_The apostles and brethren heard_ To their great surprise; _that the Gentiles had also received the word of God_ That not only the Jews who were dispersed in the Gentile countries, and the Gentiles who were proselyted to the Jewish religion, but that the uncircumcised Gentiles also themselves, with... [ Continue Reading ]
_But Peter rehearsed_ Εξετιθετο, _laid open; the matter from the beginning_ Of the vision which he had seen, which was evidently designed to dispose him to such condescension, and gave them a full detail of all the particulars, with the exactest truth and simplicity. So far was he from taking it ill... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then remembered I the word of the Lord_ This descent of the Holy Ghost on them, as on us at the beginning of our public ministry, was such an extraordinary occurrence, that I immediately called to mind, and could not but reflect on, the word of the Lord, as then remarkably verified; _how he said_ J... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now they which were scattered abroad_ Luke here resumes the thread of his narration in the very words wherewith he broke it off, chap. Acts 8:4; _travelled as far as Phenice_ To the _north; Cyprus_ To the west; _and Antioch_ To the east; _preaching the word to none but the Jews only_ Not being at a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then tidings of these things came to the church at Jerusalem_ And, as they had lately seen a way opened for the conversion of the Gentiles, they received information of this further progress of the gospel with peculiar pleasure; _and sent forth Barnabas to Antioch_ That he might confirm the new con... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then departed Barnabas_ Namely, after some abode at Antioch, perceiving, probably, that he wanted an assistant in his labours; _to Tarsus, to seek Saul_ Whose departure thither was mentioned, chap. Acts 9:30. _And finding him there_ According to his expectation, he gave him, it seems, such an accou... [ Continue Reading ]
_In these days_ While Barnabas and Saul were at Antioch; _came prophets_ thither _from Jerusalem_ Persons who were divinely inspired to foretel future events. _And there stood up_ In the congregation; _one of them named Agabus, and signified_ By the immediate direction of the Spirit; _that there sho... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then the disciples_ Foreseeing the distress they would otherwise be in, on account of that famine; _determined to send relief unto the brethren in Judea_ Καθως ηυπορειτο τις, _according as each was prospered_, or, _according to the abundance which each had;_ these disciples being, doubtless, some i... [ Continue Reading ]