Acts 11

And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.

And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,

Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.

But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,

I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance 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:

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.

And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.

But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.

But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.

And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.

And the spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house:

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;

Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.

And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.

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.

Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?

When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.

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.

And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.

Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.

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.

For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:

And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.

And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.

Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:

Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

What does Acts 11:21 mean?

Explanation

Acts 11:21 speaks about a significant event in the early Christian church where the power and presence of the Lord resulted in a substantial number of people turning towards Christian faith.

The phrase "the hand of the Lord was with them" indicates divine favor and support.

It implies that the success of the missionaries in converting people was due to God’s intervention and blessings rather than their own efforts alone.

The "great number" highlights not only the effectiveness of the missionary work but also the readiness of people to accept and adopt Christian faith.

To "believe, and turned unto the Lord" shows a genuine conversion experience, where individuals accept the teachings of Jesus and change their direction in life towards following Him.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Acts 11:21 is set in the period of the early church, after Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.

The early Christian movement began spreading outside of Jerusalem, and this particular verse reflects a time when the Gospel was reaching Gentile (non-Jewish) communities, which was a significant expansion of the mission beyond Jewish circles.

The events in this verse occur after Peter's vision in Acts 10, which led him to share the Gospel with the Roman centurion Cornelius, marking a pivotal moment for the inclusion of Gentiles in the Christian faith.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse is rich in illustrating the concept of divine providence in the success of the church's mission.

It attests to the belief that God actively works in the world to fulfill His purposes.

For some Christian traditions, this verse shows the fulfillment of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), where Jesus commands His disciples to spread the Gospel to all nations.

The emphasis on belief and repentance is also foundational, demonstrating a personal transformation that aligns with the core message of the Gospel.

Practical Applications

This verse encourages believers today to trust in God’s presence and direction when engaging in any form of ministry or missionary work.

It is a reminder that success in spiritual endeavors is ultimately attributed to God's power and not human strength or strategies.

Additionally, it can inspire individual Christians to boldly share their faith, knowing that God may work through them to lead others towards a life-changing belief in Christ.

Cross-References

Acts 2:47 – "Praising God, and having favour with all the people.

And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."

Acts 10:44 – "While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word."
John 6:44 – "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day."
Isaiah 41:10 – "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

Language Study

Key words in the original Greek text of this verse include:

"Hand" (χείρ, cheir) often symbolizes power or authority in biblical language.
"Lord" (κύριος, kyrios) is a title signifying master or ruler, commonly used in the Septuagint and the New Testament for God or Jesus.
"Believed" (ἐπίστευσαν, episteusan) indicates an acceptance of truths concerning God and a trust in Him.
"Turned" (ἐπέστρεψεν, epestrepsen) implies a conversion or a complete change in direction or allegiance.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the broader cultural and religious context of the time, conversion experiences similar to those described in Acts 11:21 can be found in various traditions.

In many pagan religions, a change of allegiance to a new deity or religious system often involved ceremonial rites.

However, the Christian concept of conversion was unique in its emphasis on a personal relationship with a transcendent God and moral transformation.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, this verse does not directly intersect with scientific concepts or theories.

However, the transformative experiences described might be of interest to fields such as psychology or sociology, which study human behavior and the factors that contribute to changes in personal beliefs and social identity.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and commentators have offered various perspectives on this verse.

Some note the importance of recognizing God's sovereignty in evangelism, while others focus on the interplay between divine agency and human participation in the spread of Christianity.

Commentaries may also reflect on the surprising and unpredictable growth of the church, the role of the Holy Spirit in conversions, and the universality of the Christian message that transcends ethnic and cultural barriers.

Acts 11

Acts 11

What does Acts 11:21 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 11:21 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?