CHAPTER 11
How Peter thereafter also related to the apostles each of the things that had occurred, while they were disputing against him. Then they sent Barnabas to the brothers who were in Antioch.
Acts 11:1-20a Now when the apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard this, they rejoiced and glorified God, saying, “Then God has granted the same gift to the Gentiles also, that they should repent and live.” But when Peter went up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision disputed with him, saying, “You entered into the house of men who are uncircumcised, and you ate with them.” But Peter began and explained it to them in order, saying, “I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object like a great sheet descending, lowered by its four corners from heaven, and it came to me. Looking intently at it, I observed and saw the beasts of the earth and the wild animals and the creeping things and the birds of the air. And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ But I said, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has cleansed, do not call common.’ This happened three times, and everything was drawn up again into heaven. And behold, immediately three men stood before the house in which we were, having been sent to me from Caesarea. Then the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brethren also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. And he related to us how he had seen an angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and summon Simon who is called Peter; he will speak words to you by which you and all your household will be saved.’ And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. 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.’ If then God gave them the same gift as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?” When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance unto life.” Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word only to Jews. But some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene.
Peter showed in his defense that he had by no means been the cause, but God everywhere. For he said, he himself set me in the excess of mind, he himself pointed out the sheet, and I indeed even contradicted; again the same he himself said, and I did not hear therefore. The Spirit commanded that I should join them, and having joined I did not even run on therefore. They said that God had sent, and I did not so baptize, but again God accomplished the whole matter. God baptized, not I. For while I was yet speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon those men, and they spoke in tongues. They glorified God loudly, as do we. [CHRYSOSTOM]
Acts 11:20b-23 Those who, having entered Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, proclaiming the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them. And a great number, having believed, turned to the Lord. And the report was heard in the ears of the church in Jerusalem concerning them; and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with purpose of heart.
“ to the Hellenists .” Perhaps because they did not know Hebrew, they called them Greeks. [CHRYSOSTOM]
They then also spoke to them, proclaiming the Lord Jesus , and they all believed, for, he says, the hand of the Lord was with them ; that is, they were performing signs. For it was necessary that signs be done in order that they might believe. [CHRYSOSTOM]
Acts 11:24-26 That he was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a considerable number were added to the Lord. Barnabas went out to Tarsus to seek Saul; and having found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a considerable number of people.
Why do they not write to Paul, but send Barnabas? Because they did not yet know the man's excellence. This does not contradict the saying, "No one is good but God." (Mark 10:18) For it is not the same for God to be good in essence and for a man to be good. For God exists as good in essence, being the principle and source of goods; whereas a man is not good in essence, but possesses goodness by a participation of virtue. He is not simply good, but a good man. To this also belong the expressions "a good man" (Matt. 12:35) and "Well done, good and faithful servant," (Matt. 25:21 and 23) and similar phrases. [CHRYSOSTOM]
Acts 11:27-30 In those days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them, named Agabus, stood up and, through the Spirit, signified that a great famine was about to come upon the whole inhabited world, which took place during the reign of Claudius. So the disciples, each according to his ability, decided to send relief to the brothers living in Judea, which they did, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
There is nothing contrary to this in what the Lord said, “The law and the prophets” up to John. (Matt. 2:12) For this concerns those prophets who proclaimed his coming beforehand. So that they would not think the famine occurred because of this, that Christianity had arrived, the Holy Spirit foretold it beforehand. And Christ himself also said this (see Matt. 24:7), not because it was necessary that this happen from the beginning, but because of the evils that befell the apostles. And God was patient; but when the time came, a great famine occurred, announcing the evils that would come upon the Jews. And if it was on their account, it was nevertheless fitting that even those present should cease. For it would have been better if they had prospered, since they committed their own deeds: they murdered, punished, scourged, and everywhere persecuted. Therefore the famine occurred, even if the wretched people did not understand, and Christians shared in their suffering because of this. It should be noted that the apostles also had the rank of elders. And elsewhere it is noted in other chapters that they had the order of deacons and bishops. [CHRYSOSTOM]