Act 11:1-18 | Barnes | STEP | CHAPTER 11 Verse 1. And the apostles and brethren . The Christians who were in Judea. Heard , etc. So extraordinary an occurrence as that at Caesarea, the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Gentiles, and their reception into the church, would excite attention, and be likely to produce much sensibility in regard to the conduct of Peter and those with him. It was so contrary to all the ideas of the Jews, that it is not to be wondered at that it led to contention.

Acts 11:1-18

CHAPTER 11

Verse 1. And the apostles and brethren. The Christians who were in Judea.

Heard, etc. So extraordinary an occurrence as that at Caesarea, the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Gentiles, and their reception into the church, would excite attention, and be likely to produce much sensibility in regard to the conduct of Peter and those with him. It was so contrary to all the ideas of the Jews, that it is not to be wondered at that it led to contention. Verse 2. They that were of the circumcision. The Christians who had been converted from among the Jews.

Contended with him. Disputed, or reproved him; charged him with being in fault. This is one of the circumstances which show conclusively that the apostles and early Christians did not regard Peter as having any particular supremacy over the church, or as being in any peculiar sense the vicar of Christ upon earth. If Peter had been regarded as having the authority which the Roman Catholics claim for him, they would have submitted at once to what he had thought proper to do. But the primitive Christians had no such idea of his authority. This claim for Peter is not only opposed to this place, but to every part of the New Testament.

(m) "they that were of the circumcision" Acts 10:23,28, Gal 2:12 Verse 3. And didst eat with them. Acts 10:13,14. Verse 4. But Peter rehearsed. Greek, Peter beginning, explained it to them in order. That is, he began with the vision which he saw, and gave a narrative of the various events in order, as they actually occurred. A simple and unvarnished statement of facts is usually the best way of disarming prejudice and silencing opposition. In revivals of true religion, the best way of silencing opposition, and especially among Christians, is to make a plain statement of things as they actually occurred. Opposition most commonly arises from prejudice, or from false or exaggerated statements; and those can be best removed, not by angry contention, but by an unvarnished relation of the facts. In most cases prejudice will thus be disarmed, and opposition will die away, as was the case in regard to the admission of the Gentiles to the church.

And expounded it. Explained it; stated it as it actually occurred.

By order. One event after another, as they happened. He thus showed that his own mind had been as much biassed as theirs, and stated in what manner his prejudices had been removed. It often happens that those who become most zealous and devoted in any new plans for the advancement of religion, were as much opposed to them at first as others. They are led from one circumstance to another, until their prejudices die away, and the Providence and Spirit of God indicate clearly their duty,

(**) "rehearsed" "Related" Verse 5.

(a) "Joppa" Acts 10:9 (*) "vessel" "something" Verse 6.

(+) "fastened my eyes" "looked earnestly" Verse 12.

(b) "Spirit bade me go" Jn 16:13 Verse 14. And all thy house. Thy family. This is a circumstance which is omitted in the account in Acts 10. It is said, however, in Acts 10:2, that Cornelius feared God with all his house. And it is evident, from Acts 10:48, that the family also received the ordinance of baptism, and was received into the church.

The Holy Ghost, etc. Acts 10:44

(d) "fell on them" Acts 2:4 Verse 16. The word of the Lord. Acts 1:6.

(e) "John indeed baptized" Mt 3:11, Jn 1:26,33, Acts 1:5 (f) "ye shall be baptized" Isa 44:3, Joel 2:28 ( ) "Ghost" "Spirit" Verse 17. What was I. What power or right had I to oppose the manifest will of God that the Gentiles should be received into the Christian church.

Withstand God. Oppose or resist God. He had indicated his will; he had showed his intention to save the Gentiles; and the prejudices of Peter were all overcome. One of the best means of destroying prejudice and false opinions, is a powerful revival of religion. More erroneous doctrines and unholy feelings are overcome in such scenes, than in all the angry controversies, and bigoted and fierce contentions, that have ever taken place. If men wish to root error out of the church, they should strive by all means to promote everywhere revivals of pure and undefiled religion. The Holy Spirit more easily and effectually silences false doctrine, and destroys heresy, than all the denunciations of fierce theologians; all the alarms of professed zeal for truth; and all the anathemas Which professed orthodoxy and love for the purity of the church ever uttered from the icebergs on which such champions usually seek their repose and their home.

(g) "as God gave them" Acts 15:8,9 (h) "what was I" Rom 9:21-26 Verse 18. They held their peace. They were convinced, as Peter had been, by the manifest indications of the will of God.

Then hath God, etc. The great truth is in this manner established, that the doors of the church are opened to the entire Gentile world--a great and glorious truth, that was worthy of this remarkable interposition. It at once changed the views of the apostles and of the early Christians; gave them new, large, and liberal conceptions of the gospel; broke down all their long-cherished prejudices; taught them to look upon all men as their brethren; and impressed their hearts with the truth, never after to be eradicated, that the Christian church was founded for the wide world, and opened the same glorious pathway to life wherever man might be found, whether with the narrow prejudice of the Jew, or amidst the degradations of the pagan world. 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.

(*) "held their peace, and glorified God" "were satisfied" (i) "to the Gentiles granted" Rom 10:12,13, 15:9,16