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Acts 11:21
Verse
Context
Sermons
Jim Cymbala
Paris Reidhead
Shane Idleman
Joseph BalsanShane Idleman
Keith MalcomsonSummary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
The hand of the Lord was with them - By the hand, arm, and, finger of God, in the Scripture, different displays or exertions of his power are intended. Here it means that the energy of God accompanied them, and applied their preaching to the souls of all attentive hearers. Without this accompanying influence, even an apostle could do no good; and can inferior men hope to be able to convince and convert sinners without this? Ministers of the word of God, so called, who dispute the necessity and deny the being of this influence, show thereby that they are intruders into God's heritage; that they are not sent by him, and shall not profit the people at all. A great number believed - That Jesus was the Christ; and that he had died for their offenses, and risen again for their justification. Because the apostles preached the truth, and the hand of God was with them, therefore, a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord, becoming his disciples, and taking him for their portion.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
a great number believed--Thus the accession of Cornelius and his party was not the first admission of uncircumcised Gentiles into the Church. (See on Act 10:1.) Nay, we read of no influence which the accession of Cornelius and his house had on the further progress of the Gospel among the Gentiles; whereas there here open upon us operations upon the Gentiles from quite a different quarter, and attended with ever growing success. The only great object served by the case of Cornelius was the formal recognition of the principles which that case afterwards secured. (See on Act 15:19-29.)
John Gill Bible Commentary
Then tidings of these things,.... Of the spread of the Gospel in several parts, and the success of it in the conversion of sinners, especially at Antioch: came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem; these tidings were brought to the apostles and brethren there, by messengers which the ministers of the word sent unto them to let them know what success they met with; notwithstanding the persecution raised against the church of Jerusalem at the death of Stephen, and the havoc that was made of the members of it, and the dispersion of others, yet it still continued a church, and so it did for ages after: there are reckoned fifteen bishops of it unto the times of Trajan, and the destruction of the city by him, when the Jews were no longer suffered to live in it; and they are these, James the brother of our Lord, Simeon, Justus, Zacchaeus, Tobias, Benjamin, John, Matthias, Philip, Seneca, Justus, Levi, Ephres, Joseph, and Judas; and these are said (h) to be all originally Hebrews: but after the destruction of the city by Trajan, and the Jews were forbid inhabiting it, the church consisted of Gentiles only; and of them bishops were constituted over it, and were as follow: Marcus, Cassianus, Publius, Maximus, Julianus, Gaianus, Symmachus, Caius, another Julianus, Capito, another Maximus, Antoninus, Valens, Dolychianus, Narcissus, Aelius, Germanio, Gordius, and another Narcissus; all these governed this church in the "second" century: and in the "third" century, the bishops of this church were Alexander, Mazabanes, Labdas, and Hermon, who was the last before the Dioclesian persecution: in the "fourth" century, Macarins, Maximus, and Cyril, presided over it; and these were succeeded in the "fifth" century by Joannes Nepos, Prayllius, Juvenalis, Anastasius, and Martyrius; in this age also Lucian and Hesychius were presbyters of this church. In the "sixth" century, the names of the bishops of this church were Salustius, Helias, Johannes, Petrus, Macarius, Eustochius, Johannes, Neamus, and Isicius: in the "seventh" century were Thomas, Johannes, Neannus, Isaac, Zacharias, and Sophronius, who was the last bishop of Jerusalem before the utter and last devastation of it by the Saracens (i); since which time the city has underwent various fates, being sometimes in the hands of the Christians, and at other times possessed by the Turks, in whose power it now is. And they sent forth Barnabas; who was himself an Hellenist, and of the country of Cyprus, and so very fit to be sent to the Grecians or Hellenists at Antioch, who had received the Gospel to confirm them in it: for his orders were, that he should go as far as Antioch which is said to be about fifteen or sixteen days journey from Jerusalem: the phrase, "that he should go", is not in the Alexandrian copy, nor in the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions. (h) Euseb. Eccl. Hist. l. 4. c. 5. (i) Magdeburg. Hist. Eccles. cent. 2. c. 2. p. 2. & c. 9. p. 126. cent. 3. c. 10. p. 146. 148. cent. 4. c. 10. p. 503. c. 5. cent. 10. p. 540. cent. 6. c. 10. p. 335. cent. 7. c. 10. p. 251.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
11:21-24 Once again, as had happened in the household of Cornelius, Gentiles turned to the Lord in considerable numbers. The explosion of Christian faith into the Gentile world had to remain in harmony with the church at Jerusalem, so the Jerusalem church sent Barnabas to Antioch to oversee developments there. He could see that God’s blessing was on what was happening, so he endorsed it with joy.
