READING THE BOOK OF ACTS, CHAPTER 11

  READING THE BOOK OF ACTS: CHAPTER 11

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

 CONTEXT FOR ACTS, CHAPTER 11

Until Stephen’s death in Acts, Chapter 7 the story of Jesus’ followers remained mostly in Jerusalem. When Saul began his persecution of the church, they fled the area. As they left, they took Jesus’ story with them. Philip shared Jesus’ story with Samaritans and an Ethiopian official in Acts, Chapter 8. In Acts, Chapter 9 we saw how Saul’s persecution of the church led to his own conversion. Peter brought the gospel to a group of Gentiles in Acts 10. 

Acts 11 continues the story of how the good news about Jesus came to the Gentiles and how the work of the apostle Paul begins. Hundreds of years before, the Jewish exiles in Babylon had managed to return to Jerusalem with their religion and cultural identity still intact. Over time several foreign rulers tried to destroy Judaism and all Jewish culture. They banned the observance of their religion and sacrificed unclean animals on their altar. This led to the Maccabean revolt and renewed passion for keeping the Jewish law – especially the parts that included separation from the Gentiles. Acts 11 is the beginning of the transition of attention from the disciples, particularly Peter, to Paul. (https://www.bibleref.com/Acts/11/Acts-chapter-11.html)

1) Verses 1-18, Peter Explains His Actions, MS. DEBBIE

1 The apostles and the brothers and sisters who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. 2 When Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, 3 saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.”

4 Peter began to explain to them step by step, 5 “I was in the town of Joppa praying, and I saw, in a trance, an object that resembled a large sheet coming down, being lowered by its four corners from heaven, and it came to me. 6 When I looked closely and considered it, I saw the four-footed animals of the earth, the wild beasts, the reptiles, and the birds of the sky. 7 I also heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’

8 “‘No, Lord! ’ I said. ‘For nothing impure or ritually unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 But a voice answered from heaven a second time, ‘What God has made clean, you must not call impure.’

10 “Now this happened three times, and everything was drawn up again into heaven. 11 At that very moment, three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea arrived at the house where we were. 12 The Spirit told me to accompany them with no doubts at all. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we went into the man’s house. 13 He reported to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa, and call for Simon, who is also named Peter. 14 He will speak a message to you by which you and all your household will be saved.’

15 “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came down on them, just as on us at the beginning. 16 I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If, then, God gave them the same gift that he also gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, how could I possibly hinder God?” 

18 When they heard this they became silent. And they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has given repentance resulting in life even to the Gentiles.”

NOTATIONS:

11:1-3 – Those who were members of the circumcision party criticized Peter for eating with Gentiles without having required their circumcision first.  They were more concerned with law keeping than they were excited about the news that Gentiles had also received the word of God.

11:17-18 – Peter was saying, illegitimate racial divisions stand in God’s way and oppose the truth of the gospel.  To oppose something that so clearly had a divine stamp of approval on it would be to oppose God.  Peter’s explanation caused the other Jewish believers to give glory to God for granting repentance resulting in life even to Gentiles.

SECTION QUESTIONS:

1. After Peter explained to the Jews why he went to the house of Cornelius, what happened? (V.18)

2) Verses 19-30, The Church in Antioch, MS. ELNORA

19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

22 News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. 

25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. 

27 During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) 29 The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. 30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

NOTATIONS:

This section introduces the foundation of the church at Antioch. It describes an influx of Gentiles into the church as well as Barnaba's stabilizing influence. The scattering that happened because of Stephen's death did not lead to the believers going underground. They were, however, speaking only to Jews, until some of them from Cyprus and Cyrene came to Antioch preaching to non-Jews (as well as to Jews) with great success. Barnabas was sent from Jerusalem to investigate the success. He is described as a faith-filled man and filled with the Spirit (v. 24). Barnabas brought Saul to Antioch staging the larger Gentile mission. At Antioch disciples were first called Christians (v. 26).

Agabus and some other prophets through the Spirit, predicted a great famine. A great deal of evidence supports such a famine in the reign of Claudius. Prophets were foundational to the church (Eph. 2:20) and were more than merely foretellers (1Cor. 14:1-3). Barnabas and Saul carried their gifts to Jerusalem.

SECTION QUESTIONS:

1. What were the disciples first called at Antioch? (V. 26)

2. What did the prophet, Agabus, predict through the Spirit? (V. 28)

Ephesians 2:20 - Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

1Corinthians 14:1-3 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.

A Prayer Confession

Dear Heavenly Father,

We ask that you would bless us with an anointing like Peter's. We ask that you empower us to minister to unbelievers like Peter did for the Gentiles. We ask that you enable us with an opportunity to be in the homes or the presence of unbelievers in order to help bring lost souls to your light. Give us the strength to walk in faith, never doubting our ability in you when you send us to speak or do works on your behalf. Empower us with the blessing to hear your voice and to obey your every command. We hear your Word with the intent to obey it. In Jesus' name, amen.