Acts 11:29

Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: THEN THE DISCIPLES, EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS ABILITY, DETERMINED TO SEND RELIEF UNTO THE BRETHREN WHICH DWELT IN JUDEA. The manner of expression here seems clearly to imply that this spirited proposal originated, not with Barnabas and Saul, but with the disciples themselves, in the spontaneous exercise of Christian love to their suffering brethren of the circumcision-a grace which seems to have shone the brightest in the earliest days of the churches, as it still does in every new community of believers....

29.But here ariseth a question, seeing that the misery was common to all, why ought they rather to have succored one people than all the rest? I answer, that forasmuch as Judea was impoverished with great destructions of wars and other miseries, the men of Antioch were not without cause more moved with the miseries of the brethren which were there; secondly, the greater the rage of the enemies was, the more wretched was the estate of the brethren. Finally, Paul doth sufficiently declare, in the Epistle to the Galatians, that Judea had certain especial necessities, whereof all other had regard, not without cause, (Galatians 3:0) And this thankfulness deserved no small commendations, in that the men of Antioch thought that they ought to help the needy brethren, from whom they had received the gospel. For there is nothing more just than that those should reap earthly things who have sown sp...

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 29. _THEN THE DISCIPLES - DETERMINED TO SEND RELIEF_] These were probably Gentile converts; and as they considered themselves receiving the _spiritual_ blessings, which they now so happily enjoyed, through the means of the Christians in Judea, they resolved to communicate to them a portion of their _temporal_ goods; and every man did this _according to his ability_, i.e. he gave a certain proportion of the property with which the providence of God had entrusted him. The community of goods had for some time ceased....

THEN THE DISCIPLES - The Christians at Antioch. ACCORDING TO HIS ABILITY - According as they had prospered. It does not imply that they were rich, but that they rendered such aid as they could afford. DETERMINED TO SEND RELIEF - This arose not merely from their general sense of obligation to aid the poor, but they felt themselves particularly bound to assist their Jewish brethren. The obligation to relieve the temporal needs of those from whom important spiritual mercies are received is repeatedly enforced in the New Testament. Compare Romans 15:25; 1 Corinthians 16:1; 2 Corinthians 9:

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

THEN THE DISCIPLES,.... That were at Antioch, EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS ABILITY; whether rich or poor, master or servant, everyone according to the substance he was possessed of; whether more or less, which was a good rule to go by: DETERMINED TO SEND RELIEF TO THE BRETHREN WHICH DWELT IN JUDEA; either because that Agabus might have suggested, that the famine would be the severest in those parts; or because that the Christians there had parted with their substance already, in the support of one another, and for the spread of the Gospel in other parts; and therefore the Christians at Antioch, in gratitude to them for having received the Gospel, and Gospel ministers from them, resolved to help them with their temporal things, when in distress....

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)...