Acts 11:27-30 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 11:27-30

When our Lord Jesus ascended on high he gave gifts unto men, not only apostles and evangelists, but prophets, who were enabled by the Spirit to foresee and foretel things to come, which not only served for a confirmation of the truth of Christianity (for all that these prophets foretold came to pass, which proved that they were sent of God, Deut. 18:22; Jer. 28:9), but was also of great use to the church, and served very much for its guidance. Now here we have, I. A visit which some of these... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 11:27-30

11:27-30 In these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them called Agabus stood up and, through the Holy Spirit, gave a sign that a great famine was to come upon the whole land. This happened in the reign of Claudius. But each of the disciples, in proportion to his resources, fixed upon an amount for a relief fund to send to the brethren who lived in Judaea. This they did and despatched it to the elders through the hands of Barnabas and Saul. Here the prophets come... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 11:27

And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem to Antioch. , That is, some time in that year that Saul and Barnabas were at Antioch, there came from Jerusalem thither some Christian prophets; for such there were in the Christian church, who had not only a gift of expounding the more mysterious prophecies of the Old Testament, but also of foretelling things to come; see Acts 13:1 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 11:28

And there stood up one of them named Agabus ,.... The same name with Hagaba in Nehemiah 7:48 and with Hagabah, or Hagab in Ezra 2:45 and which the Septuagint there call Agaba and Agab. The name signifies a "grasshopper", Leviticus 11:22 or "a locust", 2 Chronicles 7:13 . In a book that goes under the name of Jerom F18 De nominibus Hebraicis, fol. 101. H. , it is interpreted, "a messenger of tribulation"; respecting, it may be, not the true signification of the word, as the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 11:29

Then the disciples ,.... That were at Antioch, every man according to his ability ; whether rich or poor, master or servant, everyone according to the substance he was possessed of; whether more or less, which was a good rule to go by: determined to send relief to the brethren which dwelt in Judea ; either because that Agabus might have suggested, that the famine would be the severest in those parts; or because that the Christians there had parted with their substance already, in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 11:30

Which they also did ,.... They not only determined, but they put their resolutions into execution, and acted according to a rule which the apostle recommends, 2 Corinthians 8:11 and sent it to the elders ; to the apostles; for though there were deacons there, yet they chose to send it to them, that they might put it into proper hands to distribute to the necessitous: and this collection they sent by the hands of Saul and Barnabas ; of this journey to Jerusalem, Paul makes no... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 11:27

Came prophets from Jerusalem - Though the term prophet is used in the New Testament simply to signify a teacher, (see the note on Genesis 20:7 , where the subject is largely explained), yet here it evidently means also such as are under Divine inspiration, and foretold future events. This was certainly the case with Agabus, Acts 11:28 , though, perhaps, his ordinary character was that of a teacher or preacher. It seems from various scriptures, Romans 12:4 , etc., 1 Corinthians... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 11:28

Agabus - This prophet, of whom we know nothing, is once more mentioned, Acts 21:10 . He was probably a Jew, but whether converted now to Christianity we cannot tell. Great dearth throughout all the world - The words εφ ' ὁλην την οικουμενην probably here mean the land of Judea; though sometimes by this phrase the whole Roman empire is intended. In the former sense the disciples appear to have understood it, as the next verse informs us; for they determined to send relief to their... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 11:29

Then the disciples - determined to send relief - These were probably Gentile converts; and as they considered themselves receiving the spiritual blessings, which they now so happily enjoyed, through the means of the Christians in Judea, they resolved to communicate to them a portion of their temporal goods; and every man did this according to his ability, i.e. he gave a certain proportion of the property with which the providence of God had entrusted him. The community of goods had for some... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 11:30

And sent it to the elders - These probably mean those who first believed on Christ crucified, either of the seventy disciples mentioned Luke, Luke 10:1 , or the one hundred and twenty mentioned, Acts 1:15 , or the seven deacons, Acts 6:5 . Some have divided the primitive disciples into three classes: The αυτοπται , those who were eye witnesses. The απαρχαι , those who were the first fruits, or converts of the apostles' preaching. The διαδοχοι , those who were the... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 11:27-30

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 11:27-30

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 11:27

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 11:28

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 11:29

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 11:30

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 11:27

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 11:28

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 11:29

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 11:30

Group of Brands