Introductory remarks:
This chapter will give the results of Peter's second speech; it will also bring out the scribes, and Pharisees, and Sadducees that have been lurking and slithering around in the background ever since they crucified the Lord Jesus Christ. The preaching of the resurrection of Christ will bring these snakes out in the open. This chapter may be outlined as follows: Peter and John before the council vv. 1-22; the believers pray for boldness vv. 23-31; all things in common vv. 32-37.
Peter and John before the Council
Verse 1, "And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came unto them,"
LGT "And as they were speaking to the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them,"
This band of religious leaders led by the temple police burst in upon Peter and John from their burrows.
"Twenty-four bands of Levites guarded the temple, one guard at a time. They watched the gates. The commander of each band was called captain. Josephus names this captain of the temple police next to the high priest (War. VI. 5,3). Most of the priests were Sadducees now, and all the chief priests since John Hyrcanus I deserted the Pharisees (Josephus Ant. XVII. 10:6; XVIII. 1:4; XX. 9:1). The Sadducees were slow to line up with the Pharisees against Jesus, but they now take the lead against Peter and John" (Robertson).
Verse 2, "Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead."
LGT "Being distressed because they teach the people, and announce in Jesus the resurrection, which [is] from among [the] dead."
This verse explains the reason the Sadducees were the leading party, or the outspoken ones, because they could not accept the fact of the resurrection, or even life after death.
Vincent notes:
"The Sadducees denied both the resurrection and a future state. 'In the Gospels the Pharisees are represented as the great opponents of Christ; in the Acts it is the Sadducees who are the most violent opponents of the apostles. The reason of this seems to be, that in the Gospels Jesus Christ came in direct collision with the Pharisees, by unmasking their hypocrisies and endangering their influence among the people; whereas the apostles, in testifying to the resurrection of Christ, opposed the creed of the Sadducees. Perhaps, also, in attacking the apostles, who taught the resurrection of that Jesus whom the Pharisees had persecuted and crucified, the Sadducees aimed an indirect blow at the favorite dogma of their rival sect' (Gloag)."
Verse 3, "And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide."
LGT "And they laid hands on them, and put [them] in ward until the morrow: for it was evening already."
The phrase and put them in hold is literally in ward, that is, they quartered them until the next day; it was illegal for them to try them in the evening, one of the laws broken at the trial of Jesus. When I worked at Youth Training School in Ontario California, the young men were called wards of the state. So what they did with Peter and John was to put them under guard for safekeeping until the next day.
Verse 4, "Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand."
LGT "But many of the ones hearing the Word believed, and the number of the men became about five thousand."
This number is not an exaggeration; the church grew very fast in the beginning, and the proverb grew out of persecution that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.
Verses 5, 6, "And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem."
LGT "And it came to pass on the morrow, were gathered together their rulers, and elders, and the scribes in Jerusalem, and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of high priestly family. "
The Sanhedrim council gathered together in Jerusalem. Caiaphas, the son-in-law of Annas, was the high priest at the time according to Roman judgment, but Annas was according to Jewish opinion. John and Alexander were there to accuse Peter and John. "Even under Roman government the Sanhedrim possessed considerable independence of jurisdiction, both civil and criminal. Not only could it order arrests to be made by its own officers, but it could dispose, on its own authority, of cases where the death penalty was not involved" (Edersheim).
Verse 7, "And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?"
LGT "And having placed them in the midst, they inquired, By what power or in what name did you people this?"
Peter and John had just healed the lame man, and Peter had given his sermon, and the Sanhedrim placed them in their midst and asks them by what power or what name they had performed these things. The question was literally, what kind of power or what kind of name did you people, Peter and John, do these things? The Sanhedrim, with all their civil and religious authority expected to intimidate Peter and John.
Verse 8, "Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel."
LGT "Then Peter, filled with [the] Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people, and elders,"
Peter had no fear now that he was under the control of the Holy Spirit. Peter was now ready to face all comers.
Luke draws special attention to the fact that Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit; the filling of the Spirit is different from the Baptism of the Spirit; Peter was Baptized with the Spirit at Pentecost; this is when the Holy Spirit placed him into union with the Lord Jesus Christ, by identifying him with the death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and session at the right hand of the Father. Peter is now experientially filled, that is, controlled by the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit (see Eph. 5:18). The Holy Spirit baptizes every believer, and the Spirit places the believer in union with the Lord Jesus Christ the moment one believes in Jesus Christ. The filling of the Spirit happens when the believer confesses known sins, and is walking in the Light of God's Word. The Holy Spirit never works in the believer's life apart from the Word of God; this is one of the reasons we believers gather together and study the Word of God, and to encourage one another in the Lord.
