ACTS 9:32 TO ACTS 11:18. A COLLECTION OF PETER STORIES. Lydda and Joppa (p. 28) belonged at this time to Judæ a, and had a predominantly Jewish population, and Peter's activity is of a peaceful, quiet nature. Peter, who appears here alone, is carrying on a mission outside Jerusalem, to which, howeve... [ Continue Reading ]
PETER DEFENDS HIS ACTION AT JERUSALEM. As Philip's action at Samaria (Acts 8:14), so here Peter's doings at Cæ sarea are reported at Jerusalem. The Samaritans were, in many respects, Jews, but Cornelius and his friends were not. Would the Mother Church agree to the offering of the Gospel to Gentiles... [ Continue Reading ]
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE EARLY GENTILE MISSION. ANTIOCH. This connects with Acts 8:2. It was the Hellenists at Jerusalem, whose mouthpiece Stephen was, who were driven away at his death. There, they were scattered over Judæ a and Samaria; here, they go further, to Cyprus and Antioch, but preach to Jew... [ Continue Reading ]
PROPHECY OF AGABUS. MISSION TO JERUSALEM OF BARNABAS AND SAUL. PROPHETS FROM JERUSALEM (_cf. Acts 15:32_ *). Vague dating, in those days. The story fixes its own date. Agabus appears again in Acts 21:10; he put forward strong statements dramatically. Here he prophesies a world-wide famine; such a fa... [ Continue Reading ]