Acts 11:27-30 NIV

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 11:27

Verse 27 27.Luke commendeth in this place the faith of the men of Antioch by the fruit, because they endeavored to relieve the poverty of that church, from whence they received the gospel, with their abundance; and that did they unrequested. Such earnest care for the brethren doth sufficiently declare how seriously they worshipped Christ, the head of all. Luke doth signify that the fame of that church was spread abroad, when he saith that there came excellent men thither from Jerusalem. But... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 11:28

Verse 28 28.He signified by the Spirit. Luke doth plainly express that the Spirit of God was the author of this prophecy, that we may know that it was not a conjecture taken by the stars, or some other natural causes; again, that Agabus did not play the philosopher after the manner of men, but he uttered that which God had appointed by the secret inspiration of the Spirit. Barrenness may indeed be sometimes foretold by the disposition of the stars, but there is no certainty in such... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 11:29

Verse 29 29.But here ariseth a question, seeing that the misery was common to all, why ought they rather to have succored one people than all the rest? I answer, that forasmuch as Judea was impoverished with great destructions of wars and other miseries, the men of Antioch were not without cause more moved with the miseries of the brethren which were there; secondly, the greater the rage of the enemies was, the more wretched was the estate of the brethren. Finally, Paul doth sufficiently... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 11:30

Verse 30 30.Sending it unto the elders, [presbyters.] We must note two things in this place, that the men of Antioch did choose faithful men, and of known honesty, to carry their blessing; secondly, that they sent it unto the elders, that they might wisely bestow the same. For if alms be thrown into the midst of the common people, or be set in the midst where every one may take what he will, every man will by and by take it to himself as if it were some common prey; and so he that is most bold... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 11:1-28

The mystery. The beginning and the close of this chapter refer to events of precisely similar character, which took place almost simultaneously, at all events without any concert or communication, in Palestine and in Syria; the reception of the Word of God by Gentiles, and their admission into the Church of God. It is difficult for us, after the lapse of eighteen centuries and a half, during which this has been the rule of the kingdom of heaven, to realize the startling strangeness of such... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 11:27

Now for and, A.V.; there came down for came, A.V. (see Acts 18:22 ). Prophets ; a recognized order in the Church at that time ( Acts 2:17 , Acts 2:18 ` Acts 13:1 ; Acts 20:23 ; Acts 21:9 , Acts 21:10 ; 1 Corinthians 12:28 , 1 Corinthians 12:29 ; Ephesians 4:11 ). The news of the accession of the Gentiles to the Church of Antioch would naturally lead to such prophets being either sent by the Church of Jerusalem or coming of their own accord. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 11:27-30

God's bounty and our well-being. The reference, in these verses, to "a great dearth throughout all the world" ( Acts 11:28 ), and to the sending of relief by the disciples, according to their several ability, to the brethren in Judaea ( Acts 11:29 ), may suggest to us thoughts concerning the provision which God has made for us in his Divine goodness and also in his Divine wisdom. We look at— I. HIS PROVISION FOR OUR TEMPORAL WELL - BEING . The great multitudes of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 11:27-30

Practical sympathy between Jew and Gentile. I. The test of REAL UNION must be an appeal to self-sacrifice. Antioch was wealthy; Judaea was poor. The prophets came from Jerusalem; the return was relief sent to poor brethren, both as a sign of obedience to the Spirit and as a pledge of future oneness. There could be no more decided evidence that the Gentile converts were really incorporated into the apostolic Church. II. The prophetic element quite consistent with the maintenance... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 11:28

A great famine for great dearth, A.V.; over for throughout, A.V.; Claudius for Claudius Caesar, A.V. and T.R. The world ; ἡ οἰκουμένη , the inhabited earth, the common expression for the whole Roman empire. But the expression must be taken bore as hyperbolical, just as Josephus says that Ahab sent messengers to search for Elijah, κατὰ πᾶσαν τὴν οικουμένην , where, of course, only the neighboring countries to Judaea can be meant, strictly speaking ('Ant. Jud.,'8. 13.4).... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 11:29

And for then, A.V.; that for which , A.V. This is the first example of the practice, so much encouraged by St. Paul, of the Gentile Churches contributing to the wants of the poor Christians of the mother Church of Jerusalem ( Romans 15:25-27 ; 1 Corinthians 16:1 ; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15 .; Galatians 2:10 , etc.). read more

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 11:27

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 11:28

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 11:29

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 11:30

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 11:1-28

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 11:27

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 11:27-30

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 11:27-30

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 11:28

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 11:29

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