Acts 11:23

The grace of God, was glad (thn carin thn tou qeou ecarh). Note repetition of the article, "the grace that of God." The verb (second aorist passive indicative of cairw) has the same root as cari. See the same suavis paronomasia in Luke 1:28 . "Grace brings gladness" (Page). "A smaller man would have raised difficulties as to circumcision or baptism" (Furneaux). He exhorted (parekalei). Imperfect active, picturing the continuous encouragement from Barnabas. With purpose of heart (th proqesei th kardia). Placing before (from pro-tiqhmi), old word for set plan as in Acts 27:13 ; Romans 8:28 . The glow of the first enthusiasm might pass as often happens after a revival. Barnabas had a special gift ( Romans 4:36 ) for work like this. Cleave unto the Lord (prosmenein [en] twi kuriwi). Dative case (locative if en is genuine) of kurio (here Jesus again) after prosemenein to keep on remaining loyal to (present active infinitive). Persistence was needed in such a pagan city.