THE BOOK OF ACTS. CHAPTER 11 OUTLINE AND COMMENTARY. MARK DUNAGAN I. OUTLINE OF CHAPTER 11: I. Peter confronted in Jerusalem: Acts 11:1-3 II. His explanation: Acts 11:4-18 III. Founding of the congregation in Antioch: Acts 11:19-21 IV. Saul and Barnabas in Antioch: Acts 11:22-26 V. Famine rel... [ Continue Reading ]
"Now the apostles and the brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God"Were in Judaea" "News of what happened at Cornelius' house spread like wildfire across the length and breadth of Judea. It was something that Christians were talking about" (Reese p. 407)... [ Continue Reading ]
"And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him"Come up to Jerusalem" With the six brethren that had accompanied him in the first place (Acts 11:12). Nothing in the text suggests that he had been "summoned" to Jerusalem, rather it appears that the abov... [ Continue Reading ]
"saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them"Saying" Here is the bone of contention. "And didst eat with them". similar accusation had been made against Jesus (Luke 15:1). The expression, "men uncircumcised", would have been said in. degrading manner. Here we find that the... [ Continue Reading ]
"But Peter began, and expounded the matter unto them in order, saying"Expounded" "Explained the facts to them as they had occurred" (TCNT). "A deliberate and detailed narrative 'in order'" (Robertson p. 152). Peter does not lash out against his accusers, rather he clearly understood where his brethr... [ Continue Reading ]
"I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in. trance. saw. vision,. certain vessel descending, as it were. great sheet let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even unto me: upon which when. had fastened mine eyes,. considered, and saw the fourfooted beasts of the earth and wild beasts and c... [ Continue Reading ]
"And. heard also. voice saying unto me, Rise, Peter; kill and eat. But. said, not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath ever entered into my mouth"Not so, Lord" Peter is letting these Christians know that he reacted in the same way that they were now reacting. "Peter is explaining to them how... [ Continue Reading ]
But. voice answered the second time out of heaven, What God hath cleansed, make not thou common. And this was done thrice: and all were drawn up again into heaven. And behold, forthwith three men stood before the house in which we were, having been sent from Caesarea unto me" "Having been sent" Pete... [ Continue Reading ]
"And the Spirit bade me go with them, making no distinction. And these six brethren also accompanied me; and we entered into the man's house"Spirit bade me go" Peter had been given. direct command from God. Peter is painting himself in an honest light. "Making no distinction" "The verb translated wi... [ Continue Reading ]
"and he told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying, Send to Joppa, and fetch Simon, whose surname is Peter; who shall speak unto thee words, whereby thou shalt be saved, thou and all thy house"Who shall speak unto thee words, whereby thou shalt be saved" Romans 1:16. Even in... [ Continue Reading ]
"And as. began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning"Even as on us at the beginning" "Just as" (Wey). The reference to the phrase, "the beginning", clearly points us to Pentecost, because this is the "beginning" of the Church (Acts 2:47). This chapter records the onl... [ Continue Reading ]
"And. remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit" The question has always been, "Did the household of Cornelius receive the same type of outpouring of the Spirit that the apostles received?" Some say, "No", based on the... [ Continue Reading ]
"If then God gave unto them the like gift as he did also unto us, when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that. could withstand God?"Like gift" Similar in amount and kind. "When we believed" "God had made no difference between believing Gentiles and believing Jews; how could Peter main... [ Continue Reading ]
"And when they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then to the Gentiles also hath God granted repentance unto life"They held their peace" "They ceased to object"(TCNT). "They quieted down" (Ber). "Glorified God" "Gave honor to God" (Gspd). "They accepted it not murm... [ Continue Reading ]
"They therefore that were scattered abroad upon the tribulation that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to none save only to Jews"Scattered" Acts 8:4. It has been 5-6 years since the persecution that arose upon Stephen's death. "Phoenicia" Wh... [ Continue Reading ]
"But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus"Men of Cyprus and Cyrene" Cyrene was. city on the north coast of Africa and was capital of the Roman province of Cyrenaica (ancient and modern Libya), and... [ Continue Reading ]
"And the hand of the Lord was with them: and. great number that believed turned unto the Lord"The hand of the Lord was with them" -Probably meaning that the Christians who preached had spiritual gifts and hence miracles authenticated their preaching (Acts 4:30). Notice that true faith results in. tu... [ Continue Reading ]
"And the report concerning them came to the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas as far as Antioch"They sent forth Barnabas" The term they probably refers to the Apostles. The Apostles are not suspicious of the work in Antioch, rather Barnabas is sent to assist the... [ Continue Reading ]
"who, when he was come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad; and he exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord"Had seen the grace of God" God's grace manifested in the changed lives of the converts and in the fact that both Jews and Gentiles were getting along... [ Continue Reading ]
"for he was. good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord"For he was. good man" This is one of the reasons the apostles had selected him to help the converts in Antioch. The phrase good man describes. man who goes beyond what is expected of him (Romans... [ Continue Reading ]
"And he went forth to Tarsus to seek for Saul"He went forth to Tarsus" Barnabas realized that this work needed more assistance than he could personally give. "We cannot help admiring Barnabas' humility in wanting to share the work with Saul, and his sense of strategy also. He must have known of Saul... [ Continue Reading ]
"and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that even for. whole year they were gathered together with the church, and taught much people, and that the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch"Gathered together with the church" Here is an example of. preach... [ Continue Reading ]
"Now in these days there came down prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch"Now in these days" While Barnabas and Saul were working with the congregation in Antioch. "There came down" Even though Antioch was north of Jerusalem, "came down" is in the sense of elevation. You always went down from Jerusale... [ Continue Reading ]
"And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be. great famine over all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius" "Agabus" (AG uh bus). This man is mentioned again in Acts 21:10. "Signified by the Spirit" "Began to indicate by the Spirit" (N... [ Continue Reading ]
"And the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren that dwelt in Judea"The disciples" The Christians in Antioch took this warning seriously. "Every man according to his ability" Compare this statement with the rules governing. collection years later ... [ Continue Reading ]
GOT. 'Holy Spirit Baptism and the Household of Cornelius.' Daniel R. Vess. 2-1-96. p. 85.... [ Continue Reading ]