The Acts of the Apostles
Acts 11
Chapter XI · Vol. IV, pp. 275–276
1 Peter, being accused for going in to the Gentiles, 5 maketh his defence, 18 which is accepted. 19 The gospel being spread into Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, Barnabas is sent to confirm them. 26 The disciples there are first called Christians. 27 They send relief to the brethren in Judea in time of famine.
1 And the apostles and brethren1 that were in Judea heard that athe Gentiles had also received the word of God.
2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, bthey that were of the circumcision2 contended with him,
b ch.15.1,5. Jos.22.12,22, with ch.10.25.
2 These were those Jewish converts to Christianity who, like Peter before his vision (ch.10.11,34), and like his companions before the Holy Ghost was poured out upon the Gentiles (ch.10.45), still adhered to the law of Moses.—Note, This unwillingness to receive the Gentiles into the church of Christ furnishes a very striking argument for the divine origin of Christianity, so far as it testifies to the disinterested sincerity of its propagators. For had it been a false religion, a 'cunningly-devised fable,' its first propagators would 'have compassed sea and land to make a proselyte;' and like the missionaries of Rome in Paraguay and China, would have yielded every accommodation to the opinions, prejudices, and practices of their pupils, instead of which we find them not only refusing converts upon any but the most stringent terms, and contending with their very leaders, when they appeared to relax their exclusive discipline.—C.
5 Ie was in the city of Joppa, praying: and gin a trance I saw a vision, hA certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:
e ch.10.9-48.
g Nu.24.4. Re.1.10. 2 Co.12.1,2. ch.22.17.
6 Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
7 And I jheard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay, and eat.
A.M. cir. 4045. A.D. cir. 41.
j Is.30.21. Mar.16.15. Mat.28.19. Ro.1.16; 3.22,29,30.
8 But I said, kNot so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.3
k Ro.10.2, with Le.11. De.14. Le.20.25. Eze.4.14; 44.31.
3 On comparing this statement with ch.10.14, the difference of the words seems so great as to lead to the doctrine of ideal instead of verbal inspiration, inasmuch as the second edition (so to speak) corresponds with the first in ideas, but not in words. The verbal difference, however, may be easily accounted for, on the principle of verbal inspiration, when it is recollected that the sheet was let down three times, and that one reply of Peter may be accurately given upon one of these occasions—another reply different from the former, yet as accurate, upon a second. See note on ch.10.14.—C.
9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, lWhat God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
l Mat.15.11. ch.10.15,28; 15.8,9.
11 And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from oCesarea unto me.
o Mat.8.11. Ep.3.5-8; 2.4-22. ch.15.14. Ro.15.8-12,16. Col.1.20.
12 And pthe Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover, these six4 brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house:
p ch.10.19; 16.6,7; 21.4. Jn.16.13.
4 Peter had wisely and providentially chosen so many to be witnesses and assistants in the work to which he was called.—C.
13 Andq he showed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;
14 Who shall tell thee rwords, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
r Ps.19.7-11. Mar.16.15,16. Ro.1.16,17. Jn.6.63,68; 20.31. 1 Jn.5.9-13,20. ch.16.31. Lu.19.9,10. Ro.10.17.
15 And as I began to speak, sthe Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
s ch.2.4; 10.44-47.
16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, tJohn indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
17 Forasmuch then as uGod gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, vthat I could withstand God?
18 When they heard these things, xthey held their peace, and glorified God, saying, yThen hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.Cited in WSC 87 · WLC 75, 76 · WCF 15.1
x Jos.22.30. ch.21.20. Is.54.1-5.
y ch.5.31; 20.21. Ro.10.12,13; 15.9,16. 2 Co.7.11. Je.31.18-20. Ps.22.27. Is.55.5,7.
19 Nowz they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as aPhenice,5 and Cyprus,6 and Antioch,7 preaching the word bto none but unto the Jews only.
z ch.8.1,4. Mat.10.23.
a Is.23. ch.13.4; ver.26.
5 Phenice, or 'Phenicia,' a country having the Mediterranean on the west, the tribes of Israel on the south-east, and Syria on the north-east. Its principal cities were Tyre, Sidon, Sarepta, Ptolemais, Berytus (now Beyrout), &c.—C.
6 Cyprus. An island on the north-east of the Mediterranean, about 150 miles long, by 70 in breadth.—C.
b Mat.10.5,6. ch.3.26; 13.46; 10.28.
20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and cCyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians,89 dpreaching the Lord Jesus.Cited in WLC 76
c ch.2.10. Mat.27.32.
7 Antioch, on the Orontes, where the disciples were first called Christians (ver.26), and Antioch in Pisidia, are the only two cities of that name mentioned in the New Testament. But there were in Asia sixteen cities of the same name built by the Seleucidæ, the successors of Alexander of Macedon.—C.
A.M. cir. 4045. A.D. cir. 41.
8 Jews who spake Greek, ch.6.1; 9.29. Jn.12.20.
9 The Grecians or Hellenists were probably Gentiles; men of a devout inquiring spirit, like Cornelius. Antioch being a seat of learning, and the residence of a Roman governor, was made from this period and onwards one of the chief centres for the missionary labours of the apostles.—P.
d ch.8.35; 9.20. 1 Co.1.23,24; 2.2. Ep.3.8.
