F¹ i 1-3. Peter blamed.
k 4-10. Peter's Vision.
l 11,12. Command.
k 13,14. Cornelius' Vision.
i 15-17. Peter vindicated.
Acts 11)
1: Now the apostles and brethren that were throughout Judaea heard that the nations (Gr. ethnos) also received the word (logos) of God.
2: And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision were contending against him (I.e. Israel. See 10:45),
3: Saying, “You went in to men uncircumcised, and did eat with them.” (They were saying, "Whoa, what have you been doing here Peter?")
4: But Peter rehearsed (= retold, lest you forget) the matter from the beginning, set forth it in order to them, saying,
5: “I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a sight (see 7:31), A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet (as in 10:11), sent down from the heaven by four corners; and it came as far as to me:
6: Unto the which having gazed, I considered (Gr. katanoêo = to perceive with the senses, referring to the object of observation rather than the act of getting to know. It has regard to the conscious action of the mind in getting to see or understand), and saw four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the heaven. (all unclean animals as in 10:12)
7: And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Arise, Peter; slay and eat.’ (as in 10:13)
8: But I said, ‘Not so, Lord (used of Christ, i.e Messiah): for never at any time came anything common (i.e. polluted) entered into my mouth.’
9: But a voice answered again (Lit. from a second time) from the heaven, ‘What God has cleansed, that make not you common.’
10: And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven. (Notice that Peter at no time while he was being told this was he told it was OK to eat unclean food. Analogy; He [God the Father & Son] did not clean the meats, only men)
11: And, behold, immediately there were three men come (= stood before) to the house in which I was, sent from Caesarea to me.
12: And The Spirit (= the Angel of Yahaveh of 10:3) bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren with me, and we entered into the man's house: (He's telling them exactly how it happened)
13: And he announced to us how he had seen the Angel in his house, standing and saying, ‘Send men (all text omit) to Joppa, and send for Simon, whose is surnamed Peter;
14: Who shall speak words, by which you and all your house shall be saved.’ (Teach about TRUE Salvation)
15: And as I began to speak (Lit. in my beginning), the Holy Spirit fell upon them, even as on us also in the beginning (This is concerning end times, i.e. Cp. 2:17-21. Joel 2:28-32. How did it fall on them? At the beginning! Isn't that complicated? I don't think it's complicated at all. I don't know how anyone can confuse it. The Holy Spirit fell on these exactly as the tongue fell on them on the Pentecost day, thus being called the Pentecost tongue. It was heard in every language of the world and no man can fake that. Now, I know that sometimes the truth of God upsets people because they’ve heard so much from man. Well, I could say by the grace of God, there go I. What’s important is what the Word of God says. What the Word of God teaches. And hey, like it or lump it friend, you’d better be in accord with God or you’re in accord with the master of confusion, that is to say, Satan. Not necessarily because you want to follow Satan, but because he has you confused. You see, the example, the word language that was translated into English as language, we found out was dialektos, which is the dialect, which meant that it was even more specific than simply a language, they talked in the same dialect as the county that the old boys were born in; emphasizing clarity and the simplistic way in which God teaches, giving everyone that equal chance to hear and to understand. So, there you have that tongue of Pentecost.).
16: Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water; but you all shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
17: If therefore as God gave them the like gift (Gr. dõra. Cp. 2:28 and John 4:10) as He did to us also, who believed on Jesus Christ; what was I, that I was able to hinder God?” (i.e., "Who am I to argue with God?")
18: Now, having heard these things, they held their peace (= ceased, as in 21:14. See Luke 14:4; 23:56. 1 Thess.4:11), and glorified God, saying, “Then has God to the nations also (this and v.3 shows that Cornelius was not a proselyte) given repentance unto life.
H4 Z¹ 19-26. In Spiritual Things.
Z² 27-30. In Carnal Things.
Z¹ m¹ 19,20. Preaching by Cypriotes, &c.
n¹ 21. Many believers.
m² 22-24-. Preaching by Barnabas.
n² -24. Much people added
m³ 25,26. Preaching by Barnabas and Saul.
19: They indeed therefore which were scattered abroad (Gr. diaspeirõ. See 8:1) from the persecution (Gr. thlipsis. See 7:10) that came to pass over (or upon) Stephen traveled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch (the capital of Syria, about 16 miles from the sea. Seleucia was its port), speaking the word to no one except to the Jews only. (seed of Abraham = Israel)
20: And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene (Cypriotes and Cyrenians. It was open to everyone of the Gentiles [nations]), which, when they were come to Antioch, spoke to the Grecians (see 6:1. Most text read Hellênes, Greeks. There was nothing strange in speaking to the Greek-speaking Jews), preaching (Gr. evangelizõ = to announce a joyful message; having regard to the matter announced not the manner) the Jesus Christ.
21: And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number having believed turned to the Lord. (This got the Church really going)
22: Then the report (or word) concerning these things was heard to the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go (the text omits) as far as Antioch.
23: Who, having come, and seen the grace of God (God the Creator), was glad, and was exhorting them all, that with purpose (Gr. prothesis, that which is put before one. The English word is from the Lat. propositum, which exactly corresponds to the Greek. The word is used of the showbread, i.e. the bread of presentation, in Matt.12:4. Mark 2:26. Luke 6:4. Heb.9:2.) of heart they would abide with the Lord (commitment, whatever the consequences).
24: For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith:
and much people (Lit. crowd) was added to the Lord.
25: Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek (Lit. to seek up and down) Saul:
26: And having found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it came to pass (the three clauses which follow are all dependent on "it came to pass"), that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And that the disciples were called (Gr. chrêmatismos. This word occ. 9 times. See note on Luke 2:26. Generally of a divine communication. Though the name may have been given at first by the Gentiles in mockery, the usage of the word by the Holy Spirit indicates that its real origin was Divine) Christians (here, 26:28. 1 Pet.4:16. Cp.15:17. Jews could not have given the name, as Christos was a sacred word) first in Antioch.
Z² o 27,28-. Prophecy of Dearth.
p -28. Fulfillment.
o 29. Purpose of Relief.
p 30. Fulfillment.
27: And in these days came down prophets from Jerusalem to Antioch.
28: And there stood up one of them by name Agabus (= a locust.), and signified through the Holy Spirit that there was about to be great dearth over all the world (Gr. limos. Occ 12 times. Cp 7:11. Elsewhere transl. "hunger" or "famine". Cp. Amos 8:11,12. These and those who know the Lord won't starve during the drought):
41-54 A.D
which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar (the fourth Roman Emperor [A.D. 41-54]. Roman historians mention several famines during his reign. See also Josephus, Ant.XX.iii.6).
29: Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined (lit. But as any one of the disciples prospered they determined, each one of them) to send for ministration to the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:
30: Which they did also, and sending it to the elders (Gr. presbuteros. This is the first time we meet with elders in the Christian churches. Here elders include the Apostles. Cp. 8:1. 1 Pet.5:1) by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.