11:1-3A Gentile was anyone who was not a Jew. Most Jewish believers thought that God offered salvation only to the Jews because God had given his taw to them (Exodus 19-20). A group in Jerusalem believed that Gentiles could be saved, but only if they followed all the Jewish laws and traditions—in essence, if they first became Jews before becoming Christians. Both groups were mistaken. God chose the Jews and taught them his laws so they could bring the message of salvation to a// people (see Genesis 12:3; Psalm 22:27; tsaiah 42:4; 49:6; 56:3-7; 60:1-3; Jeremiah 16:19-21; Zechariah 2:11; Malachi 1:11; Romans 15:9-12).
Life Application Study BibleActsChapter 11
Acts 11
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 1842, 1843, 1844
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11Acts 11
Peter Explains His Actions
111 Soon the news reached the apostles and other believers* in Judea that the Gentiles had received the word of God. 2But when Peter arrived back in Jerusalem, the Jewish believers* criticized him. 3“You entered the home of Gentiles* and even ate with them!” they said. 4Then Peter told them exactly what had happened. 5“T was in the town of Joppa,” he said, “and while I was praying, I went into a trance and saw a vision. Something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners from the sky. And it came right down to me. €When I looked inside the sheet, I saw all sorts of small animals, wild animals, reptiles, and birds. 7And I heard a voice say, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.’ 8"‘No, LORD,’ I replied. ‘Ihave never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure or unciean.*’ 9”But the voice from heaven spoke again: ‘Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.’ 10This happened three times before the sheet and all it contained was pulled back up to heaven. 11“fust then three men who had been sent from Caesarea arrived at the house where we were staying. 12The Holy Spirit told me to go with them and not to worry that they were Gentiles. These six brothers here accompanied me, and we soon entered the home of the man who had sent for us. 13He told us how an angel had appeared to him in his home and had told him, ‘Send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter, 14He will tell you how you and everyone in your household can be saved!’ 15“As I began to speak,” Peter continued, “the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as he fell onus at the beginning. 16Then I thought of the LORD’s words when he said, ‘John baptized with* water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 7And since God gave these Gentiles the same gift he gave us when we believed in the LORD Jesus Christ, who was I to stand in God's way?” 18When the others heard this, they stopped objecting and began praising God. They said, “We can see that God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of repenting of their sins and receiving eternal life.” The Church in Antioch of Syria *8Meanwhile, the believers who had been scattered during the persecution after Stephen's death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria. They preached the word of God, but only to Jews. 20However, some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to the Gentiles* about the LORD Jesus. 21The power of the LORD was with them, and a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the LORD. 22When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23When he arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the LORD. 24Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the LORD. 25Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. 26When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers* were first called Christians.) 27During this time some prophets traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28One of them named Agabus stood up in one of the meetings and predicted by the Spirit that a great famine was coming upon the entire Roman world. (This was fulfilled during the reign of Claudius.) 29So the believers in Antioch decided to send relief to the brothers and sisters* in Judea, everyone giving as much as they could. 30This they did, entrusting their gifts to Barnabas and Saul to take to the elders of the church in Jerusalem. James Is Killed and Peter Is imprisoned
Textual footnotes
- brothers.
- or unclean.
- the Greeks.
- 11:1 Greek
- 11:2 Greek those of the circumcision.
- 11:3 Greek of uncircumcised men.
- 11:8 Greek anything common
- 11:16 Or in; also in 11:16b.
- 11:20 Greek the Hellenists {i.e., those who speak Greek); other manuscripts read
- 11:26 Greek disciples; also in 11:29.
- 11:29 Greek the brothers.
Life Application Notes 11 notes
11:2-18When Peter brought the news of Cornelius’s conversion back to Jerusalem, the believers were shocked that Peter had eaten with Gentiles. After they heard the whole story, however, they praised God (11:18). Their reactions teach us how to handle disagreements with other Christians. Before judging the behavior of fellow believers, it is important to hear them out. The Holy Spirit may have something important to teach us through them.
11:8God had promised throughout Scripture that he would reach the nations. This began with his general promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:3, 18:18) and became very specific in Malachi’s statement: “But my name is honored by people of other nations from morning till night” (Malachi 1:11). But this was an extremely difficult truth for Jews, even Jewish believers, to accept. The Jewish believers understood how certain prophecies were fulfilled in Christ, but they overlooked other Old Testament teachings. Too often we are inclined to accept only the parts of God's Word that appeal to us and support our own agendas, ignoring the teachings we don’t like. We must accept all of God’s Word as absolute truth.
