SEV Biblia, Chapter 11:23
El cual, cuando lleg, y vio la gracia de Dios, se regocij; y exhort a todos a que permaneciesen en su propsito del corazn en el Seor.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 11:23
Verse 23. Had seen the grace of God] That is, had seen the effects produced by the grace of God. By the grace of God, we are to understand: 1. His favour. 2. The manifestations of that favour in the communication of spiritual blessings. And, 3. Principles of light, life, holiness, &c., producing effects demonstrative of the causes from which they sprung. Barnabas saw that these people were objects of the Divine approbation; that they were abundantly blessed and edified together as a Christian Church; and that they had received especial influences from God, by his indwelling Spirit, which were to them incentives to faith, hope, and love, and also principles of conduct. Was glad,] Not envious because God had blessed the labours of others of his Master's servants, but rejoiced to find that the work of salvation was carried on by such instruments as God chose, and condescended to use.
They who cannot rejoice in the conversion of sinners, because they have not been the means of it, or because such converts or their ministers have not precisely the same views of certain doctrines which they have themselves, show that they have little, if any thing, of the mind that was in Christ, in them.
With purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.] These converts had begun well; they must continue and persevere: God gave them the grace, the principle of life and action; it was their business to use this. If they did not, the gift would be resumed. Barnabas well knew that they must have the grace of God in them to enable them to do any good; but he knew, also, that its being in them did not necessarily imply that it must continue there. God had taught him that if they were not workers together with that grace they would receive it in vain; i.e., the end for which it was given would not be answered. He therefore exhorted them, th proqesei thv kardiav, with determination of heart, with set, fixed purpose and resolution, that they would cleave unto the Lord, prosmenein tw kuriw, to remain with the Lord; to continue in union and fellowship with him; to be faithful in keeping his truth, and obedient in the practice of it. To be a Christian is to be united to Christ, to be of one spirit with him: to continue to be a Christian is to continue in that union. It is absurd to talk of being children of God, and of absolute, final perseverance, when the soul has lost its spiritual union. There is no perseverance but in cleaving to the Lord: he who in his works denies him does not cleave to him. Such a one is not of God; if he ever had the salvation of God, he has lost it; he is fallen from grace; nor is there a word in the book of God, fairly and honestly understood, that says such a person shall absolutely and unavoidably arise from his fall.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 23. Who when he came, and had seen the grace of God , etc.] The many instances of the powerful and efficacious grace of God in regeneration and conversion; the great goodness, love, and favour of God in enlightening, quickening, and converting so many souls; and the wonderful gifts of the Spirit bestowed upon many of them, fitting them for public use and service: was glad ; rejoiced at heart, and gave glory to God, as every good man will, at the success of the gospel in the conversion of sinners, let it be by what instrument or means it will, and at the gifts and grace bestowed on them: and exhorted them all ; in whom he saw the grace of God implanted, who had received the doctrine of the grace of God, and had gifts of grace qualifying them for usefulness, in some nation or another: that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord ; that is, with a fixed resolution in the grace and strength of Christ, they would hold to his person, exercising grace upon him, abide by his truths and ordinances, keep close to his people, adhere to his cause and interest, and hold on and out unto the end. The Arabic version takes the purpose of heart to be meant of Barnabas, and reads the words thus, and he exhorted them according to the usual firmness of his heart, that they would continue in the faith of the Lord; in the doctrine and grace of faith in Christ.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 19-24 - The first preachers of the gospel at Antioch, were dispersed from Jerusalem by persecution; thus what was meant to hurt the church, wa made to work for its good. The wrath of man is made to praise God. What should the ministers of Christ preach, but Christ? Christ, and his crucified? Christ, and him glorified? And their preaching wa accompanied with the Divine power. The hand of the Lord was with them to bring that home to the hearts and consciences of men, which the could but speak to the outward ear. They believed; they were convince of the truth of the gospel. They turned from a careless, carnal way of living, to live a holy, heavenly, spiritual life. They turned from worshipping God in show and ceremony, to worship him in the Spirit an in truth. They turned to the Lord Jesus, and he became all in all with them. This was the work of conversion wrought upon them, and it must be wrought upon every one of us. It was the fruit of their faith; all wh sincerely believe, will turn to the Lord, When the Lord Jesus i preached in simplicity, and according to the Scriptures, he will giv success; and when sinners are thus brought to the Lord, really goo men, who are full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, will admire an rejoice in the grace of God bestowed on them. Barnabas was full of faith; full of the grace of faith, and full of the fruits of the fait that works by love.
Greek Textus Receptus
ος 3739 R-NSM παραγενομενος 3854 5637 V-2ADP-NSM και 2532 CONJ ιδων 1492 5631 V-2AAP-NSM την 3588 T-ASF χαριν 5485 N-ASF του 3588 T-GSM θεου 2316 N-GSM εχαρη 5463 5644 V-2AOI-3S και 2532 CONJ παρεκαλει 3870 5707 V-IAI-3S παντας 3956 A-APM τη 3588 T-DSF προθεσει 4286 N-DSF της 3588 T-GSF καρδιας 2588 N-GSF προσμενειν 4357 5721 V-PAN τω 3588 T-DSM κυριω 2962 N-DSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
23. Purpose (proqesei). Originally, placing in public; setting before. Hence of the shew-bread, the loaves set forth before the Lord (see on Mark ii. 26). Something set before one as an object of attainment: a purpose.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
11:23 {The grace of God, was glad} (ten carin ten tou qeou ecare). Note repetition of the article, "the grace that of God." The verb (second aorist passive indicative of cairw) has the same root as caris. See the same _suavis paronomasia_ in #Lu 1:28. "Grace brings gladness" (Page). "A smaller man would have raised difficulties as to circumcision or baptism" (Furneaux). {He exhorted} (parekalei). Imperfect active, picturing the continuous encouragement from Barnabas. {With purpose of heart} (tei proqesei tes kardias). Placing before (from pro-tiqemi), old word for set plan as in #Ac 27:13; Ro 8:28. The glow of the first enthusiasm might pass as often happens after a revival. Barnabas had a special gift (#4:36) for work like this . {Cleave unto the Lord} (prosmenein [en] twi kuriwi). Dative case (locative if en is genuine) of kurios (here Jesus again) after prosemenein to keep on remaining loyal to (present active infinitive). Persistence was needed in such a pagan city.
