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Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
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Commentary & Explanation
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Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
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CHAPTER 11
God grants the gift of repentance to Gentiles—Disciples first called
Christians at Antioch—Church guided by revelation.
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1 AND the apostles
and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the aGentiles
had also received the bword of God.
2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they
that were of the acircumcision bcontended
with him,
3 Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.
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4 But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,
5 I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a
atrance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had
been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to
me:
6 Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
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7 And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.
8 But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.
9 But the voice answered me again from heaven,
What God hath acleansed, that call not thou
bcommon.
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10 And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.
11 And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.
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12 And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house:
13 And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;
14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
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15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
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17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like
agift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord
Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
18 When they heard these things, they held
their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the
aGentiles granted brepentance unto life.
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19 ¶ Now they which were scattered
abroad upon the apersecution that arose about Stephen
travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to
none but unto the Jews only.
20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.
21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
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22 ¶ Then tidings of these things came
unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth
aBarnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
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25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to
seek Saula:
26 And when he had found him, he brought him
unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they
aassembled themselves with the church, and taught much
people. And the disciples were called bChristians first
in cAntiocha.
Saul of Tarsus
Paul to the Gentiles
The locality ofTarsus where Paul was born and raised and his call by the
Lord himself to the Gentiles speaks volumes about why Paul was selected and
to whom he was called to work. And why the New Testament Bible is so filled
with Paul's works as compared with those of all the other Apostles. It was
to these 'particular' Gentiles to whom Paul was called, the 'Western Gentile'
or those with whom the seed of Joseph/Ephraim was sown and from whence the
family of Joseph/Ephraim would be called forth to the restoration and
fulfillment of Abraham's covenant of blessing upon the nations of the earth
to whence the latter day church is called to administer to.
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25a Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek
Saul Barnabas' call to the Gentiles, Paul's miraculous 'call to
conversion' as a special vessel unto the Lord and his eventual 'mission to
the Gentiles, and the New Testament's overly loaded dwelling upon the
letters and mission of Paul to the Gentiles must be considered significant.
What was it about the 'Gentiles' or in fact this particular group of
Gentiles which history has emphasized in its preservation of historical
dwellings above the rest is there about the 'European Gentiles'? Is it not
that this is were many of the scattered seed of Joseph was sowen? And it this
not the very fruitful remnant of such from which those of the restoration,
those of the seed of Joseph/Ephraim would be called to fulfill the covenant
promises of Abraham unto the world. Ought we not dwell upon Saul's/Paul's
mission to these particularly separated out Gentiles, they who would be
the firstfruits of the restoration and the foundational source of the blessings
of the fathers unto all the world, every nation, kindred, tongue and people,
that the Plan of God might be so fulfilled in and through them of the latter
days?
26a Christians first in Antioch
This is Antioch Syria as opposed to Antioch of the province of Galatia.
Antioch, Syria was founded about 300 BC and is said to be were East met West.
Another consideration is it was first where those of the eartly Church first
used the name of Christians, Christ being the Greek or Gentile name of the
Messiah. Thus it is not surpriseing that one of the first place of the
instalation of Christ's Gospel amoung the Gentiles occurred at this Antioch.
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Map of Antioch/Tarsus
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27 ¶ And in these days came
aprophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
28 And there stood up one of them named
Agabus, and signified by the aSpirit that there should be
great bdearth throughout all the world: which came to pass
in the days of Claudius Caesar.
29 Then the disciples, every man according to
his ability, determined to send arelief unto the brethren
which dwelt in Judaea:
30 Which also they did, and sent it to the
aelders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
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