1 “Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.” (Acts 11:1)
The conversion of Gentiles, who Jews, even believing Jews, saw as unclean and unworthy of their company, was great news indeed. So it travelled fast, either for good or evil. But it got to the church in Jerusalem (the apostles and brethren) quickly. This is not surprising; Caesarea, where the incident occurred, is close to Jerusalem.
Notice that the news the Gentiles had received was “the word of God.” Not just a part of God’s word but the gospel, which contained the summary of the oracles of God. Also note that the word of God referred to more than just a message, but the person of Christ.
Consider what made this news most uncommon. It was considered unlawful for Jews to converse with Gentiles, but now the sacred gospel of Christ, which was thought to be for Jews only, had reached them. Clearly, the disciples had not fully understood what Christ meant when he asked them to preach the gospel to all creatures.
2 “And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him, 3 saying, ‘You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!’” (Acts 11:2-3)
Here we see that the believing Jews were offended by this great news about the Gentiles. They are referred to as “those of the circumcision,” because they were Christian Jews who still held circumcision in high esteem. So they saw Peter’s association with the Gentiles (uncircumcised men) as a crime. They accused him for eating and drinking with the Gentiles and regarded him as defiled. The Jews questioned Peter, believing that he had dishonoured his status as an apostle and should come under the church's discipline.
This shows how believers err by monopolizing the faith and exempting others who are different from them from the grace of God. Also, from the above verse, we learn that ministers of the gospel must not be above rebuke. They must see it as a common thing to be challenged, not only when they err. But also for following God’s commands in sincerity of heart.
4 “But Peter explained it to them in order from the beginning, saying: 5 ‘I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance, I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me’.” (Acts 11:4-5)
These verses show the beginning of Peter’s account of why he associated with the Gentiles and why they received the word of God. Note that he did not attempt to argue or apologize, appease them or justify himself. Instead, he explained the whole matter from the beginning as the events transpired so they could judge for themselves if he had done any wrong.
Note that Peter cared about the opinions of the Jews, therefore submitting to them rather than claiming superiority as the chief apostle. He could have claimed to be justified in himself because he had obeyed God’s command. However, he wanted the Jews to see his actions in a true light and understand why he now had this new hope concerning the Gentiles and why he had abandoned his former beliefs.
In his defence, he begins by revealing that his actions were the product of instructions God had given him in a vision. The great sheet which descended from heaven and came to Peter shows that this glorious disclosure was from heaven and addressed to Peter personally.
6 “When I observed it intently and considered, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ 8 But I said, ‘Not so, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.’” (Acts 11:6-8)
We see that as the great sheet was let down, Peter “looked intently and considered” it. Thus, when God unveils divine knowledge to us, we must focus and concentrate on the details of the revelation with our minds. Peter reveals the contents of the great sheet and the instructions he received to eat all manner of meat without discrimination. He also communicated his rejection of the liberty granted him because he held the same beliefs as the Jews. He had abhorred the idea of associating with the Gentiles as well as eating what they ate.
9 “But the voice answered me again from heaven, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’ 10 Now, this was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven.”
In these verses, Peter recounts how the voice from heaven told him that there was a new order. He was to no longer call the gentiles and their meats common and unworthy of his company because God had cleansed the people and the things that were once polluted. Hence, he showed them the reason for his change in opinion; God had changed the order of things.
In verse 10, Peter communicates that revelation (the instruction to kill and eat, and the reason for this liberty, that those things God had cleansed were not to be called common) was repeated a second and a third time. He also told them that the great sheet and its contents did not vanish but were “drawn up again into heaven,” which confirms that the vision was from heaven. (Acts 11:9-10)
11 “At that very moment, three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent to me from Caesarea. 12 Then the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover, these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house.” (Acts 11:11-12)
In these verses, he reveals to the Jews that he was commanded by the Spirit of God to go along with the messengers Cornelius had sent. He points out the time the messengers came to show them that vision was God’s way of preparing him to be with them. He also discloses the Holy Spirit’s instructions not to doubt. Why? Because the men he went with and went to were Gentiles, therefore without strong conviction, the temptation to doubt would have been enormous. Peter further showed them his caution and foresight in the matter by taking six brethren of the circumcision as witnesses. And Peter had brought those men with him from Joppa to confirm his testimony.
