CHAPTER XI. _Peter returns to Jerusalem, and is accused of having associated_ _with the Gentiles_, 1-3. _He defends himself by relating at large the whole business_ _concerning Cornelius_, 4-17. _His defense is accepted, and the whole Church glorifies God for_ _having granted unto the Gentiles... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 11:2. _CONTENDED WITH HIM_] A manifest proof this that the _primitive_ Church at Jerusalem (and no Church can ever deserve this name but the Jerusalem Church) had no conception of St. Peter's _supremacy_, or of his being _prince of the apostles_. He is now called to account for his conduc... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 11:3. _THOU WENTEST IN TO MEN UNCIRCUMCISED_] In a Jew, this was no small offense; and, as they did not know the reason of St. Peter's conduct, it is no wonder they should call him to account for it, as they considered it to be a positive transgression of the law and custom of the Jews. T... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 11:4. _BUT PETER REHEARSED_ the matter _from the beginning, and_ _expounded_ it _by order_] εξετιθετο αυτοις καθεξης. This is the very _style_ of St. Luke; see his Gospel, Luke 1:3. To remove their prejudice, and to give them the fullest reasons for his conduct, he thought it best to give... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 11:12. _THESE SIX BRETHREN_] Probably pointing to them, being present, as proper persons to confirm the truth of what he was delivering.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 11:14. _THOU AND ALL THY HOUSE SHALL BE SAVED._] This is an _additional_ circumstance: before, it was said, Acts 10:6, Peter _shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do_; and, in Acts 10:32, _who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee_. But, in Peter's relation, the matter is more explicitl... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 11:16. _YE SHALL BE BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY GHOST._] These words are very remarkable. The words of our Lord, as quoted Acts 1:5, to which St. Peter refers here, have been supposed by many to be referred to the _apostles_ alone; but here it is evident that St. Peter believed they were a pr... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 11:17. _GOD GAVE THEM THE LIKE GIFT_, c.] Viz. the Holy Spirit, and its various gifts and graces, in the same way and in the same measure in which he gave them to us Jews. What was I, that I could withstand God? It was not I who called them to salvation: it was God and the thing is proved... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 11:18. _THEY HELD THEIR PEACE_] Their prejudices were confounded; they considered the subject, and saw that it was from God; then they glorified him, because they saw that he had granted unto the Gentiles repentance unto life. As the word μετανοια, which we translate _repentance_, signifi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 11:19. _THE PERSECUTION THAT AROSE ABOUT STEPHEN_] That is, those who were obliged to flee from Jerusalem at the time of that persecution in which Stephen lost his life. See Acts 8:1. _PHOENICE_] Phoenicia, a country between Galilee and Syria, along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, in... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 11:20. _MEN OF - CYRENE_] The metropolis of the Cyrenaica; a country of Africa, bounded on the east by Marmarica, on the west by the Regio Syrtica, on the north by the Mediterranean, and on the south by the Sahara. Cyrene is now called Cairoan. This city, according to Eusebius, was built... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 11:21. _THE HAND OF THE LORD WAS WITH THEM_] By the _hand, arm_, and, _finger_ of God, in the Scripture, different displays or exertions of his power are intended. Here it means that the energy of God accompanied them, and applied their preaching to the souls of all attentive hearers. Wit... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 11:22. _THE CHURCH WHICH WAS IN JERUSALEM_] This was the _original_, the _mother Church_ of Christianity; not the _Church_ of _Rome_; there were Christian Churches founded in many places, which exist to the present day, before Rome heard the Gospel of the kingdom. A Christian Church means... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 11:23. _HAD SEEN THE GRACE OF GOD_] That is, had seen the _effects_ produced by the grace of God. By the grace of God, we are to understand: 1. His favour. 2. The manifestations of that favour in the communication of spiritual blessings. And, 3. Principles of light, life, holiness, c.,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 11:24. _FOR HE WAS A GOOD MAN_] Here is a proper character of a minister of the Gospel. 1. _He is a good man_: his _bad heart_ is changed; his _evil_ _dispositions_ rooted out; and the mind that was in Christ implanted in him. 2. _He is full of the Holy Ghost_. He is holy, because the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 11:25. _TO TARSUS, FOR TO SEEK SAUL_] The persecution raised against him obliged him to take refuge in his own city, where, as a Roman citizen, his person was in safety. See Acts 9:29.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 11:26. _HE BROUGHT HIM UNTO ANTIOCH_] As this city was the metropolis of Syria, and the third city for importance in the whole Roman empire, Rome and Alexandria alone being more eminent, Barnabas might think it expedient to have for his assistance a person of such eminent talents as Saul;... [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 11:28. _AGABUS_] This prophet, of whom we know nothing, is once more mentioned, Acts 21:10. He was probably a _Jew_, but whether converted now to Christianity we cannot tell. _GREAT DEARTH THROUGHOUT ALL THE WORLD_] The words εφ ολην την οικουμενην probably here mean _the land of Judea_... [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 11:30. _AND SENT IT TO THE ELDERS_] These probably mean those who first believed on Christ crucified, either of the seventy disciples mentioned Luke, Luke 10:1, or the one hundred and twenty mentioned, Acts 1:15, or the seven deacons, Acts 6:5. Some have divided the primitive disciples in... [ Continue Reading ]