Acts 11
Big idea: The Gentile breakthrough is examined and owned: Peter's step-by-step retelling silences the objection — 'who was I, that I could withstand God?' — and Jerusalem concedes that God has granted the Gentiles 'repentance to life.' Meanwhile at Antioch a mixed assembly forms, gains Barnabas and Saul as teachers, is first called 'Christians,' and sends relief back to Judea.
The relief errand carries Barnabas and Saul to Jerusalem just as ch. 12 opens on that city under Herod's sword. Luke shows what the mother church suffers — and how God ends the persecutor — before the couriers return (12:25) to the Antioch from which ch. 13 will send them out.
11:1–3 — The objection at Jerusalem
News precedes Peter: the apostles and the brothers in Judea hear that the Gentiles have also received the word of God. When Peter comes up to Jerusalem, those 'of the circumcision' contend with him — and the charge is not preaching but table fellowship: 'You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!'
1 Now the apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. 2 When Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision contended with him, 3 saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!”
11:4–10 — Peter retells the vision
Peter 'explained to them in order': the trance at Joppa, the great sheet let down from heaven by four corners, the animals within, the command 'Rise, Peter, kill and eat!', his refusal — nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered his mouth — and heaven's answer, 'What God has cleansed, don't you call unclean.' Three times, and all drawn up again into heaven.
4 But Peter began, and explained to them in order, saying, 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision: a certain container descending, like it was a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners. It came as far as me. 6 When I had looked intently at it, I considered, and saw the four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky. 7 I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter, kill and eat!’ 8 But I said, ‘Not so, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered into my mouth.’ 9 But a voice answered me the second time out of heaven, ‘What God has cleansed, don’t you call unclean.’ 10 This was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven.
11:11–18 — Who was I to withstand God?
Three men from Caesarea arrive 'immediately'; the Spirit says go 'without discriminating'; six brothers come as witnesses. Cornelius's angel had promised 'words by which you will be saved, you and all your house' — and as Peter began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them 'even as on us at the beginning.' Remembering the Lord's word about baptism in the Holy Spirit, Peter concludes: if God gave them the same gift, 'who was I, that I could withstand God?' The objectors hold their peace and glorify God: 'Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life!'
11 Behold, immediately three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent from Caesarea to me. 12 The Spirit told me to go with them without discriminating. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house. 13 He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying to him, ‘Send to Joppa and get Simon, who is called Peter, 14 who will speak to you words by which you will be saved, you and all your house.’ 15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning. 16 I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If then God gave to them the same gift as us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?” 18 When they heard these things, they held their peace and glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life!”
11:19–26 — Antioch: a new kind of assembly
The scattering after Stephen reaches Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch — speaking to Jews only, until unnamed men of Cyprus and Cyrene speak to the Hellenists, 'preaching the Lord Jesus.' The hand of the Lord is with them, and a great number believe and turn to the Lord. Jerusalem sends Barnabas, who sees 'the grace of God,' is glad, and exhorts them to remain near the Lord; he fetches Saul from Tarsus, and for a whole year they teach many. Here the disciples are first called Christians.
19 They therefore who were scattered abroad by the oppression that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews only. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. 22 The report concerning them came to the ears of the assembly which was in Jerusalem. They sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch, 23 who, when he had come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad. He exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they should remain near to the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and many people were added to the Lord. 25 Barnabas went out to Tarsus to look for Saul. 26 When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they were gathered together with the assembly, and taught many people. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
11:27–30 — Famine relief for Judea
Prophets come down from Jerusalem to Antioch; Agabus indicates by the Spirit a great famine over all the world — 'which also happened in the days of Claudius.' The disciples, each as they have plenty, determine to send relief to the brothers in Judea, and do: to the elders, by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
27 Now in these days, prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them named Agabus stood up and indicated by the Spirit that there should be a great famine all over the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius. 29 As any of the disciples had plenty, each determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea; 30 which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).