Acts 11:1-18
November 8, 2020
Acts 11:1-18
Now the apostles and the brothers 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 party 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,
And they glorified
who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”
18 When they heard these things they fell silent.
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God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.” 1
Have you ever purchased a new car, or at least a new car or vehicle for you, and about five minutes after you began to drive it home, you noticed another vehicle on the road of the same make and model?
Some of you may be car people, meaning you know the details of engines, power, fuel efficiency, models, makes, quality, etc. of cars throughout history.
Others, like me, just have a vehicle for the very practical purpose of getting from one location to another without having to walk.
As long as it is running, every single time I turn the key, and the A/C works, and the seat belt is secure...I’m good. I’m not entering a show. Just trying to get down the street.
I do like certain vehicles more than others and when a really nice one drives by, I take note. When we had our Trunk or Treat, there were many vehicles that came through. These ranged from minivans, to trucks, to sports cars, and even a mid-1950s Chevy. Some were more noticeable than others.
However, I do happen to notice more GMC Terrains on the road than ever. Why? Not because they are the most exciting looking vehicles. Not because they have a lot of power and are the envy of others. I notice simply because I have one too and now when another drives by, I can’t help but notice.
For those people who want to be the only one with a certain car, this can be very frustrating. For me...I just want to make sure I don’t try to get in the wrong one in the grocery store’s parking lot.
1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ac 11:1–18). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. 2
Sometimes, when people have something of value...or even a gift received, they get a bit upset when they discover that others have it as well. Maybe it’s a sense of seeing their gift as less valuable (wrongly) or just feeling less special (most likely) when it comes to the gift receiving.
Peter, the other apostles, and other members of the church in this time (meaning those of Jewish heritage) had surrendered to Christ as Lord. Their lives had changed for eternity. Their history was of being God’s chosen people and now, the Messiah had come, fulfilling the prophecies, and providing the Way, Truth, and Life they had sought.
All is good, until they discover their very valuable gift was also offered to others. Not just other Jews and like-minded relatives and friends, but to those whom were despised, considered the “others” and identified as the “uncircumcised” Gentiles.
This was no small adjustment and Peter’s encounter, which he recounted verbatim here to the brothers, revealed that Peter was sincerely walking with Christ, continually being sanctified, and was God’s instrument for opening the door for the first Gentile church member, Cornelius.
That should be our goal as Christ-followers, as Christians, as sons and daughters of God – to walk in Christ.
WALKING IN CHRIST
Let me shift here to address this phrase “Walk in Christ.” Our Monday men’s group has been discussing this as we read the book of Colossians together. Look here at what Paul, the apostle, wrote to this church regarding this.
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Colossians 2:6-7
6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 2
So often we promote the concept of walking WITH Christ. On the surface, that sounds fine, but there is something very different between being WITH Christ and being IN Christ.
Christians – receiving Christ as Lord, serving fully, submitting completely, walking IN him, shows that you are rooted well and ready to withstand all that the enemy and the world tempts you with, throws at you, seeking to confound and confuse.
Being WITH Christ sounds like you’re just hanging out getting coffee. If Jesus is your buddy rather than your Lord, perhaps that works, but being IN Christ means much more.
This is so that you will be able to stand solidly when the winds of change come, the empty lies of the world, based on the humanistic or ungodly spiritism of the age. To walk in Christ enables you to overflow in thanksgiving for all that he has done, is doing, and will do, trusting that he knows best, allowing your self-declared worry to be removed, and keep you from falling prey to the empty philosophies and elemental spirits of the worldview disguised as spiritual, but void of Christ.
Peter was in Christ.
He was walking in Christ. He was being molded and made into the man God had intended him to be. Peter was important, but he knew his role. It was in this moment of clarity where God renewed his calling and declared whom should hear the gospel. We spoke of this last week and
2 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Col 2:6–7). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. 4
today, Peter repeats the entire encounter to the brothers awaiting his return to the city.
So Christian, the call is clear – stop hanging out in religious rooms and walk in Christ. But, we warned, when you walk IN Christ...
1. YOU WILL BE CRITICIZED
Not “may be” but “will be.” And while we would like to think that the bulk of criticism would come from the ungodly, unregenerate, pagan, New Age, self-worshipping, God-ignoring, agnostic, and atheistic world...(and it does) the real hurt is when it comes from someone walking WITH you.
Now the apostles and the brothers 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 party criticized him, saying, 3 “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.”
It’s there in black and white – Peter the apostle, one of the twelve, a leader in the early church, a man walking IN Christ is confronted and criticized by brothers, by the saints, by the church leaders. By those who would have justified their criticism as their role in protecting the gospel and ensuring no one misused it...all while misusing it.
This is not just history. It still happens. In person. On Twitter. On blogs, and elsewhere.
2. YOU WILL HAVE TO CLARIFY
Criticism is not always bad. In fact, we all know the term “constructive criticism” and when we get that, we may not like it, but it can be helpful.
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But even critical criticism can be helpful, especially when those criticizing are open to listening.
Peter faced a barrage when he made it back to Jerusalem. It was not a welcome back party, rather it was a “how could you do that?” party.
But here’s the good news. Peter responded (not reacted.)
4 But Peter began and explained it to them in order:
Then he shared the entire story of the vision, the meeting, the reception of Cornelius and how he and his family were given the gift of the Holy Spirit and the gospel.
The Gentiles received the very same gift as the Jews. There was no Jewish Gospel and Gentile Gospel. There is not a version of Jesus that works for Jews and a Gentile version for everyone else.
One God. One Way. One Truth. One Life.
I love when God reveals this to the apostles and brothers in Jerusalem through Peter’s words.
17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ,
And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
If you’re going to walk IN Christ.
3. YOU MUST COMPLY WITH HIS COMMANDS
who was I that I could stand in God’s way?
stand in God’s way?”
18 When they heard these things they fell
silent.
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who was I that I could
Peter was not randomly chosen. He was called. He was empowered. He was IN Christ and invited others (not like him) to be as well.
CONCLUSION
In the 2011 Patrick Johnstone book published by Biblica titled The Future of the Global Church the author gives a history of the growth of the church from the time of Acts to the present, with what he describes as “burning questions” the current church must address.
Johnstone stated:
“Obedience is called for in the 21st century if we are to complete the Great Commission. For most churches today, missions still remains an optional extra, a fad, an inconvenient relic of the colonial era, not a central reason for the existence of the church. Others define “mission” as any ministry activity aimed at the (mostly local) unchurched, while they ignore activity aimed at the global discipling of peoples required by the Great Commission in Acts 1:8.
WhyhastheGreatCommissionbecometheGreatOmission for much of the church?
CananycongregationthatdoesnotmakeJesus’last command fundamental to the global ministry claim to be truly biblical and evangelical?
Howbiblicalisyourcongregation,traininginstitution,or agency with regard to the last command of Jesus?”
Burning questions, certainly. Ones that remind us as believers, even in the age of pandemics, frustrations, battles over politics, self-worship in the name of personal rights, and longing for a return to “normal” which may be more like the Israelites longing to return to Egypt than we’d like to admit, that God is not silent, is not distant, is not absent, in the midst of all that we face. In fact, in the midst of the confusion and feelings of fear and worry...God is the only solid foundation to be found.
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You see, I’m not so much discouraged but hopefully expectant to see how God will utilize this season for His glory and our good.
LET US BE CERTAIN TO WALK IN CHRIST IN THESE DAYS.
Footnotes
