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Bible In A Year | Read: Acts 11
1 The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him 3 and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”Acts 11:1-3
Overview of Chapter
The story from chapter 10 is repeated to those who are struggling to accept that Gentiles could follow Christ without converting to Judaism first. The message of Jesus also spreads to areas outside of Israel. This is because the persecution of Christians in Jerusalem is causing Christians to move to new places.
It’s interesting that persecution causes the church to expand. The Christians were comfortable being near each other and not branching out into new areas. Lack of comfort can be a way God gets us to do something new. It would be better if we did what he wanted without him making us uncomfortable, but God will do what it takes to cause his plan to be carried out.
Thoughts on the verses
When Cornelius and his household heard the gospel, they believed it and the Holy Spirit came upon them. This incident has been called the Gentile Pentecost. Peter and the other Jews were astonished that Gentiles should receive the Holy Spirit. This outpouring proves Gentiles are saved, just like the Jews, through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Back in Jerusalem, when the Jews hear that Gentiles have believed the Word of God, it didn’t bring them any joy. If we would have talked with Peter a month before this event, he would have agreed with them. In fact, even now, Peter says he didn’t want to do this, but God’s Spirit led him the whole way. He then told them the whole story, including that when he baptized them, the Holy Spirit came upon them. This is irrefutable evidence that Gentiles are now in the body of believers.
When the Jewish followers of Jesus heard how God moved, they accepted this as from God and praised and glorified Him. This was a great day—the door had been opened to the Gentiles!
Next, how difficult times helped to spread the gospel to the ends of the world.
Action Steps
Bible: What is God showing me? What am I going to do about it?
Bless: Serve one person through word, action, or gift today.
Have you ever thought it would be cool to hear some C3 leaders discuss the daily verses, share about their lives and mostly just talk about nonsense? Of course not!…even though nobody has ever thought that we are still doing it. You can follow along with us each morning in a brand new podcast – Wednesday Rule Keeping & Pigpen.
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