Acts xi. 26.
Editorial footnote · Tractates on the Gospel of John, Tractate 113, editorial note cite_note-7 · Original source
Testimonia — Early Christian Bible Commentary
Acts 11
1Now the apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
2When Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision contended with him,
3saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!”
4But Peter began, and explained to them in order, saying,
5“I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision: a certain container descending, like it was a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners. It came as far as me.
6When I had looked intently at it, I considered, and saw the four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky.
7I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter, kill and eat!’
8But I said, ‘Not so, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered into my mouth.’
9But a voice answered me the second time out of heaven, ‘What God has cleansed, don’t you call unclean.’
10This was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven.
11Behold, immediately three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent from Caesarea to me.
12The Spirit told me to go with them without discriminating. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house.
13He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying to him, ‘Send to Joppa and get Simon, who is called Peter,
14who will speak to you words by which you will be saved, you and all your house.’
15As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning.
16I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.’
17If then God gave to them the same gift as us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?”
18When they heard these things, they held their peace and glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life!”
19They therefore who were scattered abroad by the oppression that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews only.
20But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus.
21The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
22The report concerning them came to the ears of the assembly which was in Jerusalem. They sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch,
23who, when he had come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad. He exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they should remain near to the Lord.
24For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and many people were added to the Lord.
25Barnabas went out to Tarsus to look for Saul.
26When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they were gathered together with the assembly, and taught many people. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
27Now in these days, prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
28One of them named Agabus stood up and indicated by the Spirit that there should be a great famine all over the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius.
29As any of the disciples had plenty, each determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea;
30which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Early Christian texts and source notes
Acts xi. 3.
Editorial footnote · Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew, Homily 32, editorial note cite_note-32 · Original source
Acts xi. 26. [More literally. “the name of the Christians,” indicating more directly the reference to the passage in Acts.—R.]
Editorial footnote · Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew, Homily 7, editorial note cite_note-38 · Original source
For there are also novelties of words in perfect harmony with religious doctrine, as is told us in Scripture of the very name of Christians, when it began to be used. For it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians after the Lord’s ascension, as we read in the Acts of the Apostles: and certain houses were afterwards called by the new names of hospices and monasteries; but the things themselves existed prior to their names, and are confirmed by religious truth, which also forms their defense against the wicked. In opposition also to the impiety of Arian heretics, they coined the new term, Patris Homousios; but there was nothing new signified by such a name; for what is called Homousios is just this: “I and my Father are one,” to wit, of one and the same substance. For if every novelty were profane, as little should we have it said by the Lord, “A new commandment I give unto you;” nor would the Testament be called New, nor the new song be sung throughout the whole earth. But there is profanity in the novelties of words, when it is said by “the foolish and audacious woman, Come and enjoy the tasting of hidden bread, and the sweetness of stolen waters.” From such enticing words of false science the apostle also gives his prohibitory warning, in the passage where he says, “O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane novelties of expression, and oppositions of science falsely so called; which some professing, have erred concerning the faith.” For there is nothing that these men so love as to profess science, and to deride as utter silliness faith in those verities which the young are enjoined to believe.
Source passage · edition’s verse reference · Tractates on the Gospel of John, Tractate 97, source paragraph 8 · Original source
Since now this it was that stung them most, (for the thing appeared incredible even to those of the circumcision who believed, and therefore they brought it as a charge against Peter, when he was come up to them from Cesarea, that he “went in to men uncircumcised, and did eat with them” ( Acts xi. 3 ); and after that they had learned the dispensation of God, even so still they wondered how “on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost” ( Acts x. 45 ): showing by their astonishment that they could never have expected so incredible a thing,) since then he knew that this touched them nearest, see how he has emptied their pride and relaxed their highly swelling insolence. For after having discoursed on the case of the heathen, and shown that they had not from any quarter any excuse, or hope of salvation, and after having definitely charged them both with the perversion of their doctrines and the uncleanness of their lives, he shifts his argument to the Jews; and after recounting all the expressions of the Prophet, in which he had said that they were polluted, treacherous, hypocritical persons, and had “altogether become unprofitable,” that there was “none” among them “that seeketh after God,” that they had “all gone out of the way” ( Rom. iii. 12 ), and the like, he adds, “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” ( Rom. iii. 19.) “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” ( Rom. iii. 23.)
Source passage · edition’s verse reference · Homilies on the Gospel of John, Homily 9, source paragraph 9 · Original source
Then next, he says, they bring accusations against you for Christ’s sake. What accusation had they against Elijah, when they drove him out, and persecuted him, and compelled him to struggle with famine? Which these [Hebrews] were then suffering. At least, the brethren, it is said, decided to send [relief] to those of the disciples who were afflicted. “Every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren that dwelt in Judea” ( Acts xi. 29 ), which was [the case] of these also.
Source passage · edition’s verse reference · Homilies on the Epistle to the Hebrews, Homily 28, source paragraph 8 · Original source
Seest thou again that it is He who doeth it? “I,” saith He, “will do it”; not, “I will ask of the Father,” but, “that the Father may be glorified in Me.” In another place He said, “God shall glorify Him in Himself” ( c. xiii. 32 ), but here, “He shall glorify the Father”; for when the Son shall appear with great power, He who begat shall be glorified. But what is, “in My Name”? That which the Apostles said, “In the Name of Jesus Christ, arise and walk.” ( Acts iii. 6.) For all the miracles which they did He wrought in them, and “the hand of the Lord was with them.” ( Acts xi. 21.)
Source passage · edition’s verse reference · Homilies on the Gospel of John, Homily 74, source paragraph 18 · Original source
“For think not at all,” saith He, “because they insult me, and call me demoniac, that I hate them and turn away from them. Nay, as I sought earnestly to amend them in the first place, so keeping you away from all the rest, to them do I send you as teachers and physicians. And I not only forbid you to preach to others before these, but I do not suffer you so much as to touch upon the road that leads thither, nor to enter into such a city.” Because the Samaritans too are in a state of enmity with the Jews. And yet it was an easier thing to deal with them, for they were much more favorably disposed to the faith; but the case of these was more difficult. But for all this, He sends them on the harder task, indicating his guardian care of them, and stopping the mouths of the Jews, and preparing the way for the teaching of the apostles, that people might not hereafter blame them for “entering in to men uncircumcised,”and think they had a just cause for shunning and abhorring them. And he calls them “lost,” not “stray,” “sheep,” in every way contriving how to excuse them, and winning their mind to himself.
Source passage · edition’s verse reference · Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew, Homily 32, source paragraph 61 · Original source