Acts 11 27

Acts 11:27 kjv

And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.

Acts 11:27 nkjv

And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch.

Acts 11:27 niv

During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.

Acts 11:27 esv

Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.

Acts 11:27 nlt

During this time some prophets traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch.

Acts 11 verses

Acts 11 27 Meaning

Acts 11:27 indicates that, during a period of significant growth and consolidation of the Christian community in Antioch, inspired speakers, or prophets, journeyed from Jerusalem to that city. This movement signified an ongoing connection between the established mother church in Jerusalem and the burgeoning Gentile church in Antioch, underscoring the divine oversight and continued revelation within the early Christian movement.

Acts 11 27 Context

Acts chapter 11 opens with Peter defending his evangelization of Cornelius's household to the Jewish believers in Jerusalem, validating the inclusion of Gentiles into the church. Following this, the narrative shifts to Antioch, where disciples, scattered after Stephen's persecution, preached the Gospel to Greeks, leading to a significant number of conversions. The church in Jerusalem, hearing of this, sent Barnabas to Antioch. Barnabas, witnessing God's grace, brought Saul from Tarsus, and together they taught the Antioch church for a year, seeing remarkable growth. It is "in these days" of Antioch's rapid expansion and becoming a strong multi-ethnic Christian community that the prophets arrived. Historically, Antioch in Syria was one of the largest cities in the Roman Empire, a vibrant Hellenistic metropolis. Jerusalem was the spiritual capital and administrative center for the nascent Christian movement. The travel of prophets from Jerusalem to Antioch demonstrates the interconnectedness of these early Christian communities and the hierarchical, yet organically Spirit-led, nature of the early church's governance and growth.

Acts 11 27 Word analysis

• Now (Greek: δέ, de): A transitional particle, linking this event to the preceding narrative of the church's growth in Antioch and the ministry of Barnabas and Saul. It marks a sequential development.

• in these days (Greek: ἐν δὲ ταύταις ταῖς ἡμέραις, en de tautais tais hēmerais): Establishes the timeframe precisely. This refers to the period mentioned in Acts 11:26, during which Barnabas and Saul taught the growing church in Antioch. It signifies an ongoing period of fervent ministry and expansion.

• prophets (Greek: προφῆται, prophētai): These were individuals empowered by the Holy Spirit to speak divine messages, which could include revelation, instruction, encouragement, and occasionally foretelling future events. In the New Testament, prophecy served to edify, exhort, and comfort the church (1 Cor 14:3). They were vital leaders and channels of divine communication, distinct from, yet working alongside, apostles and teachers (1 Cor 12:28, Eph 4:11).

• came down (Greek: κατῆλθον, katēlthon): Implies both a geographical descent (Jerusalem being at a higher elevation than Antioch) and often a conceptual descent, as if from a primary or authoritative center (Jerusalem) to another location (Antioch). It signifies a deliberate journey.

• from Jerusalem (Greek: ἀπὸ Ἱεροσολύμων, apo Hierosolymōn): Points to the origin of the prophets. Jerusalem was the birthplace of the church, the center of apostolic authority, and the hub of Jewish Christianity. The sending or coming of leaders from Jerusalem often underscored the unity and shared authority within the broader Christian movement.

• to Antioch (Greek: εἰς Ἀντιόχειαν, eis Antiocheian): Designates the destination. Antioch in Syria was rapidly becoming a crucial center for Gentile Christianity, acting as a gateway for missionary endeavors to the wider Roman world. The influx of prophets indicates its growing strategic importance and need for spiritual guidance.

• "prophets came down from Jerusalem": This phrase highlights the interconnectedness of early Christian communities and the spiritual authority residing in Jerusalem. The mother church exercised a level of oversight and care, not necessarily dictatorial, but providing spiritual giftedness and leadership for the growing branches. This movement facilitated communication, solidified doctrine, and encouraged the new believers. It also implies divine direction for these prophetic individuals to specifically visit Antioch.

Acts 11 27 Bonus section

The "prophets" mentioned here represent a continuation of Old Testament prophetic tradition, albeit transformed and operating within the context of the New Covenant through the Holy Spirit poured out at Pentecost. Their primary function in the early church was less about foretelling the distant future (though it occurred, as with Agabus in the very next verse) and more about forth-telling God's word for the present edification, exhortation, and comfort of the believers. These itinerant prophetic ministers played a critical role in early church planting and development, providing a channel for divine intervention and validation during periods of rapid growth and doctrinal formulation. Their coming to Antioch underscores the importance placed on direct divine guidance and charismatic giftedness for establishing robust and Spirit-empowered Christian communities beyond the immediate reach of the apostles in Jerusalem.

Acts 11 27 Commentary

Acts 11:27 succinctly illustrates the vibrant, Spirit-led nature of the early church. The arrival of prophets from Jerusalem to Antioch demonstrates several key aspects: God's continuous guidance of His church through spiritual gifts, the living bond between different Christian communities (Jerusalem as the origin, Antioch as a key mission hub), and the recognition of prophetic ministry as a valid and essential function within the church structure. This was not a random visit but a divinely orchestrated movement to provide direct spiritual input, confirmation, or revelation (as Agabus's subsequent prophecy confirms), fortifying the burgeoning Gentile congregation and integrating it into the wider Christian fellowship. It showcases how God used charismatic individuals to maintain purity of doctrine and direction during the church's formative years.