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For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
Acts 11:24 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and many people were added to the Lord.
  • BSB Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.
  • NKJV For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.
  • NASB for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and faith. And considerable numbers were added to the Lord.
  • NLT Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord.

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

Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and many were added to the Lord. His Spirit-filled character bore much fruit.

Overview

Luke commends Barnabas's goodness, faith, and fullness of the Spirit, qualities that made his ministry fruitful. Under his encouragement still more people came to the Lord. The verse shows that godly, Spirit-filled leaders are instruments through whom God grows His church.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 19

  • Acts 5:14And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
  • Acts 11:21And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
  • Ps 112:5A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.
  • Acts 6:5And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
  • Acts 9:31Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
  • Acts 6:3Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
  • Acts 6:8And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
  • 2 Sam 18:27And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.
  • Rom 15:15Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,
  • Matt 12:35A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
  • Rom 5:7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
  • Prov 12:2A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.
  • Ps 37:23The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
  • Luke 23:50And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:
  • Acts 24:16And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
  • Matt 19:17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
  • John 7:12And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people.
  • Prov 14:14The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.
  • Prov 13:22A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (5)

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 11:24YouTube · 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 11:24 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.