Acts 11:7-9

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 11:1-18

The preaching of the gospel to Cornelius was a thing which we poor sinners of the Gentiles have reason to reflect upon with a great deal of joy and thankfulness; for it was the bringing of light to us who sat in darkness. Now it being so great a surprize to the believing as well as the unbelieving Jews, it is worth while to enquire how it was received, and what comments were made upon it. And here we find, I. Intelligence was presently brought of it to the church in Jerusalem, and thereabouts;... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 11:1-10

11:1-10 The apostles and the brethren who were throughout Judaea heard that the Gentiles too had received the word of God. So when Peter came up to Jerusalem those of the circumcision criticized him because, they said, "You went in to men who had never been circumcised and you ate with them." So Peter began at the beginning and told them the whole story. He said, "I was praying in the city of Joppa; in a trance I saw a vision. I saw a kind of vessel coming down like a great sheet let down by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 11:7

And I heard a voice saying unto me ,.... As he apprehended in his mind; and this voice he heard in the same sense and manner, as the Apostle Paul heard when in a trance, Acts 22:17 . arise, Peter, slay and eat ; that is, get up and slay some of these creatures upon the sheet, and dress them and eat them. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 11:8

But I said, not so, Lord ,.... For he took the voice he heard to be the voice of the Lord, and yet he was not obedient to the heavenly vision, and even though he was an hungry; which shows what a strict observer he was of the ceremonies of the law, and how much he was prejudiced in favour of them: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth ; he had not suffered anything to come within his lips; he had not even tasted, and much less ate anything that was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 11:9

But the voice answered me again from heaven ,.... From whence the former voice came, and was the voice of the Lord, or of an angel of the Lord, and which answered him again, or a second time ; not that it said to him a second time kill and eat, but what follows; what God hath cleansed, that call not thou common ; that is, had declared to be clean and fit for use, and did not defile, and could not defile the man into whose mouth it entered, and therefore ought not to be pronounced... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 11:1-18

Rectification and enlargement. It was not to be expected that so great an innovation as that of free communion with a Gentile would pass unchallenged in Jerusalem. Nor did it escape the criticism and condemnation of the "apostles and brethren" there ( Acts 11:1 , Acts 11:2 ). From the interesting and animated scene described in the text, we conclude— I. THAT GOOD MEN ARE OCCASIONALLY FOUND DOING THAT WHICH SEEMS HIGHLY CENSURABLE TO THE GODLY . We can... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 11:1-18

The spirit of sect and the spirit of the gospel. I. SECTARIAN SUSPICIONS . In Judaea are the head-quarters of this sectarian spirit. There it centers and rankles. The very tidings which fill the generous spirit with joy fill the sectarian with jealousy. They hear that the Gentiles have received the Word of God. Happy news! Alas that any should regard them otherwise! But to the ideas of the sectarian any change is appalling which threatens to break down the fence and wall of the sect,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 11:1-18

The Church of God set on the new foundation of liberty. I. The only stable foundation of SPIRITUAL FELLOWSHIP . Mutual confidence. Common dependence on the Spirit of God. Free speech. Entire understanding of the rule of life. Peter himself cannot be allowed to violate accepted principles without being called to account. He frankly explains and justifies his conduct. The old leaven of Judaism was at work; but the antidote was there—obedience to the Spirit. II. The true conditions... 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 11:4-17

The efficient answer to objectors. A man always takes an individual line, in opinion or in conduct, in peril of being misunderstood and called to account by his fellows. And yet the intellectual and moral advance of the race is made only by the pressure forward of individuals who, on some ground, refuse to keep in the old lines, and persist in making their own way even in districts marked by common sentiment as "dangerous." It is often the precise mission of youth to check the strongly... read more

Group of Brands