Acts 11:23
in Acts 11When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to abide in the Lord with all their hearts.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
who, when he was come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad; and he exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord:
KJV
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.
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This verse in Acts 11
Commentary
11 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Had seen the grace of God - The favor, or mercy of God, in converting sinners to himself. Was glad - Approved of what had been done in preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, and rejoiced that God had poured down his Spirit on them. The effect of a revival is to produce joy in the hearts of all those who love the Saviour. And exhorted them all - Entreated them. They would be exposed to many trials and temptations, and he sought to secure their firm adherence to the cause of religion.
This site's exposition
When news of this reached
on Acts 11:22-24
The church in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to Antioch, the same man who vouched for Saul in 9:27. When he saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to abide in the Lord with all their hearts.
This site's exposition
saw the grace of God, he rejoiced
Grace and rejoiced share one root in Greek, charis and chairo. Barnabas saw the grace of God in the changed lives of Gentile believers. His name, explained at 4:36 as son of encouragement, matches the verb Luke gives him here.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
"And he exhorted them to cleave unto the Lord, for he was a good man." By "good man," I take it, he means one that is kind, sincere, exceedingly desirous of the salvation of his neighbors - "for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith. To cleave unto the Lord with purpose of heart" this is said with encomium and praise. "And much people was added unto the Lord:" for like rich land this city received the word, and brought forth much fruit.
And "when" Barnabas, it says, "came and had seen the grace of God," - not the diligence of men - "he exhorted them to cleave unto the Lord": and by this he converted more. "And much people was added unto the Lord." Why do they not write to Paul, but send Barnabas? They did not yet know the virtue of the man: but it is providentially ordered that Barnabas should come. As there was a multitude, and none to hinder, well might the faith grow, and above all because they had no trials to undergo.
But observe this holy man - Barnabas, I mean - how he looked not to his own interests, but hasted to Tarsus. "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." He was a very kind man, and single-hearted, and considerate.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Where the grace of God is it will be seen, as the tree is known by its fruits; and, where it is seen, it ought to be owned. What we see which is good in any we must call God's grace in them, and give that grace the glory of it; and we ought ourselves to take the comfort of it, and make it the matter of our rejoicing.
Who when he came, and had seen the grace of God,....
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
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,
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
when he . . . had seen the grace of God--in the new converts. was glad--owned and rejoiced in it at once as divine, though they were uncircumcised. exhorted them all that with purpose of heart--as opposed to a hasty and fickle discipleship. they would cleave unto the Lord--the Lord Jesus.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
Had seen the grace of God - That is, had seen the effects produced by the grace of God. By the grace of God, we are to understand: 1. His favor. 2. The manifestations of that favor in the communication of spiritual blessings. And, 3. Principles of light, life, holiness, etc., producing effects demonstrative of the causes from which they sprung. Barnabas saw that these people were objects of the Divine approbation; that they were abundantly blessed and edified together as a Christian Church; and that they had received especial influences from God, by his indwelling Spirit, which were to them incentives to faith, hope, and love, and also principles of conduct. Was glad - Not envious because God had blessed the labors of others of his Master’s servants, but rejoiced to find that the work of salvation was carried on by such instruments as God chose, and condescended to use. They who cannot rejoice in the conversion of sinners, because they have not been the means of it, or because such converts or their ministers have not precisely the same views of certain doctrines which they have themselves, show that they have little, if any thing, of the mind that was in Christ, in them. With purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord - These converts had begun well; they must continue and persevere: God gave them the grace, the principle of life and action; it was their business to use this. If they did not, the gift would be resumed. Barnabas well knew that they must have the grace of God in them to enable them to do any good; but he knew, also, that its being in them did not necessarily imply that it must continue there. God had taught him that if they were not workers together with that grace they would receive it in vain; i.e., the end for which it was given would not be answered. […]
The words behind it
20 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὃς | hos | who | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| παραγενόμενος | paragenomenos | having come | G3854 → | 36 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἰδὼν | idon | having seen | G1492 → | 374 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| χάριν | charin | grace | G5485 → | 153 times |
| τὴν | ten | which [is] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεοῦ | theou | of God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| ἐχάρη | echare | he rejoiced | G5463 → | 74 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| παρεκάλει | parekalei | he was exhorting | G3870 → | 108 times |
| πάντας | pantas | all | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| τῇ | tea | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| προθέσει | prothesei | with resolute purpose | G4286 → | |
| τῆς | tes | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| καρδίας | kardias | of heart | G2588 → | 156 times |
| προσμένειν | prosmenein | to abide | G4357 → | 7 times |
| τῷ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κυρίῳ· | kurio | Lord; | G2962 → | 711 times |
ὃςwho
hosG3739 →1405 times
παραγενόμενοςhaving come
paragenomenosG3854 →36 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἰδὼνhaving seen
idonG1492 →374 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
χάρινgrace
charinG5485 →153 times
τὴνwhich [is]
tenG3588 →19766 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
θεοῦof God
theouG2316 →1312 times
ἐχάρηhe rejoiced
echareG5463 →74 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
παρεκάλειhe was exhorting
parekaleiG3870 →108 times
πάνταςall
pantasG3956 →1235 times
τῇ<the>
teaG3588 →19766 times
προθέσειwith resolute purpose
protheseiG4286 →
τῆς<the>
tesG3588 →19766 times
καρδίαςof heart
kardiasG2588 →156 times
προσμένεινto abide
prosmeneinG4357 →7 times
τῷthe
toG3588 →19766 times
κυρίῳ·Lord;
kurioG2962 →711 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
1 Corinthians 15:58Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
it leads to
- Galatians 6:9
Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
- 2 Chronicles 15:7
But as for you, be strong; do not be discouraged, for your work will be rewarded.”
- Hebrews 6:10
For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.
- Philippians 2:16
as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.
- 1 Corinthians 3:8
He who plants and he who waters are one in purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.
- Galatians 6:9
Through
Acts 14:22strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish…
- 2 Timothy 3:12
Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
- 1 Peter 5:10
Through
Acts 20:24But I consider my life of no value to me, if only I may finish my course and complete the ministry I have received from the Lord Jesus—the ministry of testifying to the good…
it leads to
- 2 Timothy 4:6–8
For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
- 2 Timothy 4:6–8
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies6
About Acts
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; J. A. Bengel, Gnomon of the New Testament; 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) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.