Commentary of the Book of the Acts of the Apostles
By Dr. Barry L. Jenkins
Text Used: Legacy Standard Bible
Bible Study Acts 11: 1-30
Text:
Peter’s Report in Jerusalem
11 Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, [a]those who were circumcised took issue with him, 3 saying, “You [b]went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” 4 But Peter began speaking [c]and proceeded to explain to them in orderly sequence, saying, 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, [d]an object coming down like a great sheet lowered by four corners from heaven, and it came right down to me, 6 and when looking closely at it, I was observing it and saw the four-footed animals of the earth and the wild beasts and the crawling creatures and the birds of the [e]sky. 7 And I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise up, Peter; [f]slaughter and eat.’ 8 But I said, ‘By no means, Lord, for nothing defiled or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 But a voice from heaven answered a second time, ‘What God has cleansed, no longer consider defiled.’ 10 And this happened three times, and everything was drawn back up into heaven. 11 And behold, immediately three men appeared at the house in which we were, having been sent to me from Caesarea. 12 And the Spirit told me to go with them [g]without taking issue at all. These six brothers also went with me and we entered the man’s house. 13 And he reported to us how he had seen the angel [h]standing in his house, and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and summon Simon, who is also called Peter; 14 and he will speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ 15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized [i]with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could prevent God’s way?” 18 And when they heard this, they [j]quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.”
The Church in Antioch
19 So then those who were scattered because of the [k]persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way [l]to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the [m]Greeks also, proclaiming the good news of the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 Now the [n]news about them [o]reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off [p]to Antioch, 23 who, when he arrived and saw the grace of God, rejoiced and began to encourage them all with a purposeful heart to remain true to the Lord; 24 for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a considerable crowd was [q]brought to the Lord. 25 And he left for Tarsus to search for Saul; 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it happened that for an entire year they [r]met with the church and taught a considerable crowd. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
27 Now in those days, some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 And one of them named Agabus stood up and indicated [s]by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine all over the [t]world. [u]And this took place in the reign of Claudius. 29 And as any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the service of the brothers living in Judea. 30 And this they did, sending it [v]in charge of Barnabas and Saul to the elders.
Verse by verse commentary:
Verse 1: “Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.”
The Jews viewed Simon Peter's actions with skepticism and disapproval. It's important to note that if we had spoken to Simon Peter a month earlier, he too would have considered his actions unacceptable.
Verse 2: “And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those who were circumcised took issue with him,”
Peter was criticized by other Jewish believers for welcoming Gentiles.
Verse 3: “saying, ‘You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.’”
The ceremonial law was clearly violated when eating with Gentiles. They did not follow the Old Testament's dietary laws or ceremonial washings, as found in Leviticus 11.
Verse 4: "But Peter began speaking and proceeded to explain to them in orderly sequence, saying,”
Peter's fellowship with uncircumcised Gentiles caused shock and dismay in Jerusalem, despite the rejoicing in heaven over Cornelius's conversion. Peter justified his actions by recounting God's extraordinary works in facilitating the event, emphasizing that he had not acted on his own initiative.
Verse 5: “I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object coming down like a great sheet lowered by four corners from heaven, and it came right down to me,”
The significance of the Cornelius story lies in the fact that God, not Peter, is the one who initiates the mission to the Gentiles and organizes the events surrounding it. The importance of this story is underscored by Luke's repetition; he describes Cornelius's vision four times.
Verse 6: “and when looking closely at it, I was observing it and saw the four-footed animals of the earth and the wild beasts and the crawling creatures and the birds of the sky.”
Luke reiterates the story of the vision of the sheet and the unclean animals due to the significance of the issue of personal prejudice. God used this vision to liberate Peter from his racial bigotry.
Verse 7: “And I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise up, Peter; slaughter and eat.’”
Peter recounted the amazing details of how God had arranged the event, including the voice he heard, and used this as evidence to justify his actions.
Verse 8: “But I said, ‘By no means, Lord, for nothing defiled or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’”
He was instructed from heaven that the situation had changed. God had cleansed those people and things that were previously considered unclean. Therefore, he should no longer consider them common or unfit for interaction with God's chosen people. He was not to be criticized for changing his mind when God had altered the circumstances.
Verse 9: “But a voice from heaven answered a second time, ‘What God has cleansed, no longer consider defiled.’”
In Hebraic thinking, when something is repeated twice, it means it is to be emphasized. He should not be blamed for changing his mind, since God had changed the situation. In such matters, we must act according to our current understanding, but we must not be so attached to our opinions that we are prejudiced against further discoveries. Things may be different than they appear, and God may reveal this to us. However, understanding must b e consistent with God’s Word and never contradict it.
Verse 10: “And this happened three times, and everything was drawn back up into heaven.”
The word "drawn" suggests an abrupt ascension into heaven. To repeat something three times was to place major emphasis on what was being said or done.
Verse 11: “And behold, immediately three men appeared at the house in which we were, having been sent to me from Caesarea.”
The Spirit specifically directed him to accompany the messengers sent by Cornelius. To emphasize that the vision was intended to resolve any uncertainty about this matter, he informed them that the messengers arrived immediately after he had the vision.
Verse 12: “And the Spirit told me to go with them without taking issue at all. These six brothers also went with me and we entered the man’s house.”
