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When news of this reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
Acts 11:22 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB The report concerning them came to the ears of the assembly which was in Jerusalem. They sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch,
  • KJV 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.
  • NKJV Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch.
  • NASB The news about them reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch.
  • NLT When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

The Jerusalem church, hearing of this, sent Barnabas to Antioch. The mother church responds with care and oversight, not suspicion.

Overview

Jerusalem sends Barnabas, a trusted and generous man (Acts 4:36-37), to investigate and strengthen the new work. The choice reflects the church's desire to nurture rather than control the Gentile mission. Barnabas's mission ties the burgeoning Antioch church to the wider body of believers.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 9

  • Acts 9:27Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and described how Saul had seen the Lord, who spoke to him on the road to Damascus, and how Saul had spoken boldly in that city in the name of Jesus.
  • Acts 8:14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.
  • Acts 13:1–3Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch), and Saul.
  • Acts 4:36–37Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (meaning Son of Encouragement),
  • Acts 15:22Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among the brothers,
  • Acts 11:1The apostles and brothers throughout Judea soon heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.
  • Acts 15:35–39But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, along with many others, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord.
  • 1 Th 3:6But just now, Timothy has returned from his visit with the good news about your faith, your love, and the fond memories you have preserved, longing to see us just as we long to see you.
  • Acts 15:2And after engaging these men in sharp debate, Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (1)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Acts videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Acts 11:22YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on ActsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.

How Acts 11:22 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.