collapse all  

Text -- Acts 11:17 (NET)

Strongs On/Off
Context
11:17 Therefore if God gave them the same gift as he also gave us after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to hinder God?”
Parallel   Cross Reference (TSK)   ITL  
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
Robertson , Vincent , Wesley , JFB , Clarke , Calvin , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , Combined Bible , Maclaren , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Barclay , Constable , College , McGarvey

collapse all
Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Robertson: Act 11:17 - -- The like gift ( tēn isēn dōrean ). The equal gift, equal in quality, rank, or measure. Common word.

The like gift ( tēn isēn dōrean ).

The equal gift, equal in quality, rank, or measure. Common word.

Robertson: Act 11:17 - -- When we believed ( pisteusasin ). First aorist active participle of pisteuō in the dative case. It agrees both with hēmin (unto us) and with ...

When we believed ( pisteusasin ).

First aorist active participle of pisteuō in the dative case. It agrees both with hēmin (unto us) and with autois (unto them), "having believed on the Lord Jesus Christ."Both classes (Gentiles and Jews) trusted in Christ, and both received the Holy Spirit.

Robertson: Act 11:17 - -- Who was I ( egō tis ēmēn ). Note order, " I , who was I.""

Who was I ( egō tis ēmēn ).

Note order, " I , who was I.""

Robertson: Act 11:17 - -- That I could withstand God "(dunatos kōlūsai ton theon ). Literally, "able to withstand or hinder God."It is a rhetorical question, really two q...

That I could withstand God

"(dunatos kōlūsai ton theon ). Literally, "able to withstand or hinder God."It is a rhetorical question, really two questions. Who was I ? Was I able to hinder God? Peter’ s statement of the facts made an unanswerable defence. And yet Peter (Gal 2:11) will later in Antioch play the coward before emissaries from Jerusalem on this very point of eating with Gentile Christians.

Vincent: Act 11:17 - -- Forasmuch as ( εἰ ) Better, as Rev., if .

Forasmuch as ( εἰ )

Better, as Rev., if .

Vincent: Act 11:17 - -- The like ( ἴσην ) Lit., equal; making them, equally with us, recipients of the Holy Spirit.

The like ( ἴσην )

Lit., equal; making them, equally with us, recipients of the Holy Spirit.

Wesley: Act 11:17 - -- The sense is, because we believed, not because we were circumcised, was the Holy Ghost given to us.

The sense is, because we believed, not because we were circumcised, was the Holy Ghost given to us.

Wesley: Act 11:17 - -- A mere instrument in God's hand. They had inquired only concerning his eating with the Gentiles. He satisfies them likewise concerning his baptizing t...

A mere instrument in God's hand. They had inquired only concerning his eating with the Gentiles. He satisfies them likewise concerning his baptizing them, and shows that he had done right in going to Cornelius, not only by the command of God, but also by the event, the descent of the Holy Ghost. And who are we that we should withstand God? Particularly by laying down rules of Christian communion which exclude any whom he has admitted into the Church of the first born, from worshipping God together. O that all Church governors would consider how bold an usurpation this is on the authority of the supreme Lord of the Church! O that the sin of thus withstanding God may not be laid to the charge of those, who perhaps with a good intention, but in an over fondness for their own forms, have done it, and are continually doing it.

JFB: Act 11:12-18 - -- No mention of Cornelius' name, much less of his high position, as if that affected the question. To the charge, "Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised,...

No mention of Cornelius' name, much less of his high position, as if that affected the question. To the charge, "Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised," he simply speaks of the uncircumcised "man" to whom he had been divinely sent.

JFB: Act 11:16-17 - -- That is, "Since God Himself has put them on a level with ourselves, by bestowing on them what the Lord Jesus pronounced the higher baptism of the Holy...

That is, "Since God Himself has put them on a level with ourselves, by bestowing on them what the Lord Jesus pronounced the higher baptism of the Holy Ghost, would it not have been to withstand God if I had withheld from them the lower baptism of water, and kept aloof from them as still 'unclean?'"

