Matthew Henry’s Modern English CommentaryActs 11

Peter Explains His Actions to the Church After Cornelius and the Gentiles received the Holy Spirit, the news quickly spread among the believers in Judea. Some Jewish Christians, especially those who strictly followed the old laws, were upset that Peter had gone into the house of uncircumcised Gentiles and eaten with them. This section shows how Peter patiently explained what happened and how God showed that He accepts people from every nation. The early church was learning that the message of Jesus was for everyone, not just Jews. v. 1–3: The apostles and believers throughout Judea heard that Gentiles had also received the word of God. When Peter returned to Jerusalem, some of the Jewish believers criticized him, saying, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them!” These believers still thought that only Jews should hear the gospel and follow it, and they believed it was wrong to associate closely with Gentiles.

v. 4–14: Peter explained everything to them step by step. He told them that while he was praying in Joppa, he had a vision of a sheet coming down from heaven with all kinds of animals. A voice told him to kill and eat, but he refused because the animals were considered unclean. The voice answered that he should not call anything impure that God has made clean. This happened three times, and then three men sent by Cornelius arrived. The Spirit told Peter to go with them without hesitation. Peter went to Cornelius’ house, and Cornelius explained that he had been told by an angel to send for Peter, who would bring a message by which he and his household would be saved.

v. 15–17: Peter said that as he began to speak, the Holy Spirit came upon them just as He had come on the apostles at the beginning (at Pentecost). Peter remembered how Jesus had said, “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:5 ). Peter realized that if God gave the Gentiles the same gift He gave to the Jewish believers, he could not oppose God. God was showing that Gentiles could be saved in the same way as Jews—by faith in Jesus.

v. 18: When the others heard this, they had no further objections and praised God. They said, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.” The church began to realize that God’s mercy and salvation was for all people, not just for the Jews. This was a big turning point in the early church, showing that the gospel was truly for the whole world.

The Gospel Spreads to Antioch; Barnabas and Saul at Antioch After Stephen was killed, many believers left Jerusalem because of the persecution. These believers traveled to different regions and shared the message of Jesus wherever they went. This section describes how the gospel began to reach not just Jews, but also Gentiles. God used the scattered believers to start a new church in Antioch, a city that would become an important center for Christianity. This part also tells how Barnabas and Saul (Paul) were brought together to help teach and encourage the new believers in Antioch. v. 19–20: The believers who were scattered because of the persecution after Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. At first, they spoke the word only to Jews. But some men from Cyprus and Cyrene went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks (Gentiles) as well, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. This shows that God’s message was not just for Jews, but for all people. The persecution that seemed like a disaster actually helped spread the gospel even further.

v. 21: The hand of the Lord was with these believers, and a large number of people believed and turned to the Lord. This shows that God was blessing their work and helping many people become followers of Jesus. Their success was not because of their own power, but because God was helping them.

v. 22–24: News about what was happening in Antioch reached the church in Jerusalem, so they sent Barnabas to check on things. When Barnabas arrived and saw how God’s grace was working, he was glad. He encouraged the believers to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and many more people were added to the Lord. God used Barnabas to support and strengthen the new believers.

v. 25–26: Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul (Paul). When he found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year, Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught many people. It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called “Christians.” This shows how the church was growing and becoming an important place for believers from all backgrounds.

Primitive CharityThis passage describes the early Christian church’s response to the needs of others. When a famine was prophesied, the church responded with generosity and unity, demonstrating how God’s people care for one another in times of difficulty. The sharing of resources between believers in different regions became an example of the love and compassion that should define the church.v. 27: During the time Barnabas and Saul were ministering in Antioch, prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. Prophets were gifted by the Holy Spirit to foretell future events as well as guide and strengthen the church. Their arrival in Antioch shows that God sent his servants to areas where they were needed most. The church in Antioch was thriving, and these prophets came to support and encourage the believers (John 16:13 ).

v. 28: One of the prophets, named Agabus, stood up and predicted a severe famine that would affect the Roman Empire. He delivered this message through the Holy Spirit, showing that it was not based on human speculation but divine revelation. This famine, which occurred during the reign of Claudius Caesar, was a fulfillment of the prophecy and a reminder of God’s control over history. The suffering caused by the famine was also a consequence of people rejecting God’s spiritual provision (Matthew 24:7; Luke 21:11 ).

v. 29: The disciples in Antioch decided to send relief to the believers in Judea, knowing that the famine would hit them hard. Each person gave according to their ability, showing that generosity is not about the amount but about the willingness to give. Their decision reflects the principle of helping the “household of faith” while also trusting God to provide for their own needs (Galatians 6:10; Psalm 41:1-2 ).

v. 30: The donations were collected and sent to the elders in Judea for distribution. Barnabas and Saul were chosen to deliver the gifts, showing the trust the church had in them. This act of charity strengthened the bond between believers in different regions and demonstrated the unity of the body of Christ (2 Corinthians 12:1-2; Acts 22:17 ).This story highlights several important lessons for the church: the value of spiritual gifts like prophecy, the need to act on God’s warnings, and the importance of sharing resources to support those in need. The early church’s response to the famine serves as a model for Christians to be generous, unified, and compassionate, trusting God to supply their needs as they care for others.