III. Peter Preaches in Judea and is Sent to the Uncircumcised (continued) (9:31-11:18)
I. Peter's Defense for These Proceedings (11:1-18)
Even in the days of the apostles, news could travel swiftly.
v.1 Before Peter could return to Jerusalem, the news of what he had done preceded him.
v.2,3 The Jewish brethren argued with Peter concerning his intermingling with the Gentiles. It seems as though they did not object to the preaching, but only to the social contact.
v.4-6 Peter recounts exactly what had happened in 10:9-18. He will use this to convince the Jews as he had been convinced that God is no respecter of persons.
v.7-10 The vision would answer the charge of verse 3. Why is Luke repeating almost verbatim the events of chapter 10? The Jews had to be convinced that Peter acted under the direction of God, and not of his own will.
v.11-14 Peter had six witnesses to all that he said and did among the Gentiles; they could verify what had happened.
v.15 What is the "beginning" mentioned here? Who are the "us" of this verse? It had been 8 or 10 years since Pentecost, if baptism of the Holy Spirit is a common occurrence (as denominational teachers would have us to believe) then why did Peter refer to an event 8 years old? Why wasn't a more recent example of Holy Spirit baptism alluded to?
v.16 God had conferred on the Gentiles what he had earlier given to the Jews; this was an outward sign of His acceptance of the Gentiles as candidates for salvation.
v.17 Could Peter refuse those whom God had accepted? To reject the Gentiles would be to "withstand God."
Peter: 1) saw the vision, 2) heard the voice, 3) received the orders, 4) went with the men, 5) entered the house, 6) preached to the Gentiles, 7) witnessed their baptism by the Holy Spirit, 8) could not withstand God, so the Gentiles were baptized with water.
v.18 The Jewish brethren reacted as Christians should have reacted, they withdrew their charges, glorified God and agreed with what had been done. Gal. 3:28
IV. A Church Founded in Antioch and Another Persecution in Jerusalem (11:19-12:25)
A. Beginning of the work in Antioch (11:19-21)
v.19 Luke now returns to the dispersion of the church, he previously mentioned it in 8:1. The gospel was carried to Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, where it was preached only to the Jews.
v.20 Then there came to Antioch those who preached to the Gentiles. Most commentators agree with this interpretation of this verse. That is, it contrasts to verse 19.
v.21 "the hand of the Lord" Ex. 9:3; Isa. 59:1; Lk. 1:66; Acts 4:28; Acts 4:30; 13:11. A great number are converted and the church at Antioch is established.
These Gentile converts were the first wave after the conversion of Cornelius. The time period is about 41 or 42 AD
B. Barnabas sent to Antioch (vv. 22-24)
v.22 This is the third appearance of Barnabas, Acts 4:36,37; 9:27. We know he was a good man, judicious, broadminded, and generous. He was a Jew, spoke Greek and was qualified to preach to the Gentiles of Antioch.
v.23 Barnabas' mission: to encourage and exhort the new converts. He exhorted them to keep on remaining loyal to the Lord. How do we know that Barnabas was a good exhorter?
v.24 How is one added to the Lord? When you are added to the church. Notice the emphasis on the "Lord" in verse 20-24. The characteristics of Barnabas are listed.
C. Barnabas brings Saul to Antioch, (vv.25,26)
v.25 Acts 9:30 is where we left Saul. Tarsus is about 80 miles from Antioch.
v.26 They labored a year in Antioch. Notice that Barnabas is the leader and Saul is the helper. Up until this time Christians had been called believers, disciples, saints, brethren, those of the Way. Was the name Christian divinely approved or a mocking name of contempt? I Pet. 4:16
D. Barnabas and Saul are sent to Judea, (vv. 27-30)
v.27 A prophet is a forth-teller who speaks as God directs. The gift of prophecy is one of the diverse gifts of the Holy Spirit.
v.28 Agabus will appear again in Acts 21:10. The famine occurred during AD 45. "All the world" refers to the Roman Empire.
v.29 The disciples at Antioch prepared to send relief to the disciples in Judea. The giving was based on each individual's ability. I Cor. 16:2
v.30 The relief was sent to the elders, who saw to it that it was distributed properly. This is the first mention of elders in Acts.
ADDENDA- Miracles in the book of Acts
18) An angel appears to Cornelius (Acts 10:4)
19) Peter's vision of the clean and unclean together (Acts 10:9-22)
20) The Holy Spirit comes upon the Gentiles (Acts 10:46)