acts-11:19-24,2-timothy-4:6-7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 11:20

Men of - Cyrene - The metropolis of the Cyrenaica; a country of Africa, bounded on the east by Marmarica, on the west by the Regio Syrtica, on the north by the Mediterranean, and on the south by the Sahara. Cyrene is now called Cairoan. This city, according to Eusebius, was built in the 37th Olympiad, about 630 years before Christ. In consequence of a revolt of its inhabitants, it was destroyed by the Romans; but they afterwards rebuilt it. It was for a long time subject to the Arabs, but is... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 11:21

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... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 11:22

The Church which was in Jerusalem - This was the original, the mother Church of Christianity; not the Church of Rome; there were Christian Churches founded in many places, which exist to the present day, before Rome heard the Gospel of the kingdom. A Christian Church means a company of believers in Christ Jesus, united for the purposes of Christian fellowship, and edification in righteousness. They sent forth Barnabas - It seems, then, that the Church collectively had power to commission... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 11:23

Had seen the grace of God - That is, had seen the effects produced by the grace of God. By the grace of God, we are to understand: His favor. The manifestations of that favor in the communication of spiritual blessings. And, Principles of light, life, holiness, etc., producing effects demonstrative of the causes from which they sprung. Barnabas saw that these people were objects of the Divine approbation; that they were abundantly blessed and edified together as a Christian Church;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 11:24

For he was a good man - Here is a proper character of a minister of the Gospel. He is a good man: his bad heart is changed; his evil dispositions rooted out; and the mind that was in Christ implanted in him. He is full of the Holy Ghost. He is holy, because the Spirit of holiness dwells in him: he has not a few transient visitations or drawings from that Spirit; it is a resident in his soul, and it fills his heart. It is light in his understanding; it is discrimination in his judgment;... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 11:19

Verse 19 19.Those which were scattered abroad. Luke returneth now unto the former history, (and unto that which followed in the same.) For he had said before that after that Stephen was slain the cruelty of the wicked increased; and many fled hither and thither for fear, so that the apostles were almost left alone at Jerusalem. Whereas the Church was thus torn in pieces, and fear did cause those which were fled to keep silence or else contempt of strangers, (734) he declareth that that event... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 11:20

Verse 20 20.Luke doth at length declare that certain of them brought this treasure even unto the Gentiles. And Luke calleth these Grecians not Ελληνες, but Ελληνισται. Therefore, some say that those came of the Jews, yet did they inhabit Greece; which I do not allow. For seeing the Jews, whom he mentioned a little before, were partly of Cyprus, they must needs be reckoned in that number, because the Jews count Cyprus a part of Greece. But Luke distinguisheth them from those, whom he calleth... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 11:21

Verse 21 21.The hand of the Lord was. Luke proveth by the success that the gospel was offered unto the Gentiles also by the brethren of Cyprus and Cyrene not rashly nor unadvisedly, because their labor was fruitful and profitable. But such increase should never have followed, unless God had commanded and favored. Therefore, it followeth that it pleased God that the Gentiles should be called. The hand, as it is well known, doth signify power and strength. Therefore, this is Luke’s meaning, that... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 11:22

Verse 22 22.And the tidings. If this report had been brought before Peter did excuse himself, those good men should have been reproved of many whose ministry notwithstanding God had sealed with the grace of his Spirit; but that superstition was now wiped away out of their minds, forasmuch as God had by evident signs declared that no nation ought to be counted profane. Therefore, they contend no longer, neither do they count it a point of rashness, that some durst preach Christ unto the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 11:23

Verse 23 23.When he had seen the grace of God. By these words Luke teacheth, first, that the gospel which they had received was true; secondly, that Barnabas sought nothing else but the glory of Christ. For, when he saith that he saw the grace of God, and that he exhorted them to go forward, hereby we gather that they were well taught. And the joy is a testimony of sincere godliness. Ambition is evermore envious and malicious; so that we see many seek for praise by reproving other men, because... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 11:20

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 11:21

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 11:22

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 11:23

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 11:24

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 11:19

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 11:20

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 11:21

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 11:22

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 11:23

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