Act 11:27 | KingComments | STEP | After Barnabas, some more prophets come to Antioch from Jerusalem. Prophets are gifts to the whole church. So they can be active in Jerusalem, but they can also come to Antioch to perform their ministry there. Jerusalem is not a center, but there is connection. This is where the prophets are mentioned for the first time in the New Testament. We read in 1 Corinthians 14 a whole chapter about their service. They pass on God’s Word from God’s presence and speak for edification and exhortation and consolation of the church. They do not make predictions about future events, but apply the Word of God to hearts and consciences. There is one prophet among them who, as an exception, does make a prediction, namely Agabus. We read of him that he stands up and, by the Spirit, indicates that there will be a great famine all over the world. This is not someone who claims to be a prophet. That his prophecy is real is shown by its fulfillment under Claudius, who reigned from the year 41 onward. The famine will come over the entire empire, including them. Although the prophecy will only be fulfilled later under another emperor, the prophecy has the consequence that the believers in Antioch can express their connectedness with the believers in Jerusalem through support. The believers cannot stop the famine, but they can do what is necessary to alleviate it. The prophecy has an effect on the hearers and that is the purpose of every prophetic service. By taking the prophecy to heart, the believers can at the same time express their gratitude for the spiritual blessing they have received from the circumcision. After the nations have received spiritual goods through Jerusalem, they now want to serve them with their material goods ( ; ). What is written here is the model for Christian giving rather than what we found in Acts 2 and 4 where it concerned relationships among the Jews themselves ( ). Giving is done according to capacity ( ). It is given from the consciousness of being one body. Prophecy encourages immediate action, even before there is evidence that it is good. It is a work of God’s Spirit in the hearts. The prophets in the days of Ezra incited to rebuild the temple before the king gave them the opportunity to do so by prohibiting resistance ( ). It is blessed to act on the basis of heavenly motives in earthly matters. The actions of the believers in Antioch must have been a great encouragement to the believers in Jerusalem in the experience of unity. The money goes to the elders, who are mentioned here for the first time in connection with the church; how they are appointed is not mentioned. They are the responsible brothers of the church. It is their task to further distribute the money. In this way the connection is expressed in a practical way, as before in a spiritual way ( ). Barnabas and Saul take the gift with them. They do not feel too good about this, or think that spiritual work is more important. It is their desire to provide for every need. Here again we see that Barnabas is involved, because an assignment with money asks for trustworthy brothers. Barnabas has already shown not to value earthly possessions ( ).

‏ Acts 11:27

Agabus Predicts a Famine

After Barnabas, some more prophets come to Antioch from Jerusalem. Prophets are gifts to the whole church. So they can be active in Jerusalem, but they can also come to Antioch to perform their ministry there. Jerusalem is not a center, but there is connection. This is where the prophets are mentioned for the first time in the New Testament. We read in 1 Corinthians 14 a whole chapter about their service. They pass on God’s Word from God’s presence and speak for edification and exhortation and consolation of the church. They do not make predictions about future events, but apply the Word of God to hearts and consciences.

There is one prophet among them who, as an exception, does make a prediction, namely Agabus. We read of him that he stands up and, by the Spirit, indicates that there will be a great famine all over the world. This is not someone who claims to be a prophet. That his prophecy is real is shown by its fulfillment under Claudius, who reigned from the year 41 onward. The famine will come over the entire empire, including them.

Although the prophecy will only be fulfilled later under another emperor, the prophecy has the consequence that the believers in Antioch can express their connectedness with the believers in Jerusalem through support. The believers cannot stop the famine, but they can do what is necessary to alleviate it. The prophecy has an effect on the hearers and that is the purpose of every prophetic service. By taking the prophecy to heart, the believers can at the same time express their gratitude for the spiritual blessing they have received from the circumcision. After the nations have received spiritual goods through Jerusalem, they now want to serve them with their material goods (Gal 6:6; Rom 15:23-28).

What is written here is the model for Christian giving rather than what we found in Acts 2 and 4 where it concerned relationships among the Jews themselves (Acts 2:44-45 ; Acts 4:32-37). Giving is done according to capacity (2Cor 8:12-15 ; 2Cor 9:7). It is given from the consciousness of being one body. Prophecy encourages immediate action, even before there is evidence that it is good. It is a work of God’s Spirit in the hearts. The prophets in the days of Ezra incited to rebuild the temple before the king gave them the opportunity to do so by prohibiting resistance (Ezra 5:1-2). It is blessed to act on the basis of heavenly motives in earthly matters.

The actions of the believers in Antioch must have been a great encouragement to the believers in Jerusalem in the experience of unity. The money goes to the elders, who are mentioned here for the first time in connection with the church; how they are appointed is not mentioned. They are the responsible brothers of the church. It is their task to further distribute the money. In this way the connection is expressed in a practical way, as before in a spiritual way (Acts 11:22).

Barnabas and Saul take the gift with them. They do not feel too good about this, or think that spiritual work is more important. It is their desire to provide for every need. Here again we see that Barnabas is involved, because an assignment with money asks for trustworthy brothers. Barnabas has already shown not to value earthly possessions (Acts 4:36-37).