Click Here to Read or Listen to Acts 11
Peter Explains His Actions
When Peter went back to Jerusalem, the Jewish believers questioned him on why he went into the house of a Gentile to eat. But rather than reacting, Peter went through every detail of the story on how God had orchestrated his meeting with the men from Cornelius' house through a vision, which God also gave to Cornelius.
Peter clearly showed them that he was determined not to eat anything unclean according to the Jewish Law, but the Lord said, "What I have declared clean don't declare unclean!" The angel also said to Cornelius,
"He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved."
Importantly, Peter recounted how after he preached the gospel to them, they were filled with and manifested the Holy Spirit just as the Spirit had done with them at Pentecost. This was also just as Jesus had taught them before he left. After they heard Peter's compelling testimony, they quickly agreed and gave praise to God for bringing the Good News to the Gentiles. This was a huge turning point in the church, when these esteemed men recognized that Jesus came to save both them and the Gentiles! This cannot be overstated.
The Church in Antioch
The persecution resulting from the stoning of Stephen sent the believers out to other Jews throughout the area surrounding Jerusalem. But some men from Cyprus and Cyrene went specifically to the Gentiles in Antioch.
These unnamed disciples from Cyprus and Cyrene are genuine heroes. They began the first mentioned “mission to the Gentiles” (here called Hellenists) in Antioch.
In Antioch, we have the first example of Christians deliberately targeting Gentiles for evangelism, and this effort had great results (a great number believed and turned to the Lord). - Guzik
The church in Jerusalem sent Barnabas who went and confirmed all the good things the Lord had done there. He stayed there for a while and encouraged them. We know the name "Barnabbas" means "encourager".
At the church in Antioch, when Barnabas had seen the grace of God, he was glad. There was something in the work and atmosphere among the followers of Jesus in Antioch that made Barnabas able to see the grace of God.
In whatever gathering of Christians we associate ourselves with, it is important that others be able to see the grace of God among us. They should not see an emphasis on self, on man-made rules, on human performance – but on the glorious grace of God. It will make them glad. - Guzik
The next stop for Barnabas was to go to Saul of Tarsus, who later was named Paul. Barnabas, the encourager, now had a chance to encourage the one who would become the greatest missionary in the New Testament.
The believers were first called Christians in Antioch!
Chapter 11 ends on an ominous note, as the prophet Agabus comes down from Jerusalem to predict a famine throughout the Roman world. In response, Saul and Barnabas collected food for the church in Jerusalem. This is the first instance we see of the church providing benevolence for a church in another part of the world. We need to see more of this today!
How do you think the church can work more together like the early church? What are the marks of the church that made it such a potent force in the world?
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