The Spirit instructed him to go with the men who had been sent to him from Caesarea without hesitation. Despite the fact that they were Gentiles, he went to them and accompanied them without any reservations.
Verse 13: “And he reported to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and summon Simon, who is also called Peter;”
Cornelius and Peter both had visions. They were able to strengthen each other's faith by sharing their experiences with each other. As a result, Peter was reassured of his vision's truth by Cornelius's vision, and vice versa. This demonstrates the value of communication and shared experiences among those who commune with God.
Verse 14: “and he will speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all your household.”
The Old Testament frequently shows God's saving grace being extended to entire families, such as those of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This pattern continues in the New Testament.
Verse 15: “And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning.”
The same phenomenon that happened at Pentecost was used by God to confirm the reality of Gentile salvation. Without the tongues, I have personally seen the Holy Spirit fall on a group of people I was preaching to when I was conducting revival meetings in India in 2004. There was a strong gust of wind in a church yard that fell on us while I was speaking and the people began to excitedly praise God and shout. It was an amazing experience that I will never forget.
Verse 16: “And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’”
The Holy Ghost was given as a baptism, and those who received this gift were baptized in a manner far superior to those baptized with water, even by John the Baptist himself.
Verse 17: “Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could prevent God’s way?”
God's promise to Abraham that "in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" reminded some present that it was His will to save both Jews and Gentiles. The name “Lord Jesus Christ” is the full title for Jesus and this is where it is first used here.
Verse 18: “And when they heard this, they [a]quieted down and glorified God, saying, ‘Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.’”
Sorrow for sin and a change of heart that turns from sin toward God are the characteristics of authentic Biblical repentance. This repentance produces fruits, which are the good works God calls us to.
Verse 19: “So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone.”
Some people were forced to leave Jerusalem because of the persecution that arose around the time of Stephen's death. They traveled to places like Phoenicia, spreading the word of God. Although they were persecuted, this allowed them to spread the gospel message to more people and places, ultimately benefiting the growth of the early church. This demonstrates the Sovereignty and Providence of God especially in times of trouble. God has the perfect plan.
Verse 20: “But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, proclaiming the good news of the Lord Jesus.”
After successful preaching in Judea, Samaria, and Galilee, they left the borders of Canaan and continued their journey. Despite increased risk as they ventured further, they traveled on to Phoenicia, the island of Cyprus, and Syria.
Verse 21: “And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.”
God saved people as He called them to believe in Him as the men were preaching the gospel. This is God’s method in saving people. Man preaches the Word of God, the Holy Spirit applies the truth to their hearts and convicts them that they are lost and in sin, He grants them the gifts of faith and repentance, and the person responds to the message and believes.
Verse 22: “Now the news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch,”
Barnabas, who was a Cypriot Jew, had a similar background to the founders of the Antioch church. Cypriot means he was from Cyprus. He was a logical choice for the Jerusalem church to send.
Verse 23: “who, when he arrived and saw the grace of God, rejoiced and began to encourage them all with a purposeful heart to remain true to the Lord;”
He did his best to strengthen and encourage those who had converted to the faith. He urged and exhorted them using his gift of encouragement. This gift is reflected in his name, Barnabas, which means "son of encouragement”. He comforted and encouraged them to remain devoted to the Lord. He rejoiced in their spiritual growth and urged them to continue building upon their strong foundation. Barnabas was delighted to witness the grace of God in their lives and fervently encouraged them to persevere.
Verse 24: “for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a considerable crowd was brought to the Lord.”
He demonstrated that he was a man of a very kind and courteous disposition, who had the heart of a servant and could teach others. He was not only a righteous man, but also a good-tempered man. Ministers who are this way recommend themselves and their doctrine very much to the good opinion of those that are without. He was a good man, that is to say, a charitable man. He was a good man, full of the Holy Ghost and of faith, and he showed himself to be so on this occasion. Herein, he gave proof of his good character.
Verse 25: “And he left for Tarsus to search for Saul;”
Several years had passed since Saul had run away from Jerusalem. It seems that due to his newfound faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, he was disowned and forced to leave his home. This would be no easy task for him.
Verse 26: “and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it happened that for an entire year they [a]met with the church and taught a considerable crowd. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”
The term "Christian," which refers to someone who belongs to or follows Christ, appears only three times in the New Testament: Acts 11:26, Acts 26:28, and 1 Peter 4:16. The name's origin is uncertain; it may have been coined within the church or used initially as a derogatory term by outsiders.
Verse 27: “Now in those days, some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.”
Preachers in the New Testament were called prophets. Upon hearing of the thriving church in Antioch, they journeyed there with the hope of contributing to its growth.
Verse 28: “And one of them named Agabus stood up and indicated by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius.”
Agabus, a Jerusalem prophet, foretold a severe famine that would impact the entire world. This prophecy was fulfilled during the reign of Claudius Caesar, around 45-46 AD, and was confirmed by several ancient historians including Tacitus, Josephus, and Suetonius.
Verse 29: “And as any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the service of the brothers living in Judea.”
The early church was bound together by a fraternal spirit and bond of love. This was evident when the other believers sent help to the church in Jerusalem during their time of dire need.
Verse 30: “And this they did, sending it in charge of Barnabas and Saul to the elders.”
This is the first mention of the men who were pastor-overseers of the churches. The apostles and prophets were foundational, but they transitioned leadership roles in the churches to others who soon began to occupy those leading roles.
