By prof. A.P. Lopukhin
Acts of the Apostles, chapter 11. The displeasure of the believers in Jerusalem towards Peter due to his affiliation with the uncircumcised and the pacification of the discontented (1 – 18). Preaching the Gospel exterior Palestine, particularly in Antioch (10-21). Barnabas and Saul in Antioch (22 – 26). Prophecy of famine and almsgiving for Christians in Judea (27-30)
Acts. 11:1. The apostles and brothers who had been in Judea heard that the Gentiles additionally accepted the phrase of God.
Acts. 11:2. And when Peter went as much as Jerusalem, the circumcised besought him,
Acts. 11:3. saying, you went to uncircumcised males and ate with them.
The believers among the many Jews (i.e. those that had been circumcised) don’t reproach Peter for preaching the gospel to the Gentiles and baptizing them, however just for “going to the uncircumcised and consuming with them…”. In essence, they may not object to the preaching of Christ among the many Gentiles, since they may not neglect the command of the Lord himself “educate all nations, baptizing them” – Matt. 28:19. Their protest was solely towards Peter’s permitted communion with the uncircumcised.
Because the church track “Tako bysha eshke kosni uchenitsy” (fourth gospel verse, 4 voice) says of the One who himself had as soon as fought a lot towards those that unreasonably reproached Him that he “eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners”.
On this case the protest of the intense zealots of the Jewish regulation and customs, which weren’t even commanded by Moses, however had been solely the traditions of unknown outdated males, was the extra harmful, for it was a manifestation of that false educating which the late Judaizing false lecturers propagated with such power, and which was able to demand the compulsion of all Judaism, with its circumcision and customs, as a situation of entry into Christianity.
That is already an excessive with which Peter, and later to an excellent larger extent Paul, battle – even after the Apostolic Council places an finish to this matter as soon as and for all with its authoritative decrees.
Acts. 11:4. And Peter started to inform all of them in flip, saying:
Peter’s account of the occasion at Caesarea is nearly similar to the account of the deist. Peter doesn’t immediately reply the reproach leveled at him for going to the uncircumcised and conversing with them, however merely rejects it by the indisputably revealed will of God for the admission of Gentiles into Christ’s Church. When this occurs – and never a lot by the desire and actions of Peter, however by the desire and indicators of God, it might clearly be unreasonable to oppose God and never acknowledge them as full members of Christ’s brotherhood, in order that in communication with they will now not be ashamed of something.
Acts. 11:5. I used to be within the metropolis of Joppa, and as I used to be praying, I used to be carried away and noticed a imaginative and prescient: a vessel descended, as if an incredible material, let down from heaven by its 4 corners, and got here close to to me.
Acts. 11:6. As I gazed upon it and appeared, I noticed quadrupeds of the earth, beasts, creeping issues, and birds of the air.
Acts. 11:7. And I heard a voice saying to me: rise up, Peter, slaughter and eat!
Acts. 11:8. And I mentioned: no, Lord, as a result of nothing soiled or impure has ever entered my mouth.
Acts. 11:9. And a voice from heaven spoke to me once more: what God has cleansed, you don’t think about unclean.
Acts. 11:10. This occurred 3 times; and once more all the things rose to the sky.
Acts. 11:11. And behold, at that hour, three males stopped in entrance of the home the place I used to be, despatched from Caesarea to me.
Acts. 11:12. And the Spirit advised me to go together with them with out hesitation. These six brothers got here with me, and we entered the person’s home.
Acts. 11:13. He advised us how he noticed an Angel (saint) in his home, who stood and mentioned to him: ship males to Joppa and name Simon, known as Peter;
Acts. 11:14. he’ll let you know phrases by which you and all of your family will probably be saved.
Acts. 11:15. And once I started to talk, the Holy Spirit came across them, as upon us at first.
Acts. 11:16 a.m. Then I remembered the phrases of the Lord, how He spoke: “John baptizes with water, however you may be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Acts. 11:17. If, subsequently, God gave them an equal present, as he gave us who believed within the Lord Jesus Christ, who am I to hinder God?
Acts. 11:18. After they heard this, they calmed down and glorified God, saying: God has additionally given the Gentiles repentance for all times.
After this clarification, Peter’s critics not solely calmed down, but in addition praised God, who had additionally given the Gentiles “repentance for all times”, i.e. life within the everlasting kingdom of Christ. “Do you see,” says St. John Chrysostom, “what the speech of Peter, who recounts intimately what occurred, has executed? Due to this, they glorified God, as a result of He additionally gave them repentance: these phrases humbled them! Then eventually the door of religion was opened to the Gentiles…”
Acts. 11:19. And people who had been scattered by the persecution that arose on the killing of Stephen got here to Phenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and preached the phrase to nobody besides to the Jews.
In the meantime, these scattered by the persecutions that adopted Stephen reached Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the phrase solely to the Jews.