Verses 9, 10, "If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole."
LGT "If we this day are examined concerning a good work [to the] infirmed man, by what he has been cured, be it known to all you and all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from among [the] dead, by Him this [man] stands before you sound."
Peter begins boldly by stating that if they are charging them with healing this impotent man; they really should be charging Jesus of Nazareth, because it was in His name that God healed him; Peter charges the entire Sanhedrim with the death of Christ; but He says that God did not leave His Son in the grave, but raised Him from among the dead, and that He is still able to work through His chosen apostles. Peter took a good shot at the religious sect. Up to this time says McGee, Peter put his "foot in his mouth"; but now that he is filled with Holy Spirit, "his feet are shod with the preparation of the gospel of Peace" (Eph. 6:15).
Calvin notes on Peter giving Christ the credit for the healing:
"Because it seemed to be an absurd and incredible thing, that a dead man should be endued with divine power, he testified that Christ is alive, because God hath raised Him up from the dead, howsoever they had crucified Him. So that the miracle gives him occasion to preach the resurrection of Christ. And by this testimony Peter meant to prove that He was the true Messiah. He said that they had crucified Him, not only to the end He may upbraid [scold] this unto them, that they may acknowledge their fault; but also that they may understand that they have in vain striven against God; and so, consequently, cease to rage so unluckily and with such deadly success."
Verse 11, "This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner."
LGT "This is the stone, which has been set at naught by you the builders, which is become the Head of [the] corner."
Peter is quoting psalm 118:22; Jesus also quoted this passage concerning Himself in Matt. 21:42; Paul in his epistles applies it without any doubt to the Messiah: Rom. 9:33; Eph. 2:20. The builders of course are these religious rulers that make up the Sanhedrim; the chief corners stone is the Lord Jesus Christ; the church is built on Jesus Christ and no other, or it is an imitation church; such imitations may be seen in the Roman Catholic Dynasty; the protestant religions, that is, denominations where the pastors take upon themselves the authority reserved for Lord Jesus Christ. The Word of God is the only authority for the Church of Jesus Christ. The false cults are not mentioned because they are not part of the body of Christ. There are members of Christ body in almost all true religions; I say true religions regarding those who do not deny the Virgin Birth, Deity, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ; these are just a few of the doctrines that must not be rejected. The religious rulers the first church rejected Christ as the Promised Messiah.
McGee notes:
"Peter goes on to point out two things about the Lord Jesus. The first thing is that He was crucified and raised from the dead. The other is that Jesus Christ is the stone. Jesus had said upon this rock I will build My church (Matt. 16:18). What is the rock? The rock is Christ. Now Peter says, This is the stone. What is the stone? Is it the church, or is it Simon Peter? No, it is the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth. He had become the Head of the corner. This has been accomplished by the Resurrection. Notice that the Resurrection is central to the preaching of the Gospel."
Verse 12, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
LGT "And there is Salvation in no other one, for neither is there another name, which is given among men, by which we must be saved."
Peter concludes his sermon with this wonderful verse that says it all; there is only one name, Jesus Christ the Righteous One, by which man may be saved from sin and to be assured of eternal Salvation. This verse says that Buddha, Mohammed, the sun-goddess Shinto, Jehovah without His Son, Allah, cannot save man nor any other name under heaven made up by stupid man. Man cannot be saved by observances of any ritual such as Baptism, circumcision, the Lord Supper, prayer, fasting, nor any other self-deprecating ritual such as penance, which is taught by the Roman Church for mankind to work their way out of that man-made place called purgatory, a sort of half way house for entrance into heaven. We, who have believed in Christ, thank God that Salvation is by faith only in the name of Christ, for in that name we have life eternal.
Verse 13, "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus."
LGT "But seeing the boldness of Peter and John, and having perceived that they were unlettered and uninstructed men, they were wondering, and they recognized them that they were with Jesus."
These members of the Sanhedrim noticed that Peter and John had not been to any seminary, or any school of the prophets, or the rabbinical schools of Hillel or Shammai, but that they had evidenced that they had been with Jesus. I believe the same thing is recognizable with Christians today who are studying the Word of God; people recognize that they have been with Jesus. The reason they were recognized as having been with Jesus is that they were saying the same Words Jesus said, and performing the same miracles.
Verse 14, "And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it."
