Acts 11:28

“And there stood up one of them named Agabus, etc.]] The same name with Hagaba in (<160748>Nehemiah 7:48) and with Hagabah, or Hagab in (<150245>Ezra 2:45,46) and which the Septuagint there call Agaba and Agab. The name signifies a “grasshopper”, (<031122>Leviticus 11:22) or “a locust”, (<140713>2 Chronicles 7:13). In a book that goes under the name of Jerom f569, it is interpreted, “a messenger of tribulation”; respecting, it may be, not the true signification of the word, as the things which Agabus predicted, as the general dearth here, and the binding of the Apostle Paul, (<442110>Acts 21:10). And the same writer observes, that this interpretation is a violent, or a forced one. Some take…”

“that there should be great dearth throughout all the world--the whole Roman empire. which came to pass in the days of Claudius CÃ&brvbrsar--Four famines occurred during his reign. This one in Judea and the adjacent countries took place, A.D. 41 [JOSEPHUS, Antiquities, 20.2,5]. An important date for tracing out the chronology of the Acts. (But this subject is too difficult and extensive to admit of being handled here).”

“Named Agabus - This man is mentioned but in one other place in the New Testament. In Acts 21:10-11, he is referred to as having foretold that Paul would be delivered into the hands of the Gentiles. It is not expressly said that he was a Christian, but the connection seems to imply that he was. And signified - See John 12:33. The word usually denotes “to indicate by signs, or with a degree of obscurity and uncertainty, not to declare in explicit language.” But here it seems to denote simply “to foretell, to predict.” By the Spirit - Under the influence of the Spirit. He was inspired. Great dearth - A great famine. Throughout all the world - The word used here οἰκουμένην oikoumenēn usually…”

“Agabus rising up - In the congregation. All the world - The word frequently signifies all the Roman empire. And so it is doubtless to be taken here. Acts 11:29”

“11:28 Claudius, nephew of Tiberius Caesar (Luke 3:1), was the Roman emperor in AD 41–54. His last wife was his niece Agrippina, whose son Nero he adopted.”

“Agabus: Act 21:10 great: This was probably the famine which took place in the fourth year of Claudius, which continued for several years, and in which, says Josephus, "many died for want of food." Gen 41:30, Gen 41:31, Gen 41:38; 1Kings 17:1-16; Kg2 8:1, Kg2 8:2 Claudius: Claudius Caesar succeeded C. Caligula, ad 41; and after a reign of upwards of 13 years, he was poisoned by his wife Agrippina, and succeeded by Nero. Luk 2:1, Luk 3:1 Acts 11:29”