*Acts 11:1-18
Peter defends his decision to preach to Gentiles before the Jerusalem church, explaining a vision from God and the Holy Spirit descending upon them.
- Peter Criticized by Jewish Believers
- When Peter returns to Jerusalem, the Jewish believers criticize him for visiting and eating with Gentiles, which was against Jewish custom.
- Peter Explains His Actions
- Peter explains his actions step by step, starting with his vision in Joppa where he saw a sheet descending from heaven containing all kinds of animals, birds, and reptiles.
- He recounts how a voice told him to kill and eat, despite the animals being considered impure by Jewish law, and how the voice corrected him, saying, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
- This vision occurred three times, and then the sheet was taken back into heaven.
- The Arrival of Cornelius’s Messengers
- Just as Peter was pondering the vision, three men sent by Cornelius arrived at the house where Peter was staying.
- The Spirit told Peter to go with them without hesitation, as God had sent them.
- Cornelius had been directed by a holy angel to send for Peter so that he could hear a message by which he and his household would be saved.
- The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles
- Peter explains that as he began to speak to Cornelius and his household, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as He had on the apostles at the beginning.
- Peter recalls the words of Jesus about being baptized with the Holy Spirit and realizes that if God gave the same gift to the Gentiles as He did to the Jewish believers, who was he to stand in God’s way?
- Jewish Believers Accept Gentile Inclusion
- Hearing Peter’s account, the Jewish believers stop their criticism and instead glorify God, acknowledging that God has also granted the Gentiles repentance that leads to life.
Acts 11:1-18 teaches us to be open to God’s plans, even when they challenge our expectations. At first, some believers questioned Peter for sharing the gospel with non-Jews, but when they heard how God was working, they accepted it with joy. This reminds us to not let our own ideas limit what God can do. We can apply this by being willing to listen, learn, and celebrate when God moves in ways we didn’t expect. It also encourages us to welcome all people into God’s family with open hearts.
Acts 11:1-18 (WEB)
11:1 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!”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 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!”