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Acts 11:27

in Acts 11

In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

Now in these days there came down prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.

KJV

And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.

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This verse in Acts 11

Commentary

10 notes on this verse
And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem to Antioch., That is, some time in that year that Saul and Barnabas were at Antioch, there came from Jerusalem thither some Christian prophets; for such there were in the Christian church, who had not only a gift of expounding the more mysterious prophecies of the Old Testament, but also of foretelling things to come; see Act 13:1.

This site's exposition

came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch

on Acts 11:27-28

In these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch, evidence that the prophetic gift Joel promised at Pentecost was already an ordinary feature of the church's life rather than a one-time sign. Agabus, named again later at 21:10, signified by the Spirit a great dearth throughout all the world, and Luke adds his own historical footnote, which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Roman and Jewish historians of the period both record repeated grain shortages under Claudius's reign, including a severe famine in Judea, so the fulfillment Luke notes is not a claim standing alone in the record.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers2 voices

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 25 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

"And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch." It was need that the fruit of alms should also be planted there. And see how of necessity none of the men of note becomes their teacher. They got for their teachers, men of Cyprus, and Cyrene, and Paul - though he indeed surpassed the Apostles themselves - since Paul also had for teachers Ananias and Barnabas.

A commentator

Oecumenius

Commentary on Acts · Written before 550.

proposed

There is nothing contrary to this in what the Lord said, "The law and the prophets" up to John. (Matt. 2:12) For this concerns those prophets who proclaimed his coming beforehand. So that they would not think the famine occurred because of this, that Christianity …

The Medieval Church1 voice

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on Acts · Written before 1107.

proposed

In what sense does Christ say that "all the prophets and the law prophesied until John" (Matt. 11:13)? He speaks of those prophets who foretold His coming.

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Barnabas came to exhort them, and they, having received the exhortation well, now have prophets sent them to show them things to come, as Christ had promised, John xvi. Those that are faithful in their little shall be entrusted with more. The best understanding of scripture-predictions is to be got in the way of obedience to scripture-instructions.

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

Some for good-will, and some for ill-will, would spread the report of it; so that before he himself had returned to Jerusalem the apostles and the brethren there and in Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God, that is, the gospel of Christ, which is not only a word of God, but the word of God; for it is the summary and centre of all divine revelation.
3 more voices on this verse

The Nineteenth Century3 voices

And in these days - While Barnabas and Saul were at Antioch. Came prophets - The word “prophet” denotes properly “one who foretells future events.” See the notes on Mat 7:15. It is sometimes used in the New Testament to denote simply “religious teachers, instructors sent from God, without particular reference to future events.” To teach the people in the doctrines of religion was a part of the prophetic office, and this idea was only sometimes denoted by the use of the word. See Rom 12:6; 1Co 12:10, 1Co 12:28; 1Co 13:2, 1Co 13:8; 1Co 14:3, 1Co 14:5,1Co 14:

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

came prophets from Jerusalem--inspired teachers, a class we shall afterwards frequently meet with, who sometimes, but not necessarily, foretold future events. They are classed next to apostles (1Co 12:28, 29;

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase+unbalanced-parens

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

Came prophets from Jerusalem - Though the term prophet is used in the New Testament simply to signify a teacher, (see the note on Gen 20:7, where the subject is largely explained), yet here it evidently means also such as are under Divine inspiration, and foretold future events. This was certainly the case with Agabus, Act 11:28, though, perhaps, his ordinary character was that of a teacher or preacher. It seems from various scriptures, Rom 12:4, etc., 1 Corinthians 13:2-14:40, that the prophets of the New Testament were 1. Teachers or preachers in general. 2. Persons who, on special occasions, were under the influence of the Divine Spirit, and then foretold certain future events. 3. Persons who recited hymns to the honor of God in the public assemblies of the Christians. 4. Persons who prayed in those assemblies, having sometimes the gift of tongues, at other times not. From Eph 2:20; Eph 3:5, we learn that the prophets of the Christian Church were inferior to the apostles; but, from Eph 4:11, we see that they were superior to all other teachers, even to evangelists and pastors.

The words behind it

11 Greek words

Every 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.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

10 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Acts 13:1Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch), and Saul.7 works1 Corinthians 12:28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues.5 worksEphesians 4:11And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,4 worksActs 2:17‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.3 worksActs 15:32Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers.3 worksMatthew 23:34Because of this, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and others you will flog in your synagogues and persecute in town after town.3 works
The other 4 cross-references, with their words ▾
Acts 11:26and when he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. So for a full year they met together with the church and taught large numbers of people. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.3 worksActs 21:4We sought out the disciples in Tyre and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they kept telling Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.2 worksActs 21:9He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.2 works1 Corinthians 14:32The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each 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 2:17

    ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.

    it leads to

    • Joel 2:28–32

      And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.

    • Isaiah 44:3

      For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and currents on the dry ground. I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring.

  • Through

    Ephesians 4:11

    And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,

    it leads to

    • Jeremiah 3:15

      Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”

    • 1 Corinthians 12:28–29

      And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues.

    • Ephesians 2:20

      built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.

    • 2 Timothy 4:5

      But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

    • Acts 20:28

      Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.

  • Through

    1 Corinthians 12:28

    And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues.

    it leads to

    • Ephesians 4:11–13

      And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,

Where this verse is studied

On this page

Studies1

About Acts

The Ascension, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
The Ascension, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Acts: the study guide →Read Acts 11 →
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on Acts; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); 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); Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.

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