Acts 11: Reaction of the Jerusalem Church
1 Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. 2 And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him, 3 saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!”
4 But Peter explained it to them in order from the beginning, saying: 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me. 6 When I observed it intently and considered, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ 8 But I said, ‘Not so, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.’ 9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’ 10 Now this was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven. 11 At that very moment, three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent to me from Caesarea. 12 Then the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 And he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, 14 who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.’ 15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning.
I break from mainstream Protestantism here. The question on the table was not who should be allowed to partake of communion, as most assert- but rather “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized…? Any whose hearts are touched by Jesus-who truly repent of their sins, turning to Him- may submit to this sacrament. And the waters of baptism should not be withheld from those who were baptized / christened as infants. Perhaps the Anabaptist, who were written off and martyred as heretics, were right on this precept. Biblical baptism should not be withheld from anyone, of any nation, with any background.
Let's pick up the scenario. "Many in the Jerusalem church criticized Peter for what had happened in the house of Cornelius. Their minds were so moulded by Jewish thinking that they could think of Christianity only as an improved form of Judaism. They were pleased when Gentile proselytes or God-fearers accepted Jewish ways, but they were not pleased when people of any nationality entered the community of God's people without any thought for the Jewish laws concerning foods, cleansing and circumcision (11:1-3). Peter therefore explained to his critics how God had corrected his prejudice against the Gentiles (4-14) and how the Gentiles had received all God's blessings on the same basis as the Jews (15-17)." (Bridgeway Bible Commentary)
16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’17 If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?” 18 When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”
"Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit...."(16) "These words are very remarkable. The words of our Lord, as quoted Acts 1:5, to which St. Peter refers here, have been supposed by many to be referred to the apostles alone; but here it is evident that St. Peter believed they were a promise made to all Christians, i.e. to all, whether Jews or Gentiles, who should believe on Jesus Christ." (Adam Clarke)
"If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ.... " (17a) “The sense is, because we believed, not because we were circumcised, was the Holy Ghost given to us." (Wesley Notes) Moreover, "They who have the grace signified by baptism, ought to have the seal of that grace; but the Gentiles had the grace signified by baptism. Or, they who have the inward baptism, may not be denied the outward. As he that hath a right to an inheritance, cannot without injustice be denied the writings and seals thereunto belonging. To deny baptism unto any unto whom it doth belong, is to withstand God, and to keep back the token of God’s love from such unto whom it is sent.” (Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible)
Peter continues,"....who was I that I could withstand God?" (17b) by withholding the sacrament.
When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.” (18) "Not circumcision, nor baptism without repentance, but "true repentance is a change from spiritual death to spiritual life, and leads to life everlasting." (Wesley Notes)
"As the word μετανοια, which we translate repentance, signifies literally a change of mind, it may be here referred to a change of religious views, etc. And as repentance signifies a change of life and conduct, from evil to good, so the word μετανοια may be used here to signify a change from a false religion to the true one; from idolatry, to the worship of the true God. Rosenmuller thinks that, in several cases, where it is spoken of the Jews, it signifies their change from a contempt of the Messiah to reverence for him…” (Adam Clarke)
"To this truth we owe our hopes; for this, we should thank the God of heaven; and, impressed with it, we should seek to invite the entire world to partake with us of the rich provisions of the gospel of the blessed God." (Barnes notes)
"Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.'" Acts 2:38-39
Acts 11: Expansion of the Gentile Church
19 Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. 20 But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
The mass of the dispersed church preached to Jews only. Not Peter, nor Paul, but rather some of the diaspora, led by the Spirit, now preached to hellenized non-Jews, "which was exactly the special business which the Holy Ghost now had on hand." (F. B. Hole)
"Observe here, 1. That Antioch becomes the Jerusalem of the Gentile Christians: That is, the chief place whither the Gentile converts resorted; as Jerusalem, before the dispersion by persecution, was resorted to by the Jews, and made the principal seat of their residence.