13 “And he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, 14 who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.’” (Acts 11:13-14)
Peter told them how Cornelius had also had a vision in which he was instructed to send for Peter. As a result, Peter’s vision confirmed Cornelius’s, and Cornelius’s vision confirmed Peter’s. This obvious confirmation showed the Jews more than Peter in keeping God’s will.
In these verses, we see that there’s more detail in the Angel’s instructions to Cornelius. In Chapter 10:6, 32, it had been, “Send for Peter…he will tell you what you must do.” But here we see, “He will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.” Before these events, salvation was of the Jews, but through Cornelius, salvation had come to the Gentiles in the same way it had reached the Jews.
15 “And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’” (Acts 11:15-16)
Here we see the occurrence that shut down all arguments and debates. Peter tells the Jews how the Holy Spirit descended upon his Gentile audience as evidence that it was God’s will to include the Gentiles in the inheritance of the saints. The truth was undeniable; what had happened to the disciples on the day of Pentecost—the beginning which Peter referred to—had also happened to the Gentiles.
Peter communicates how he remembered Jesus’s parting words in Acts 1:5. This was symbolic to the believers because it emphasized that the Holy Ghost is Christ’s gift and the fulfilment of the promise He made them. Therefore, it was Christ who baptized and filled the Gentiles with the Holy Ghost.
17 “If, therefore, God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God? 18 When they heard these things, they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, ‘Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.’” (Acts 11:17-18)
Here, Peter reveals that after he had seen such infallible proof that God’s grace had come to the Gentiles, he could not hinder their conversion or stop them from getting baptized in water. In effect, he asked, “Who was I to stop the Gentiles who God had baptized with His Spirit from being baptized in water?” “How could I deny them the sign of transformation when what is signified in water baptism has come on them?” “Who was I to oppose God and to restrict the fulfilment of His will?” From this, we learn that those who deter men and women from turning to the Lord, oppose God Himself. And that no man has the right to exclude a group of people from salvation when God has included all.
In verse 18, we see the reaction of the Jews to Peter’s testimony. They were satisfied and dropped their charge against Peter and said nothing more about the matter. Their actions we noble because there are some who will stick to their wrong opinions even after being proven wrong.
But why did they fall silent and cease to accuse Peter? Because it was clear to all that it was God who included the Gentiles in the communion of the church. It has become clear to them that God was hurting their pride and sentiments by allowing the Gentiles to share the blessings of salvation with them.
Observe that the Jews did not just drop their quarrel with Paul. More than that, they praised God and glorified Him for the whole matter. Yes, they were grateful that their error in accusing Peter was resolved, but they were also thankful that God had shown mercy to the Gentiles.
Thus they said, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.” What does this mean? God had granted them the means of repentance by opening an effectual door of ministry so that God’s ministers could preach the gospel to the Gentiles. But they were also granted the grace for repentance because they had received the Holy Spirit who convicts of sin, performs the work of regeneration and leads one to live a life of joy in Christ.
Note that from their statement, “repentance to life,” we see that repentance causes a departure from a sinful life and leads to spiritual life. Those who are truly repentant are transformed to live the divine life marked by holiness. So by repentance, we die to sin and become alive to God; this is the beginning of true life.
Also, the statement of the Jews shows that repentance is God’s gift. By His mighty grace, God accepts our willingness to turn from our sins. However, He knows that we cannot perform the requirements of repentance in the strength of the flesh, so He performs the work of repentance in us. Again, repentance to life means that before God gives life, He gives repentance.
19 “Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only.” (Acts 11:19)
In this verse, we see what happened to the disciples who fled Jerusalem because of the great persecution that arose against the church. It was the same period Stephen had been killed. As they fled, they travelled from place to place and preached as they went.
