Acts 11:3
in Acts 11and said, “You visited uncircumcised men and ate with them.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.
KJV
Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.
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This verse in Acts 11
Commentary
12 notes on this verseBesides, the Lord would not have been censured for partaking of food with Jews, but with heathens, from whose board the Jewish discipline excludes (its disciples).
This site's exposition
the Gentiles also had received
on Acts 11:1-3
On Peter's arrival the circumcised believers took issue with him, charging, You visited uncircumcised men and ate with them. The charge concerns the shared table, since by the custom of the day a Jew who ate with Gentiles shared their ritual uncleanness.
This site's exposition
You visited uncircumcised men and ate
The complaint in Jerusalem names the meal Peter ate and passes over the baptism of 10:48. Jesus heard the same kind of charge at Luke 15:2, that He welcomed sinners and ate with them. Peter answers with an account of the events.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
Peter showed in his defense that he had by no means been the cause, but God everywhere. For he said, he himself set me in the excess of mind, he himself pointed out the sheet, and I indeed even contradicted; again the same he himself …
"And the Apostles and brethren that were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them." After such great things, "they of the circumcision contended:" not the Apostles; God forbid. It means, they took no small offence. And see what they allege. They do not say, Why didst thou preach? but, Why didst thou eat with them? But Peter, not stopping to notice this frigid objection - for frigid indeed it is - takes his stand on that great argument, If they had the Spirit Itself given them, how could one refuse to give them the baptism?
Do you remark how they were not kindly disposed towards him? Saying, "Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them." Do you note what zeal they had for the Law? Not Peter's authority abashed them, not the signs which had taken place, not the success achieved, what a thing it was, the Gentiles having "received the word:" but they contended about those petty things. For if none of those signs had taken place, was not the success itself enough?
The Medieval Church2 voices
You see what zeal they had concerning the law. They were not ashamed before Peter's dignity, nor the miracles that had taken place, nor that wonderful preparation that had been made for the reception of the word, but began to dispute about such trifles. Those …
A commentator
Gregory the DialogistRegister of Epistles, Book 11, Epistle 45 · Written before 604.
proposed
For if, when he was blamed by the believers, he had paid regard to the authority which he had received in Holy Church, he might have replied that the sheep should not dare to find fault with the shepherd to whom they had been committed. But, had he said anything of his own power in answer to the complaint of the believers, he would not have been truly a teacher of gentleness. He pacified them, therefore, by giving a reason humbly, and even produced witnesses to defend him from blame, saying, Moreover these six brethren accompanied me. If, then, the pastor of the Church, the Prince of the Apostles, who singularly did signs and miracles, disdained not, in defending himself from blame, humbly to give a reason, how much more ought we sinners, when we are blamed for anything, to pacify those who blame us by giving a reason humbly!
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Saying, thou wentest into men uncircumcised,.... Into the houses of such, and lodged with them, and familiarly conversed with them: and didst eat with them; which, according to the traditions of the Jews, were unlawful; See Gill on Act 10:28 they say nothing about his preaching to them, and baptizing them, because these were so manifestly agreeable to the commission of Christ, in Mat 28:19 and yet how these could be without the other, is not easy to say.
How much it is the bane and damage of the church, to monopolize it, and to exclude those from it, and from the benefit of the means of grace, that are not in every thing as we are.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised - In a Jew, this was no small offense; and, as they did not know the reason of St. Peter’s conduct, it is no wonder they should call him to account for it, as they considered it to be a positive transgression of the law and custom of the Jews. There is a remarkable addition here in the Codex Bezae, which it will be well to notice.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And didst eat with them - See the notes on Act 10:13-14.
The words behind it
10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| λέγοντες | legontes | saying | G3004 → | 1325 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| εἰσῆλθες | eiselthes | You entered | G1525 → | 194 times |
| πρὸς | pros | to | G4314 → | 700 times |
| ἄνδρας | andras | men | G435 → | 216 times |
| ἀκροβυστίαν | akrobustian | uncircumcision | G203 → | |
| ἔχοντας | echontas | having | G2192 → | 707 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| συνέφαγες | sunephages | you ate with | G4906 → | |
| αὐτοῖς. | autois | them. | G846 → | 5565 times |
λέγοντεςsaying
legontesG3004 →1325 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
εἰσῆλθεςYou entered
eiselthesG1525 →194 times
πρὸςto
prosG4314 →700 times
ἄνδραςmen
andrasG435 →216 times
ἀκροβυστίανuncircumcision
akrobustianG203 →
ἔχονταςhaving
echontasG2192 →707 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
συνέφαγεςyou ate with
sunephagesG4906 →
αὐτοῖς.them.
autoisG846 →5565 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
2 John 1:10If anyone comes to you but does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home or even greet him.
it leads to
- Titus 3:10
Reject a divisive man after a first and second admonition,
- Romans 16:17–18
Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:6
Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with the tradition you received…
- 2 Thessalonians 3:14
Take note of anyone who does not obey the instructions we have given in this letter. Do not associate with him, so that he may be ashamed.
- 2 Timothy 3:5–6
having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!
- Titus 3:10
Through
Luke 15:2So the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
it leads to
- Matthew 9:11
When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
- Matthew 9:11
Through
Galatians 2:12For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself, for fear of those in the circumcision group.
it leads to
- Acts 10:28
He said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with a foreigner or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure…
- Acts 10:28
Through
Acts 10:48So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days.
it leads to
- Acts 2:38
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- Acts 2:38
Where this verse is studied
About Acts
This page draws on 11 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); Gregory the Dialogist, Register of Epistles, Book 11, Epistle 45; John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 24; 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; Tertullian, On Modesty and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.