In Acts 11 the focus shifts from the Jewish-disciples and toward the Gentiles.  

Expansion of the Gospel to the Gentile world would definitely be a surprise to the first Jewish converts who saw the Messiah as strictly for the Jews. 

The Church is now opened to the Gentiles thanks to Peter being led by the Holy Spirit.  At first, all the disciples, including the apostles, believed that Christ came exclusively for the Jews. Peter—actually the Holy Spirit—reacts to Jewish resistance to Christ being shared with the Gentiles. Those who were at Pentecost, couldn’t help but understand the significance of the Holy Spirit coming upon the Gentiles, as He did upon them in tongues of fire (Acts 2:3). 

Peter explains the events previously noted in Chapter 10, repeating the things that Jesus spoke to him. The voice in v.7 is believed to be Jesus (as shown in red letter edition of the Bible, where Jesus’ saying are noted in red text).

I can’t help but wonder—was it an illusion or were the animal real? If an illusion, why didn’t the vision just disappear after the point was made? Why withdraw the sheet back to heaven? Which raises the question that I have been asked by other Christians, what happens to our pet after death? Animals in the Garden of Eden suffered the consequences of Adam’s sin—yet they died, even though they had not sinned. We know that God is perfect love and perfect justice. Does that also apply to the animal kingdom? (con’t next slide)

Stepping away from Acts for a moment. I find it hard to believe that we love/loved our pets more than their Creator did/does. We can only trust in God’s mercy and love regarding out pets. The Bible doesn’t tell us, other than a hint here in Acts 11 and in 2 Kings 6:17 And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. NIV

Again, this is only speculation. The Bible is for people not animals. If it was, that’s where far too many would focus their attention, instead of its intended purpose sharing the Word with “people” to lead them to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. I only raise it, because many have asked my opinion—”Is my pet lost forever?” For those that may be wondering, I deal with this in another blog created in 2011, when I was first asked that question as an active elder, which also looks at the new heaven and new earth:

 http://johnatcpc.blogspot.com  (copy and paste into your web browser)

Back to Acts. Without the Spirit telling Peter not to hesitate going to the Gentiles, he probably would not have gone, since doing so was against Jewish law and custom. The man in v.12 was Cornelius, a Roman centurion. When Peter learned that an angel had appeared to Cornelius, his decision to visit him was affirmed.   

What a revelation this must have been for Peter, taking him back to Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended on him, the other apostles and the followers of Jesus, highlighting the difference between just physical baptism and spiritual baptism by the Holy Spirit. 

The Church being opened to the Gentiles as well as the Jews, understandably came as a surprise to most Jewish-Christians. These disciples had a hard time believing, since Christ was the Jewish Messiah, and now “the Way” wasn’t exclusively for the Jews, and that Peter of all people would go into a Gentile’s home. But hearing that it was God’s will, convinced them that Christianity was for everyone, both Jew and Gentile alike. Later, Paul had to deal with this same issue with the Judaizes who insisted on circumcision of Gentile-converts to Christianity. 

We view the attack on Jewish-Christians as a tragedy, just as it was with the stoning of Stephen. As Acts unfolds we will see God’s hand on it for spreading the Gospel. Three refuge-cities mentioned in v.19-21 are identified by gold stars. There is an Antioch in Syria, and one in Asia Minor (modern Turkey).

After Stephen’s death, Christians, fearful for their own safety, scattered far and wide as noted in v.19-20. But, they didn’t hide, they spread the Word to other Jews in those regions. Some even began sharing the word with Gentiles. Next slide shows those areas. 

Ancient Cyrene is in modern Libya, north Africa. It was no accident that all of this was part of the Roman Empire. Another example of God’s sovereignty at work in making these areas safe for those Jewish-Christians to escape to, since it was under Roman law, unlike Jewish religious law in Judea, inflicted on Stephen. 

The location of the ancient city of Antioch, which became Christian then, is now part of modern Turkey, a Muslim nation.

The Gospel began to spread rapidly to the Gentiles. Barnabas was a Cypriot Jew familiar with the regional people. The apostles heard that the scattered Jewish-Christians had spread the Word to Antioch, so they sent Barnabas, familiar with the region, to instruct and baptize them. We are baptized by the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ, and then baptized with water into fellowship and membership in the visible church. Joseph was nicknamed Barnabas by the apostles (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. Back in Act 4:36-37, he sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles as to aid the Judean Jews.

Saul (later known as the apostle Paul) filled with God’s Holy Spirit, preached boldly that Jesus is the Son of God. Barnabas saw and heard Paul’s love for the Lord when Paul preached in Damascus. So, he sought Paul to accompany him to Antioch. During their stay in Antioch, and Paul's powerful preaching, large numbers came to faith in Jesus Christ. As noted in v.26, this is where the followers of “the Way” became know as Christians. 

Why did Luke even mention Agabus’ prophecy of a severe famine, when he wrote Acts? Why is because it shows God’s sovereignty in directing those events, using the famine to draw the church together as one body, as shown in the next slides.

Again, why was this famine significant enough to even be mentioned in Acts? It provided the occasion for many of the New Testament congregations to co-operate in the chartable giving of material aid to the "brethren which dwelt in Judea." (Acts 11:29.). In other words, it bonded the church across the Roman Empire both Jew and Gentile as members who were united in the Body of Christ! 

Comments noted on slide are from Matthew Henry’s Commentary. 

Chapter 11 saw the Gospel being spread outside of Judea, to other regions across the Roman world—something the Jews didn’t understand or readily accept until Gentiles received the Holy Spirit. Compass represents how far & wide the Gospel was being spread to Jews and Gentiles alike as one Church. 

Adrian Rogers' message is the exact same message that was being shared across the Roman Empire during the time of Acts. A message that is as relevant today as it was then. What about the people who never even heard the name of Jesus, and those Paul wrote to and about in his letter to the Romans. Did they go to hell? This may be one of the most important messages you will ever hear & worth repeating. 

Rogers' 44-minute message: No Other Way to Heaven Except Through Jesus speaks volumes to the Church. 

https://youtu.be/Ka2VhgjcP8I 

(copy and paste into your web browser)

Our current Foundations study in Heritage Lounge, Sunday at 9:00 A.M. How important is doctrine? Our faith rest on Jesus Christ, but what other Jesus is also being preached in 21st century America?

Pray for our Nation, that the Holy Spirit may open the minds and hearts of our leaders in Washington DC and at the State level, and just as important, at the School Board level across this Nation. Pray for our Pastor, his family and our church that the Word of God may reach out to those following his sermons, via Livestream on Youtube. 

End of

The Acts of the Apostles

Chapter 11