Acts 11:1-18 Lesson 244

Acts 11:1-18
Lesson 244

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this lesson:

Some object to Cornelius joining the church.
Peter explains and defends.

Statue of Peter in the Archbasillica of Saint John Lateran
by French Sculptor Pierre-Etienne Monnot (1657-1733)

Study Tip:

We tend to read as if we're in a race.
But when you read the Bible, take the time to meditate on each passage.
Allow the true meaning of God's word to enter you.

The Acts of the Apostles

The King James Bible

Acts 11:1-18
Peter reports

1 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.

2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,

3 Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.

4 But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,

5 I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:

6 Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

7 And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.

8 But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.

9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

10 And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.

11 And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.

12 And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house:

13 And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;

14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.

15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.

16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.

17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?

18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

Margin notes:

"When Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him." (11:2) - Means, "when Peter returned to Jerusalem, Jewish Christian's argued with him" (for associating with and preaching to Gentiles).

"Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them." (11:3) - "You went to non-Jews (Gentiles) and ate with them."

"Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it." (11:4) - "Peter discussed the matter from the beginning, and explained it."

"A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet." (11:5) - "Something descended, a great sheet." Peter is telling the story of his vision (Acts 10:10-13).

"It came even to me." (11:5) - "It came down to me."

"And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat." (11:7) - Peter continues his story.

"Nothing common or unclean." (11:8) - "Nothing forbidden or unclean."

"What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common." (11:9) - Means, there are no unclean foods. Judaism had many dietary restrictions; Christianity is the only major religion without any.

"The Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting." (11:12) - "The spirit told me to go with them, without wavering."

"The Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us." (11:15) - The Holy Ghost touched the Gentiles, just as He had touched them (Acts 2:3-4).

"John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost." - (11:16) - Peter is quoting Jesus from Acts 1:5.

"God gave them the like gift as he did unto us." (11:17) - "God gave them (Gentiles) the same gift (of salvation) that he gave us."

"What was I, that I could withstand God?" (11:17) - "Who was I that I could oppose God?" This sentiment is reinforced from Acts 10:47.

"Glorified God." (11:18) - "Praising God."

New Living Translation

Acts 11:1-18
Peter Explains His Actions

1 Soon the news reached the apostles and other believers in Judea that the Gentiles had received the word of God.

2 But 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.

4 Then Peter told them exactly what had happened.

5 "I 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.

6 When I looked inside the sheet, I saw all sorts of small animals, wild animals, reptiles, and birds.

7 And I heard a voice say, 'Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.'

8 "'No, Lord,' I replied. 'I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure or unclean.'

9 "But the voice from heaven spoke again: 'Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.'

10 This happened three times before the sheet and all it contained was pulled back up to heaven.

11 "Just then three men who had been sent from Caesarea arrived at the house where we were staying.

12 The 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.

13 He 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.

14 He 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 on us at the beginning.

16 Then I thought of the Lord's words when he said, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'

17 And 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?"

18 When 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."

This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."

Today's Question:

1. Did God change His mind about offering salvation to the Gentiles?

2. Was Cornelius a believer before he met Peter?

Questions? I'll do my best to answer them.

Answer: (Do you agree?)

1. No, God didn't change His mind about Gentiles receiving salvation. From the beginning of the Old Testament, God promised salvation to Jews and non-Jews (Genesis 12:3; Psalm 22:27; Isaiah 49:6; Isaiah 60:1-3; Jeremiah 16:19-21; Malachi 1:11). This promise was reinforced when Jesus preached to Gentiles in Samaria (John 4:5-43), to Greeks in Gadara (Mark 5:1-20), and to the Romans (Luke 7:1-10). Due to their long history of being oppressed by Gentiles and their misinterpretation of the Scriptures Jews believed non-Jews were unworthy of God's reward. It was Peter and the Jewish converts to Christianity who changed their minds about Gentiles, not God.

Additional note: Accepting Gentiles into the Christian faith remained a problem for many years. Although God was changing the heart of Peter and others, the question remained controversial for much of the first century.

2. No, according to verse 11:14, an angel told Cornelius that Peter would teach him what to do to be saved.

Application thought for the day:

After God showed Peter that Gentiles could be saved, who could keep them from the word of God?
So it is when we take it upon ourselves to decide who loves the Lord and who is worthy of His grace.

Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
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