Acts 11 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Acts 11

Peter Reports to the Church

11:1 Now the apostles and the brothers¹ who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party² criticized him, saying, 3 “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” 4 But Peter began and explained it to them in order: 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me. 6 Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ 8 But I said, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’ 10 This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven. 11 And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea. 12 And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; 14 he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ 15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” 18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

The Church in Antioch

19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists³ also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, 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. 25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

27 Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). 29 So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers⁴ living in Judea. 30 And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

Footnotes

[1] 11:1 Or brothers and sisters
[2] 11:2 Or Jerusalem, those of the circumcision
[3] 11:20 Or Greeks (that is, Greek-speaking non-Jews)
[4] 11:29 Or brothers and sisters

Commentary

v1-3: The events at Caesarea are quickly reported throughout the existing churches. Since the Christians are largely Jewish, they criticise Peter. This dispute in the church has to be settled.

Peter wisely returns to Jerusalem to address the issue, and "explain everything ... precisely" that has happened.

v4-10: Peter relates his vision. He quotes his own reaction to the vision, which would be the reaction of any faithful Jews.

v11-14: Peter had taken 6 brothers with him; the Jews would not accept the testimony of one man, even an apostle, and would look for confirmatory testimony. The timing of Peter's vision and the arrival of the delegation from Cornelius is seen as God's hand on the situation.

v15-18: Conclusion and agreement. The Holy Spirit "came on them as He had come on us at the beginning," see 10.47. They experienced what we experienced. The absence of tongues of fire and the mighty rushing wind is not an issue here.

The Holy Spirit is given to those "who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ;" that is God's way. His gracious gift is linked with faith; elsewhere the Scriptures indicate that the Holy Spirit enables us to believe.

The agreement here is with rejoicing, as the growing Christian community see that God's plan is much wider than the Jewish nation. The matter is not finally solved, as Paul later endures opposition from those who would 're-Judaise' the faith.

v19-21: The gospel spreads amongst Jewish proselytes and Gentiles; the pattern of chapters 8 and 10 is multiplied. Antioch comes into the picture, as the new centre of the church; see 13.1-3. Jerusalem has the problem of its clear Jewish flavour, which influences the agreement reached in chapter 15.

v22-26: Events in Antioch are reported back to Jerusalem, where the apostles remain. Barnabas has already proved himself faithful, and is sent to Antioch to encourage the new Christian community there. He was not one of the original Twelve, but exercises an apostolic ministry. Whilst involved at Antioch, Barnabas brings Saul from Tarsus. They serve together in the church there for a year, probably until 13.1-3.

It might be said that the church at Antioch was the model New Testament Church. The church at Jerusalem endured a transition from Judaism, whilst the church at Antioch was founded on clear Church principles. (See Watchman Nee, The Normal Christian Church Life chapter 2).

Significantly, the followers of Jesus were first called 'Christians.' No distinction was made between Jew and Gentile.

v27-30: Practical help sent to Jerusalem; Gal 6.9-10. This is important, as Jerusalem ceases to be self-sufficient, in spite of many selling all their possessions.

"It is historical fact that the principate of Claudius saw widespread shortages throughout the Roman world. In fact Nature in the whole Mediterranean area was beginning to hit back. For too many centuries men had mined the soil, and denued its hills of a saving forest-covering. Crises of infertility were arising, and notable encroachments of the desert on the sown" (commentary on Acts)."