11:12ffPeter's defense for eating with Gentiles was a simple commercial center—the gateway to the eastern world. Antioch was a key city both to Rome and to the early church.
11:22-26Barnabas presents a wonderful example of how to help new Christians. He demonstrated strong faith; he ministered joyfully with kindness and encouragement; he taught new believers further lessons about God (see 9:26-30). Remember Barnabas when you see new believers, and think of ways to help them grow in their faith.
11:25Saul had been sent to his home in Tarsus for protection after his conversion had caused an uproar among the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem (9:26-30). He stayed there for several years before Barnabas brought him to help the church at Antioch.
11:26The young church at Antioch was a curious mixture of Jews (who spoke Greek or Aramaic) and Gentiles. It is significant that this is the first place where the believers were called Christians (or “Christ-ones”) because ail they had in common was Christ—not race, culture, or even language. Christ's love crosses all boundaries and unites all people.
11:26Barnabas and Saul stayed at Antioch for a ful year, teaching the new believers. They could have left for other cities, but they saw the importance of follow-up and training. Have you helped someone believe in Christ? Spend time teaching and encouraging that person. Are you a new believer? Remember, you are just beginning your Christian life. Your faith needs to grow and mature through consistent Bible study and teaching.
11:27,28Prophets were found not only in the Old Testament but also in the early church. Their role was to present God’s will to the people and to instruct them in God’s word. Sometimes, like Agabus, they also had the gift of predicting the future.
11:28,28Serious food shortages occurred during the reign of the Roman emperor Claudius (A.D. 41-54) because of a drought that had extended across much of the Roman Empire for many years. It is significant that the church in Antioch assisted the church in Jerusalem. The daughter church had grown enough to be able to help the established church.
11:29The people of Antioch were motivated to give generously because they cared about the needs of others. This is the cheerful Giving that the Bible commends (2 Corinthians 9:7). Reluctant giving reflects a lack of concern for people. Focus your concern on the needy, and you will be motivated to give.
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restatement of what happened. He brought six witnesses with him to back him up, and then he quoted Jesus’ promise about the coming of the Holy Spirit (11:16). These Gentiles’ lives had been changed, and that was all the evidence Peter and the other believers needed. Changed lives are an equally powerful evidence today. 11:16 Jesus had also demonstrated clearly that he and his message were for all people. He had preached in Samaria (John 41-42); in the region of the Gerasenes, populated by Greeks (Mark 5:1-20); and he even had reached out to Romans (Luke 7:1-10). The apostles shouldn’t have been surprised that they were called to do the same. 11:18 The intellectual questions ended, and the theological discussion stopped with the report that God had given the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles. This was a turning point for the early church. They had to accept those whom God had chosen, even if they were Gentiles. But joy over the conversion of Gentiles was not unanimous. This continued to be a struggle for some Jewish Christians throughout the first century. 11:20, 21 In Antioch, Christianity was launched on its worldwide mission and there the believers aggressively preached to the Gentiles (non-Jews who did not worship God). Philip had preached in Samaria, but the Samaritans were part Jewish (8:5); Peter had preached to Cornelius, but he already worshiped God (10:2). Believers who were scattered after the outbreak of persecution in Jerusalem spread the Good News to other Jews in the lands they fled to (11:19). The seeds of this missionary work had been sown after Stephen’s death. At this time, the believers began actively sharing the Good News with Gentiles. 11:22 With the exception of Jerusalem, Antioch of Syria played a more important role in the early church than any other city. After Rome and Alexandria, Antioch was the largest city in the Roman world. In Antioch the first Gentile church was founded, and there the believers were first called Christians (11:26). Paul used the city as his home base during his Missionary journeys. Antioch was the center of worship for several pagan cuits that promoted sexual immorality and other forms of evil common to pagan religions. It was also a vital
BARNABAS AND SAUL IN ANTIOCH Persecution scattered the believers into Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and the gospel went with them. Most spoke only to Jews, but in Antioch, some Gentiles were converted. The church sent Barnabas to investigate, and he was pleased with what he found. Barnabas went to Tarsus to bring Saul (Paul) back to Antioch.