The Book of
Acts 11
30 verses≈ 5 min4 peopleBSB
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In this chapter
Peter’s Report at Jerusalem
The apostles and brothers throughout Judea soon heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers took issue with him
The circumcised believers
and said, “You visited uncircumcised men and ate with them.”
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But Peter began and explained to them the whole sequence of events:
“I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision of something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came right down to me. I looked at it closely and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds of the air.
The voice from heaven
Then I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter, kill and eat.’
Peter
‘No, Lord,’ I said, ‘for nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’
The voice from heaven
But the voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’
This happened three times, and everything was drawn back up into heaven.
Just then three men sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. The Spirit told me to accompany them without hesitation.
Peter
These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s home. He told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He will convey to you a message by which you and all your household will be saved.’
Stylised map · locations approximate
Where it happened
From Joppa to Jerusalem
Peter went from Joppa to Caesarea with the three men and six brothers. After the Spirit fell in Cornelius’ house, he went up to Jerusalem and told the whole story.
Question
Quick question
Peter did not make the trip to Caesarea alone, and he brought witnesses to back up his story.
How many brothers from Joppa went with Peter into Cornelius’ home?
As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, just as He had fallen upon us at the beginning.
Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
So if God gave them the same gift He gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to hinder the work of God?”
Acts 11:17
When they heard this, they had no further objections, and they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”
So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.
Acts 11:18
Reflect
Who was I to hinder?
Peter did not argue for his own judgment. He told what God had done and asked, “who was I to hinder the work of God?” Is there a person or a group you find it hard to imagine God welcoming? What would it look like to stop standing in the way?
The Church at Antioch
Meanwhile those scattered by the persecution that began with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message only to Jews.
Stylised map · locations approximate
Where it happened
As far as Antioch
Scattered after Stephen’s death, believers carried the message up the coast through Phoenicia, over to Cyprus and on to Antioch. In Antioch, men from Cyprus and Cyrene began telling the Greeks too.
When news of this reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to abide in the Lord with all their hearts.
Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.
Acts 11:24
The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.
Acts 11:26
In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted through the Spirit that a great famine would sweep across the whole world. (This happened under Claudius.) So the disciples, each according to his ability, decided to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. This they did, sending their gifts to the elders with Barnabas and Saul.
0:25
Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain
Pray
Each according to his ability
The disciples in Antioch heard of a coming famine and gave, “each according to his ability,” to the brothers living in Judea. Ask God to make you quick to share, and to show you one person or church you can help this week.
You’ve experienced
Acts 11
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A verse to carry with you
The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.
Acts 11:26
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