Author Archives: Phillip

Acts chapter 11:27-30:

V27:  The NT speaks of the gift of prophecy in the early church. Sometimes the term refers to declaring God’s Word with God-given Authority, in Holy Spirit power, but sometimes, as here a God-given revelation of things to come. In this sense, we would hold, with many Bible teachers, that the gift was for the immediate NT period, the Apostolic age, like some other gifts found in the NT.

V28:  One such prophet, Agabus foretells a great famine throughout the Roman world – Luke, the careful historian, records that this happened when Claudius was Emperor – not in fact long after this chapter.

V29:  The Antioch church at once decide to send a gift, each contributing what they could, for the relief of the Jewish believers in Judea.This was a gracious and loving gesture from this largely Gentile church to Jewish believers they did not know.

V30:  Barnabas and Saul ( as he still is at this stage ) are chosen to take the gift up to the Elders in the Jerusalem church. Similar gifts from Gentile churches to their Jewish brothers remained a significant part of Paul’s later dealings with the churches, and his concern to foster love between Gentile and Jewish Christians. ( See for example 2 Corinthians 8:1-5.)

Acts chapter 11:22-26:

V22:  The report of this reaches Jerusalem. It is not completely clear if this is after Peter’s statement in the earlier verses, perhaps, but the Apostles send a trusted man to Antioch, to see what is happening there and if it is indeed of God. Surely it is significant that the man sent is Barnabas, the ” great encourager “, suggesting that this is not a ” hostile ” investigation but a genuine desire to discern if this is indeed God’s hand at work.

V23-24:  His response is characteristic of him. He who listened to Saul and accepted what God had done in his life, when no one else would ( ch 9 v 26-27. ) also recognises God’s work here, and rejoices in it. He encourages the new Gentile believers in their faith, and calls them to faithfulness in their own walk with the Lord. V24 is Scripture’s remarkable testimony to the Christ-like life and witness of this choice believer! And  surely, the ” many more” added to the Lord here were the fruits of his own ministry there in Antioch.

V25-26:  Then, surely at the Lord’s direction, he goes to Tarsus ( relatively near to Antioch, in fact ) to seek out Saul ( ch9 v30.) He brings Saul back to Antioch, where they continue together teaching the new church for a full year. Seemingly, Barnabas was God’s instrument in involving the soon-to-be Apostle to the Gentiles in regular ministry in this , the first largely Gentile church.  We are told that it was here at Antioch that the believers were first called “Christians”. Some think this was originally a sarcastic term, but surely it speaks of the clarity of their testimony and their lives for the Lord – they were ” Christ’s people “, always talking of Him, pointing others to Him, witnessing for Him.

Acts chapter 11:19-21:

V19:  The record now returns to how God so remarkably brought about the wider spread of the gospel, as believers who were scattered from Jerusalem and Judea by the persecution after Stephen’s death took the message wherever they went. ( See ch8 v4.) Even in ” Gentile territory”, to start with they still address only Jews, probably in established synagogues.

V20:  But then some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, Jews from the dispersion throughout the Roman Empire at this time, coming to Antioch start speaking to ” Hellenists“. Though at times this speaks of Greek-speaking Jews ( as in ch 6 v1 ) the context here makes it clear these were Gentiles from the Greek culture of those days. The believers in question preach ” the Lord Jesus” to these non-Jews.

V21:  And God seals this with His blessing, and a large number of these Gentiles truly come to Christ as Saviour. Acts 1:8 is being further fulfilled, under the Lord’s sovereign hand! What remarkable outcomes God can bring from persecutions!

Acts chapter 11:11-18:

V11-12:  Continuing his account, Peter tells them how the men from Cornelius arrived at such a significant time, and how the Holy Spirit directed him to go with them without any doubts – for God was  clearly removing the old distinction between Jew and Gentile. ( See Ephesians 2:14-16.) Also, how Jewish believers from Joppa were witnesses to what happened.

V13-14:  He tells how God sent the vision of the angel to Cornelius, to prepare him for the gospel he would hear through Peter,

giving the further detail that Cornelius had been told he would hear from Peter ” a message by which you will be saved”.

