Acts 11:23

Grace of God. For comment see on Rom. 3:24.

Was glad. Barnabas saw in the new work only that which would call for his approval, and the fact that more members were being added to the church was a source of deep joy to him. In fact, the whole Christian experience and program should at all times be one of continuous and undiminished rejoicing.

Exhorted. Or, “began exhorting.” The tense may be understood to imply the beginning of continuous action.

Purpose. Barnabas wished them to be able to say, with the psalmist, “My heart is fixed” (Ps. 57:7; Ps. 108:1).

Cleave unto the Lord. Allegiance must be to Jesus Christ Himself, and must remain in Him “with purpose of heart,” as is indicated in the preceding phrase. Barnabas had seen the result of the operation of God’s grace upon those of Antioch, but he knew, as every true pastor knows, that man’s will, or lack of it, can frustrate that grace. “Once saved, always saved” is not true; men backslide and apostatize, and the cooperation of man’s will is necessary to bring the work of sanctification to completion.