Observe, 2. How God over-ruled the persecution and aspersion occasioned by St. Stephen's death for disseminating and scattering the gospel as far as Antioch, Acts 11:19. 'They which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Antioch, preaching the word.' Thus has the blood of the martyrs all along been the seed of the church, and what the devil and his instruments have designed for the extirpation, God has constantly over-ruled for the propagation of the gospel.” (Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the NT)
And the hand of the Lord was with them (21a), “that is, the power of His Spirit…” (Wesley) And a great number believed and turned to the Lord. (21b) “So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.” (1 Corinthians 3:7)
22 Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. 23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.
“And the work speedily reached such dimensions as to attract attention from the church in Jerusalem, and lead them to depute Barnabas to visit them. Barnabas came and instantly recognized a true work of the grace of God. Instead of being jealous that others than himself or the leaders in Jerusalem had been used of God for this, he was glad and he furthered the work by his exhortations. But then ‘he was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith,’ and so he cared not for his own reputation but for the glory of Christ. His exhortation was that as they had begun with faith in the Lord so they should continue to cleave to the Lord with purpose of heart. The working of God’s grace was the great thing with Barnabas, no matter through whom it was effected. How good it would have been had the spirit of Barnabas prevailed all through the church’s history. "
(F. B. Hole)
Barnabas exhorted them to cleave to the Lord, as Jacob had done, being renamed Israel. (Genesis 32:22-32) "'Cleave to the Lord’ is an expression of Hebrew origin, and it occurs two or three times in the earlier part of the Old Testament Scriptures in a striking manner. To cleave to an individual seems to imply the act of a man anxious to obtain a blessing from another--a man who lays fast hold on his person, being resolved not to permit his departure until the blessing has been obtained; and this is the spirit in which we are exhorted with purpose and determination of heart to cleave unto the Lord. We ought to be steadfast in cleaving to the principles of the Lord; in obeying the commandments of the Lord; in promoting the praise and the glory of the Lord. And each one in whom Divine grace has operated must have it as a constant desire, that in the spirit of steadfastness he may be preserved till death. For this purpose, use the means which God has been pleased to appoint--meditation, the study of His Word with prayer, social conversation with those who are established in the faith and hope of the gospel, diligent and devout attendance on the public ordinances and means of grace, and then the result will be accomplished, and you will cleave unto the Lord. You will emphatically be kept from falling, and be presented faultless before the presence of the Divine glory with great and exceeding joy.” (W. Arnot, D. D.)
"But you that did cleave unto Yahweh your God are alive every one of you this day." (Deuteronomy 4:4)
"You shall fear Yahweh your God; Him shall you serve, and to Him shall you cleave, and swear by His name." (Deuteronomy 10:20)
“For if you carefully keep all these commandments which I command you to do- to love Yahweh your God, to walk in all His ways, and to hold fast to Him- then Yahweh will drive out all these nations from before you, and you will dispossess greater and mightier nations than yourselves. Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours..." (Deut 11:22-24a)
And when apostasy arises, "You shall walk after Yahweh your God, and fear Him, and keep His commandments, and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him, and cleave unto Him." (Deuteronomy 13:4)
25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. 26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
“Evidently, however, he felt himself inadequate in the face of so great a work, and went to Tarsus to find Saul. This leading of the Spirit of God is full of interest; for God had decreed that Saul was to be an apostle to the Gentiles, and Barnabas apparently realized that Paul's attitude toward Gentiles would be a valuable asset, as well as his capable teaching. For a whole year they gathered with the assembly there, teaching many people. At Antioch we are told the disciples were first called Christians.” (L. M. Grant's Commentary) “By the time Acts 26:1-32 is reached we find that Agrippa knows the name. In 1 Peter 4:16 we find the Spirit of God accepting the name as a satisfactory one.” (F. B. Hole)
