Acts 11:27

And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. AND IN THESE DAYS CAME PROPHETS - that is, 'inspired teachers, or persons speaking with supernatural authority;' a class with which we shall frequently meet in the sequel, who sometimes (as on this occasion) foretold future events, though that is not at all necessarily implied in the use of the term. In the lists of the divinely-instituted church offices (; ) they stand in rank next to the apostles, in virtue of their inspiration as revealers of the divine mind, and are associated with them as constituting the divine authority bit which the Church was to be ordered. FROM JERUSALEM UNTO ANTIOCH. This was virtually a divine recognition of the Gentile Christianity of Antioch, and of the impo...

27.Luke commendeth in this place the faith of the men of Antioch by the fruit, because they endeavored to relieve the poverty of that church, from whence they received the gospel, with their abundance; and that did they unrequested. Such earnest care for the brethren doth sufficiently declare how seriously they worshipped Christ, the head of all. Luke doth signify that the fame of that church was spread abroad, when he saith that there came excellent men thither from Jerusalem. But forasmuch as the word _prophet _is taken divers ways in the New Testament as we may learn by the former Epistle to the Corinthians, those are called prophets in this place who were endued with the gift of prophesying, as the four daughters of Philip shall have the same title given them hereafter. And forasmuch as the foretelling of the famine is attributed to Agabus alone, we may hereby gather that this was gr...

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. Th...

Verse Acts 11:27. _CAME PROPHETS FROM JERUSALEM_] Though the term _prophet_ is used in the New Testament simply to signify a _teacher_, (Genesis 20:7, Genesis 20:7, where the subject is largely explained,) yet here it evidently means also such as are under _Divine inspiration_, and foretold future events. This was certainly the case with Agabus, Acts 11:28, though, perhaps, his ordinary character was that of a _teacher_ or _preacher_. It seems from various scriptures, Romans 12:4, c.,...

AND IN THESE DAYS - While Barnabas and Saul were at Antioch. CAME PROPHETS - The word “prophet” denotes properly “one who foretells future events.” See the notes on Matthew 7:15. It is sometimes used in the New Testament to denote simply “religious teachers, instructors sent from God, without particular reference to future events.” To teach the people in the doctrines of religion was a part of the prophetic office, and this idea was only sometimes denoted by the use of the word. See Rom 12:6; 1 Corinthians 12:10, 1 Corinthians 12:28; 1Co 13:2,...

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 IN THESE DAYS CAME PROPHETS FROM JERUSALEM TO ANTIOCH., That is, some time in that year that Saul and Barnabas were at Antioch, there came from Jerusalem thither some Christian prophets; for such there were in the Christian church, who had not only a gift of expounding the more mysterious prophecies of the Old Testament, but also of foretelling things to come; see Acts 13:1....

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

PROPHECY OF AGABUS. MISSION TO JERUSALEM OF BARNABAS AND SAUL. PROPHETS FROM JERUSALEM (_cf. Acts 15:32_ *). Vague dating, in those days. The story fixes its own date. Agabus appears again in Acts 21:10; he put forward strong statements dramatically. Here he prophesies a world-wide famine; such a famine did take place in A.D. 46; but the prophecy is uttered before the reign of Claudius, A.D. 41. A famine afflicted Judæ a early in his reign and suits our passage better (p. 654). The prophecy gives rise to a measure of help for the brethren in Judæ a, which occasions a journey to Judæ a of Barnabas and Saul. The sum collected is sent to the elders at Jerusalem, a body of whom we have not heard before. This second journey of Saul to Jerusalem will be the same as that spoken of in...

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