Acts 11:21
The Church at Antioch
20But some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks as well, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus.21The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Acts 13
By Jim Cymbala1.2K1:34:43PRO 3:5ZEC 4:6ACT 11:21
This sermon emphasizes the importance of having the hand of the Lord with us in all that we do, highlighting the transformative power of God's presence in our lives. It challenges the notion of relying solely on human effort without the guidance of the Holy Spirit, stressing the need for spiritual discernment and obedience to God's leading. The message calls for a return to genuine worship and a focus on experiencing God's power rather than seeking entertainment or superficial experiences in church gatherings.
Disciples Called Christians
By Paris Reidhead1.0K26:33ChristiansACT 8:4ACT 8:12ACT 8:14ACT 8:26ACT 11:21ACT 11:24In this sermon, the speaker shares a story about a missionary who spent four years teaching and tutoring a young Indian boy in Spanish. During this time, the boy learned to read and came across the Bible, which led him to realize his sins and the need for a Savior. The missionary then pointed him to Jesus Christ. The speaker emphasizes that wherever the gospel is preached, some people will turn to the Lord, and this is evidence of God's presence. The sermon also mentions the importance of being a witness for Jesus and highlights the faithful ministry of missionaries like Donald Ward in Jordan.
Is the Lord Really With You?
By Shane Idleman51839:261SA 16:14ACT 11:21ROM 12:2EPH 6:12PHP 2:31TH 5:191TI 4:1JAS 3:14JAS 4:7JAS 4:10
This sermon emphasizes the importance of having the Lord's presence in our lives, drawing examples from Joshua, Samson, and Saul who faced defeat when the Lord wasn't with them. It highlights the need to avoid quenching and grieving the Holy Spirit, leading to a lack of intimacy with God. The message stresses the significance of going back to the basics of faith, surrender, and serving, and the necessity of unity in the church to prevent division caused by bitterness and negativity. The sermon also encourages militant prayer, discerning spirits, and yielding to God's wisdom to experience the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Lesser Known Characters 05 Barnabas-Whole Hearted
By Joseph Balsan40856:10ACT 4:32ACT 11:21ACT 15:391CO 12:21In this sermon, the preacher shares a story about a man who was able to lift a fallen horse by communicating with it. The preacher then relates this story to the concept of ministry and how it involves getting down to where the fallen person is. He emphasizes the importance of not giving up on those who have failed or come short, but instead having a warm heart and offering support. The preacher references the book of Acts, specifically chapter 4, verse 32, which talks about the unity and generosity of the believers. He concludes by highlighting the need for ministers to connect with and communicate effectively with those who are struggling.
Is the Lord "Really" With You?
By Shane Idleman930:07Humility and UnityGod's Presence2CH 7:14PRO 3:34MAT 18:20ACT 11:21ROM 12:1EPH 4:3PHP 4:61TI 4:1JAS 3:141PE 5:6Shane Idleman challenges the congregation with the question, 'Is the Lord really with you?' by examining Acts 11:21, emphasizing that the presence of God is evident in our active involvement in His work, humility, and unity within the church. He warns against self-deception and the dangers of pride, urging believers to engage in militant prayer and to discern the spirits influencing their lives. Idleman highlights the importance of returning to the basics of faith, such as prayer and community, to experience the fullness of God's presence. He concludes by stressing that genuine worship and sacrifice are necessary for the Holy Spirit to move powerfully among us.
