Lectionary Calendar

Thursday, November 21st, 2024
the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33

Attention!

Take your personal ministry to the Next Level by helping StudyLight build churches and supporting pastors in Uganda.
Click here to join the effort!

Bible Commentaries
Acts 11

ActsAct 10 ActsAct ActsAct 12

Search for…

Resource Toolbox

Print version Overview Copyright Bibliography

Verse 1

Verse 1

The Gentiles; the Roman centurion and his friends.

return to 'Top of Page'

Verse 2

Verse 2

They that were of the circumcision; the apostles and brethren, who were Jews.

return to 'Top of Page'

To men uncircumcised; to Gentiles. This complaint shows that the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the apostles and brethren at the day of Pentecost and afterwards, however powerful its influence, was not the means of removing all their erroneous conceptions, or of communicating to them at once even all the fundamental principles of Christian truth. A divine and infallible inspiration can only be claimed for the early Christians as authors,--that is, so far as they were commissioned to write the sacred books of the New Testament for posterity. In their administration of the affairs of the church in their own day, they acted according to their own judgment; and, though they were divinely enlightened and guided in a great degree, still they often erred. We ought to be greatly influenced by their example; but there cannot be claimed for it any absolute divine authority. It is only the Scriptures as writings, which have any claim to be considered as inspired.

return to 'Top of Page'

Verse 15

Verse 15

At the beginning; at the day of Pentecost.

return to 'Top of Page'

Verse 16

Verse 16

Acts 1:5.

return to 'Top of Page'

Verse 19

Verse 19

Phenice; Phenicia, a country north of Galilee.--Cyprus; a large island in the Mediterranean.--Antioch; a very wealth and populous city, in Syria, which became, from this time, one of the most important centres of operation occupied by the Christians.

return to 'Top of Page'

Verse 20

Verse 20

Grecians. It is supposed that Gentile Greeks, not Grecian Jews, are meant here, and that this fact is mentioned to show the progress of the new principle in respect to preaching the gospel to the Gentiles.

return to 'Top of Page'

Verse 22

Verse 22

Barnabas. He was originally a Levite of Cyprus. (Acts 4:36.)

return to 'Top of Page'

Verse 25

Verse 25

To Tarsus; whither Saul had gone, as related in Acts 9:30.

return to 'Top of Page'

Verse 26

Verse 26

Called Christians; by their enemies. The sacred writers themselves never employ the term to designate the followers of Christ, excepting that Peter uses it in one instance, in a connection which allows it to be considered a term of reproach. (1 Peter 4:16.)

return to 'Top of Page'

Verse 28

Verse 28

Claudius Cesar; a Roman emperor.

return to 'Top of Page'

Verse 29

Verse 29

According a to his ability. This expression shows conclusively that there was no community of goods, at least in this branch of the church.

return to 'Top of Page'

Verse 30

Verse 30

Elders; the leading members.

return to 'Top of Page'

ActsAct 10 ActsAct ActsAct 12

Bibliographical Information
Abbott, John S. C. & Abbott, Jacob. "Commentary on Acts 11". "Abbott's Illustrated New Testament". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/ain/acts-11.html. 1878.

Bible CommentariesActs 11

Abbott's Illustrated New TestamentAbbott's NT

Bible Commentaries
Acts 11