Clarke: Act 11:17 - -- God gave them the like gift, etc. - Viz. the Holy Spirit, and its various gifts and graces, in the same way and in the same measure in which he gave...

God gave them the like gift, etc. - Viz. the Holy Spirit, and its various gifts and graces, in the same way and in the same measure in which he gave them to us Jews. What was I, that I could withstand God? It was not I who called them to salvation: it was God; and the thing is proved to be from God alone, for none other could dispense the Holy Spirit.

Calvin: Act 11:17 - -- 17.Who was I? Now do we see to what end Peter made that narration; to wit, that he might declare that God was the author and governor of all the whol...

17.Who was I? Now do we see to what end Peter made that narration; to wit, that he might declare that God was the author and governor of all the whole matter; therefore, the state of the question consisteth in [turneth upon] the authority of God, whether meat be not of more weight than men’s counsels. 732 Peter affirmeth that he did nothing but that which was rightly and orderly done, because he obeyed God; he showeth that he preached the doctrine of the gospel, neither amiss, neither rashly, where Christ bestowed the graces of his Spirit. The approbation of our doctrine, and also our deeds, must be brought to this rule so often as men call us to an account; for whosoever stayeth himself upon the commandment of God, he hath defense enough. If men be not content, there is no cause why he should pass for their judgments any more. 733 And hereby we gather that the faithful ministers of God’s word may in such sort give an account of their doctrine, that they may no whit impair the credit and certainty thereof; to wit, if they show that it was given them by God: but if they shall deal with unjust men, who will not be enforced with the reverence of God to yield, let us let them alone with their obstinacy, appealing unto the day of the Lord.

And we must also note, that we do not only resist God by striving against him, but also by lingering, if we do not that which our calling requireth, and which is proper to it. For Peter saith that he cannot deny baptism and brotherly fellowship to the Gentiles, but that he should be [without being] an enemy to God. But he should have essayed nothing which was manifestly contrary to the grace of God. That is true indeed; but he which doth not receive those whom God offereth, and shutteth the gate which God openeth, he hindereth the work of God so much as in him lieth; as we say at this day, that those men make war against God who are set against the baptizing of infants; because they most cruelly exclude those out of the Church whom God hath adopted into the Church, and they deprive those of the outward sign whom God vouchsafeth to call his children. Like unto this is that kind of resisting, in that many dissemblers, who, whilst they be magistrates, ought to assist, according to their office, the martyrs of Christ, go about to stop their mouths, and to take from them their liberty. For because they hate the truth, they would have it suppressed.

TSK: Act 11:17 - -- as God : Act 11:15, Act 15:8, Act 15:9; Mat 20:14, Mat 20:15; Rom 9:15, Rom 9:16, Rom 9:23, Rom 9:24, Rom 11:34-36 what : Act 10:47; Job 9:12-14, Job ...

collapse all
Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Act 11:17 - -- What was I - What power or right had I to oppose the manifest will of God that the Gentiles should be received into the Christian church. ...

What was I - What power or right had I to oppose the manifest will of God that the Gentiles should be received into the Christian church.

Withstand God - Oppose or resist God. He had indicated his will; he had showed his intention to save the Gentiles; and the prejudices of Peter were all overcome. One of the best means of destroying prejudice and false opinions is a powerful revival of religion. More erroneous doctrines and unholy feelings are overcome in such scenes than in all the bigoted and fierce contentions that have ever taken place. If people wish to root error out of the church, they should strive by all means to promote everywhere revivals of pure and undefiled religion. The Holy Spirit more easily and effectually silences false doctrine, and destroys heresy, than all the denunciations of fierce theologians; all the alarms of heated zealots for orthodoxy; and all the anathemas which professed love for the purity of the church ever utters from the icebergs on which such champions usually seek their repose and their home.

