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Acts Chapter
Eleven
Acts 11
Chapter 11:19 begins the narration of the new order of
things by which the ministry of Paul is distinguished. Among those who were
scattered abroad on the occasion of Stephen's death, and who went as far even
as Antioch preaching the Lord Jesus, there were some who, being men of Cyprus
and Cyrene, were more habitually connected with Greeks. They addressed the
Greeks therefore in this ancient capital of the Seleucidae, and many received
their word and turned to the Lord. The assembly at Jerusalem, already prepared
through the conversion of Cornelius, by which God had shewn them the entering
in of the Gentiles, accept this event also and send Barnabas-himself a man of
Cyprus-to Antioch. A good man and filled with the Holy Ghost, his heart is full
of joy on seeing this work of the grace of God; and much people is added unto
the Lord.
As yet all is linked with the work at Jerusalem, although extending
now to the Gentiles. Barnabas, apparently no longer sufficient for the work and
at all events led of God, departs in search of Saul, who had gone to Tarsus,
when they sought to kill him at Jerusalem. And these two meet with the assembly
at Antioch, teaching much people. Still everything takes place in connection
with Jerusalem, whence some prophets come down and announce a famine. The links
between the flock and Jerusalem as a centre are shewn and strengthened, by the
sending of relief to that religious metropolis of Judaism, and of Christianity
looked at as having its commencement in the Jewish remnant who believed in
Jesus as the Christ.
Barnabas and Saul are themselves charged with this
service, and go up to Jerusalem to accomplish it. This circumstance carries us
back to Jerusalem, where the Spirit has still something to shew us of the ways
of God.
── John Darby《Synopsis of Acts》
Acts 11
Chapter Contents
Peter's defence. (1-18) The success of the gospel at
Antioch. (19-24) The disciples named Christians, Relief sent to Judea. (25-30)
Commentary on Acts 11:1-18
(Read Acts 11:1-18)
The imperfect state of human nature strongly appears,
when godly persons are displeased even to hear that the word of God has been
received, because their own system has not been attended to. And we are too apt
to despair of doing good to those who yet, when tried, prove very teachable. It
is the bane and damage of the church, to shut out those from it, and from the
benefit of the means of grace, who are not in every thing as we are. Peter
stated the whole affair. We should at all times bear with the infirmities of
our brethren; and instead of taking offence, or answering with warmth, we
should explain our motives, and show the nature of our proceedings. That
preaching is certainly right, with which the Holy Ghost is given. While men are
very zealous for their own regulations, they should take care that they do not
withstand God; and those who love the Lord will glorify him, when made sure
that he has given repentance to life to any fellow-sinners. Repentance is God's
gift; not only his free grace accepts it, but his mighty grace works it in us,
grace takes away the heart of stone, and gives us a heart of flesh. The
sacrifice of God is a broken spirit.
Commentary on Acts 11:19-24
(Read Acts 11:19-24)
The first preachers of the gospel at Antioch, were
dispersed from Jerusalem by persecution; thus what was meant to hurt the
church, was made to work for its good. The wrath of man is made to praise God.
What should the ministers of Christ preach, but Christ? Christ, and him
crucified? Christ, and him glorified? And their preaching was accompanied with
the Divine power. The hand of the Lord was with them, to bring that home to the
hearts and consciences of men, which they could but speak to the outward ear.
They believed; they were convinced of the truth of the gospel. They turned from
a careless, carnal way of living, to live a holy, heavenly, spiritual life.
They turned from worshipping God in show and ceremony, to worship him in the
Spirit and in truth. They turned to the Lord Jesus, and he became all in all
with them. This was the work of conversion wrought upon them, and it must be
wrought upon every one of us. It was the fruit of their faith; all who
sincerely believe, will turn to the Lord, When the Lord Jesus is preached in
simplicity, and according to the Scriptures, he will give success; and when
sinners are thus brought to the Lord, really good men, who are full of faith
and of the Holy Ghost, will admire and rejoice in the grace of God bestowed on
them. Barnabas was full of faith; full of the grace of faith, and full of the
fruits of the faith that works by love.
