Acts chapter 11 continues the narrative following the conversion of Cornelius and his household, addressing the reaction of the Jewish believers in Jerusalem to this significant expansion of the gospel to the Gentiles. When Peter returned to Jerusalem, he faced criticism from some believers who were troubled that he had entered the home of Gentiles and shared a meal with them, an act that violated traditional Jewish customs. In response, Peter carefully explained his vision and the events that had taken place in Caesarea, emphasizing that the Holy Spirit had fallen upon Cornelius and his household in the same manner as it had upon the Jewish believers at Pentecost.
Peter’s explanation convinced the Jerusalem church that God had indeed extended the gift of repentance and salvation to the Gentiles, leading them to glorify God for this unprecedented work. This affirmation was crucial in helping the early church understand and accept the broader scope of God’s redemptive plan, setting a precedent for the inclusion of Gentile believers throughout the following chapters of Acts.
The chapter then shifts focus to the growth of the church in Antioch, where believers who had been scattered due to persecution began preaching the gospel to Greeks as well as Jews, resulting in a significant number of conversions. Barnabas was sent to strengthen this new community and subsequently brought Saul to help teach and disciple the growing congregation. It was in Antioch that believers were first called Christians, marking an important development in the identity and mission of the early church. The chapter concludes with a description of the church in Antioch sending relief to believers in Judaea during a time of famine, demonstrating the practical compassion and unity that characterized the early Christian community.
Chapter 11 (BBE)
1 Now the Apostles and the brothers who were in Judaea had news that the word of God had been given to the Gentiles.
2 And when Peter came to Jerusalem, those who kept the rule of circumcision had an argument with him,
3 Saying, You went to men without circumcision, and took food with them.
4 But Peter gave them an account of it all in order, saying to them,
5 I was in the town of Joppa, at prayer: and falling into a deep sleep, I saw in a vision a vessel like a great cloth let down from heaven, and it came down to me:
6 And looking on it with attention I saw in it all sorts of beasts and birds.
7 And a voice came to my ears saying, Come, Peter; take them for food.
8 But I said, No, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever come into my mouth.
9 But the voice, coming a second time from heaven, said, What God has made clean, do not you make common.
10 And this was done three times, and they were all taken up again into heaven.
11 And at that minute, three men, sent from Caesarea, came to the house where we were.
12 And the Spirit gave me orders to go with them, doubting nothing. And these six brothers came with me; and we went into that man’s house:
13 And he gave us an account of how he had seen the angel in his house, saying, Send to Joppa, and get Simon, named Peter, to come to you;
14 Who will say words to you through which you and all your family may get salvation.
15 And, while I was talking to them, the Holy Spirit came on them, as on us at first.
16 And the words of the Lord came into my mind, how he said, The baptism of John was with water, but you will have baptism with the Holy Spirit.
17 If then God gave them, when they had faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the same as he gave to us, who was I to go against God?
18 And hearing these things they said nothing more, but gave glory to God, saying, Then to the Gentiles as to us has God given a change of heart, so that they may have life.
19 Then those who had gone away at the time of the trouble about Stephen, went as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus, preaching to the Jews only.
20 But some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, when they came to Antioch, gave the good news about the Lord Jesus to the Greeks.
21 And the power of the Lord was with them, and a great number had faith and were turned to the Lord.
22 And news of them came to the ears of the church at Jerusalem: and they sent Barnabas as far as Antioch:
23 Who, when he came and saw the grace of God, was glad; and he made clear to them the need of keeping near the Lord with all the strength of their hearts:
24 For he was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith: and a great number were joined to the Lord.
26 And when he had come across him, he took him to Antioch. And they were with the church there for a year, teaching the people; and the disciples were first given the name of Christians in Antioch.
27 Now in those days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch.
28 And one of them, named Agabus, said publicly through the Spirit that there would be serious need of food all over the earth: which came about in the time of Claudius.
29 And the disciples, everyone as he was able, made a decision to send help to the brothers living in Judaea:
30 Which they did, sending it to the rulers of the church by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
Important Verses
Acts 11:17 and 18 Peter’s explanation that he could not withstand God’s clear work among the Gentiles led the Jerusalem church to accept and glorify God for this expansion of salvation.
Acts 11:21 This verse highlights the significant number of people who believed and turned to the Lord as the gospel spread to Antioch.
Acts 11:23 and 24 Barnabas’s encouragement of the believers in Antioch and his character as a man full of the Holy Spirit and faith illustrate the importance of godly leadership in the early church.
Acts 11:26 The believers being called Christians for the first time in Antioch marks a significant moment in the development of the church’s identity.
Acts 11:29 and 30 The church in Antioch sending relief to believers in Judaea demonstrates the practical generosity and unity that characterized the early Christian community.
