The
Gentiles Had Accepted
God's Message
– Acts Eleven
–
Word spread quickly about what had happened at Cornelius' house.
The apostles and the brethren in Judea heard that
Gentiles had accepted God's word. Upon Peter's return to Jerusalem,
some of the Jewish brethren started arguing with him. They were upset that he
had stayed in the home of Gentiles, and had even eaten with them.
Peter reviewed the details of the events that had transpired. He
explained about: (1) his vision in Joppa, (2) how the angel had appeared to
Cornelius, (3) how God had bidden him to go to Cornelius, (4) how the Holy
Spirit had fallen on the Gentiles, and (5) how six Jewish brethren had been
witnesses to what had happened. Peter said that God gave the Gentiles the same
gift of the Holy Ghost that he had given to the Jews. When they heard Peter say
this, they stopped arguing and started praising God. They knew that God had now
allowed the Gentiles to turn to Him, and that He had given spiritual life to
them.
The gospel spread from Jerusalem
to Antioch. The terrible trouble
that started when Stephen was killed led to some Christians going to Antioch
and preaching Christ to the Gentiles. The Gentiles were allowed to hear the
good news about Jesus. Many of them put
their faith in the Lord. When the news of what was happening reached the church
in Jerusalem they sent Barnabas to Antioch
to encourage the brethren. He rejoiced in what he saw.
Barnabas realized that he needed help in this work so he sent to Tarsus
to find Saul. They met with the church for a whole year and taught many people.
There in Antioch the Lord's
followers were called Christians for the first time. Not only were these people "called Christians" they acted like
Christians should. When they heard about a terrible famine the brethren in Antioch
decided to send whatever help they could to the Christians in Judea.
They sent this help to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Peter's defense of his visit to the gentiles – Acts 11:1-18:
The apostles and brethren that were
in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the
word of God. When Peter returned to Jerusalem
he was challenged by the Jewish brethren for preaching to the Gentiles. The
brethren at Jerusalem thought it
was wrong to receive the Gentiles. God had used a vision to convince
Peter that it was right to preach to Gentiles. The Holy Ghost was given to the
Gentiles just as He had been given to the Jews.
The Jews seemed insulted by the fact that Peter had stayed in the
home of Gentiles, and had even eaten with them. Peter explained the events that
had led him to preach to Cornelius. He recounted his vision in Joppa of the
unclean beasts. He heard the voice of God say, "What God has cleansed you
must not call common." He told these brethren about the three men that
were sent by Cornelius and how that the Spirit told him to go with them and not
to worry. An angel of the Lord had instructed Cornelius to send for Peter in
order to learn how to be saved. Peter did go with these Gentiles and he was
accompanied by six Jewish brethren. As Peter began to speak, the Holy Spirit
fell on the Gentiles just as upon the apostles at the beginning.
Peter believed that refusing Gentiles into
the church would be withstanding God. God made no distinction between Jew and
Gentile when He granted to the Gentiles repentance unto life. When they heard
Peter say this, they became silent and started praising God.
The church was established in Antioch
of Syria
– Acts 11:19-21: As early Christian were scattered they preached the
word wherever they went. The persecution that followed the death of Stephen led
to the gospel being preached in Antioch.
Some of the followers of our Lord went to Antioch
and started telling Gentiles the good news about salvation through the Lord
Jesus.
The gospel reached Antioch
with great success. The hand of the Lord was with those that preached to Jews
and Greeks. When the Greeks heard the gospel a great number of them turned to
the Lord. Antioch became the base
for the great evangelistic journeys among the Gentiles.
Barnabas was sent by the church to Antioch
– Acts 11:22-26: The news
of what was happening in Antioch
reached the church in Jerusalem.
Barnabas was sent by the Jerusalem
church to look into the work at Antioch. When
he reached Antioch he was glad to
see what the grace of God was doing there. Barnabas begged them to remain
faithful to the Lord with all their hearts. In his teaching
Barnabas always exhorted people to cleave unto the Lord.
Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Ghost and of faith. Many
more people turned to the Lord through the work of Barnabas and others. Barnabas found Saul and brought him to Antioch
to be part of this great work. They met with the church for a whole year
and taught many of its people. There in Antioch
disciples were called Christians in fulfillment of prophecy. The prophet Isaiah
had written "And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings
thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD
shall name." (Isaiah 62:2) The name Christian is also found in Acts 26:28
and in 1 Peter 4:16. It is a great blessing to be able to wear the precious
name of the Christ.
Barnabas and Saul were sent to Jerusalem
-- Acts 11:27-30: In that year that Saul and Barnabas were at Antioch
some Christian prophets came from Jerusalem.
One of them named Agabus, predicted, by the Spirit of
God, a famine throughout the entire world. This would be a terrible famine and
it happened when Claudius was Emperor. The brethren at Antioch
determined to send relief to the brethren in Judea. The
Christians in Antioch decided to
send whatever help they could to the followers of Christ in Judea.
Each Christian did what he or she could to relieve those that were
suffering. Each person, whether rich or poor, master or servant, according to
the substance he was possessed gave to help those that were in need. The gift
was sent to the elders of the church in Judea to be
given to the poor. The Christians at Antioch,
in gratitude to the brethren in Judea for having
received the Gospel through them resolved to help them with their physical
needs. The contribution given by the brethren was sent by the hands of Barnabas
and Saul.
If you have not started the Christian life
"Today is the day of salvation." (II Corinthians 6:2.) To become a
Christian hear the gospel (Romans 10:17),
believe in Jesus (John 8:24), repent
of sins (Acts 17:30), confess Christ
(Romans 10:9-10) and be baptized to wash away sins. (Acts 22:16) Your attitudes and actions should be molded
after the example of the early Christians as they were willing both to live and
to die for Jesus.