Acts 11:22
in Acts 11When news of this reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And the report concerning them came to the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas as far as Antioch:
KJV
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.
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This verse in Acts 11
Commentary
10 notes on this verse"They commissioned Barnabas to go to Antioch." Why did they not write about this to Paul, but sent Barnabas? Because they did not yet know about the virtue of this man.
This site's exposition
tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church
on Acts 11:22-24
News reached the church at Jerusalem, and Barnabas, whose name means son of consolation, is sent to investigate, the same trusted go-between who earlier vouched for the converted Saul. He saw the grace of God and was glad, exhorting the new believers with purpose of heart to cleave unto the Lord rather than imposing a test of conformity on them. Luke's own verdict on him, that he was a good man, full of the Holy Ghost and of faith, explains why much people was added to the Lord under his ministry.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"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." What may be the reason that, when such a city received the word, they did not come themselves? Because of the Jews. But they send Barnabas. However, it is no small part of the providential management even so that Paul comes to be there. It is both natural, and it is wisely ordered, that they are averse to him, and so that Voice of the Gospel, that Trumpet of heaven, is not shut up in Jerusalem.
Mark how by small means all is brought about: mark the preaching how it spreads: mark those in Jerusalem, having like care for all, holding the whole world as one house. "They heard that Samaria had received the word, and" to Samaria they send the Apostles: they heard what had befallen at Antioch, and to Antioch they send Barnabas: they also send again, and these prophets. For the distance was great, and it was not meet the Apostles at present should separate from thence, that they might not be thought to be fugitives, and to have fled from their own people.
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Then tidings of these things,....
A prediction of an approaching famine, and the contribution that was made among the Gentile converts for the relief of the poor saints in Judea, upon that occasion,
They sent him forth as an envoy from them, and a representative of their whole body, to congratulate them upon the success of the gospel among them, as matter of rejoicing both to preachers and hearers, and with both they rejoiced. He must go as far as Antioch. It was a great way, but, far as it was, he was willing to undertake the journey for a public service.
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
The Church which was in Jerusalem - This was the original, the mother Church of Christianity; not the Church of Rome; there were Christian Churches founded in many places, which exist to the present day, before Rome heard the Gospel of the kingdom. A Christian Church means a company of believers in Christ Jesus, united for the purposes of Christian fellowship, and edification in righteousness. They sent forth Barnabas - It seems, then, that the Church collectively had power to commission and send forth any of its own members, whom it saw God had qualified for a particular work.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Barnabas . . . as far as Antioch--implying that even on the way to Antioch he found churches to visit [OLSHAUSEN]. It was in the first instance, no doubt, a mission of inquiry; and no one could be more suitable to inquire into the proceedings of those Cyprians and Cyrenians than one who was himself a "Grecian" of Cyprus (Ac 4:36), and "a son of consolation."
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Then tidings ... - The church at Jerusalem heard of this. It was natural that so remarkable an occurrence as the conversion of the Gentiles, and the extraordinary success of the gospel in a splendid and mighty city, should be reported at Jerusalem, and excite deep interest there. And they sent forth - To aid the disciples there, and to give them their sanction. They had done a similar thing in the revival which occurred in Samaria. See the notes on Act 8:14. Barnabas - See Act 4:36-37. He was a native of Cyprus, and was probably well acquainted with Antioch. He was, therefore, especially qualified for the work on which they sent him.
The words behind it
21 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἠκούσθη | ekousthe | Was heard | G191 → | 425 times |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| λόγος | logos | report | G3056 → | 329 times |
| εἰς | eis | in | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| τὰ | ta | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὦτα | ota | ears | G3775 → | 36 times |
| τῆς | tes | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐκκλησίας | ekklesias | church | G1577 → | 113 times |
| τῆς | tes | which | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| οὔσης | ouses | is being | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| Ἰερουσαλὴμ | ierousalem | Jerusalem | G2419 → | 76 times |
| περὶ | peri | concerning | G4012 → | 332 times |
| αὐτῶν | auton | them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐξαπέστειλαν | exapesteilan | they sent forth | G1821 → | 12 times |
| Βαρναβᾶν | barnaban | Barnabas | G921 → | 28 times |
| διελθεῖν | dielthein | to go | G1330 → | 43 times |
| ἕως | he'os | as far as | G2193 → | 146 times |
| Ἀντιοχείας· | antiocheias | Antioch; | G490 → | 18 times |
ἠκούσθηWas heard
ekoustheG191 →425 times
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
λόγοςreport
logosG3056 →329 times
εἰςin
eisG1519 →1755 times
τὰthe
taG3588 →19766 times
ὦταears
otaG3775 →36 times
τῆςof the
tesG3588 →19766 times
ἐκκλησίαςchurch
ekklesiasG1577 →113 times
τῆςwhich
tesG3588 →19766 times
οὔσηςis being
ousesG1510 →2333 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ἸερουσαλὴμJerusalem
ierousalemG2419 →76 times
περὶconcerning
periG4012 →332 times
αὐτῶνthem
autonG846 →5565 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐξαπέστειλανthey sent forth
exapesteilanG1821 →12 times
ΒαρναβᾶνBarnabas
barnabanG921 →28 times
διελθεῖνto go
dieltheinG1330 →43 times
ἕωςas far as
he'osG2193 →146 times
Ἀντιοχείας·Antioch;
antiocheiasG490 →18 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Acts 11:1The apostles and brothers throughout Judea soon heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.
it leads to
- Psalms 22:27
All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD. All the families of the nations will bow down before Him.
- Malachi 1:11
For My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place, incense and pure offerings will be presented in My name, because My name…
- Romans 15:7–12
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring glory to God.
- Psalms 22:27
Through
Acts 9:27Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and described how Saul had seen the Lord, who spoke to him on the road to Damascus, and how Saul had spoken boldly in that city in…
it leads to
- Acts 4:36
Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (meaning Son of Encouragement),
- Acts 4:36
Through
Acts 15:2And after engaging these men in sharp debate, Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
it leads to
- Acts 15:22–23
Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among…
- Acts 15:6–7
So the apostles and elders met to look into this matter.
- Acts 15:22–23
Through
1 Thessalonians 3:6But just now, Timothy has returned from his visit with the good news about your faith, your love, and the fond memories you have preserved, longing to see us just as we long to…
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 11:2
Now I commend you for remembering me in everything and for maintaining the traditions, just as I passed them on to you.
- Isaiah 52:7
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
- 1 Corinthians 11:2
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Acts

Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
- PersonNew TestamentBarnabasThe Levite from Cyprus whom the apostles nicknamed son of encouragement; he vouched for Saul when nobody in Jerusalem would go nea…
- PlaceJerusalemJerusalemThe city David took from the Jebusites and made his capital, where Solomon built the temple, where Christ was crucified and rose,…
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); J. A. Alexander, The Acts of the Apostles Explained; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 25; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.