LGT "But beholding the man standing together with them, the one who had been healed, they had nothing to argue with."
Peter never claimed to heal the lame man; he was standing proof of the miracle; now his accusers had nothing argue with him. "Great was the boldness of the man that even in the judgment-hall he had not left them: for had they (i.e., their opponents) said that the fact was not so, there was he to refute them" (Chrysostom, Hom. X).
Verse 15, "But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves."
LGT "But the Sanhedrim, having commanded them to go outside, they conferred with one another."
The Sanhedrim completely ignored Peter's sermon, and now they have Peter and John, and the man they healed, to go out side while they devise a plan against them.
Verse 16, "Saying, What shall we do to these men? For that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it."
LGT "Saying, What shall we do to these men? For indeed a known sign has come to pass through them, [and is] manifest to all those dwelling in Jerusalem, and we are unable to deny [it]."
With the man standing there with them it would do no good to deny it; all Jerusalem is aware of the miracle.
McGee has some good comments on this verse:
"Not even the Sadducees of that day could deny that a miracle had been performed. It takes a liberal, living in the twentieth century and removed by several thousand miles, to deny miracles. If you had been there then, you would have had difficulty denying the miracle. The liberals of that day had to say; We cannot deny a miracle has taken place.
People say that if they could see a miracle, they would believe. That is not true. This crowd wouldn't believe, and you have the same human nature as these people had. The problem is not a problem of the mind. It is a problem of the will and the heart. It is the heart that is desperately wicked. Unbelief is not from a lack of facts; it is the condition of the human heart."
Verse 17, "But that it spread no further among the people, let us straightly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in his name."
LGT "But in order that it spread no further among the people, let us threaten them, no longer to speak in this name to any man."
The Sanhedrim Council began to plot against the apostles. That name, Jesus, was hated by the Jews then, and is hated by the Jews of our day. The best these scoundrels could come up with is that they commanded them that they could no longer speak in the name of Jesus; well, this is like throwing gas on a fire; it will just ignite them to speak even more enthusiastically; tribulation was the fuel that ignited the first Church and its growth.
Verse 18, "And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus."
LGT "And having called them not to speak at all, nor to teach in the name of Jesus."
What the council decided outside they called Peter and John to them, and charged them not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.
Verse 19, "But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye."
LGT "But Peter and John answering said to them, Whether it is just before the God to listen to you rather than the God, you judge."
This is one of the boldest answers in human records; the Sanhedrim was supposed to have been selected by God, and Peter and John appeal to them as believers in God, whether or not they were to please men or to please God; you judge. The rulers said they believed in God, but that is impossible because Christ said: Ye believe in Me, you also believe in the Father who sent Me. If you truly believed in God, you would be encouraging us to speak and teach in Jesus' name.
Verse 20, "For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."
LGT "For we cannot but speak what we saw and heard."
They are saying that they would be liars to keep their mouths shut. Peter and John were willing to sacrifice their lives for the Word of God.
Verse 21, "So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done."
LGT "But having further threatened let them go, finding nothing as to how they might punish them, on account of the people, because all were glorifying the God, for that which had taken place:"
After threatening them further, they had to let them go, because all the people were praising God for the miracle they witnessed; the term "all', of course means, all the ones who had witnessed the healing of the lame man. The Sanhedrim, as in the case of Christ's miss-trial, were afraid of an insurrection among the people. The people praising God were as much as to laugh in the face of the Sanhedrim.
Verse 22, "For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was showed."
LGT "For the man was above forty years [old] on whom this sign of healing had taken place."
A person would think that the hearts of the Sanhedrim would be logical, but to the contrary; unbelief is multiplied by the truth, that is, the more truth is displayed, the harder the heart becomes.
Barnes notes on the age of the man;
"The age of the man is mentioned to show the certainty and greatness of the miracle. If it had been a man who had been lame but a few years, or if it had been a child or a very young man, the case would not been so remarkable. But after a continuance of forty years, all hope of healing him by any ordinary means must have been abandoned, and all pretence that this was jugglery or deception must have been absurd."
The Believers Pray for Boldness
Verse 23, "And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests had said unto them."
LGT "And having been let go, they came to their own [company], and reported back whatever to them, the chief priests and the elders said."
After being commanded by the Sanhedrim to no longer teach in the name of Jesus, they are let go, and they return to their brethren and report what had happened; this is the right course for them to take, because they would receive the proper encouragement from their fellow countrymen and fellow believers.
Verse 24, "And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is."
