The Way - Day 035 (Acts 11)

Pastor Tom's Journal on Today's Reading:
Acts 11:1-18
A monumental occurrence had just swept into the house of Cornelius when the Holy Spirit fell upon the Gentiles after they had believed (Acts 10:34-48). So far in Luke's record of the early church, only believing Jews had received the filling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-13; 4:8, 31; 6:5; 7:55; 8:17). The Gentiles, now being filled with the Holy Spirit, brought unity of all nations into the church empowering them to be God's witnesses of Jesus Christ. The church was now God's people being comprised of both Jews and Gentiles.

The apostles and other believers in Judea heard that the Gentiles had received the Word of God and the filling of the Holy Spirit, so when Peter returned to Jerusalem "those of the circumcision [Jewish believers] contended with him, saying, 'You went in to uncircumcised men [Gentiles] and ate with them!'" (11:1-3). We can assume that they were not necessarily angered by Peter preaching Jesus to them, but they were upset that he had eaten with them. A Jew eating in the house of a Gentile signified fellowship and even Jesus was condemned by the Pharisees for this practice (Mark 2:16). The Jews had a hard time accepting Peter's breach of a long-time Jewish custom and also embracing the Gentiles as fellow brethren.

Peter was quick to give an answer and explain to them how he had received a vision of a sheet bound in four corners containing clean and unclean animals (11:4-6). He also told them that a voice told him to "kill and eat" these animals, but at first he resisted until the voice responded to his refusal saying, "What God has cleansed you must not call common [unclean]" (11:7-10). Peter further explains that at the conclusion of the vision, three men sent by Cornelius were standing there asking him to go with them (11:11). Furthermore, the Spirit told Peter to go with them and he took six men with him to the house of Cornelius (11:12) and when Peter arrived, Cornelius detailed a vision he had received saying that Peter "will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved" (11:13-14). In conclusion, Peter informed those who were questioning his fellowship with the Gentiles that when he began speaking the word of God "the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us [Jews] at the beginning [Acts 2:1-13]" (11:15). Peter then presented those who were listening to his explanation with this question, "If God therefore gave them the same gift He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?" (11:17) "When they [apostles and Jewish believers] heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, 'Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life'" (11:18). This acknowledgment by the Jewish believers fulfilled that which was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah in the Old Testament (Isaiah 42:1, 6; 49:6). Even Simeon revealed this truth in a vision he had received about the coming Messiah (Luke 2:25-32) and Jesus evidenced the salvation which would be brought to the Gentiles when He spoke to a Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:25-26). Ultimately, we must not forget Jesus' words to His disciples following His resurrection, "make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:18-20) and repeated before His ascension into heaven, "you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

It is time for the church to rise up without prejudice and be witnesses to all nations of the salvation offered to all who will repent of sin and believe in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross!

Acts 11:19-30
Luke had just documented one of the biggest happenings in Scripture.  The Jewish and Gentile believers were now being brought together in unity to worship God and would comprise the church.  This message of salvation through Jesus Christ to all had been entrusted to both peoples and now they were to spread out into all regions to share this good news with everyone.  Cornelius (a Gentile) and Peter (a Jew) had both received visions from God about the future of the church and were eyewitnesses to the Gentiles' conversion and receiving the Holy Spirit (Acts 10).  After this great move of God, Peter returns to Jerusalem and explains what he had witnessed, but the Jews reacted with skepticism (11:1-3).  However, Peter explained that God had commanded him to go to the Gentiles and they finally rejoiced that God had "granted to the Gentiles repentance to life" (11:4-18).

Luke's next words review the result of the persecution (Acts 8:1-3) which had occurred after the martyrdom of Stephen.  Many believers in Jesus Christ had fled into various regions to escape persecution by the Pharisees and so-called religious people, but now they were preaching salvation to the Jews in those outlying areas and many were turning to the Lord (11:19-21).  Luke even mentions that among those being saved were Hellenists (Greek speaking non-Jews) who were residing in Antioch.  When the church at Jerusalem heard of all that was transpiring in Antioch, they sent Barnabas to them (11:22).  Luke writes, "When he [Barnabas] came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord" (11:23).  Barnabas departed Antioch to find Saul and upon finding him, they returned to Antioch (11:25).  Saul and Barnabas remained in Antioch for one year, assembling with the people and teaching them about their new found faith in Jesus Christ and the "disciples were first called Christians in Antioch" (11:26).  For anyone wondering where the term "Christian" first began, it was here in Antioch.  This name, meaning "of the party of Christ," was not a self-given label, but rather a name of scorn given by those who opposed the message of the church.  To be called a "Christian" meant that an individual stood against false gods and erroneous systems of worship (Judaism) in order to embrace forgiveness of sin offered through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross.  Being a Christian was not popular, often resulting in rejection by family and friends as well as persecution.  Although I am certain these people feared what may happen as a result of accepting Jesus Christ as the Messiah (Savior), the fear of rejecting Jesus' payment for sin weighed heavier on their hearts.  In our modern society, a Christian may be rejected, despised, and belittled by others; however, we must remember that this life is not the end for us.  And may those of us in America not forget about those whose persecution is not just verbal, but each day they face imprisonment, physical abuse, and even death for being a Christian.  I believe this is why Jesus warned His disciples about the world's reaction to their message: "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you" (John 15:18-19).  

Continuing to focus on the Christians at Antioch, Luke writes about a certain prophet named Agabus (also see Acts 21:10-11) who came from Jerusalem to Antioch.  While standing before the people in Antioch, Agabus "showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar" (11:27-28).  Since Claudius was the emperor of Rome from AD41-54, we can safely estimate that this famine took place during that time; in fact, most historians record multiple famines in the Roman empire around AD 45-46.  When the disciples heard about this upcoming need, Luke writes that each of them "determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea" and the "sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul" (11:29-30).  This action by the church at Antioch was a wonderful expression of partnership between churches.  There was not an attitude of competition, but a unity through love for God and love for others.

Dear God, thank You for those who courageously evidenced their faith in Jesus Christ and did not value the opinion of those surrounding them.  Give Your church courage as we give our loyalty to You alone and may we ignore the voices of those who would try to silence our message.