Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Acts
Book: Acts
Chapter: 11
Overview:
Peter's defence.
(1-18) The success of the
Gospel at
Antioch.
(19-24) The disciples named Christians, Relief sent to
Judea.
(25-30)
1-18 The imperfect state of human nature strongly appears, when
godly persons are displeased even to hear that the
Word of God
has been received, because their own system has not been
attended to. And we are too apt to despair of doing good to
those who yet, when tried, prove very teachable. It is the bane
and damage of the
Church, to shut out those from it, and from
the benefit of the
Means of Grace, who are not in every thing as
we are.
Peter stated the whole affair. We should at all times
Bear with the infirmities of our brethren; and instead of taking
Offence, or answering with warmth, we should explain our
motives, and show the nature of our proceedings. That preaching
is certainly right, with which the
Holy Ghost is given. While
men are very zealous for their own regulations, they should take
care that they do not withstand
God; and those who
Love the
Lord
will
Glorify him, when made sure that he has given
Repentance to
Life to any fellow-sinners.
Repentance is
God's
Gift; not only
his free
Grace accepts it, but his mighty
Grace Works it in us,
Grace takes away the
Heart of
Stone, and gives us a
Heart of
Flesh. The
Sacrifice of
God is a broken
Spirit.
19-24 The first preachers of the
Gospel at
Antioch, were
dispersed from
Jerusalem By Persecution; thus what was meant to
hurt the
Church, was made to work for its good. The wrath of
Man
is made to praise
God. What should the ministers of
Christ
preach, but
Christ?
Christ, and him crucified?
Christ, and him
glorified? And their preaching was accompanied with the Divine
power. The
Hand of the
Lord was with them, to bring that home to
the hearts and consciences of men, which they could but speak to
the outward
Ear. They believed; they were convinced of the
Truth
of the
Gospel. They turned from a careless,
Carnal way of
living, to live a holy, heavenly, spiritual
Life. They turned
from worshipping
God in show and ceremony, to
Worship him in the
Spirit and in
Truth. They turned to the
Lord Jesus, and he
became all in all with them. This was the work of
Conversion
wrought upon them, and it must be wrought upon every one of us.
It was the
Fruit of their
Faith; all who sincerely believe, will
turn to the
Lord, When the
Lord Jesus is preached in simplicity,
and according to the Scriptures, he will give success; and when
sinners are thus brought to the
Lord, really good men, who are
full of
Faith and of the
Holy Ghost, will admire and rejoice in
the
Grace of
God bestowed
On them.
Barnabas was full of
Faith;
full of the
Grace of
Faith, and full of the fruits of the
Faith
that
Works By Love.
25-30 Hitherto the followers of
Christ were called disciples,
that is, learners, scholars; but from that time they were called
Christians. The proper meaning of this name is, a follower of
Christ; it denotes one who, from serious thought, embraces the
religion of
Christ, believes his promises, and makes it his
chief care to shape his
Life By Christ's precepts and
Example.
Hence it is
Plain that multitudes take the name of
Christian to
whom it does not rightly belong. But the name without the
reality will only add to our guilt. While the bare profession
will bestow neither profit nor delight, the possession of it
will give both the promise of the
Life that now is, and of that
which is to come. Grant,
Lord, that Christians may forget other
names and distinctions, and
Love one another as the followers of
Christ ought to do. True Christians will feel for their brethren
under
Afflictions. Thus will
Fruit be brought forth to the
praise and
Glory of
God. If all mankind were true Christians,
how cheerfully would they help one another! The whole
Earth
would be like one large family, every member of which would
strive to be dutiful and kind.