DAY #198: Acts 11:1-26

When Peter arrived back in Jerusalem, he was criticized for entering a Gentile home and then eating a meal with Gentiles. Both practices were terribly offensive to devout Jews who feared accidentally breaking one of their strict dietary regulations.

Peter quoted the response of the voice from heaven, instructing him that when God says something is acceptable not to say it isn’t. Peter spoke of the arrival of the three men from Caesarea. Upon the command of no one less than the Holy Spirit, Peter had accompanied them, citing the Spirit’s command not to worry about their being Gentiles. He had taken six fellow believers with him to witness what was to happen and help recall it accurately.

Peter described that crucial moment in recounting his meeting with the Gentiles when the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as he fell on the Jewish believers at the beginning, referring to Pentecost. The Holy Spirit had come on these Gentile believers just as he had come on the Jewish believers. There was no difference between the two “Pentecosts” other than that the Jews’ experience had come first. These subsequent events, parallel to Pentecost, proved to the Jerusalem church that they must accept each new group of converts (the Samaritans, the Gentiles) because God had put his guarantee on them by repeating Pentecost.

The theological discussion stopped with the report that God had given the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles. This was a turning point for the early church. They had to accept those whom God had chosen, even Gentiles.

Meanwhile, the seeds of missionary work were being sown after Stephen’s death, for many believing Jews were persecuted and scattered, settling in faraway cities and spreading the gospel. The Good News was being preached, but only to Jews.

Fortunately, these believers had the courage to spread the gospel of the Lord Jesus outside of the confines of Judaism. When these believers spoke, the power of the Lord was upon them, and large numbers of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord.

Word of the happenings in Antioch prompted the leaders of the Jerusalem church to send someone to investigate. Barnabas was the emissary. He was a wise choice for a number of reasons. From Cyprus, he would have had a natural national connection with the evangelists who had started the movement in Antioch. Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. His name means “Son of Encouragement” , and he lived up to it as he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord. The ministry of the gospel was thriving—large numbers believed.

Saul had been sent to his home in Tarsus for protection after his conversion caused an uproar among the Jewish religious leaders in Jerusalem . He stayed there for several years before Barnabas brought him back to Antioch. Evidently, the work at Antioch had grown so that it was too much for Barnabas to handle alone. Barnabas and Paul’s ministry in Antioch was marked by their teaching. Those who became believers were consistently and systematically instructed by these two teachers in the basics of their newfound faith.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what i have read today?)

It's interesting to me that the gospel spread when the church got off it's high horse and realized that the Gospel, the Good News was for everybody, not just the Jews.

(Paul) "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." Romans 1:16 (NIV)

What would happen today, if the church made spreading the Gospel it's number one goal? What would happen if became asked God to give them courage and boldness? What would happen if the church got serious about training people to share their faith? What would happen if we broke down social barriers and economic barriers?

I'll tell you what would happen. People would get saved. Familes would be perserved. The poor would be cared for. Needs would be met.

Lord, do this kind of work at COV and in the San Ramon Valley.

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They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)