Acts 11: Relief to Judea
27 And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar.
Antioch of Syria was the center of the Gentile church. Jerusalem of Judah was the center of the Jewish church. They were one in Messiah. And both were under Roman domain. Antioch was "built about 300 BC by the Syrian emperor Seleucus I in honor of his father Antiochus. This Antioch (modern Antakya, Turkey) occupies a fertile plain in a western bend of the Orontes River that terminates in the Mediterranean Sea... Because of its location on navigable waters reaching to a Mediterranean port 15 miles (24 kilometers) away and because of its ready access through passes in the Taurus Mountains eastward to the interior, Antioch was a busy, cosmopolitan center of trade, religious ferment, and high levels of intellectual and political life." (Tyndale Bible Dictionary)
Here the prophecy came out of Jerusalem, most likely by a "Jewish" believer, perhaps to signify that there is no prophecy outside of the Hebrew Torah- the law and prophets, which Jesus came not to destroy-but to fulfill.
It all came by the Spirit, by the Word of the living God... by His prophets. One of them, Agabus- the same who prophesied Paul’s imprisonment in Jerusalem (Acts 21:10)- showed by “the” Spirit, “not by the position of the stars, or by any natural causes, or by mere conjecture, but by the Spirit of God.” (Gill) “For it is a prerogative of God only to foretell things to come, as Isaiah 41:22,23.” (Poole)
"For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Revelation 19:10) And the Master prophesied of such. "The prophecy of the 'dearth' or 'famine' was in part an echo of Matthew 24:7." (Ellicott) Indeed something Jesus- the Creator- said in the Old Testament or New, which was heard and believed by this man caused him to know that the famine was upon them.
A great famine throughout all the world... the world “frequently signifies all the Roman Empire.” (John Wesley) But “probably here mean the land of Judea... 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 brethren in Judea, which they could not have done had the famine been general. It does not appear that they expected it to extend even to Antioch in Syria, where they then were, else they would have thought of making provision for themselves…” (Adam Clarke)
"This is one of the few instances in which the sacred writers in the New Testament affirm the fulfillment of a prophecy. The history having been written after the event, it was natural to give a passing notice of the fulfillment." (Barnes Notes)
"The reign of Claudius (a.d. 41–54) was remarkable for the famines with which various parts of the empire were afflicted. The first, second, fourth, ninth and eleventh years of this Emperor’s reign are recorded as years of famine in some district or other."(Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges)
Most commentaries talk of five famines which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. They speculate which one was intended, but the extent of the prophecy might have continued all of his years. Josephus describes it as "a very great famine, in which many died for want of food." )Ant. lib xx. cap. 2, sect. 5)
And the main point is that God, “who provided for the patriarchs by means of Joseph’s foreseeing of the scarcity in Egypt and elsewhere, provides for his church now also by a like prediction. God’s omniscience is exerted for his church’s preservation.” (Matthew Poole)
29 Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.
These gentile converts did not wait to see how things played out, but determined then what was to be done. 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.” (Adam Clarke)
30 This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Not only did they determined to do it, but they did it, "sending it to the elders - who gave it to the deacons, to be distributed by them, as every one had need.” (John Wesley)
“Many such things have taken place from the watchful care of the Lord, in various ages, even down to modern times of the Church. And it is a truth which ought to be always kept in view: the Lord is as much a God of providence, as He is the God of grace, to his people. That sweet promise, concerning the Spirit of truth, shewing his Church things to come; may be, and ought to be, applied to all cases of his redeemed, in all their warfare, John 16:13. This famine gave occasion for the exercise of the love, and alms-giving of the Church. Thus the Lord overrules circumstances of seeming evil to real good; and in the diversities of character, and station, affords opportunity for calling into exercise, the various graces of the Holy Spirit.” (Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary)
There is a spiritual famine in the land. How much more ought we who have the Spirit of the Jewish prophets, prophesying that Messiah is coming again in glory to judge the living and the dead, be diligent to make this truth known throughout our lands?