Acts 11:25
in Acts 11Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And he went forth to Tarsus to seek for Saul;
KJV
Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
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This verse in Acts 11
Commentary
11 notes on this verseThen departed Barnabas to Tarsus,.... "In Cilicia" to seek Saul; who had been sent thither by the brethren that he might escape the rage of the Grecians, who sought to slay him, Act 9:29.
This site's exposition
departed Barnabas to Tarsus
on Acts 11:25-26
Barnabas departed to Tarsus to seek Saul, a decision that shapes the rest of the book, since it is Barnabas who brings the church's future missionary in from years of obscurity after his flight from Jerusalem in chapter nine. A whole year they assembled with the church at Antioch and taught much people, the first sustained teaching ministry the two men share. It was here, and not in Jerusalem, that the disciples were called Christians first, a name likely coined by outsiders in the city as a nickname for the Christ party rather than one the believers chose for themselves.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul." He came to the athletic wrestler, the general fit to lead armies, the champion of single combat, the lion - I am at a loss for words, say what I will - the hunting-dog, killer of lions, bull of strength, lamp of brightness, mouth sufficing for a world.
"Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus," etc. But why did he take him off from Tarsus and bring him here? Not without good reason; for here were both good hopes, and a greater city, and a great body of people. See how grace works all, not Paul: by small means the affair was taking its commencement. When it is become difficult the Apostles take it up. Why did they not before this send Barnabas? Because they had enough to do with Jerusalem.
The Medieval Church2 voices
"Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul." Barnabas was a very good and simple and condescending man. He sought, says Luke, a fighter, a commander.
But he set out for Tarsus to search for Saul. For it was said earlier that Saul would be secretly sent from Jerusalem to Tarsus.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Barnabas brought Saul to Antioch, though it might be the lessening of himself, to teach us to seek the things of Christ more than our own things. We are here further told, (1.) What service was now done to the church at Antioch. Paul and Barnabas continued there a whole year, presiding in their religious assemblies, and preaching the gospel,
4 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 Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Then departed ... - Why Barnabas sought Saul is not known. It is probable, however, that it was owing to the remarkable success which he had in Antioch. There was a great revival of religion, and there was need of additional labor. In such times the ministers of the gospel need additional help, as men in harvest-time need the aid of others. Saul was in this vicinity Act 9:30, and he was eminently suited to assist in this work.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
1Pe 4:16 show), though hardly framed out of contempt (as DE WETTE, BAUMGARTEN, &c.); but as it was a noble testimony to the light in which the Church regarded Christ--honoring Him as their only Lord and Saviour, dwelling continually on His name, and glorying in it--so it was felt to be too apposite and beautiful to be allowed to die.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
To Tarsus, for to seek Saul - The persecution raised against him obliged him to take refuge in his own city, where, as a Roman citizen, his person was in safety. See Act 9:29, Act 9:30.
The words behind it
6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἐξῆλθεν | exelthen | He went forth | G1831 → | 216 times |
| δὲ | de | then | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| εἰς | eis | to | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| Ταρσὸν | tarson | Tarsus | G5019 → | 3 times |
| ἀναζητῆσαι | anazetesai | to seek | G327 → | |
| Σαῦλον, | saulon | Saul, | G4569 → | 15 times |
ἐξῆλθενHe went forth
exelthenG1831 →216 times
δὲthen
deG1161 →2765 times
εἰςto
eisG1519 →1755 times
ΤαρσὸνTarsus
tarsonG5019 →3 times
ἀναζητῆσαιto seek
anazetesaiG327 →
Σαῦλον,Saul,
saulonG4569 →15 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 9:11“Get up!” the Lord told him. “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.
it leads to
- Acts 9:30
When the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 21:39
But Paul answered, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Now I beg you to allow me to speak to the people.”
- Luke 11:9–10
So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.
- Luke 18:7–14
Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He continue to defer their help?
- Acts 9:30
Through
Acts 21:39But Paul answered, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Now I beg you to allow me to speak to the people.”
it leads to
- Acts 22:3
“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but raised in this city. I was educated at the feet of Gamaliel in strict conformity to the law of our fathers. I am just…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 9:11
“Get up!” the Lord told him. “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 22:3
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
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…
- PersonUnited monarchySaulIsrael's first king, head and shoulders above the people; began in humility, ended in rejection — sparing what God devoted, consul…
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Acts; 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); John Lightfoot, Horae Hebraicae et Talmudicae; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts and William Ramsay, The Church in the Roman Empire.