Acts 11:30 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

NIV: This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

NASB: And they did this, sending it with Barnabas and Saul to the elders.

CSB: They did this, sending it to the elders by means of Barnabas and Saul.

NLT: This they did, entrusting their gifts to Barnabas and Saul to take to the elders of the church in Jerusalem.

KJV: Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

NKJV: This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

Less than fifteen years prior, Jesus commissioned the apostles to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and the world (Acts 1:8). For several years, they shared the story of His resurrection and offer of reconciliation with God in Jerusalem. The church grew to several thousand, including many who had come from other nations and stayed to learn more. To feed everyone, those who could gave what they had (Acts 2:42–47). One of these was a man named Barnabas (Acts 4:34–37).

The young church gained some negative attention from the Jewish leaders, but their generosity and the apostles' healing ability made them popular with the people. Tensions rose, however, and eventually Stephen was murdered while Saul, a young Pharisee-in-training, watched (Acts 7:54–60). Saul started a massive persecution of Jesus-followers in Jerusalem and beyond that lasted until Jesus, Himself, confronted him. Saul repented and came to faith in Jesus. In Jerusalem, despite the fear of the apostles, Barnabas stepped up to mentor the young believer (Acts 8:1–3; 9:1–30).

Now, Barnabas and Saul are in Syrian Antioch, 300 miles north of Jerusalem. They are leading a church filled with Jews and Gentiles—a church started by Jesus-followers who fled Saul's persecution in Jerusalem. Prophets have arrived from Jerusalem warning of a coming famine. The believers in Antioch determine to send financial support to those in Jerusalem. It's time for Barnabas and Saul to report to the elders of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 11:1–29).

This is the first time elders are mentioned in the context of church leadership. In Jewish culture, elders were often prominent businessmen who acted as judges among the people; the Sanhedrin included priests, elders, and scribes (see Matthew 16:21). Elders in the church are responsible for governing the church (1 Peter 5:1–4), settling disputes (Acts 15:1–2), praying over the sick (James 5:14), and teaching (1 Timothy 3:2). More qualifications for church elders are given in 1 Timothy 3:1–7 and Titus 1:5–9.

It's tricky to reconcile the narrative in Luke's book of Acts with the events Paul later mentions in his letters. It's tempting to think the events of Galatians 2:1–10 occurred at this time, but the "fourteen years" of verse 1 is awkward. Josephus records the famine happening in AD 45—48, and Herod Agrippa I's death, recorded in Acts 12:20–23, occurred in AD 44. Jesus ascended in AD 30 or 33, and Paul's conversion occurred some years later. So, Galatians 2:1–10 probably doesn't refer to this trip, although it may refer to the trip Paul and Barnabas made after their first missionary journey (Acts 15:1–35).

Acts 11:27–30 records a prophecy that great famine will affect the Roman Empire; the church in Jerusalem needs support. This is related to the narrative because it takes place in Syrian Antioch, as did the previous account. It's also about Jerusalem, as is the next chapter. But Luke is intentional, here. Acts 11:19–26 describes the origin of Paul's extensive evangelistic ministry. One of Paul's recurring themes is the responsibility of new churches to financially support the church in Jerusalem; this is where Paul's conviction starts.

Acts 11 accelerates the journey of the message of Jesus into the Gentile world. Peter returns to Jerusalem and explains to the church leaders how the Holy Spirit has fallen on a group of Gentiles in Caesarea Maritima (Acts 11:1–18). Then the church hears how Gentiles are coming to faith far north in Syrian Antioch; they send Barnabas to investigate and Barnabas brings in Saul (Acts 11:19–26). Finally, prophets travel from Jerusalem to Antioch to request aid for the Jerusalem church (Acts 11:27–30). The scene is almost set for Paul's extensive evangelism career to begin.

Until the martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 7:54–60), the story of Jesus' followers remained mostly in Jerusalem. Saul started persecuting the church and the members fled, taking Jesus' story with them. This included Philip who shared Jesus' story with Samaritans and an Ethiopian official (Acts 8). Saul's persecution even led to his own conversion (Acts 9). And Peter brought the gospel to a group of Gentiles (Acts 10). After one more story about Peter and rising persecution by the Roman government, the book of Acts will turn to Saul, who will use the Greek variation of his name, Paul, and his missionary journeys to southeast Europe.

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.