Acts 11:24

The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
Barnabas was a good cowboy who was filled with the Holy Ghost and full of faith. He showed many people how to ride for God's outfit.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord.

Legacy Standard Bible
for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a considerable crowd was brought to the Lord.

Bible in Basic English
For he was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith: and a great number were joined to the Lord.

Darby Translation
for he was a good man and full of [the] Holy Spirit and of faith; and a large crowd [of people] were added to the Lord.

New King James Version
For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.

Christian Standard Bible®
for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And large numbers of people were added to the Lord.

World English Bible
For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and many people were added to the Lord.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and faith. And a considerable multitude was added to the Lord.

Weymouth's New Testament
For he was a good man, and was full of the Holy Spirit and of faith; and the number of believers in the Lord greatly increased.

King James Version (1611)
For he was a good man, and full of the holy Ghost, and of faith: and much people was added vnto the Lord.

Literal Translation
For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a considerable crowd was added to the Lord.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For he was a good man, full of the holy goost and faith. And there was a greate multitude of people added vnto the LORDE.

Mace New Testament (1729)
for he was a good man, and full of the holy spirit and of faith: so that many converts were added to the church.

Amplified Bible
For Barnabas was a good man [privately and publicly—his godly character benefited both himself and others] and he was full of the Holy Spirit and full of faith [in Jesus the Messiah, through whom believers have everlasting life]. And a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

American Standard Version
for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

Revised Standard Version
for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a large company was added to the Lord.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For he was a good man and full of the holy goost and of faythe: and moche people was added vnto the Lorde.

Update Bible Version
for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith: and many people were added to the Lord.

Webster's Bible Translation
For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit, and of faith: and many people were added to the Lord.

Young's Literal Translation
because he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit, and of faith, and a great multitude was added to the Lord.

New English Translation
because he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and a significant number of people were brought to the Lord.

Contemporary English Version
Barnabas was a good man of great faith, and he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Many more people turned to the Lord.

Complete Jewish Bible
for he was a good man, full of the Ruach HaKodesh and trust.

English Standard Version
for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.

Geneva Bible (1587)
For he was a good man, and full of the holy Ghost, and faith, and much people ioyned them selues vnto the Lord.

George Lamsa Translation
For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith: and many people were added to our LORD.

Hebrew Names Version
For he was a good man, and full of the Ruach HaKodesh and of faith, and many people were added to the Lord.

International Standard Version
For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith. And so a large crowd was brought to the Lord.Acts 5:14;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
For he was a good man, and full of the Spirit of Holiness and of faith, and there was added much people to our Lord.

Murdock Translation
For he was a good man, and was full of the Holy Spirit, and of faith. And many people were added to our Lord.

New Living Translation
Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord.

New Life Bible
Barnabas was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and faith. And many people became followers of the Lord.

English Revised Version
for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

New Revised Standard
for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were brought to the Lord.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Because he was a good man, and full of Holy Spirit and faith; and a considerable multitude were added unto the Lord.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For he was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith. And a great multitude was added to the Lord.

King James Version
For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

Lexham English Bible
because he was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a large number were added to the Lord.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For he was a good man, and full of the holy ghost, and of fayth: And much people was added vnto the Lorde.

New American Standard Bible
for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and faith. And considerable numbers were added to the Lord.

Good News Translation
Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and many people were brought to the Lord.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
for he was a good man, and ful of the Hooli Goost, and of feith. And myche puple was encresid to the Lord.

Contextual Overview

¹⁹Meanwhile, those scattered by the persecution that began with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message only to Jews. ²⁰But some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks as well, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus. ²¹The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. ²²When news of this reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. ²³When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to abide in the Lord with all their hearts. ²⁴Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.²⁵Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, ²⁶and when he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. So for a full year they met together with the church and taught large numbers of people. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

he was: Acts 24:16, 2 Samuel 18:27, Psalms 37:23, Psalms 112:5, Proverbs 12:2, Proverbs 13:22, Proverbs 14:14, Matthew 12:35, Matthew 19:17, Luke 23:50, John 7:12, Romans 5:7

full: Acts 6:3, Acts 6:5, Acts 6:8, Romans 15:15

and much: Acts 11:21, Acts 5:14, Acts 9:31

Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 19:11 - the good Acts 2:4 - filled Acts 2:47 - the Lord Ephesians 5:18 - but James 3:17 - full

Cross-References

Joshua 24:2
And Joshua said to all the people, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Long ago your fathers, including Terah, the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates and worshiped other gods.