V15:  And how, as he spoke, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as previously upon the Jewish believers on the day of Pentecost. This repetition of so much detail from ch 10 shows us how important what happened there is – the seal of God upon the inclusion in the church of Jew and Gentile, on equal terms.

V16:  So, Peter remembers Jesus saying that the baptism of the Holy Spirit would come upon believers, as God’s grace brought them to faith ( not a “second” or further experience, as the record clearly shows) and now this has clearly happened to non-Jews in the same way.While the outward signs were for that Apostolis period, remember the words of Acts 2:39.

V17-18:  Since this was God’s own work, who was Peter to resist it? Here is the answer to all the doubts and reservations of the Jewish believers he is addressing, and indeed as Peter speaks of this, they recognise God’s work of grace for what it is, and give Him the glory. ( Yet not all Jewish doubts were banished at once, as ch 15 will show us, and many references in Paul’s letters.)

Acts chapter 11:1-10:

V1:  The news of what has happened to Cornelius and his Gentile household reaches the Apostles and the Jewish believers in Jerusalem/Judea.

V2-3:  When Peter returns to them, he is immediately criticised by ” the circumcision party”. Are these true believers, or Jews on the fringes of the church? Probably here believers who nonetheless cling to their “Jewishness”, but later Paul’s ministry was dogged for years by those called “Judaisers”, who were clearly not real Christians at all. ( See Philippians 3:2-3; Galatians 5:2-3,6.)

V4-10:  So Peter relates in full detail his experience in chapter 10, and how God has taught him he must not call what God has made clean “common” or unclean – in other words, how the Lord prepared him to recognise and accept how saving grace was given to Cornelius and other Gentiles he had gathered together. To the doubtful Jewish Christians , Peter is saying ” this was clearly God’s work, God’s purpose – Salvation is for Gentiles too, if they put their trust in Christ.”

Acts chapter 10:42-48:

V42:  God has commanded the Apostles to preach these things ” to the people” – perhaps initially to the Jewish people, but as Peter is learning here, to all people. ( So Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8.)  Within this gospel, they must proclaim the truth that this same Jesus is the appointed judge before whom all will one day stand ( Acts 17:31; 2 Corinthians 5:10.)

V43:  And all the OT prophets point to Jesus, and to the forgiveness of sins that He gives to all who believe in Him. God’s purpose has always been this – there is no “wedge” between the OT and the NT. ( John 5:38-40; Luke 24:25-27.)

V44:  As Peter speaks, the Holy Spirit falls on all who are listening to him. This must mean that as they listen, grace opens their hearts to believe – and clearly there is some outward visible sign, as on the Day of Pentecost. ( See also v46.) Some speak of this as “the Gentile Pentecost” – a seal of God on what He is doing here, and to all Gentile believers hereafter. 

V45-46:  This amazes the Jewish believers who have accompanied Peter. They are in fact God’s chosen witnesses to the authenticity of what is taking place!

V47-48:  Peter asks if any present can doubt that these Gentiles, who have received the same grace as the Jewish believers, are eligible to be baptised, and at once they are, in the Name of Jesus, their new Saviour and Lord. ( They are not actually the first non-Jews to be baptised, of course, the Ethiopian Eunuch had been baptised by Philip in ch 8:38.)

Acts chapter 10:34-41:

V34-35:  Peter now realises that God has shown him He has His people, not only from among the Jews but from ” every nation”, so clearly he does not see this as a “one-off” exception. Again, we must not take this verse to mean that Cornelius ( or anyone else ) has earned merit with God by their good works. Ephesians 2:8-9 remain the absolute truth about salvation – it is all by grace! Nevertheless, God is mindful of how people respond to every token of grace in their lives, as with Cornelius here.

V36-37:  Now Peter begins to point them to Jesus, first declaring how God sent His Word first to Israel, proclaiming “the good news of peace through Jesus Christ “- Peter emphasises that Jesus is Lord of all, again declaring His divinity. This wonderful peace is spoken of in Romans 5:1, and Ephesians 2:14-16 – verses very relevant to what is happening here. He reminds them of what they are surely aware of, what happened in Judea and Galilee following John the Baptist’s ministry…

V38:  …how God ” anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power”. Even God the Son, then, in His human nature and ministry, needed the power and presence of the Holy Spirit to equip Him – how much more do we!! He sums up the Lord’s ministry in terms of ” doing good” and healing, because truly God was with Him – He who was Himself ” Immanuel” – God with us!