Now, note that God had allowed them to suffer persecution so they could be scattered abroad and spread the gospel. In this way, what the enemies of the church had devised to hurt it, profited from it. Also note that although the disciples fled the fury of persecution, they did not flee from preaching the gospel. .so they fled whenever persecution arose but always carried their faith and shared it with others.
Observe that at this time, they did not preach to Gentiles but only to the Jews they found. Why? Because they were yet to understand God’s will and work of making the Gentiles heirs of salvation. Apparently, these Jews had their own synagogues, so the disciples met with them to preach the gospel.
20 "But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord." (Acts 11:20-21)
The previous verses showed that the dispersed disciples came to Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch. But in the verse, we see the beginnings of the church at Antioch. Most of the disciples who had been dispersed were from Judea and Jerusalem. However, some who preached in Antioch were natives of Cyprus and Cyrene, just like Barnabas.
Who were the Hellenists?
The Hellenists were a group of Jews who lived during the time of the Roman Empire and were heavily influenced by Greek culture. Despite this influence, they maintained their Jewish religious practices while also adopting the Greek language as their everyday means of communication. To facilitate their understanding of the Jewish Scriptures, which were originally written in Hebrew, translations were made into Greek starting from the third century BC.
And because they were Grecian Jews (Hellenists), they focused their preaching on this group. So what was the subject of their message? They preached the Lord Jesus, Christ crucified, and Christ glorified.
Consider their tremendous success as they preached. They did not just preach a message without proof, but the hand of the Lord was with them. The hand of the Lord refers to the power of God. This means the power of God accompanied their ministrations. God's grace worked in their hearers' hearts, and diverse miracles were performed. And their preaching resulted in the conversion of many souls.
The statement, "a great number believed," implies that they had greater results than they expected, given their circumstances. The recipients of their message about Christ were convinced that the gospel was true, and they subscribed to it. Although these people were Jews so they did not turn from idols, yet they turned from the righteousness of the law to depend on Christ's righteousness.
22 "Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch." (Acts 11:22)
When the church at Jerusalem heard the good news of the conversions in Antioch, they sent Barnabas to this infant church to further establish them in the truth and strengthen the believers there. It's possible that the Apostles continually enquired about the success of the gospels in the countries where the disciples preached. Thus, this information about great multitudes turning to Christ reached them.
Note that the apostles did not just rejoice at the glad tidings they had received; they took action. Barnabas was sent as a representative of the church to congratulate and encourage them.
Now consider what the statement, "To go as far as Antioch," means. Certainly, it implies that Antioch is quite far from Jerusalem, form which they sent Barnabas. But it also connotes that Barnabas must have had a gift for undertaking such projects in distant lands. Perhaps, at the time, he was best suited for the job. So it is in the body that everyone has their area of expertise as their enabled by God's matchless grace.
23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.(Acts 11:23-24)
On arriving in Antioch, Barnabas was happy to see the amazing work of God in the lives of the disciples there. Surely, he was also pleased that his countrymen had been the instruments through which God had wrought such a bountiful harvest. Barnabas observed that the grace of God was evident, not just in their corporate worship but in their conversations, conducts and family life. Therefore, when we see God's grace at work, we must acknowledge it, take comfort in it and rejoice in it to the glory of His name.
The word "encourage," is parekalei in Greek which means exhort. Symbolically, Barnabas's name means son of exhortation and points to this innate gift to encourage. And so he did, urging them to be steadfast and hold on to the Lord.
Barnabas encouraged them to "continue with the Lord," to continue with the Lord means to live in dependence and devotion to Christ. Both depend on His grace to keep us from falling and commit to remaining under His authority, submitting our all to Him. The words, "with purpose of heart," shows a deliberate decision to be rooted and stay grounded upon the foundation of salvation without wavering. It means to resolve to remain joined to Christ in intimacy and relationship.
Now, Barnabas's words were proof of his nature and character. They showed him to be sweet-natured and of a pleasant disposition. Barnabas was not only righteous but good in deed. This was the same Barnabas in Acts 4:37 who had sold his property and turned the money over to those who needed it. So he was a generous and charitable man. Such ministers of the gospel give a good reputation to the gospel that they preach.
