*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.
11:1 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
11:2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, 11:3 Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.
11:4 But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying, 11:5 I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me: 11:6 Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
11:7 And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.
11:8 But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.
11:9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
11:10 And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.
11:11 And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.
11:12 And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house: 11:13 And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; 11:14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
11:15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
11:16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
11:17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? 11:18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.