Commentary - Acts 11:27-30

Bird's-eye view

This short but potent paragraph in Acts demonstrates the beautiful, practical, and supernatural unity of the early church. The gospel is not just a set of doctrines to be believed, but a life to be lived in fellowship, and here we see that fellowship in high definition. The passage highlights three key elements of a healthy church. First, the reality of the prophetic gift, where God communicates specific, verifiable information to His people for their preparation and action. Second, the outworking of genuine faith in radical generosity, as the church in Antioch responds to future need with immediate resolve. Third, the tangible bond of unity between two very different congregations, the largely Gentile church in Antioch and the mother church of Jerusalem. This is the gospel creating a new kind of family, one that transcends geography and ethnicity, and it is all done for the glory of God.

What we are witnessing is the maturation of the church. The Spirit is not only working miracles and saving souls, but He is also knitting the saints together in love and providing for their practical needs. The prophecy is the catalyst, the generosity is the response, and the delivery by Barnabas and Saul is the faithful execution. This is the church being the church, functioning as the body of Christ on earth. It is a powerful testimony to the reality of the Spirit's work, not just in word, but in deed and in truth.

Outline

Context In Acts

This passage comes right on the heels of the establishment and flourishing of the church in Antioch. After the persecution surrounding Stephen scattered the believers, some went to Antioch and began preaching the gospel not just to Jews, but to Hellenists, and a great number believed (Acts 11:19-21). Barnabas was sent from Jerusalem to check on this new work, and seeing the grace of God, he was glad. He then fetched Saul from Tarsus to help him teach this large and growing congregation. It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians (Acts 11:26). So, the scene is set in this vibrant, mission-minded, largely Gentile church. The arrival of prophets from the more established, Jewish-background church in Jerusalem sets up an important interaction. This event solidifies the relationship between these two key centers of early Christianity and demonstrates that the gospel had erased the hostility that would have otherwise existed between such groups.

Key Issues

Prophecy in Shoe Leather

We live in an age that is deeply suspicious of the supernatural, and when it is not suspicious, it is often gullible. The gift of prophecy is a case in point. Many have dismissed it as something that passed away with the apostles, while others have cheapened it into sanctified guesswork or vague spiritual impressions. But here in Acts, we see the gift of prophecy functioning exactly as it should. It is clear, specific, verifiable, and it serves a practical, upbuilding purpose in the body of Christ.

The prophet Agabus does not offer hazy predictions about "a time of difficulty." He stands up and, by the Spirit, declares that a great famine will strike the entire Roman world, and Luke even adds the historical footnote that it happened under the emperor Claudius. This is prophecy with teeth. It is falsifiable. If it doesn't happen, Agabus is a false prophet. But it did happen, and so the church was able to prepare. This is the difference between biblical prophecy and the babblings of Nostradamus. God speaks into history, in real time, for the good of His people. The prophecy was not an end in itself; it was the starting gun for a race of love and generosity. It was a word from God that resulted in shoe leather on the ground, carrying relief to brothers and sisters in need.

Verse by Verse Commentary

27 Now in those days, some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.

The traffic of ministry between Jerusalem and Antioch is significant. Jerusalem was the mother church, the place where it all began. Antioch was the new, bustling hub of Gentile Christianity. The fact that prophets are coming down from Jerusalem indicates Jerusalem's senior status, but their destination shows Antioch's growing importance. God was knitting these two centers together. The New Testament recognizes a distinct gift of prophecy, and these were men who were recognized as having that gift. They were not lone rangers, but men who traveled and ministered within the fellowship of the churches.

28 And one of them named Agabus stood up and indicated by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius.

One of these prophets is named, Agabus, who we meet again in Acts 21 where he predicts Paul's arrest. He stood up, indicating a formal and public declaration. His message was not his own opinion; he indicated by the Spirit that this would happen. This is the language of divine revelation. The content of the prophecy was specific: a great famine. And the scope was broad: all over the world, which in this context means the whole Roman Empire, the oikoumene. Luke, as a careful historian, anchors the prophecy in secular history. He tells us plainly that this event did, in fact, happen during the reign of the emperor Claudius (A.D. 41-54). Historical sources confirm that Claudius's reign was marked by several severe famines throughout the empire. This is not a myth; it is a historical event, predicted by the Spirit of God through His prophet.

29 And as any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the service of the brothers living in Judea.

The response of the Antioch church is immediate and instructive. Notice the logic. The prophecy was the premise, and the collection was the conclusion. They heard the word of God and they acted on it. The giving was widespread; it was not just a few wealthy patrons, but the disciples in general. The giving was proportional: as any... had means, or according to each one's ability. This is the principle Paul would later lay out in 1 Corinthians 16:2. And the giving was intentional. Each one determined to do this. This was a resolute, thoughtful decision, not an emotional impulse. The purpose was clear: to send a contribution, a relief fund, for the service (diakonia) of the brothers in Judea. This is a beautiful picture of Christian unity. The largely Gentile believers in Antioch, who had never met the believers in Judea, considered them brothers and took responsibility for their welfare. The gospel creates family.

30 And this they did, sending it in charge of Barnabas and Saul to the elders.

Good intentions are not enough; faithful execution is required. The Antioch church didn't just pass a hat and hope for the best. They followed through: And this they did. They entrusted the gift to their most trusted leaders, Barnabas and Saul. This tells us about the integrity of Barnabas and Saul, that they could be trusted with a large sum of money. It also tells us about the wisdom of the church. They sent the relief through proper channels, delivering it to the elders in Judea. This shows that a recognized leadership structure, a presbytery, was already in place in the Jerusalem church. This was not a chaotic, disorganized movement. It was the household of God, and it was being managed with order, integrity, and Spirit-led love.

Application

This little snapshot of the church at Antioch provides a powerful diagnostic tool for our own churches. First, are we open to the work of the Holy Spirit in our midst? While the foundational office of apostle and prophet has ceased, the Spirit still guides, directs, and empowers His church. We must not quench the Spirit with a rigid rationalism that has no room for God to act in unexpected ways. We should pray for wisdom and discernment, and when God makes His will known, we should be ready to obey.

Second, how does our faith affect our wallets? The believers at Antioch heard of a future need and their hands went immediately to their purses. Their generosity was a direct fruit of their faith. They believed God, so they gave. We are called to the same kind of open-handed, forward-looking generosity. We are to be a people who provide for the needs of the saints, not just in our own congregation, but for our brothers and sisters around the world. Our giving is a tangible expression of our love and a test of the sincerity of our faith.

Finally, do we truly see the global church as our family? The Antioch Christians, who were culturally and geographically distant from the Judean Christians, called them "brothers." They felt a sense of responsibility for them. The gospel breaks down the walls of hostility, whether they be ethnic, national, or political. We must cultivate this same spirit, praying for, supporting, and identifying with believers in different circumstances all over the world. When one part of the body suffers, every part suffers with it. The prophecy of Agabus was a test, and the church at Antioch passed it with flying colors, demonstrating that the love of Christ is not just a feeling, but a powerful, practical, and generous force in the world.