Acts 11:22

Tidings of these things. Or, “the report concerning them,” that is, concerning these converts at Antioch. If, as is probable, the new converts were Gentiles, the apparently favorable reception that the news of their conversion received at Jerusalem was doubtless due to the acceptance that probably already had been accorded to Cornelius.

Church ... in Jerusalem. See on ch. 8:14.

Sent forth Barnabas. To strengthen the work at Antioch and to give it the approval and direction of the church in Jerusalem, even as Peter and John had been sent into Samaria (ch. 8:14). Perhaps the choice fell upon Barnabas because he was known to sympathize with the work going on in Antioch. He was a friend of Saul, whom he had introduced to certain of the disciples at Jerusalem (ch. 9:27), and he must have known of Saul’s convictions and hopes regarding the Gentiles. Therefore he would welcome the opportunity to work in the same way. The fact that he was of the same country as some the missionaries working in Antioch would further qualify him.

That he should go. Textual evidence favors (cf. p. 10) the omission of this expression.