Poole: Act 11:17 - -- The apostle’ s argument is cogent: They who have the grace signified by baptism, ought to have the seal of that grace; but the Gentiles had the...

The apostle’ s argument is cogent: They who have the grace signified by baptism, ought to have the seal of that grace; but the Gentiles had the grace signified by baptism. Or, they who have the inward baptism, may not be denied the outward. As he that hath a right to an inheritance, cannot without injustice be denied the writings and seals thereunto belonging. To deny baptism unto any unto whom it doth belong, is to

withstand God and to keep back the token of God’ s love from such unto whom it is sent.

Gill: Act 11:17 - -- Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift,.... Of the Spirit, of speaking with divers tongues: as he did unto us; the apostles: who believed on...

Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift,.... Of the Spirit, of speaking with divers tongues:

as he did unto us; the apostles: who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ: which clause stands either connected with "us" the apostles, and so is descriptive of them who first believed in Christ, and became followers of him; or with "them" the Gentiles, as the Syriac version renders it, "if therefore God gave that gift equally to these Gentiles which believed on our Lord Jesus Christ, as unto us"; for it seems most likely, that faith in Christ came by hearing Peter's discourse, before the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit fell upon them:

what was I that I could withstand God? or hinder the baptism of these persons in water, whom God baptized with the Holy Ghost, and who believed in Christ Jesus: from whence it appears that the Spirit of God is a gift, which he bestows on whomsoever he pleases, without any desert of man's, and that both in his extraordinary operations, and in the common influences of his grace; for it is equally the gift of God to believe in Christ, which is a grace of the Spirit, as it was to speak with divers tongues; and these, though they did not always go together, yet here they did, as on the apostles, so on Cornelius and his house: and hence they became qualified for the ordinance of baptism; not by the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, but by his special grace; the extraordinary gifts were partly to confirm the Gospel preached unto them by Peter; and partly to assure him that he was right in going in to the Gentiles, and preaching to them; and to encourage him to baptize these persons who appeared to have also the grace of the Spirit, and to have believed in Christ; as well as to fit them, at least some of them, for public work and service: and now faith in Christ being a pre-requisite to baptism, and it being the will of Christ, and what he gave in commission to his disciples to baptize such as believed in him, and these being apparently such; to have refused to administer baptism to them, would have been acting contrary to the commission of Christ, a withstanding the will of God, and opposing the grace of the Spirit of God.

expand all
Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Act 11:17 Or “prevent,” “forbid” (BDAG 580 s.v. κωλύω 1.a). Peter’s point is that he will not stand in th...

expand all
Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Act 11:1-30 - --1 Peter, being accused for going in to the Gentiles,5 makes his defence;18 which is accepted.19 The gospel being spread in Phenice, and Cyprus, and An...

Combined Bible: Act 11:17 - --notes one verse 4     

Maclaren: Act 11:1-18 - --Peter's Apologia And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. 2. And when Peter was c...

MHCC: Act 11:1-18 - --The imperfect state of human nature strongly appears, when godly persons are displeased even to hear that the word of God has been received, because t...

Matthew Henry: Act 11:1-18 - -- The preaching of the gospel to Cornelius was a thing which we poor sinners of the Gentiles have reason to reflect upon with a great deal of joy and ...

Barclay: Act 11:11-18 - --The fault for which Peter was initially on trial was that he had eaten with Gentiles (Act 11:3). By so doing Peter had outraged the ancestral Law and...

Constable: Act 9:32--Rom 1:1 - --III. THE WITNESS TO THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH 9:32--28:31 Luke next recorded the church's expansion beyond...

Constable: Act 9:32--12:25 - --A. The extension of the church to Syrian Antioch 9:32-12:24 As Jerusalem had been the Palestinian center...

Constable: Act 10:1--11:19 - --2. The conversion of Cornelius 10:1-11:18 The episode concerning Cornelius is obviously very imp...

Constable: Act 11:1-18 - --The response of the Jerusalem church 11:1-18 Peter's actions in Caesarea drew criticism ...