After setting forth the occasions which require particular consideration and which occurred after the homicide of Stephen (Acts 8, Acts 9, Acts 10), the creator proceeds to explain the actions of the scattered believers exterior the borders of Judea and Samaria. Its function is to current extra vividly the essential outcomes of the persecution and dispersion of the Christians. “The persecution – says Saint John Chrysostom – has introduced no small profit to the preaching of the Gospel. If the enemies had intentionally sought to unfold the Church, they’d have executed no completely different: I imply, to scatter the lecturers.’
“Phoenicia” – a coastal strip of land north of Galilee, at the moment topic to the Romans, with the as soon as well-known cities of Tire and Sidon.
“Cyprus” – a big island positioned close to the Syrophoenician coast of the Mediterranean Sea (see Acts 4:36).
“Antioch” – a big after which flourishing metropolis in northwestern Syria, on the Orontes River, 6 hours’ journey from the ocean (about 30 versts), based by Antiochus, father of Seleucus Nicator, founding father of the Seleucid kingdom. Its predominant inhabitants was Greek, however there have been additionally many Jews. Greek schooling and language additionally prevailed within the metropolis.
“they preached the phrase to nobody, besides to Jews.” They adopted the rule as soon as acknowledged by the apostle Paul that the Jews had been the primary to be preached the phrase of God (Acts 13:46).
On this manner they preached the gospel to the Jews, bypassing the Gentiles, “not due to human worry, which was nothing to them, however wanting to maintain the regulation and be condescending to them” (St. John Chrysostom), that’s, to the Jews who thought which have the best rights to be proclaimed with the evangelical gospel.
Acts. 11:20. There have been a few of them Cypriots and Cyrenes who, having entered Antioch, spoke to the Greeks and preached the Lord Jesus.
“Cyprians and Cyreneans.” After the occasions at Caesarea (the conversion of Cornelius) the strict distinction between Jews and Gentiles relating to the appropriate to enter Christ’s Church fully misplaced its power, and since then the unfold of the Gospel among the many Gentiles has elevated. The believers from among the many Hellenistic Jews (“Cypriots and Cyrenes”) confirmed particular zeal on this regard, who, coming to Antioch, brazenly “spoke to the Greeks and preached the excellent news of the Lord Jesus” and had been fully profitable, creating the primary giant group of Christians among the many pagans, performed a serious position within the lifetime of the early Christian Church.
Acts. 11:21. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and an incredible multitude believed and turned to the Lord.
“And the hand of the Lord was with them,” i. with the preachers. They had been strengthened by a particular gracious energy of God, via which they carried out indicators and wonders.
Acts. 11:22 a.m. Phrase of this got here to the Jerusalem church, and so they despatched Barnabas to Antioch.
“There was phrase of it.” In Greek: ὁ λόγος … περὶ αὐτῶν. Actually: “the phrase for them.”
“to the Jerusalem church” – in its full composition, with the apostles on the head, who despatched Barnabas to go to Antioch. Why precisely Barnabas? Barnabas was greatest suited in case any misunderstandings arose, resembling these talked about in Acts. 11: 2 – 3 and for the management of the brand new Christian group. He was a local of the identical Cyprus, whence a number of the Antiochian preachers had been (Acts 11:20, Acts 4:36); was particularly revered within the Jerusalem church (Acts 4:36-37, 9:26-27), was a “good man” and gracious (Acts 11:24). He had a particular present of persuasion and luxury, because the very title Barnabas signifies (Acts 4:36). Such a person should have appeared peculiarly able to allaying any disturbances that may come up, and of bringing the entire lifetime of the group into a correct spirit.
Acts. 11:23. When he arrived and noticed the grace of God, he rejoiced and exhorted all with a honest coronary heart to abide within the Lord,
Upon his arrival, Barnabas might solely rejoice in God’s grace among the many Christians in Antioch, whom he requested “to abide within the Lord with a honest coronary heart.” In Greek: τῇ προθέσει τῆς καρδίας προσμένειν τῷ Κυρίῳ. Within the Slavic translation: “Izvoleniem serdka terpeti o Gospode”. Actually: with the intent of the guts to abide with the Lord. St. John Chrysostom means that after Barnabas praised and accredited the believing individuals, he transformed much more individuals to Christ.
Acts. 11:24. for he was a superb man, filled with the Holy Spirit and of religion. And many individuals joined the Lord.
“as a result of” – refers to verse 22. It explains why Barnabas was despatched, and likewise why Barnabas rejoiced a lot and took to coronary heart the situation of the brand new converts.
Acts. 11:25. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to search for Saul, and when he discovered him, he introduced him to Antioch.
Barnabas probably wished to direct Saul, who had eliminated to Tarsus from Jerusalem, to the brand new and huge subject of exercise which had opened up, for which, as an apostle to the Gentiles, he was destined (Acts 8:15, 29-30).
Acts. 11:26. An entire 12 months they gathered collectively in church and taught an incredible multitude; and first in Antioch the disciples had been known as Christians.
“they had been assembly in church.” Frequent worship conferences of Christians are meant.
