Act 11:27-30 | RWP | e4.org | Prophets ( προφητα ). Christian prophets these were (cf. ) who came from Jerusalem (the headquarters, ). Judas and Silas are called prophets ( ; ). They were not just fore-tellers, but forth-tellers. The prophet had inspiration and was superior to the speaker with tongues ( ). John was a prophet ( ). We need prophets in the ministry today.

‏ Acts 11:27-30

Prophets ( προφητα ). Christian prophets these were (cf. 13:1) who came from Jerusalem (the headquarters, 8:15). Judas and Silas are called prophets (14:4; 15:32). They were not just fore-tellers, but forth-tellers. The prophet had inspiration and was superior to the speaker with tongues (1Co 14:3). John was a prophet (Lu 7:26). We need prophets in the ministry today.

Signified ( εσημαινεν ). Imperfect active in Westcott and Hort, but aorist active εσημανεν in the margin. The verb is an old one from σημα ( σημειον ) a sign (cf. the symbolic sign in 21:11). Here Agabus (also in 21:10) does predict a famine through the Holy Spirit.

Should be ( μελλειν εσεσθα ). Μελλω occurs either with the present infinitive (16:27), the aorist infinitive (12:6), or the future as here and 24:15; 27:10.

Over all the world ( εφ' ολην την οικουμενην ). Over all the inhabited earth ( γην, understood). Probably a common hyperbole for the Roman empire as in Lu 2:1. Josephus (Ant. VIII. 13, 4) appears to restrict it to Palestine.

In the days of Claudius ( επ Κλαυδιου ). He was Roman Emperor A.D. 41-44. The Roman writers (Suetonius, Dio Cassius, Tacitus) all tell of dearths (assiduae sterilitates) during the brief reign of Claudius who was preceded by Caligula and followed by Nero.

Every man according to his ability ( καθως ευπορειτο τις ). Imperfect middle of ευπορεω, to be well off (from ευπορος ), old verb, but here alone in the N.T., "as any one was well off." The sentence is a bit tangled in the Greek from Luke's rush of ideas. Literally, "Of the disciples, as any one was able (or well off), they determined ( ωρισαν, marked off the horizon) each of them to send relief ( εις διακονιαν, for ministry) to the brethren who dwelt in Judaea." The worst of the famine came A.D. 45. The warning by Agabus stirred the brethren in Antioch to send the collection on ahead.

Sending ( αποστειλαντες ). First aorist active participle of αποστελλω, coincident action with εποιησαν (did).

To the elders ( προς τους πρεσβυτερους ). The first use of that term for the Christian preachers. In 20:17, 28 "elders" and "bishops" are used interchangeably as in Tit 1:5, 7. The term probably arose gradually and holds a position in the church similar to the same term in the synagogue. The apostles were apparently absent from Jerusalem at this time and they were no longer concerned with serving tables. In 21:18 Paul presented the later collection also to the elders. Since Peter and James (till his death) were in Jerusalem during the persecution in chapter 12 it is probable that the visit of Barnabas and Saul to Jerusalem came really after that persecution for Peter left Jerusalem (12:17). The elders here mentioned may include the preachers in Judea also outside of Jerusalem (26:20).