Click here to read Acts 11
Peter returns to Jerusalem to criticism for spending time with Gentiles. But as Peter explained the events that happened the Jerusalem Christian recognized God's hand in these events. Unlike the Pharisees the Jewish Christians recognized they were wrong and admitted it.
A lot of interesting stuff in this chapter....
I hadn't remembered the part at the end of this chapter, that there had been a huge famine and that the church send support to Judea. I love seeing how God works in all these details!
ReplyDelete"29 So the believers in Antioch decided to send relief to the brothers and sisters[h] in Judea, everyone giving as much as they could."
ReplyDeleteYes, this was the verse that also stood out for me. And, a good reminder to help those in need. And, there are so many in need these days!
Acts 11
ReplyDeleteI love verses 11-18. Peter recounts what has happened. How exciting to testify to others what God is doing!
11 “At that moment three men arrived at the house where we were staying. They had been sent from Caesarea to find me."
Their hearts were changed!
18 They praised God by saying, “Then God has also led people who are not Jewish to turn to him so that they can change the way they think and act and have eternal life.”
I also got a chuckle out of verses 6 and 7: I looked into the sheet very closely and saw tame animals, wild animals, reptiles, and birds. I also heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter! Kill these animals, and eat them.’
Goodness, I don't think I could eat the tame ones unless it was Tommy Turkey, and I actually did try "a surprise for me" appetizer when I visited a friend from school many years ago in Houston. She asked me, "What do you think you have just eaten?" (Reptile.)
God has a wonderful sense of humor!
In vs 19-21, God's Word is spread among the Jewish and Greeks. Some believers are scattered further plus other believers arrive to share the Good News! vs 21 "The Lord’s power was with his followers, and a large number of people believed and turned to the Lord." Look what the Lord has done!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTw01vJAvTA
New church in Antioch! Barnabas is sent there. 24b "A large crowd believed in the Lord." He and Saul (Paul) stay for a year and teach. 26b "The disciples were called Christians for the first time in the city of Antioch."