Constable: Act 11:4-17 - --Peter's defense of his conduct 11:4-17 Luke recorded Peter's retelling of these ...

College: Act 11:1-30 - --ACTS 11 2. The Endorsement of Peter's Ministry by the Jerusalem Leadership (11:1-18) The Questioning of the Jerusalem Leaders (11:1-3) 1 The apos...

McGarvey: Act 11:4-17 - --4-17. (4) " But Peter related the matter to them in order from the beginning, saying, (5) I was in the city of Joppa, praying, and saw, in a trance, a...

expand all
Introduction / Outline

Robertson: Acts (Book Introduction) THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES By Way of Introduction But for the Acts we should know nothing of the early apostolic period save what is told in the Epi...

JFB: Acts (Book Introduction) THIS book is to the Gospels what the fruit is to the tree that bears it. In the Gospels we see the corn of wheat falling into the ground and dying: in...

JFB: Acts (Outline) INTRODUCTION--LAST DAYS OF OUR LORD UPON EARTH--HIS ASCENSION. (Act 1:1-11) RETURN OF THE ELEVEN TO JERUSALEM--PROCEEDINGS IN THE UPPER ROOM TILL PEN...

TSK: Acts (Book Introduction) The Acts of the Apostles is a most valuable portion of Divine revelation; and, independently of its universal reception in the Christian church, as an...

TSK: Acts 11 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Act 11:1, Peter, being accused for going in to the Gentiles, Act 11:5, makes his defence; Act 11:18, which is accepted; Act 11:19, The go...

Poole: Acts 11 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 11

MHCC: Acts (Book Introduction) This book unites the Gospels to the Epistles. It contains many particulars concerning the apostles Peter and Paul, and of the Christian church from th...

MHCC: Acts 11 (Chapter Introduction) (v. 1-18) Peter's defence. (Act 11:19-24) The success of the gospel at Antioch. (Act 11:25-30) The disciples named Christians, Relief sent to Judea.

Matthew Henry: Acts (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The Acts of the Apostles We have with an abundant satisfaction seen the foundation of our holy religion...

Matthew Henry: Acts 11 (Chapter Introduction) In this chapter we have, I. Peter's necessary vindication of what he did in receiving Cornelius and his friends into the church, from the censure ...

Barclay: Acts (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES A Precious Book In one sense Acts is the most important book in the New Testament. It is the simple truth t...

Barclay: Acts 11 (Chapter Introduction) Peter On His Defence (Act_11:1-10) A Convincing Story (Act_11:11-18) Great Things In Antioch (Act_11:19-21) The Wisdom Of Barnabas (Act_11:22-26)...

Constable: Acts (Book Introduction) Introduction Title The title "Acts of the Apostles" is very ancient. The Anti-Marcioni...

Constable: Acts (Outline) Outline I. The witness in Jerusalem 1:1-6:7 A. The founding of the church 1:1-2:46 ...

Constable: Acts Acts Bibliography Albright, William Foxwell. The Archaeology of Palestine. 1949. Revised ed. Pelican Archaeolog...

Haydock: Acts (Book Introduction) THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. INTRODUCTION. St. Luke, who had published his gospel, wrote also a second volume, which, from the first ages, hath bee...

Gill: Acts (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO ACTS This book, in some copies, is called, "The Acts of the holy Apostles". It contains an history of the ministry and miracles of ...

College: Acts (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION As early as the second century the title "The Acts of the Apostles" was given to this document. Before that time the work probably circu...

College: Acts (Outline) OUTLINE I. THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM - 1:1-8:1a A. INTRODUCTION OF THE BOOK - 1:1-3 B. THE COMMISSIONING OF THE APOSTLES - 1:4-8 C. THE ASCENSI...

Advanced Commentary (Dictionaries, Hymns, Arts, Sermon Illustration, Question and Answers, etc)


created in 0.09 seconds
powered by
bible.org - YLSA