Commentary on Acts 11:25-30
(Read Acts 11:25-30)
Hitherto the followers of Christ were called disciples,
that is, learners, scholars; but from that time they were called Christians.
The proper meaning of this name is, a follower of Christ; it denotes one who,
from serious thought, embraces the religion of Christ, believes his promises,
and makes it his chief care to shape his life by Christ's precepts and example.
Hence it is plain that multitudes take the name of Christian to whom it does
not rightly belong. But the name without the reality will only add to our
guilt. While the bare profession will bestow neither profit nor delight, the
possession of it will give both the promise of the life that now is, and of
that which is to come. Grant, Lord, that Christians may forget other names and
distinctions, and love one another as the followers of Christ ought to do. True
Christians will feel for their brethren under afflictions. Thus will fruit be
brought forth to the praise and glory of God. If all mankind were true
Christians, how cheerfully would they help one another! The whole earth would
be like one large family, every member of which would strive to be dutiful and
kind.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Acts》
Acts 11
Verse 5
[5] I
was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain
vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four
corners; and it came even to me:
Being in a trance —
Which suspends the use of the outward senses.
Verse 14
[14] Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
Saved —
With the full Christian salvation, in this world and the world to come.
Verse 17
[17]
Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed
on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
To us, when we believed — The sense is, because we believed, not because we were circumcised, was
the Holy Ghost given to us.
What was I — A
mere instrument in God's hand. They had inquired only concerning his eating
with the Gentiles. He satisfies them likewise concerning his baptizing them,
and shows that he had done right in going to Cornelius, not only by the command
of God, but also by the event, the descent of the Holy Ghost. And who are we
that we should withstand God? Particularly by laying down rules of Christian
communion which exclude any whom he has admitted into the Church of the first
born, from worshipping God together. O that all Church governors would consider
how bold an usurpation this is on the authority of the supreme Lord of the
Church! O that the sin of thus withstanding God may not be laid to the charge
of those, who perhaps with a good intention, but in an over fondness for their
own forms, have done it, and are continually doing it.
Verse 18
[18] When
they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then
hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
They glorified God —
Being thoroughly satisfied.
Repentance unto life — True repentance is a change from spiritual death to spiritual life, and
leads to life everlasting.
Verse 19
[19] Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about
Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the
word to none but unto the Jews only.
They who had been dispersed — St. Luke here resumes the thread of his narration, in the very words
wherewith he broke it off, Acts 8:6. As far as Phenicia to the north,
Cyprus to the west, and Antioch to the east.
Verse 20
[20] And
some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to
Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.
Some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene — Who were more accustomed to converse with the Gentiles.
Who coming into Antioch — Then the capital of Syria, and, next to Rome and Alexandria, the most
considerable city of the empire.
Spake to the Greeks — As
the Greeks were the most celebrated of the Gentile nations near Judea, the Jews
called all the Gentiles by that name. Here we have the first account of the
preaching the Gospel to the idolatrous Gentiles. All those to whom it had been
preached before, did at least worship one God, the God of Israel.
Verse 21
[21] And
the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned
unto the Lord.
And the hand of the Lord — That is, the power of his Spirit.
Verse 26
[26] And
when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a
whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people.
And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
And the disciples were first called Christians
at Antioch — Here it was that they first received this
standing appellation. They were before termed Nazarenes and Galileans.
Verse 28
[28] And
there stood up one of them named Agabus, 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.
Agabus rising up — In
the congregation.
All the world —
The word frequently signifies all the Roman empire. And so it is doubtless to
be taken here.
Verse 29
[29] Then
the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief
unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:
Then —
Understanding the distress they would otherwise be in on that account, the
disciples determined to send relief to the brethren in Judea - Who herein
received a manifest proof of the reality of their conversion.
Verse 30
[30]
Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and
Saul.
Sending it to the elders — Who gave it to the deacons, to be distributed by them, as every one had
need.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on
Acts》
Chapter 11. Promote and Cultivate
Remain True to
the Lord
With All Their Hearts
I. Witness
Prevails Over Tradition
II. The Church
in Antioch
III. Barnabas
Look for Saul
── Chih-Hsin Chang《An Outline of The New Testament》