Dwell in the Word: Acts 11:1-18

Consider these questions as you dwell in Acts 11:1-18:

1. The shift in the Book of Acts from primarily reaching Hebrews to the inclusion of Gentiles marks a significant turning point in the spread of the gospel. How does Peter's proclamation of the gospel to Cornelius and his household challenge traditional notions of who is eligible for salvation? How does this shift align with the overarching theme of the gospel going to the ends of the earth?

2. The conflict over circumcision and its role in salvation was a central issue in the early Christian community. How does Peter address this controversy in his testimony to the circumcised believers? What role does the vision of the sheet with the animals play in Peter's argument for the inclusion of Gentiles in the faith?

3. Peter's statement, "Who was I that I could stand in God's way," reflects a recognition of God's sovereignty in the spread of the gospel. How does this statement highlight the importance of being open to God's leading even when it challenges established beliefs and practices? How can this lesson be applied in our own lives and communities of faith today?

Transcript:

 Now, I know it feels like this, what I'm calling the shift in the book of Acts is taking a long time to happen. This is a whole lot of story and there's some repetition, but this just reminds us just how significant this shift is. This shift of going to Jerusalem and Judea, to the ends of the earth.

There's a big gap there because these people were outsiders. They were unclean. The Gentiles were not a part of the people of God. And so, this is going to require a whole lot of understanding, a whole lot of, for lack of a better word, proof that this shift is happening. And so, we have quite a bit here in the book of Acts when we think about it.

Acts is 28 chapters. And here we're going to have probably about two, uh, chapters, three chapters, really maybe more telling us, uh, about this shift and the significance that is happening here. Uh, there is a whole lot of stuff happening. I'm sure in the church at this time, I'm sure people are being healed.

I'm sure many people are coming to faith, but Luke is telling us. This part of the story, for a very important reason, because this shift is substantial. To go from the Hebrew people, those who were considered ritually clean, to those who were unclean, is a big deal. And so, we see this as we look at the response to what people in Jerusalem and Judea have to hear about what has happened.

The word gets out that these, that they received the word of God. And the circumcision party criticized him. Now, this means that there was a group of people who said faith in Christ is good, but you still have to follow the rituals and particularly the ritual of circumcision. This was the right by which they were set apart.

Right, and we, we've looked at when I've been preaching through Genesis, we've talked about the significance of circumcision. Remember that circumcision basically set apart the reproduction, the reproductive process for the Hebrew people because they were the people who were leading to the coming of Christ to the one who had, the one who was promised to crush the head of the serpent and through their reproduction This one is coming.

And so, circumcision sets them apart to remember that, right? Well, this circumcision party was still requiring or believe that people were required to receive circumcision, even though they had faith in Christ. They were telling them you have to be circumcised. This was a pretty, pretty big deal. As you read the New Testament, you see that this is an issue over and over.

We're going to see it again in Acts. It's coming up here pretty quick.  In fact, the entire book of Galatians is about Paul being upset about this issue, right? And so, Peter makes his case to this group. And he tells them the story about the sheet and the animals and how there was a vision that came to Cornelius and how they received the Holy Spirit.

And so, Peter is letting them know that this happened, and this is ordained of God. Not only did God speak to him through a vision, an angel spoke to Cornelius and they received the Holy Spirit. This is a very substantial thing. And it is very clear here what is happening. There is no doubt left, right?

This isn't sort of Something. Well, we think this should happen. No, there are clear, definite signs that the gospel is to go to the Gentiles here, and we see in verse 17 if then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. Who was I that I could stand in God's way when they heard these things, they fell silent and they glorified God saying then to the Gentiles Also, God has granted repentance that leads to life.

How awesome is this statement? You know Peter is saying hey, who was I to object to what God was doing and when we believed we received this So, how could we stand in God's way?  And then I love this line in verse 18 when they heard these things they fell silent.  They were amazed they knew that they couldn't go Back to these rituals and say hey these people should be excluded or they need to do these things If these uncircumcised gentiles Are coming to faith in Christ  And the gospel is being brought to them by God.

He is giving them the gift of faith.  And so, we can understand how huge this is. And as I've mentioned many times, we know how huge this is. Because we are Gentiles. We are unclean by birth. Not only because we are born dead in trespasses and sins, but because we are outsiders. From the people of God that were from that were in the Old Testament But now we are the new people of God not by circumcision not by birth But by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ And so may we relish that faith and may we understand the amazing truth that we are God's people We are God's family and may we cherish this truth and may it build us up in faith today.