PETER REPORTS TO THE CHURCH
Acts 11:1-18
He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.’ (14)
chapter 11
1. The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.
2. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him
3. and said, "You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them."
4. Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story:
5. "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was.
6. I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds.
7. Then I heard a voice telling me, ’Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’
8. "I replied, ’Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’
9. "The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ’Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’
10. This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again.
11. "Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying.
12. The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house.
13. He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, ’Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter.
14. He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.’
15. "As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning.
16. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ’John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
17. So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?"
18. When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life."
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
1. The Jewish believers in Jerusalem criticized Peter for going to the home of Gentiles and eating with them. He told the apostles and believers about his vision, and how God had led him to Cornelius' house. There, he had found a gathering of Gentiles. Cornelius shared his vision of an angel who told him to send for Peter who would tell him the message of salvation for him and his whole family. People are seeking God and his salvation for them and their families. We must believe that there are people eagerly seeking to hear the Good News of Jesus’ death and resurrection and share it with them without hesitation.
2. When Peter preached the Good News to these Gentiles, the Holy Spirit came on them. He baptized them with the Holy Spirit and accepted them into the church. Peter concluded: “I remembered Jesus' words and saw that God gave the Gentiles the same gift as he had given us at Pentecost. How could I oppose God?” So the believers praised God. They recognized this major turning point in God'sredemptive history–” God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.” May we also see what God is doing and open our hearts and minds beyond our own prejudices.
Prayer: Father, please remove my prejudices and criticism so that I may see your salvation work among all people. Help me to testify to Jesus’ salvation power for all who believe.
One Word: Salvation for you and your whole family