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Acts 11:4
But Peter rehearsedthe matter from the beginning, and expoundedit by order unto them, saying,

Acts 14:27
And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

Acts 15:4,12
And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, andof the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them…

by.

Acts 1:17
For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.

Acts 20:24
But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

2 Corinthians 12:12
Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

and recounted one by one
Paul's detailed recounting indicates the importance of testimony in the early church. It highlights the practice of sharing God's work as a means of encouragement and accountability. This methodical recounting also underscores the significance of each event in Paul's ministry, reflecting the thoroughness and dedication of his mission.

the things that God had done
This phrase emphasizes that the successes of Paul's ministry are attributed to God's power and not human effort. It aligns with the biblical theme that God is the primary actor in the spread of the Gospel, as seen inPhilippians 2:13. This acknowledgment of divine intervention is crucial in understanding the nature of Christian ministry.

among the Gentiles
The inclusion of Gentiles in God's plan was a revolutionary concept in the early church, fulfilling prophecies such asIsaiah 49:6. Paul's ministry among the Gentiles marks a significant shift in the early Christian mission, breaking traditional Jewish boundaries and expanding the reach of the Gospel, as further elaborated inActs 13:47.

through his ministry
Paul's ministry is a testament to his calling as the Apostle to the Gentiles, as stated inRomans 11:13. His work is characterized by church planting, teaching, and performing miracles, all of which serve to authenticate his apostolic authority and the truth of the Gospel. This phrase underscores the role of human agency in God's divine plan, as Paul serves as an instrument for God's purposes.

• Fresh from his travels, “Paul greeted them” (Acts 21:19), walking into the Jerusalem meeting with warmth and respect—exactly what he urged others to show (Romans 16:16).

• The setting echoesActs 21:18, where James and “all the elders were present,” highlighting shared leadership.

• Unity shines here: Jew and Gentile believers, missionary and home church, all recognizing one Lord (Ephesians 4:4–6).

• Paul “recounted one by one” every work God had done. This careful, orderly report mirrorsActs 14:27, where he and Barnabas similarly “reported all that God had done.”

• Why itemize?

– To give precise glory to God (Psalm 9:1).

– To encourage accuracy and accountability (2 Corinthians 8:21).

– To build faith in listeners who might never see these distant mission fields firsthand (Romans 10:17).

• The spotlight never rests on Paul’s endurance or strategy but on “the things that God had done.” As Paul later wrote, “I labored… yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10).

•Acts 15:4 shows the same pattern: “They reported all that God had done through them.” Testimony is worship; listing divine works magnifies the Lord (Psalm 126:3).

• God’s works were “among the Gentiles,” fulfilling the promise that salvation would reach “to the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6).

• Peter had earlier observed that God “made no distinction between us and them” (Acts 15:9). Paul’s stories—churches planted, miracles, conversions—proved that truth in real time (Acts 13:48; 19:20).

• The inclusion of Gentiles confirmed the mystery now revealed: “the Gentiles are fellow heirs” (Ephesians 3:6).

• God chose Paul as “a chosen instrument… to carry My name before the Gentiles” (Acts 9:15).

• “Through his ministry” stresses human obedience joined to divine power. Paul sowed, Apollos watered, “but God made it grow” (1 Corinthians 3:6).

• Spiritual fruit validated his calling (2 Corinthians 3:2–3) and silenced critics who doubted Gentile outreach (Galatians 2:8–9).

Acts 21:19 paints a simple yet profound picture: Paul enters Jerusalem’s council, greets the elders, and—detail by detail—celebrates God’s mighty acts among the Gentiles accomplished through his own Spirit-empowered service. The verse reminds us to value fellowship, give thorough testimony, keep God at center stage, rejoice in Gospel reach to every nation, and embrace our role as willing instruments in His hands.