RSV ~ Acts 11 Notes
Acts 11:2 | ISB Notes
the circumcision party: Believers from Israel shocked at Peterâs disregard for the Jewish policy of separation from Gentiles (10:28). Some of them stubbornly maintained this policy even after the Gentiles were openly accepted into the Church (Gal 2:12).
Acts 11:17 | ISB Notes
the same gift: The equal footing of Jews and Gentiles before God is shown by their equal reception of the Spirit. Peter appeals to this fact at the Jerusalem Council when he denies that Gentiles must add circumcision to Baptism to become full members of the New Covenant (15:7-11).
Acts 11:18 | ISB Notes
repentance unto life: Involves turning away from sin and leads to Baptism (2:38).
See word study: Repentance at Mk 1:4.
Acts 11:19-26 | ISB Notes
Luke places this episode immediately after 10:1 â 11:18 to show that as God directed the first Gentile conversion through Peter, he was also directing the first Gentile mission through the Antioch Church. Systematic outreach to the Gentiles gains considerable momentum after this point, as Antioch becomes the launch pad for all three of Paulâs missionary journeys in Acts (13:1-3; 15:35-41; 18:22-23).
Acts 11:19 | ISB Notes
Phoenicia ⌠Cyprus ⌠Antioch: Three centers of Christian presence outside the land of IsraelâPhoenicia, a territory northwest of Galilee; Cyprus, an island in the Mediterranean; and Antioch, a prominent city in Syria.
Acts 11:20 | ISB Notes
Cyrene: A city on the northern shore of Africa (in modern Libya).
Acts 11:22 | ISB Notes
Jerusalem: As when the first conversions were reported in Samaria (8:14), Jerusalem sent delegates to Antioch to ensure this new missionary development was the work of God. The enthusiasm of Barnabas confirms that it was (11:2324). See note on Acts 4:36.
Acts 11:25 | ISB Notes
look for Saul: He had returned to his home in Tarsus since the Jewish Hellenists in Jerusalem were plotting against his life (9:28-30). He is now summoned to assume teaching responsibilities in the Antioch Church.
Acts 11:26 | ISB Notes
Christians: This new title for the disciples of Jesus Christ is elsewhere used at 26:28 and 1 Pet 4:16 in the NT.
Acts 11:28 | ISB Notes
Agabus: A Palestinian prophet who also foresaw Paulâs arrest and imprisonment in Jerusalem (21:10-11).
great famine: Other ancient historians, such as Tacitus, Suetonius, and Josephus, also mention a famine that gripped the eastern Mediterranean world in the 40s.
Claudius: The Roman emperor from A.D. 41 to 54.
Acts 11:29 | ISB Notes
relief to the brethren: This is the first of two relief offerings that Paul brought to Jerusalem. The second was a collection taken up among Gentile Churches that he delivered to the poor of the city after his third missionary journey (24:17; Rom 15:25-28).