Acts 11:30 - Exposition

Sending for and sent, A.V.; hand for hands, A.V. Sending ( ἀποστείλαντες ). Those by whom they sent were ἀπόστολοι ( 2 Corinthians 8:23 ), messengers, or apostles, To the elders. This is the first mention of presbyters, or elders, in the Church at Jerusalem, which was now fully organized. James the Less was the resident apostle (?) and bishop; with him were the presbyters ( Acts 21:18 ); and under them again the seven deacons ( Acts 6:5 , Acts 6:6 ). The presbyters of the Church of Jerusalem are mentioned again in Acts 15:2 , Acts 15:4 , Acts 15:6 , Acts 15:22 , Acts 15:23 ; Acts 16:4 ; Acts 21:18 ; James 5:13 , where, however, the elders of other Churches in Judaea may possibly be included. A difficulty arises with regard to Saul's mission to Jerusalem with Barnabas, as to how to reconcile it with Galatians 2:1 , which speaks of St. Paul's second visit to Jerusalem as taking place fourteen years after his first, whereas this visit could not be above four or five years after. But there are three hypotheses about the visit to Jerusalem referred to in Galatians 2:1-21 .

1. The first identifies it with the visit hero recorded.

2. The second identifies it with that related in Acts 15:2 , etc., which is supported by most of the best authorities ancient and modern (see note on Acts 15:1-41 .).

3. The third, which is advocated by Lewin ('Life of St. Paul,' vol. 1.302, etc.), identifies it with the visit recorded in Acts 18:22 . As regards the first, with which we are now concerned, though at first sight you would have ex-peered St. Paul's next visit to Jerusalem after his conversion to be the one alluded to in Galatians it., yet the following circumstances make this impossible.