LGT "And they having heard, with one accord lifted up [their] voice to the God and said, O Master, Thou [art] the One who made the heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and all that [are] in them,"
The brethren responded to Peter and John with a rousing praise to God with one accord, that is, in unison; they refer to God as the Mighty Dictator, gr. despotta, meaning their Master; they considered themselves slaves to the Mighty Creator of all things.
Barnes notes on this verse:
"The phrase "Thou art God" is an ascription of praise, which seems to have been designed to denote their sense of His power to deliver them, and of His right to dispose of them. They were employed in His service; they were encompassed with dangers; and they acknowledged Him as their God, who had made all things, and who had an entire right to direct, and to dispose of them for His own glory. In times of danger and perplexity we should remember that God has a right to do with us as He pleases; and we should go cheerfully, and commit ourselves into His hands."
Verses 25, 26, "Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ"
LGT "Who through the mouth of our father, by the Holy Spirit, David Thy servant did say, Why did nations rage self-importantly, and the people did imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ."
Peter quotes Psalm 2:1,2 to describe the vanity of these rulers in their rising up against Christ, and now against them for using the name Christ in their teaching the people. The phrase, why did the heathen rage in Greek is ephruaxan, "originally, to neigh or snort like a horse. Of men, to give oneself haughty [conceited] airs, and to act and speak insolently [disrespectfully]. Philo describes a proud man as walking on tiptoes, and bridling with neck erect like a horse" (Vincent). Whenever men rise up against the Church they are in effect raising up in rebellion against God and His Christ. The rulers gathered together against the Lord and His Christ in order to stop the Messiah from setting up His kingdom; they crucified the Lord, but that will not deter God's plan; for at the end of the last forty-two months of the Tribulation Period, Christ will return and judge the nations, and then He will set up His Millennial Reign. The rebellion of man began when they crucified Christ, and it has been growing ever since, and it will be finally dealt with at the end of the Thousand Year Reign of Jesus Christ.
Verses 27, 28, "For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined to be done."
LGT "For of a truth, in this city, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, together with nations and the people of Israel, were gathered together against thy Holy Servant Jesus, whom thou did anoint, to do whatever thy hand and council predetermined to come to pass."
The Jews and the Gentiles [Romans] joined forces against the Christ, in order to dispose of Him, that is, the Jews delivered Christ to the Romans to be crucified.
Barnes notes:
"The facts which are brought to view in these verses are among the most remarkable on record. They are briefly these: (1) That the Jewish rulers were opposed to the Messiah, and slew Him. (2) That the very people to whom He came, and for whose benefit He labored, joined in the opposition, so that it became the act of a united people. (3) That the Romans, who were there as a sort of representation of all pagan nations, were easily prevailed on to join in the persecution, and to become the executioners. (4) That thus opposite factions, and dissimilar and prejudiced people, became united in opposing the Messiah. (5) That the rulers of the Roman people, the emperors, the statesmen, the philosophers, and the rulers of other nations, united to oppose the gospel, and brought all the power of persecution to stay its progress. (6) That the people of the empire, the mass of men, were easily prevailed upon to join in the persecution, and to endeavor to arrest its progress. It may be added, (7) That the gospel has encountered similar difficulties and opposition wherever it has been faithfully presented to the attention of men."
Verse 29, "And now, Lord, behold their threatening: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word."
LGT "And now, Lord, Look upon their threatening, and give to Thy servants to speak Thy Word with all boldness."
Notice in this prayer they do not ask that God relieve them of the threats, but only to give them the courage to speak His Word with even more boldness.
Verse 30, "By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus."
LGT "In that by stretching out Thy hand for healing, and signs and wonders take place the name of Thy Holy Servant Jesus."
The signs and wonders were given the early Church, in order to give them courage that the Lord had heard them, and the boldness to continue preaching the Gospel; remember, the Word of God had not yet been complete. It is very inappropriate to pray this prayer today, for we have been given the courage by the ever presence of the Holy Spirit, coupled with the Word of God.
Verse 31, "And when they prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake with boldness."
LGT "And they, having prayed, the place was shaken in which they were gathered together, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the Word of God with boldness."
The Lord made His presence known to these who were gathered together in Jesus' name. They did not pray, as I said previously, for deliverance from persecution, but for boldness to preach the Word. Remember, this early church were filled with a special anointing for a special time, with the Holy Spirit, for a special ministry; and this time is not to be imitated by the Church in this age of Grace; for we have the completed Word of God, and the filling of the Spirit, as we walk in the Light of His Word; we do not need to copy the apostolic age, because when we do, we become phonies, and the Holy Spirit will not only be quenched, but it also grieves Him.
