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Matthew Henry

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

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 11:11-18

11:11-18 "And, look you, thereupon, three men, who had been sent to me from Caesarea, stood at the house where we were. The Spirit told me to go with them and to make no distinctions. These six brethren also came with me and we came to the man's house. He told us how in the house he had seen the angel standing and saying, 'Send to Joppa and send for Simon, who is also called Peter, who will speak words to you by which you and all your house will be saved.' As I was beginning to speak, the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 11:4

But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning ,.... Of the vision at Joppa; and expounded it by order unto them ; or related every particular, in a very methodical and orderly manner: he did not insist upon his authority as an apostle, and much less pretended to a primacy to the rest of the apostles; but submitted to have his case heard, examined, and judged of by the body of the brethren. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 11:5

I was in the city of Joppa ,.... And so it is called by Josephus F23 Antiqu. l. 9. c. 10. sect. 2. , and in the Apocrypha: "And he pitched his tents against Joppa: but; they of Joppa shut him out of the city, because Apollonius had a garrison there.' (1 Maccabees 10:75) "The men of Joppa also did such an ungodly deed: they prayed the Jews that dwelt among them to go with their wives and children into the boats which they had prepared, as though they had meant them no hurt.' (2... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 11:6

Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes ,.... Not of his body, but of his mind; for this was only in vision presented to him, when he was as Paul was, not knowing whether in the body or out of it: I considered : being intent upon this object, he considered in his mind what it was, and what it should mean; it being something strange and unusual; which came down from heaven, and out of it, and came so close and near to him, that it engrossed all his thoughts, and was the subject of... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 11:10

And this was done three times ,.... That is, the voice from heaven answered three times, and encouraged Peter to kill and eat; and so the Ethiopic version renders it, "and he likewise said unto me the third time"; the words as before: and all were drawn up again into heaven ; the sheet with all the creatures upon it, by the same hands that let it down; the Syriac version renders it, "and all betook themselves to heaven"; as if it all went up to heaven of itself; and the Ethiopic version,... read more

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