“they taught fairly a individuals.” In Greek: διδάξαι ὄχλον ἱκανόν. I.e. they instructed and confirmed the brand new converts within the truths of the religion and the foundations of the Christian life. It’s noteworthy that Saul’s preaching exercise is right here described (although collectively with Barnabas) by the phrase “educating” (διδάξαι), which is normally used just for apostolic preaching (Acts 4:2, 18, 5:25, 28, 42; cf. Acts 2:42).
“first in Antioch the disciples had been known as Christians.” Till then, the followers of the Lord had been known as disciples, brothers, believers, and so forth. In two locations within the New Testomony (Acts 26:28 and 1 Pet. 4:16) this title is utilized by individuals who weren’t within the Church. This means that the giving of the title Christians is hardly because of the Christians themselves. It’s uncertain that it additionally got here from the Jews, who wouldn’t dare to present the sacred title Christ (translation of the Hebrew Messiah) to the followers of the One whom they didn’t think about as such. Due to this fact, it stays with the best chance to suppose that the title Christians was given to the believers by the Antiochian pagans. They didn’t know the dogmatic and religious-historical that means of the title Messiah, and accepted its Greek translation (Christ) as a correct title, thus naming the get together of His followers. The brand new title was significantly profitable, as a result of it united all those that professed the brand new religion in a single – each those that got here from among the many Jews and people from the Gentiles who realized Christianity fully independently of Judaism.
Acts. 11:27. In these days, prophets from Jerusalem got here all the way down to Antioch.
“prophets got here down.” Among the many varied non secular presents wherein the supreme church of Christ was so wealthy, at the moment the present of prophecy additionally manifested itself in some believers, i.e. the foretelling of future occasions past the attain of pure human data (1 Cor. 12:10). Certainly one of these prophets was Agabus, who’s talked about once more later (Acts 21:10).
Acts. 11:28. And one in every of them, named Agabus, stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there can be an incredible famine all through the entire universe, simply because it occurred beneath Caesar Claudius.
“introduced by the Spirit.” In Greek: ἐσήμανε διὰ τοῦ Πνεύματα. Within the Slavic translation: it was meant by the Spirit. I.e. introduced by some signal, an exterior figurative motion, symbolic of what was urged to him by the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 21:10).
“all through the entire universe…an incredible famine.” A robust expression is used, signifying the approaching of an incredible famine in every single place (cf. Luke 2:1), in lots of locations, and maybe not on the similar time, however over a number of years, district by district, and never in every single place directly. The chronicler notes that such a famine “occurred beneath Claudius Caesar.” That is the successor of Caligula, who dominated the empire 41-54 BC. Throughout all this time a famine raged in sure locations within the Roman Empire, and about 44 an incredible famine occurred all through Palestine (Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, XX, 2, 6; 5, 2; Eusebius of Caesarea. Ecclesiastical Historical past. II, 11 ). Concerning the 12 months 50 there was a famine in Italy itself and in different provinces (Tacitus, Annals. XII, 43).
Acts. 11:29. Then the disciples determined, every in line with his means, to ship assist to the brothers who lived in Judea;
In Greek: τῶν δὲ μαθητῶν καθὼς ηὐπορεῖτό τις. Actually: of the disciples, as many as they may, determined… This apparently occurred in the beginning of the famine in Judea. Then, for the primary time, the touching and concord and unity between the person Christian communities was manifested.
Acts. 11:30. this they did, sending the collected to the presbyters beneath Barnabas and Saul.
“to the presbyters.” That is the primary point out of presbyters in apostolic historical past. As seems from additional references (Acts 15:2, 4, 6, 22, 23, 20, and so forth.) and from the apostolic epistles (Titus 1:4; 1 Tim. 5:17, 19, and so forth.), the presbyters had been the leaders of the person Christian communities, shepherds and lecturers and performers of the sacraments (cf. Acts 20:17, 28; Eph. 4:11; 1 Pet. 5:1; James 5:14-15).
They had been ordained to ministry by the laying on of arms by the apostles (Acts 14:23) or the bishops (1 Tim. 5:22). In these cities the place the Christian societies had been extra quite a few, for instance Jerusalem, Ephesus, and so forth., there have been a number of presbyters every (Acts 15:1, 4, and so forth.; Acts 20:17).
Of the unique establishment of this sacred diploma there isn’t any such particular testimony as, for instance, of the establishment of deacons (Acts 6, and so forth.). One factor is evident, that the customized of ordaining presbyters within the newly based Christian communities was established very early (Acts 14:27), apparently brought on by the pressing want for every group to have, along with a bishop, an authoritative and approved by the apostolic authority chief, a superior, shepherd and instructor, minister of the sacraments.
It was to the presbyters, because the closest representatives of the person municipalities, that the assistance of the Antiochians was handed over.
Supply in Russian: Explanatory Bible, or Commentaries on all of the books of the Holy Scriptures of the Previous and New Testaments: In 7 volumes / Ed. prof. A.P. Lopukhin. – Ed. 4th. – Moscow: Dar, 2009, 1232 pp.