The verses above also describe Barnabas to be "Full of the Holy Spirit and of faith." This shows that he did not just have natural qualities of goodness. Surely, this alone would not have qualified him for the service with which he was occupied. But he was full of the Holy Spirit's grace and gifts. Barnabas was also full of the Christian faith, the grace, the fruit, the works and the love that proceeds from it. Furthermore, that he is referred to as being full of faith shows that he was grounded and rooted. Thus, he exhorted them to also be established as he was.
In the last words of verse 24, we see that because of Barnabas's presence and good work, the church in Antioch multiplied. Therefore, he excelled and prospered in the assignment he was given.
25 "Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. 26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year, they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch." (Acts 11:25-26)
Here we see that Barnabas sought out Saul in Tarsus to join him in the work at Antioch. This was after Saul had fled Jerusalem because of those that sought his life and dwelled in Tarsus. So Barnabas went to enquire of the well-being of his brother in Christ, to communicate the effectual door to preach the gospel that had opened in Antioch, and to enlist his help.
Notice how the goodness of Barnabas played out in these verses.
First, that he took it upon himself to make sure that Saul was using his gifts and grace in the most productive ways. Second, he took Saul to Antioch, knowing that Saul, being a more skilful and prominent preacher, would outshine him. Yet, he sought the furtherance of the gospel and the conversion of souls.
In these verses, we see what was accomplished at the church in Antioch when Saul and Barnabas joined their efforts. Both men stayed in Antioch for a year, assembling the disciples and teaching them. Note that the disciples made a habit of gathering together and that Saul and Barnabas presided over these assemblies. Also, note a key activity done in these gatherings; both men taught the disciples that gathered the knowledge of Christ. This makes us understand that the purpose of preaching goes beyond convicting and converting sinners. It is also for instructing and edifying believers.
By the reason of the great work of Barnabas and Saul, the preaching of Christ and assembling of believers in those parts became so prominent that they were called Christians. In this way, the distinction between Jews and Gentiles was done away with. Both groups—all who had turned to Christ, whether Jew or Gentile—now had the same name and identity.
And as their name implied, they humbled themselves to study the ways of their Lord and publicly declare that they were connected to Him. Just as students of scholars bore their names, they bore the name of Christ.
27 "And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar." (Acts 11:27-28)
These verses show that prophets from Jerusalem visited Antioch, and a great prophecy was given. Now, the bible does not go into detail about their number or if they are among the prophets we find in chapter 13. It is possible they fled Jerusalem because of persecution, for it is a city popular for killing prophets. But they must have heard of the success of the gospel and the rise of the church in Antioch.
Observe how the church at Antioch was being established. Barnabas had been sent to strengthen and encourage them, Saul had joined to teach them for a season, and now Prophets came to them to give prophecies concerning the future.
In verse 28, we see a prophecy concerning a period of famine by a prophet named Agabus. Note where his prophecy came from:
"Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world." It was not a product of his imagination or from observing the times and seasons. His prediction was from the Holy Spirit.
The scope of his prophecy was the whole world. A time of scarcity and hunger was approaching. And in the same verse, we see that this prophecy was fulfilled in the days of Claudius Caesar. Precisely, it started two years into his reign and lasted till the fourth year.
29 "Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. 30 This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul." (Acts 11:29-30)
In these verses, we see how the disciples circumspectly applied the warnings in the prophecy. Unlike how the Egyptians hoarded grain when they caught wind of an impending famine, they felt the need to help their brethren in other places. So they decided to send provisions to the brethren in Judea.
The reason Judea was chosen for this great generosity might be because there were more poor people in Judea than in other places. Or, that majority of those who turned to Christ in Judea were poor. The timeliness of this prophecy cannot be overlooked because its effects on the Christian faith would have been great if God's people were taken unawares and many believers perished. Notice that the disciples did not impose a particular levy to discomfort those who were not so prosperous. But everyone was asked to give willingly according to their ability.
The disciples at Antioch sent this relief to elders or leaders of the churches in Judea. These provisions were sent through Saul and Barnabas, who were willing to go on this errand. It is possible they had desired to visit Jerusalem themselves.
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