Luke 3:34
the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For he was a good man,.... He had the grace of God wrought in his soul, and did good works; he was very kind, and generous, and charitable; he sold what land he had, and gave the money to the apostles, for the use of the community, Acts 4:37

and full of the Holy Ghost, and of faith; he was full of the several graces of the Spirit, and particularly of faith; and he was full of the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, and of the faith of miracles; he was full of the doctrine of faith, and of spiritual gifts for the preaching of it: the same character is given of Stephen, Acts 6:5

and much people was added unto the Lord; by the means of Barnabas, through his ministry, and the exercise of those gifts he was full of; so the Arabic version, "and he drew a large multitude to the Lord".

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For he was a good man - This is given as a reason why he was so eminently successful. It is not said that he was a man of distinguished talents or learning; that he was a splendid or an imposing preacher; but simply that he was a man of an amiable, kind, and benevolent disposition - a pious, humble man of God. We should not undervalue talent, eloquence, or learning in the ministry, but we may remark that humble piety will often do more in the conversion of souls than the most splendid talents. No endowments can be a substitute for this. The real power of a minister is concentrated in this, and without this his ministry will be barrenness and a curse. There is nothing on the earth so mighty as goodness. If a man wished to make the most of his powers, the true secret would be found in employing them for a good object, and suffering them to be wholly under the direction of benevolence. John Howard’s purpose “to do good” has made a more permanent impression on the interests of the world than the talents of Alexander or Caesar.

Full of the Holy Ghost - Was entirely under the influence of the Holy Spirit. This is the second qualification mentioned here of a good minister. He was not merely exemplary for mildness and kindness of temper, but he was eminently a man of God. He was filled with the influences of the sacred Spirit, producing zeal, love, peace, joy, etc. See Galatians 5:22-23. Compare the notes on Acts 2:4.

And of faith - Confidence in the truth and promises of God. This is the third qualification mentioned; and this was another cause of his success. He confided in God. He depended, not on his own strength, but on the strength of the arm of God. With these qualifications he engaged in his work, and he was successful. These qualifications should be sought by the ministry of the gospel. Others should not indeed be neglected, but a man’s ministry will usually be successful only as he seeks to possess those endowments which distinguished Barnabas - a kind, tender, benevolent heart; devoted piety; the fulness of the Spirit’s influence; and strong, unwavering confidence in the promises and power of God.

And much people - Many people.

Was added unto the Lord - Became Christians.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

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 Spirit of holiness dwells in him: he has not a few transient visitations or drawings from that Spirit; it is a resident in his soul, and it fills his heart. It is light in his understanding; it is discrimination in his judgment; it is fixed purpose and determination in righteousness in his will; it is purity, it is love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness, meekness, temperance, and fidelity in his affections and passions. In a word, it has sovereign sway in his heart; it governs all passions, and is the motive and principle of every righteous action.

3. He was full of faith. He implicitly credited his Lord; he knew that he could not lie-that his word could not fail; he expected, not only the fulfilment of all promises, but also every degree of help, light, life, and comfort, which God might at any time see necessary for his Church, he prayed for the Divine blessing, and he believed that he should not pray in vain. His faith never failed, because it laid hold on that God who could not change. Behold, ye preachers of the Gospel! an original minister of Christ. Emulate his piety, his faith, and his usefulness.

Much people was added unto the Lord. — No wonder, when they had such a minister, preaching by the power of the Holy Ghost, such a Gospel as that of Jesus Christ.