3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.



Ver. 3. By the Church] That is, by the community of God’s people, who therefore (as it may seem) sided with Paul and Barnabas, against those disturbers.



They passed through Phenice and Samaria] They took a long journey for a public good. Calvin was wont to say, that he would gladly sail over ten seas {a} to settle a general peace and good agreement in the reformed Churches. Terentius (that noble general under Valens the emperor), when he was bidden ask what he would, and it should be done, asked nothing but that the Church might be freed from Arians. And when the emperor tore his petition, he said that he would never ask anything for himself, if he might not prevail for the Church: this that he might, he would undertake any pains, undergo any peril by sea or land. (Theodoret, iv. 32.)



{a} Ne decem quidem maria, &c. Beza.