Missionary Churches
By Keith Malcomson0ACT 1:8ACT 8:1ACT 11:21ACT 11:24ACT 11:26ACT 13:1ACT 14:26ROM 1:14Keith Malcomson preaches on the importance of a missionary-minded Church, using the example of the Church in Antioch from Acts 13:1-2. He emphasizes the need for local Churches to be prepared, trained, and led by the Holy Spirit to send out missionaries who are willing to sacrifice and minister to the Lord and the lost. The sermon highlights the characteristics of a pioneer, gifted, Christlike, ministering, sacrificial, supportive, and revived Church, drawing lessons from the early Church in Antioch and the missionary movements it birthed.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
The hand of the Lord was with them - By the hand, arm, and, finger of God, in the Scripture, different displays or exertions of his power are intended. Here it means that the energy of God accompanied them, and applied their preaching to the souls of all attentive hearers. Without this accompanying influence, even an apostle could do no good; and can inferior men hope to be able to convince and convert sinners without this? Ministers of the word of God, so called, who dispute the necessity and deny the being of this influence, show thereby that they are intruders into God's heritage; that they are not sent by him, and shall not profit the people at all. A great number believed - That Jesus was the Christ; and that he had died for their offenses, and risen again for their justification. Because the apostles preached the truth, and the hand of God was with them, therefore, a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord, becoming his disciples, and taking him for their portion.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
a great number believed--Thus the accession of Cornelius and his party was not the first admission of uncircumcised Gentiles into the Church. (See on Act 10:1.) Nay, we read of no influence which the accession of Cornelius and his house had on the further progress of the Gospel among the Gentiles; whereas there here open upon us operations upon the Gentiles from quite a different quarter, and attended with ever growing success. The only great object served by the case of Cornelius was the formal recognition of the principles which that case afterwards secured. (See on Act 15:19-29.)
John Gill Bible Commentary
Then tidings of these things,.... Of the spread of the Gospel in several parts, and the success of it in the conversion of sinners, especially at Antioch: came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem; these tidings were brought to the apostles and brethren there, by messengers which the ministers of the word sent unto them to let them know what success they met with; notwithstanding the persecution raised against the church of Jerusalem at the death of Stephen, and the havoc that was made of the members of it, and the dispersion of others, yet it still continued a church, and so it did for ages after: there are reckoned fifteen bishops of it unto the times of Trajan, and the destruction of the city by him, when the Jews were no longer suffered to live in it; and they are these, James the brother of our Lord, Simeon, Justus, Zacchaeus, Tobias, Benjamin, John, Matthias, Philip, Seneca, Justus, Levi, Ephres, Joseph, and Judas; and these are said (h) to be all originally Hebrews: but after the destruction of the city by Trajan, and the Jews were forbid inhabiting it, the church consisted of Gentiles only; and of them bishops were constituted over it, and were as follow: Marcus, Cassianus, Publius, Maximus, Julianus, Gaianus, Symmachus, Caius, another Julianus, Capito, another Maximus, Antoninus, Valens, Dolychianus, Narcissus, Aelius, Germanio, Gordius, and another Narcissus; all these governed this church in the "second" century: and in the "third" century, the bishops of this church were Alexander, Mazabanes, Labdas, and Hermon, who was the last before the Dioclesian persecution: in the "fourth" century, Macarins, Maximus, and Cyril, presided over it; and these were succeeded in the "fifth" century by Joannes Nepos, Prayllius, Juvenalis, Anastasius, and Martyrius; in this age also Lucian and Hesychius were presbyters of this church. In the "sixth" century, the names of the bishops of this church were Salustius, Helias, Johannes, Petrus, Macarius, Eustochius, Johannes, Neamus, and Isicius: in the "seventh" century were Thomas, Johannes, Neannus, Isaac, Zacharias, and Sophronius, who was the last bishop of Jerusalem before the utter and last devastation of it by the Saracens (i); since which time the city has underwent various fates, being sometimes in the hands of the Christians, and at other times possessed by the Turks, in whose power it now is. And they sent forth Barnabas; who was himself an Hellenist, and of the country of Cyprus, and so very fit to be sent to the Grecians or Hellenists at Antioch, who had received the Gospel to confirm them in it: for his orders were, that he should go as far as Antioch which is said to be about fifteen or sixteen days journey from Jerusalem: the phrase, "that he should go", is not in the Alexandrian copy, nor in the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions. (h) Euseb. Eccl. Hist. l. 4. c. 5. (i) Magdeburg. Hist. Eccles. cent. 2. c. 2. p. 2. & c. 9. p. 126. cent. 3. c. 10. p. 146. 148. cent. 4. c. 10. p. 503. c. 5. cent. 10. p. 540. cent. 6. c. 10. p. 335. cent. 7. c. 10. p. 251.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
11:21-24 Once again, as had happened in the household of Cornelius, Gentiles turned to the Lord in considerable numbers. The explosion of Christian faith into the Gentile world had to remain in harmony with the church at Jerusalem, so the Jerusalem church sent Barnabas to Antioch to oversee developments there. He could see that God’s blessing was on what was happening, so he endorsed it with joy.