A Study in Acts Week 11

Acts Chapter 11

Verses 1-18 – Circumcision was a legal requirement of the old Covenant. When the Jewish believers heard that Peter had been spending time with Gentiles, they were angry and argued that the Gentiles had to be circumcised. They were the very ones Paul wrote to about their freedom in Christ in his letter to the Galatians.

One of the most difficult things for Christians to do is to realize that they are no longer bound to the Old Covenant. As Hebrews explains from Chapter 6 through Chapter 10, we belong to a New Covenant that has nothing to do with the Old Covenant, which was fulfilled in Christ.

Peter told them of his experience with the sheet filled with reptiles and such. He used it to demonstrate that nobody pleases God through religious acts, but through devoting themselves to learning more about their Savior, the Living Word of God.

Peter then told them about Cornelius’ soldiers who had come to get him. He told about Cornelius’ salvation and the work of the Holy Spirit in Joppa.

Notice that the subject of Peter’s testimony was not the evils of social ills or the violations of God’s Laws. It was about, and only about, the work of Christ in the hearts of anyone who would trust in and only in the finished work of Christ at the cross of Calvary.

Peter is saying in no uncertain terms that all men are equally guilty of the curse of sin and all are equally of value to God. We must not make distinctions between Jews and Gentiles, Blacks and Whites, or Rich and Poor.

This was a totally new concept to the Jewish Christians and they struggled with it. Peter said, “God gave to these Gentiles the same gift that he gave to us. We received this same gift when we believed in the Lord Jesus! So, I could not oppose God!’ The Jews heard Peter say that. They did not argue any more.

Verses 19-30 – Antioch was in Syria. It was in the north. It was an important city for trade. People from many different countries did business there together. If they did business together, they probably spoke many different ____________________ (languages - glossa). The language of commerce was Greek. Barnabas was a Jew who spoke Greek., so the Jerusalem Christians sent him to report on what was going on in Antioch.

Because of Barnabas, ‘many people decided to trust the Lord’ (verse 24).

The pagans in Antioch were famous because they used words in clever ways. So, they made up a name for the believers. They called the believers ‘Christians’. (The Greek word is ‘Christianoi’.) The pagans probably meant this to be a point of ridicule.

The disciples decided to send money to Judea. Each sent money according to his ability, not according to some certain amount or formula, a method repeated throughout the New Testament. They sent the money to the “elders” who saw to it that it got where it belonged.

This was God’s plan, showing His character, His love for His creation and His plan for its redemption; redemption by grace through faith in, and only in, the finished work of Christ at the cross of Calvary.