Acts 11 Footnotes

11:1-3 Some Jews emphasized circumcision for all, fearing that association with uncircumcised men would lead to ritual uncleanness. Such men were not pleased that Gentile believers were receiving the Spirit. Peter and Paul confronted this recurring source of conflict in the early church.

11:25 After his conversion in about AD 32–33 and initial preaching, Paul withdrew to Arabia (until ca 46; see Gl 1:17). He then went to Tarsus and Antioch, fading from the book’s account while Peter is again highlighted.

11:26 The Antioch believers were first called “Christians” (“little Christs”), probably labeled so by Romans who found them sufficiently recognizable by beliefs and actions in keeping with their leader’s.

11:28 A Jerusalem prophet, Agabus (who reappears in 21:10), predicted famine (probably AD 46–47). Claudius’s reign (AD 41–54) was filled with numerous famines throughout the empire (see Suetonius, Claudius 18; Josephus, Antiquities 20).

11:30 Despite objections that the early church was strictly guided by the Spirit, elders/overseers (by necessity) held formal positions very early on, as did deacons (see 14:23; 15:2,4,6, 22-23; 16:4; 20:17; 21:18; Php 1:1; 1Tm 3:1-13; 4:14; 5:17,19; Ti 1:5-9). Appointed human leaders and the Spirit’s leadership are not incompatible (see note on 6:1-3).