Acts 11:29-30

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 11:29

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 11:29

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

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 11:27-30

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

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