Acts 11:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Do you see that the laying down of the law is the work of the Spirit? “These six brethren also went with me.” What could be humbler than Peter appealing here also to the testimony of the brethren?

“And these six brethren came with me.” He could say nothing that would show his humility more than his appeal to the testimony of the brethren.

Beautifully, in the testimony of seven brethren, the sevenfold grace of the Holy Spirit was poured out. On the other hand, since this world was created in six days, it is shown that works are completed through the six brethren who accompany the teacher. This happens when he shows his listeners, through words of exhortation, examples of perfect action. Here Bede has in mind Isa 11:2-3. The first example of interpreting Isa 11:2-3 as referring to the gifts of the Holy Spirit to believers is found in Justin Martyr.

The news of the event in Cornelius's house quickly spread among the Christians and reached, among others, the Church of Jerusalem. There it stirred up serious misunderstandings. Christians from among the circumcised were perplexed and even indignant, above all because the Apostle Peter had allowed himself to go into the house of uncircumcised men and eat with them. Therefore, when Peter came to Jerusalem, they reproached him for what they regarded as defiling himself through fellowship with Gentiles. But the Apostle Peter's detailed account of all the extraordinary circumstances, in which God's will concerning the Gentiles was expressed, completely calmed their minds. All the Christians glorified God, saying that it was evident God had also granted the Gentiles repentance unto life.

Peter began to recount everything to them in order. He considered the best means of clarifying the matter, justifying his conduct, and calming the circumcised who had reproached him, to be a complete account of what had happened. The narrative is entirely the same as the one given above and explained by us. Only a few particulars in it require brief explanation. The reason why the writer of Acts recounts this narrative a second time is, of course, the special importance and great significance of the event itself for the Church. Verse 12: "These six brethren also went with me." From this it is clear that the Christians of Joppa who accompanied Peter to Caesarea, to the house of Cornelius (Acts 10:23), also accompanied him from Caesarea to Jerusalem and were now there with him.

The Apostle Peter's account of Cornelius and of those in his house is not as full as the account of the vision that came to Peter himself. It seems the apostle was afraid, as they say, to pour oil onto combustible matter, lest he cause it to burn more fiercely. Therefore he kept silent about what pertained to Cornelius's praise, for example, his prayers and alms. Concerning himself, however, he again says that those who were sent came for him, and that the Spirit told him to have no doubt at all. Yet the apostle's reference to the six brethren had special importance. They had been both his witnesses and his fellow participants. Therefore, if one were to judge him strictly, one would have to judge not him alone. These brethren were present there.