Acts 11

1 And the apostles, and the brethren that were in Judaea, heard that also heathen men received the word of God, and they glorified God.

2 But when Peter came to Jerusalem, they that were of circumcision, disputed against him,

3 and said, Why enteredest thou to men that have prepuce, and hast eaten with them? [saying, Why enteredest thou to men having prepuce, and hast eat with them?]

4 And Peter began, and expounded to them by order, and said, [Peter soothly beginning, expounded to them the order, saying,]

5 I was in the city of Joppa, and prayed, and I saw in ravishing of my mind a vision, that a vessel came down, as a great sheet with four cords, and was sent down from heaven; and it came [till] to me. [+I was in the city of Joppa praying, and I saw in excess of my soul a vision, some vessel coming down, as a great sheet with four corners for to be sent down from heaven; and it came unto me.]

6 Into which I looking beheld, and saw four-footed beasts of the earth, and beasts, and creeping beasts, and volatiles of heaven [and volatiles of the air].

7 And I heard also a voice that said to me, Peter, rise thou, and slay, and eat. [Forsooth I heard a voice saying to me, Peter, rise, slay, and eat.]

8 But I said, Nay, Lord; for common thing either unclean [or unclean] entered never into my mouth.

9 And the voice answered the second time from heaven, That thing that God hath cleansed, say thou not unclean [Those things that God hath cleansed, thou shalt not say unclean].

10 And this was done by thrice, and all things were received again into heaven.

11 And lo! three men at once stood in the house, in which I was; and they were sent from Caesarea to me. [And lo! three men anon stood nigh in the house, in which I was, sent from Caesarea to me.]

12 And the Spirit said to me, that I should go with them, and doubt nothing [nothing doubting]. Yea, and these six brethren came with me, and we entered into the house of the man.

13 And he told to us, how he saw an angel in his house, standing and saying to him, Send thou into Joppa [Send into Joppa], and call Simon, that is named Peter,

14 which shall speak to thee words, in which thou shalt be safe, and all thine house.

15 And when I had begun to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as [and] into us in the beginning.

16 And I bethought on the word of the Lord, as he said, For John baptized in water [Soothly John baptized in water], but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Ghost.

17 Therefore if God gave to them the same grace, as [and] to us that believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that might forbid the Lord, that he give not the Holy Ghost to them that believed in the name of Jesus Christ [who was I, that might forbid God, that he should not give the Holy Ghost to men believing in the name of Jesus Christ]?

18 When these things were heard, they held peace, and glorified God, and said [saying], Therefore also to heathen men God hath given penance to life.

19 And they that were scattered of the tribulation that was made under Stephen, walked forth [till] to Phenice, and to Cyprus, and to Antioch, and spake the word to no man, but to Jews alone [walked forth till to Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, to no man speaking the word, no but to Jews alone].

20 But some of them were men of Cyprus, and of Cyrene [and Cyrene]; which when they had entered into Antioch, they spake to the Greeks, and preached the Lord Jesus [+the which when they entered into Antioch, spake to Greeks, showing the Lord Jesus/and told the Lord Jesus].

21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and much number of men believing was converted to the Lord.

22 And the word came to the ears of the church, that was at Jerusalem, on these things; and they sent Barnabas [till] to Antioch.

23 And when he was come, and saw the grace of the Lord, he joyed, and admonished all men to dwell in the Lord in purpose of heart; [The which, when he had come, and (had) seen the grace of the Lord, joyed, and admonished all men in purpose of heart to dwell in the Lord;]

24 for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost, and of faith. And much people was increased to the Lord.

25 And he went forth to Tarsus, to seek Saul;

26 and when he had found him, he led to Antioch. And all a year they lived there in the church, and taught much people, so that the disciples were named first at Antioch christian men.

27 And in these days prophets came over from Jerusalem to Antioch.

28 And one of them rose up, Agabus by name, and signified by the Spirit a great hunger to coming in all the world, which hunger was made under Claudius. [+And one of them rising, Agabus by name, signified by the Spirit a great hunger to come in all the roundness of the earth's, which was made under Claudius.]

29 And all the disciples purposed, after that each had, for to send into ministry to brethren that dwelled in Judaea. [+Forsooth the disciples purposed all, as each had, to send ministry to brethren dwelling in Judaea.]

30 Which thing also they did, and sent it to the elder men, by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

Acts 11 Commentary

Chapter 11

Peter's defence. (1-18) The success of the gospel at Antioch. (19-24) The disciples named Christians, Relief sent to Judea. (25-30)

Verses 1-18 The imperfect state of human nature strongly appears, when godly persons are displeased even to hear that the word of God has been received, because their own system has not been attended to. And we are too apt to despair of doing good to those who yet, when tried, prove very teachable. It is the bane and damage of the church, to shut out those from it, and from the benefit of the means of grace, who are not in every thing as we are. Peter stated the whole affair. We should at all times bear with the infirmities of our brethren; and instead of taking offence, or answering with warmth, we should explain our motives, and show the nature of our proceedings. That preaching is certainly right, with which the Holy Ghost is given. While men are very zealous for their own regulations, they should take care that they do not withstand God; and those who love the Lord will glorify him, when made sure that he has given repentance to life to any fellow-sinners. Repentance is God's gift; not only his free grace accepts it, but his mighty grace works it in us, grace takes away the heart of stone, and gives us a heart of flesh. The sacrifice of God is a broken spirit.

Verses 19-24 The first preachers of the gospel at Antioch, were dispersed from Jerusalem by persecution; thus what was meant to hurt the church, was made to work for its good. The wrath of man is made to praise God. What should the ministers of Christ preach, but Christ? Christ, and him crucified? Christ, and him glorified? And their preaching was accompanied with the Divine power. The hand of the Lord was with them, to bring that home to the hearts and consciences of men, which they could but speak to the outward ear. They believed; they were convinced of the truth of the gospel. They turned from a careless, carnal way of living, to live a holy, heavenly, spiritual life. They turned from worshipping God in show and ceremony, to worship him in the Spirit and in truth. They turned to the Lord Jesus, and he became all in all with them. This was the work of conversion wrought upon them, and it must be wrought upon every one of us. It was the fruit of their faith; all who sincerely believe, will turn to the Lord, When the Lord Jesus is preached in simplicity, and according to the Scriptures, he will give success; and when sinners are thus brought to the Lord, really good men, who are full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, will admire and rejoice in the grace of God bestowed on them. Barnabas was full of faith; full of the grace of faith, and full of the fruits of the faith that works by love.

Verses 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. Thus will fruit be brought forth to the praise and glory of God. If all mankind were true Christians, how cheerfully would they help one another! The whole earth would be like one large family, every member of which would strive to be dutiful and kind.