21 And the ehand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.Cited in WLC 76
22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and gthey sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
g ch.8.14,15; 9.27; 13.2,3.
23 Who, when he came, and hhad seen the grace of God,1 was glad, and iexhorted them all, that with jpurpose of kheart they would lcleave unto the Lord.
h Mat.7.16-21; 12.33. Ga.5.22,23. 2 Pe.1.4-9. 3 Jn.4.
1 When he had seen the grace of God, in its converting and sanctifying effects upon the hearts and lives of men.—C.
i ch.13.43; 14.22.
k Pr.23.15,26.
l Ga.2.20. Mat.16.24. 1 Co.15.58. Col.1.22; 2.5,7. De.10.20; 30.20. Jos.22.5; 23.8.
24 For he was a ngood man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
n ch.6.3,5,8; 24.16; ver.21.
25 Then departed Barnabas to oTarsus, for to seek Saul:2
A.D. cir. 42.
o ch.9.11,27,30; 21.39. Jonah 1.3.
2 Barnabas was persuaded that Paul's early training in the schools of Greek philosophy, his eloquence, and logical acumen, specially fitted him for missionary labour among the polished scholars of Antioch.—P.
26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year pthey assembled themselves with3 the church, and qtaught much people. And the disciples were called rChristians first in Antioch.
p ch.2.41-47; 4.32.
3 Or, in.
q Mat.28.19.
r Mat.16.16,24. Ro.3.1,2,9. 1 Co.6.17; 12.12. Phi.2.5; 3.3. Col.3.3. 1 Jn.2.20,27.
27 And in these days came sprophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
s Mat.23.34. 1 Co.12.28; 14.32. Ep.4.11. Re.22.9. ch.2.17; 13.1; 15.32; 21.4.
28 And there stood up one of them named tAgabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
t ch.21.10.
29 Then the disciples, every man uaccording to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea:Cited in WCF 26.2
u Ezr.2.69. Ne.5.8. ch.6.1; 12.25. Ro.15.25,26. 1 Co.16.1,2. 2 Co.8.3,4,9; 11.8; 9.1,2. 1 Pe.4.11. Ga.2.10. He.13.6.
Notes
Ver. 26. The disciples were called Christians, &c. Hitherto, by the Gentiles, they had been called 'Jews;' and by the Jews, 'Nazarenes,' 'Galileans,' &c. Whether the name was taken by the disciples themselves, or given by others, does not appear. That it was not given in derision seems probable from the use of it by King Agrippa, Ac. 26.28; and that the disciples were not ashamed of it is evident from its use by Peter, 1 Pe. 4.16. C.
Ver. 28. The word translated 'world' is one of very indefinite application—sometimes describing the lands inhabited by the Greeks, sometimes those jointly inhabited by Greeks and Romans, sometimes confined to Palestine and its immediate dependencies, as Lu. 2.1, 3; 21.26.—Note, Four famines are recorded in the reign of Claudius, but none of them general. Indeed, among the merciful dispensations of Providence, there is one very remarkable, that a famine is seldom, if ever, universal; but while one country is visited with drought or deluged with rain, other, and even neighbouring countries, are blessed with fair weather and fruitful harvests, by which the wants of other lands may be supplied. This seems to have been the case in the present instance, as the people of Antioch were able to afford a liberal collection to relieve their brethren during the famine at Jerusalem. C.
Reflections.—Delightful are the tidings of sinners receiving and being converted by the gospel of Christ. The salvation of souls, the honour of Christ, and the glory of God are hereby highly promoted. And it is strange that even saints should be sometimes prejudiced, when their enemies, or persons of detested characters, are made partakers of the same spiritual blessings as themselves—that rash censure should so often drop from gracious lips, and godlike charity should be reproached as looseness in religion! But ministers must bear with the weak; and though no unreasonable prejudice should ever hinder the execution of their commission, they should be always ready to clear their conduct to scrupulous minds. And every Christian also ought gladly to hear and receive anything that may tend to remove his prejudices.—What! are we to withstand God, who distributes his favour as is best, and overrules the fury of persecutors for the spread of the gospel and conversion of sinners? Thrice happy are they who show willingly that repentance which manifests spiritual life received, and prepares them for the eternal life promised hereafter.—When his Spirit and power attend the preached gospel, multitudes believe and are turned to the Lord and cleave to him with fixed purpose of heart. And with alacrity and diligence do ministers then attend their increasing work. Delightful is the name, and great the honour, to possess the privileges and tempers of CHRISTIANS; and especially to act up to the profession and obligations included in the character! Happy had it been for the church if no other character had ever marked the followers of Christ. With harmony in the truth, with holiness and order, ought such to hold fellowship one with another; and with great cheerfulness should they supply one another's wants, none of which can take place without the approval of God. Yea, he sometimes wisely permits calamities to his people, for the trial, exercise, and improvement of their own or others' faith, love, and self-denied obedience, and for the removal of groundless differences among them.