Acts 11:24
in Acts 11Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
KJV
For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
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This verse in Acts 11
Commentary
13 notes on this verse"He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith." It is not the same thing to say that God is good and that a man is good. The former is good by essence, being the beginning and source of all good …
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
Barnabas was a good man
Luke gave the same pair to Stephen at 6:5, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. The word good is the one he used of Joseph of Arimathea at Luke 23:50. Barnabas stands in their company.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
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.
"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.
Why do they not write to Paul, but send Barnabas? Because they did not yet know the man's excellence. This does not contradict the saying, "No one is good but God." (Mark 10:18) For it is not the same for God to be good in …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
The goodness of his natural disposition would not have qualified him for this service if he had not been full of the Holy Ghost, and so full of power by the Spirit of the Lord. [3.] He was full of faith, full of the Christian faith himself, and therefore desirous to propagate it among others; full of the grace of faith, and full of the fruits of that faith that works by love.
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
For he was a good man,....
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
For he was a good man - Here is a proper character of a minister of the Gospel. 1. He is a good man: his bad heart is changed; his evil dispositions rooted out; and the mind that was in Christ implanted in him. 2. He is full of the Holy Ghost. He is holy, because the Spirit of holiness dwells in him: he has not a few transient visitations or drawings from that Spirit; it is a resident in his soul, and it fills his heart.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
BARNABAS, FINDING THE WORK IN ANTIOCH TOO MUCH FOR HIM, GOES TO TARSUS FOR SAUL--THEY LABOR THERE TOGETHER FOR A WHOLE YEAR WITH MUCH SUCCESS, AND ANTIOCH BECOMES THE HONORED BIRTHPLACE OF THE TERM CHRISTIAN.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For he was a good man - This is given as a reason why he was so eminently successful. It is not said that he was a man of distinguished talents or learning; that he was a splendid or an imposing preacher; but simply that he was a man of an amiable, kind, and benevolent disposition - a pious, humble man of God. We should not undervalue talent, eloquence, or learning in the ministry, but we may remark that humble piety will often do more in the conversion of souls than the most splendid talents. No endowments can be a substitute for this. The real power of a minister is concentrated in this, and without this his ministry will be barrenness and a curse. There is nothing on the earth so mighty as goodness. If a man wished to make the most of his powers, the true secret would be found in employing them for a good object, and suffering them to be wholly under the direction of benevolence. John Howard’s purpose “to do good” has made a more permanent impression on the interests of the world than the talents of Alexander or Caesar. Full of the Holy Ghost - Was entirely under the influence of the Holy Spirit. This is the second qualification mentioned here of a good minister. He was not merely exemplary for mildness and kindness of temper, but he was eminently a man of God. He was filled with the influences of the sacred Spirit, producing zeal, love, peace, joy, etc. See Gal 5:22-23. Compare the notes on Act 2:4. And of faith - Confidence in the truth and promises of God. This is the third qualification mentioned; and this was another cause of his success. He confided in God. He depended, not on his own strength, but on the strength of the arm of God. With these qualifications he engaged in his work, and he was successful. These qualifications should be sought by the ministry of the gospel. […]
The words behind it
16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὅτι | hoti | For | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| ἦν | en | he was | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ἀνὴρ | aner | a man | G435 → | 216 times |
| ἀγαθὸς | agathos | good | G18 → | 102 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| πλήρης | pleres | full | G4134 → | 16 times |
| πνεύματος | pneumatos | of [the] Spirit | G4151 → | 378 times |
| ἁγίου | hagiou | Holy | G40 → | 220 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| πίστεως. | pisteos | of faith. | G4102 → | 242 times |
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| προσετέθη | prosetethe | was added | G4369 → | 18 times |
| ὄχλος | ochlos | a crowd | G3793 → | 175 times |
| ἱκανὸς | hikanos | large | G2425 → | 39 times |
| τῷ | to | to the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κυρίῳ. | kurio | Lord. | G2962 → | 711 times |
ὅτιFor
hotiG3754 →1292 times
ἦνhe was
enG1510 →2333 times
ἀνὴρa man
anerG435 →216 times
ἀγαθὸςgood
agathosG18 →102 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
πλήρηςfull
pleresG4134 →16 times
πνεύματοςof [the] Spirit
pneumatosG4151 →378 times
ἁγίουHoly
hagiouG40 →220 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
πίστεως.of faith.
pisteosG4102 →242 times
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
προσετέθηwas added
prosetetheG4369 →18 times
ὄχλοςa crowd
ochlosG3793 →175 times
ἱκανὸςlarge
hikanosG2425 →39 times
τῷto the
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
Acts 9:31Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced a time of peace. It grew in strength and numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.
it leads to
- Psalms 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts gain rich understanding. His praise endures forever!
- John 14:16–18
And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—
- Isaiah 33:6
He will be the sure foundation for your times, a storehouse of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the LORD is Zion’s treasure.
- Proverbs 14:26–27
He who fears the LORD is secure in confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge.
- Proverbs 23:17
Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.
- Psalms 111:10
Through
Acts 5:14Yet more and more believers were brought to the Lord—large numbers of both men and women.
it leads to
- Acts 2:47
praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 2:47
Through
Psalms 112:5It is well with the man who is generous and lends freely, whose affairs are guided by justice.
it leads to
- Psalms 37:21
The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous are gracious and giving.
- Psalms 37:21
Through
Acts 6:5This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, as well as Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to…
it leads to
- Acts 21:8
Leaving the next day, we went on to Caesarea and stayed at the home of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the Seven.
- Acts 21:8
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies6
About Acts
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 11 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); 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; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.