Acts 11 · Verse 23

Acts 11:23

Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

Acts 11:23, King James Version

Acts 11:23 in other translations

BSB	When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to abide in the Lord with all their hearts.
WEB	who, 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.
ASV	who, when he was come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad; and he exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord:
YLT	who, having come, and having seen the grace of God, was glad, and was exhorting all with purpose of heart to cleave to the Lord,
DARBY	who, having arrived and seeing the grace of God, rejoiced, and exhorted all with purpose of heart to abide with the Lord;
BBE	Who, when he came and saw the grace of God, was glad; and he made clear to them the need of keeping near the Lord with all the strength of their hearts:
Webster	Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave to the Lord.

What does Acts 11:23 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

23. when he ... had seen the grace of God--in the new converts. was glad--owned and rejoiced in it at once as divine, though they were uncircumcised. exhorted them all that with purpose of heart--as opposed to a hasty and fickle discipleship. they would cleave unto the Lord--the Lord Jesus.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 23. Had seen the grace of God. The favour or mercy of God, in converting sinners to himself.

Was glad. Approved of what had been done in preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, and rejoiced that God had poured down his Spirit on them. The effect of a revival is to produce joy in the hearts of all those who love the Saviour.

And exhorted them all. Entreated them. They would be exposed to many trials and temptations, and he sought to secure their affections in the cause of religion.

That with purpose of heart. With a firm mind; with a fixed, settled resolution; that they would make this their settled plan of life, their main object.

A purpose, προθεσει is a resolution of the mind, a plan, or intention, Rom 8:28, Eph 1:11, 3:11, 2Ti 1:9, 3:10. It is a resolution of the mind in regard to future conduct; and the doctrine of Barnabas here was, undoubtedly, that it should be a regular, fixed, determined plan, or design, in their minds, that they would henceforward adhere to God. This plan must be formed by all Christians in the beginning of their Christian life, and without such a plan there can be no evidence of piety. We may also remark that such a plan is one of the heart. It is not simply of the understanding, but is of the entire mind, including the will and affections. It is the leading principle; the strongest affection; the guiding purpose of the will to adhere to God. And unless this is the prevalent, governing desire of the heart, there can be no evidence of conversion.

That they would cleave. Greek, That they would remain; that is, that they would adhere constantly and faithfully attached to the Lord.

(e) "was glad" 3Jn 1:4 (f) "exhorted" Acts 13:43, 14:22 (g) "purpose" Ps 17:3, 2Cor 1:17 (h) "of heart" Prov 23:15,26

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

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 favor. 2. The manifestations of that favor in the communication of spiritual blessings. And, 3. Principles of light, life, holiness, etc., 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 labors 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, τῃ προθεσει της καρδιας, with determination of heart, with set, fixed purpose and resolution, that they would cleave unto the Lord, προσμενειν τῳ Κυριῳ, 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 11:19-24

The first preachers of the gospel at Antioch, were dispersed from Jerusalem by persecution; thus what was meant to hurt the church, was 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 him crucified? Christ, and him glorified? And their preaching was accompanied with the Divine power. The hand of the Lord was with them, to bring…

Read the full comment on Acts 11:19-24 →

Acts 11:23 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὃςhoswhoG3739

παραγενόμενοςparagenomenoshaving comeG3854

καὶkaiandG2532

ἰδὼνidōnhaving seenG1492

τὴνtēntheG3588

χάρινcharingraceG5485

τοῦtou<the>G3588

θεοῦtheouof GodG2316

ἐχάρηecharēhe rejoicedG5463

καὶkaiandG2532

παρεκάλειparekaleihe was exhortingG3870

πάνταςpantasallG3956

τῇtēa<the>G3588

προθέσειprotheseiwith resolute purposeG4286

τῆςtēs<the>G3588

καρδίαςkardiasof heartG2588

προσμένεινprosmeneinto abideG4357

τῷtōtheG3588

κυρίῳ·kuriōLord;G2962

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 11:23

1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Acts 14:22
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
1 John 2:28
And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
Acts 13:43
Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
2 Timothy 3:10
But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
Joshua 23:8
But cleave unto the Lord your God, as ye have done unto this day.
Acts 20:24
But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Deuteronomy 30:20
That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
John 8:31-32
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Deuteronomy 10:20
Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.
Colossians 1:6
Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
2 Peter 3:17-18
Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

seen.
Mr 2:5; Col 1:6; 1Th 1:3,4; 2Ti 1:4,5; 2Pe 1:4-9; 3Jo 1:4
and exhorted.
13:43; 14:22; Joh 8:31,32; 15:4; 1Th 3:2-5; Heb 10:19-26,32-39
2Pe 3:17,18; 1Jo 2:28
purpose.
Ps 17:3; Pr 23:15,28; Da 1:8; 2Co 1:17; 2Ti 3:10
cleave.
De 10:20; 30:20; Jos 22:5; 23:8; Mt 16:24; 1Co 15:58

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Acts 11:22
Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
Acts 11:23
Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
Acts 11:24
For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

Read all of Acts 11

Acts 11:23 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	El cual, como llegó, y vió la gracia de Dios, regocijóse; y exhortó á todos á que permaneciesen en el propósito del corazón en el Señor.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	lequel, y étant arrivé et ayant vu la grâce de Dieu, se réjouit; et il les exhortait tous à demeurer attachés au Seigneur de tout leur cœur,
German Elberfelder 1871	welcher, als er hingekommen war und die Gnade Gottes sah, sich freute und alle ermahnte, mit Herzensentschluß bei dem Herrn zu verharren.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Qui cum pervenisset, et vidisset gratiam Dei, gavisus est: et hortabatur omnes in proposito cordis permanere in Domino: