Acts 11 · Verse 4

Acts 11:4

But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,

Acts 11:4, King James Version

Acts 11:4 in other translations

BSB	But Peter began and explained to them the whole sequence of events:
WEB	But Peter began, and explained to them in order, saying,
ASV	But Peter began, and expounded the matter unto them in order, saying,
YLT	And Peter having begun, did expound to them in order saying,
DARBY	But Peter began and set forth the matter to them in order, saying,
BBE	But Peter gave them an account of it all in order, saying to them,
Webster	But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order to them, saying,

What does Acts 11:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 11:1-11

Ac 11:1-18. Peter Vindicates Himself before the Church in Jerusalem for His Procedure towards the Gentiles. 1-11. the apostles and brethren ... in Judea--rather, "throughout Judea."

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Barnes' Notes

Verse 4. But Peter rehearsed. Greek, Peter beginning, explained it to them in order. That is, he began with the vision which he saw, and gave a narrative of the various events in order, as they actually occurred. A simple and unvarnished statement of facts is usually the best way of disarming prejudice and silencing opposition. In revivals of true religion, the best way of silencing opposition, and especially among Christians, is to make a plain statement of things as they actually occurred. Opposition most commonly arises from prejudice, or from false or exaggerated statements; and those can be best removed, not by angry contention, but by an unvarnished relation of the facts. In most cases prejudice will thus be disarmed, and opposition will die away, as was the case in regard to the admission of the Gentiles to the church.

And expounded it. Explained it; stated it as it actually occurred.

By order. One event after another, as they happened. He thus showed that his own mind had been as much biassed as theirs, and stated in what manner his prejudices had been removed. It often happens that those who become most zealous and devoted in any new plans for the advancement of religion, were as much opposed to them at first as others. They are led from one circumstance to another, until their prejudices die away, and the Providence and Spirit of God indicate clearly their duty,

(**) "rehearsed" "Related"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 4 But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order - Εξετιθετο αυτοις καθεξης. This is the very style of St. Luke; see his Gospel, Luk 1:3. To remove their prejudice, and to give them the fullest reasons for his conduct, he thought it best to give them a simple relation of the whole affair; which he does, as we have seen in the preceding chapter, with a few additional circumstances here. See the notes before.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 11:1-18

The imperfect state of human nature strongly appears, when godly persons are displeased even to hear that the word of God has been received, because their own system has not been attended to. And we are too apt to despair of doing good to those who yet, when tried, prove very teachable. It is the bane and damage of the church, to shut out those from it, and from the benefit of the means of grace, who are not in…

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Acts 11:4 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.

ἀρξάμενοςarxamenoshaving begunG757

δὲdenowG1161

ΠέτροςPetrosPeterG4074

ἐξετίθετοexetithetohe was explaining [it]G1620

αὐτοῖςautoisto themG846

καθεξῆςkathexēsin orderG2517

λέγων·legōnsaying;G3004

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

Cross references for Acts 11:4

Luke 1:3
It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
Acts 14:27
And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.
Joshua 22:21-31
Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered, and said unto the heads of the thousands of Israel, The Lord God of gods, the Lord God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the Lord, (save us not this day,) That we have built us an altar to turn from following the Lord, or if to offer thereon burnt offering or meat offering, or if to offer peace offerings thereon, let the Lord himself require it; And if we have not rather done it for fear of this thing, saying, In time to come your children might speak unto our children, saying, What have ye to do with the Lord God of Israel? …
Proverbs 15:1
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

14:27; Jos 22:21-31; Pr 15:1; Lu 1:3

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

Context

Acts 11:3
Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.
Acts 11:4
But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,
Acts 11:5
I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:

Read all of Acts 11

Acts 11:4 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Entonces comenzando Pedro, les declaró por orden lo pasado, diciendo:
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Mais Pierre se mit à leur exposer les choses par ordre, disant:
German Elberfelder 1871	Petrus aber fing an und setzte es ihnen der Reihe nach auseinander und sprach:
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Incipiens autem Petrus exponebat illis ordinem, dicens: