passG1096, that a wholeG3650 yearG1763 theyG846 assembled themselvesG4863 withG1722 the churchG1577, andG2532 taughtG1321 muchG2425 peopleG3793. AndG5037 the disciplesG3101 were calledG5537 ChristiansG5546 firstG4412 inG1722 AntiochG490. 27AndG1161 inG1722 theseG5025 daysG2250 cameG2718 prophetsG4396 fromG575 JerusalemG2414 untoG1519 AntiochG490. 28AndG1161 there stood upG450 oneG1520 ofG1537 themG846 namedG3686 AgabusG13, and signifiedG4591 byG1223 the spiritG4151 that there should beG3195 G1510 greatG3173 dearthG3042 throughoutG1909 allG3650 the worldG3625: whichG3748 G2532 came to passG1096 in the days ofG1909 ClaudiusG2804 CaesarG2541. 29ThenG1161 the disciplesG3101, everyG1538 manG846 according toG2531 his abilityG2141 G5100, determinedG3724 to sendG3992 reliefG1248 untoG1519 the brethrenG80 which dweltG2730 inG1722 JudaeaG2449: 30WhichG3739 alsoG2532 they didG4160, and sent itG649 toG4314 the eldersG4245 byG1223 the handsG5495 of BarnabasG921 andG2532 SaulG4569.
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.