Acts 11:15

And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. AND AS I BEGAN TO SPEAK - in point of fact, it was not until he was closing his address; but the apostle's design was to intimate how quickly, as cause and effect, the one was followed by the other. THE HOLY SPIRIT FELL ON THEM, AS ON US AT THE BEGINNING - meaning the day of Pentecost; the attestation of this effusion of the Spirit, as well as the effusion itself, being the same as then....

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 m...

AND AS I BEGAN TO SPEAK - Or, while I was speaking. THE HOLY GHOST ... - Acts 10:44....

EXPOSITION ACTS 11:1 _Now_ for _and_, A.V.; _the_ _brethren _for brethren, A.V.; _also had_ for _had also_, A.V, We can imagine how rapidly the news of the great revolution would travel to the metropolis of Jewish Christianity, and what a stir it would maim in that community. It does not appear what view James and the other apostles took. ACTS 11:2 THEY THAT WERE OF THE CIRCUMCISION. At first sight this phrase, which was natural enough in Acts 10:45, seems an unnatural one in the then condition of the Church, when all the members of it were "of the circumcision," and there were no Gentile converts

AND AS I BEGAN TO SPEAK,...., That is, whilst he was speaking; the word "begin" with Luke, both, in his Gospel and in this history, is used not to denote the time or order of any action, but the thing itself; as in Luke 4:21 for otherwise it was towards the close, and not at the beginning of his discourse, that what follows happened: THE HOLY GHOST FELL ON THEM, AS ON US AT THE BEGINNING; of our ministry, since the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ; meaning on the day of Pentecost, and that the Holy Ghost fell on Cornelius and those that were with him, in a like visible form, and in the same kind of gifts, as speaking with tongues, as on them....

AS ON US even as on us. Compare (Acts 2:1); (Acts 15:7)....

CHAPTER 11 _ 1. Peter's Defense in Jerusalem (Acts 11:1)._ 2. The Beginning of the Church in Antioch (Acts 11:19). 3. Barnabas sent to Antioch (Acts 11:22). 4. The Prophecy of Agabus (Acts 11:27). Peter silenced the objections of his brethren in Jerusalem by a rehearsal of his experience. Acts 11:19 connects with Acts 8:4. Antioch comes now into prominence as the great Gentile center of Christianity. A great number believed and turned unto the Lord. Then B

PETER DEFENDS HIS ACTION AT JERUSALEM. As Philip's action at Samaria (Acts 8:14), so here Peter's doings at Cæ sarea are reported at Jerusalem. The Samaritans were, in many respects, Jews, but Cornelius and his friends were not. Would the Mother Church agree to the offering of the Gospel to Gentiles? A variant in Acts 11:2 puts quite a different colour on the course of events. D, with ancient Syriac and Latin versions, reads: Now Peter wished for a considerable time to go to Jerusalem, and he called the brethren to him and confirmed them, speaking at length and teaching them from district to district, and he met them and announced to them the grace of God (_cf._ Acts 11:23) and the brethren of the circumcision disputed with him, etc. A

PETER ON HIS DEFENCE (Acts 11:1-10)...

AS. BEGAN. Literally in (Greek. _en)_ my beginning. SPEAK. Greek. _laleo,_ as in Acts 11:14 (tell). THE HOLY GHOST. App-101. ON. upon. Greek. _epi._ App-104. AS, &C. = even as on us also. AT THE BEGINNING. in (Greek. _en)_ the beginning. Compare Acts 2:4 and John 1:1....