V39:  The importance of the witness of Peter and the other Apostles (” we”) is stressed – they were with Jesus, can testify to all that He did ( and said ) – and how he was then put to death on the cross ( the ” accursed death”, remember – Galatians 3:13 – where He bore the curse for all He would redeem.)

V40-41: They are also witnesses to the vital truth of the Resurrection, on which the whole hope of the gospel stands ( Romans 1:4: 1 Corinthians 15:14-20.) Their testimony is that of personal experience, and God has chosen them for this. Throughout  Acts the Cross and the Resurrection are always proclaimed together, as they still should be.

Acts chapter 10:27-33:

V27-28:  Finding a large number of non-Jews gathered, Peter shows he has understood and accepted what God is saying to him – he must no longer hold to the Jewish laws about avoiding contact with Gentiles, nor call anyone “common” or unclean before God because of race or background. So, Paul would write later Galatians 3:28, but here God is teaching this lesson to Peter, though his prime ministry is to be to the Jews and Jewish believers.( Galatians 2:8.)

V29:  So, Peter has come to Cornelius, as God has directed him. He asks the centurion why he has sent for him.

V30-32:  Cornelius tells him all that has happened, the vision he was given, and how God’s messenger (which is what angels are, of course ) told him to send to Joppa for Peter.

V33:  So, he sent, and Peter has come to him. Now all in the house are gathered to hear what Peter has to tell them from God. He already anticipates a clear and important message from the Lord, and is eager that all those he has gathered should also hear it. Here clearly is a heart God has prepared for the gospel.

Acts chapter 10:17-26:

V17-18:  As Peter is puzzling over what his vision means, the men from Cornelius arrive at the house and ask for him. There are no ” coincidences” in God’s dealings with His people, only the working out of His sovereign purposes. 

V19-20:  Still pondering over what God is saying to him ( or is he resisting it, as we may do at times?) Peter is told by the Holy Spirit to go down to the men who are seeking him, and to go with them – for God has sent them.

V21-22:  He goes to them, asks why they have come, and they tell him of the devout centurion, well-regarded by the Jews who know him, and how an angel had appeared to him, telling him to send for Peter.

V23:  Peter invites them in – already going against the Jewish ” taboos” about contact with Gentiles – and next day sets out with them for Caesarea, accompanied by some Jewish believers from Joppa – who will be God’s chosen witnesses to what happens.

V24:  When they arrive, Cornelius has gathered “his relatives and close friends” in anticipation of what Peter has to tell them. Clearly, he is a man concerned to share what he knows of God with others – an example to us all.

V25-26:  He falls down before Peter, offering him homage, but Peter quickly corrects this – he is only a man, like Cornelius himself. What belongs only to God must not be given to him!

Acts chapter 10:9-16:

V9:  As God is working His purpose out, even in small details ( Romans 8:28.) Peter goes up to the roof of his host’s house to pray, just as Cornelius’ messengers are approaching the city. The roofs, remember, would be flat, often with a parapet around them.

V10-11:  Peter feels hungry, but even as a “real” meal is being prepared for him, he falls into a trance in which he sees a vision of “something like a great sheet”, held up by its 4 corners, coming down from heaven to earth.

V12: In this “sheet” are a mixture of many creatures, some of which are specifically ” unclean” according to OT law – and by proximity to them, even any ” clean” beasts would have been rendered unclean.

V13-14:  A voice tells Peter to kill something from the sheet, and eat. Peter protests he has never eaten anything unclean, or forbidden by the law – common as opposed to that “set apart” by God’s ordinance, and so “Holy” ( See Leviticus 10:10.) He realises it is the Lord who speaks to him, and perhaps thinks this is a test of his piety.

V15-16:  But he is told he must not call anything God has made clean ” common”. The whole sequence is repeated 3 times. Peter is of course being prepared for God’s dealings in grace with the Gentile Cornelius and his household.