All Things in Common
Verse 32, "And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common."
LGT "And the multitude of those that believed were of one heart and soul, and neither said any one that what he possessed was his own, but were to them all things common."
The heart and soul refer to the same thing, that is, the will. The KJV has this phrase in the genitive case, and the Greek has it in the nominative case; the difference being that the KJV makes a distinction between the heart and soul, whereas the Greek makes the heart and soul the same will, that is, the decision making part of man. The soul and the spirit of man may be distinguished in that with the soul man decides what is best for the material man, that is, the soulish man; however with the spirit man may be able to commune with God, and have fellowship with God. You see, with the soul man has self-consciousness, and with the spirit man has God consciousness. The thing that these believers were deciding was what would be the benefit for the physical well being of the entire group, and that is why the soul is referred to in making the decision to have all things in common; they were heading for much tribulation, and this is what they believed would be the best for them all; I also believe that they were expecting Christ to return at any time. Bible doctrine will come later as the epistles are written, and then they all will begin to relax and start to live normal lives.
Verse 33, "And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all."
LGT "And with great power the apostles gave back testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all."
Being witnesses of the resurrection was one of the pre-requisites to apostleship. The resurrection is the strength of the Gospel of Grace. The resurrection teaching was to the Sadducees, who refuse to believe in the resurrection, a stumbling block, but to the believers it was the power of God unto Salvation. For those of you who believe there is no doctrine taught in the Acts or the gospels, you need to dwell a while on this verse; you see, the reference to the resurrection is a synecdoche, that is, the doctrine of the resurrection is taught as the part of doctrine that stands for the entire Bible doctrine of the Gospel of grace, for without the resurrection we have no Gospel at all. The doctrine of the resurrection is the foundation to all future doctrine that will be given in the epistles.
Verses 34, 35, "Neither was there any among that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostle's feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need."
LGT "For neither was anyone in want among them: for as many as were owners of estates or houses, selling [them] brought the values of those sold, and laid [them] at the feet of the apostles, and distribution was made to each according as anyone had need."
Here we have a unique situation of the entire group of one accord looking out for the common good, over personal possessions; this could only happen among believers, and that, only as they were filled with the Holy Spirit. These were all Christian people; it is not a pattern for anyone person or group of persons to try and imitate today. Our government sometimes appears as this all supreme Despot, who wants to take from the rich and give to the lazy poor; our government will sight 1% of the cases of the needy that may be legitimate, and then rob us all of our goods to give to illegal aliens, or lazy good-for-nothings that have learned to work this ridiculous system. This verse has nothing to do with distributing the wealth equally, only making sure that legitimate poor people, for any reason, were taken care of. They knew they could trust the apostles, for they stood for the Grace of God. The Catholic Church is a prime example of despotism; they take from the poor on the premise that they are buying their way into heaven, and then keep the money for themselves; it is true that they have organizations that supposedly help the poor, but this is less than 1% of all the money they embezzle from the ignorant people; I say ignorant, because the Church does not encourage personal Bible study.
Verse 36, "And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,"
LGT "And Joseph, who was surnamed Barnabas by the apostles, which is, being interpreted, son of consolation, a Levite, a Cypriot by birth."
This man was later to become the companion of the apostle Paul. "The occasion on which Barnabas became connected with the Paul in the ministry was when he himself was sent forth by the church at Jerusalem to Antioch. There, it seems, he heard of the fame of Paul and went to Tarsus to seek him, and brought him with him to Antioch, Acts 11:22-26. Before this he had been acquainted with him, and had introduced him to the other apostles at a time when they were afraid of Paul, and unwilling to acknowledge him as an apostle, Acts 9:26,27. At Antioch, Barnabas was led into dissimulation [to hide under a false appearance] by Peter in regard to the Gentiles, and reproved by his friend and companion, Paul, Gal. 2:13. He and Paul continued to travel in fellowship until a dispute arose at Antioch about Mark, and they separated, Paul going with Silas through Syria and Cilicia, and Barnabas, with Mark, sailing for his native place, Cyprus, Acts 15:35-41" (Barnes).
Verse 37, "Having land, sold it, and brought it at the apostles' feet."
LGT "Having land, having sold [it], brought the money and laid [it] at the feet of the apostles."
This is Barnabas' introduction; he was one Joseph, a Levite from the country of Cyprus, and the apostles change his name to Barnabas. We will hear much more of him as we go along in our studies.
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