Acts 11:19-26

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 11:19-26

We have here an account of the planting and watering of a church at Antioch, the chief city of Syria, reckoned afterwards the third most considerable city of the empire, only Rome and Alexandria being preferred before it, next to whose patriarch that of Antioch took place. It stood where Hamath or Riblah did, which we read of in the Old Testament. It is suggested that Luke, the penman of this history, as well as Theophilus, to whom he dedicates it, was of Antioch, which may be the reason why... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 11:19-21

11:19-21 Those who had been dispersed by the persecution following upon the death of Stephen went through the country as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, but they spoke the word to no one except to Jews. But some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, came to Antioch and spoke to the Greeks too and told them the good news of the Lord Jesus. The Lord's hand was with them; and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. In restrained sentences these few words tell of one of the... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 11:22-26

11:22-26 News of this and of what they were doing came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem. So they sent Barnabas out as far as Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God he was glad and he exhorted them all to make it the set purpose of their hearts to cleave to the Lord, for he was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. He went away to Tarsus to look for Saul and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they were guests of the Church there and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 11:19

Now they which were scattered abroad ,.... These were not the apostles, but the other ministers of the word; see Acts 8:1 who were dispersed upon the persecution that arose about Stephen ; his preaching and miracles, his oration in defence of himself, and his death: these travelled as far as Phenice ; a country near to Syria and Galilee; its chief towns and cities were Tripolis, Botrys, Biblus, Berytus, Tyre, Sidon, Ecdippa, Ptolemais, and Dora. It was famous, as Pliny says F24 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 11:20

And some of them were men of Cyprus ,.... That is, some of the preachers, that were scattered abroad, were Jews born at Cyprus: such was Barnabas particularly, Acts 4:36 though he was not among these, as appears from Acts 11:22 "and Cyrene"; such were Simon that carried the cross after Christ, and his sons Alexander and Rufus, Mark 15:21 and others that heard the apostles speak with tongues on the day of Pentecost, Acts 2:10 which when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 11:21

And the hand of the Lord was with them ,.... Not only his hand of providence, which brought them thither, and protected them; and his hand of love, grace and mercy, which was upon them, and supplied them with gifts and grace, and everything necessary for them; and his hand of wisdom, which guided and directed them; but his hand of power, the same with the arm of the Lord, which when revealed, and made bare, the report of the Gospel is believed: but if that is not put forth, or efficacious... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 11:22

Then tidings of these things ,.... Of the spread of the Gospel in several parts, and the success of it in the conversion of sinners, especially at Antioch: came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem ; these tidings were brought to the apostles and brethren there, by messengers which the ministers of the word sent unto them to let them know what success they met with; notwithstanding the persecution raised against the church of Jerusalem at the death of Stephen, and the havoc... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 11:23

Who when he came, and had seen the grace of God ,.... The many instances of the powerful and efficacious grace of God in regeneration and conversion; the great goodness, love, and favour of God in enlightening, quickening, and converting so many souls; and the wonderful gifts of the Spirit bestowed upon many of them, fitting them for public use and service: was glad ; rejoiced at heart, and gave glory to God, as every good man will, at the success of the gospel in the conversion of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 11:24

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,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 11:25

Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus ,.... "In Cilicia" to seek Saul; who had been sent thither by the brethren that he might escape the rage of the Grecians, who sought to slay him, Acts 9:29 . read more

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