1. Welcome to Chapter 11

2. We are ready to enter chapter 11. In this chapter, Peter will give an explanation about the things that have happened among the Gentiles. He is obligated to explain what had happened due to the fact that they know that he went and ate in the house of Gentiles. Let’s see how Peter explained this to all…

3. Acts 11:1… Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. At this point, we know that news of what had happened at Cornelius’ house spread like wildfire across the length and breadth of Judea. It was something that all Christians were talking about. Remember, Peter is only one of the apostles. The apostles- does that mean the remaining Eleven? Maybe, and some brethren in Judea. where exactly in Judea?Jerusalem. The church had nothing to do right now with the “salvation” of the Gentiles. With the Samaritans yes, but about this they know nothing. They heard that the Gentiles had received the Word of God, that is, the gospel of Lord Jesus…

4. Acts 11:2… And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him, We don’t know how many exact days Peter spent with the new Christians at Caesarea. But, as soon as he decided to go to Jerusalem, they were literally waiting for him. Those of the circumcision. That is, Jewish brothers. They are amazed at Peter’s attitude and they contended with Him.

5. Acts 11:2… And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him, These men separated themselves from Peter in a hostile spirit, opposed, disputed, contented, or charged Peter with being at fault. The verb tense implies continues, or repeated arguments. Remember that these Christians who are challenging Peter are going through the same struggle which Peter had gone through. They have not had a vision to help change and mold their attitudes.

6. Acts 11:3 saying, "You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!" You entered the house of uncircumcised men. They are not upset because Peter instructed Cornelius and his house on how to become Christians. They are not upset because Peter baptized them. They only care about the “ceremonial law” that Peter has just “violated” according to them. You entered into the house of people that “are not circumcised” and “ate with them”. Acts 15; Rom; Gal, Heb are books written to fight these brethren…

7. Acts 11:4 But Peter explained it to them in order from the beginning, saying: Peter would give these brethren a very detailed explanation of what really happened before… He would give them the account from the beginning… that is, from Joppa. That’s the beginning. Are these brothers thinking that Peter, out of the blue, went into the house of Gentiles and was ready to eat with them? No, Peter, like them, had a real problem with that.

8. Acts 11:5 "I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me. Is this what happened? Yes, he was in Joppa when that happened. They all needed to hear that, so that at the end, they could all draw their own conclusions… (Acts 10:9)

9. Acts 11:6 "When I observed it intently and considered, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. Exactly to what we studied at the beginning. If you thought that Peter was not paying attention to the sheet, you were wrong. He was well aware of the sheet.

10. Acts 11:7 "And I heard a voice saying to me, 'Rise, Peter; kill and eat.' That voice that he resisted, the Voice that he contradicted three times. NO, I won’t eat; maybe Peter knew the consequences with the church.

11. Acts 11:8 "But I said, 'Not so, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.' I did not want to go! With this, what Peter is telling the church at Jerusalem is: I did not want to go! I explained in the open, to the voice speaking to me, that nothing unclean has entered me at any time.

12. Acts 11:9 "But the voice answered me again from heaven, 'What God has cleansed you must not call common.' Peter admits that he is arguing with the Creator about whom we shall call clean and unclean. The voice is from God. Don’t argue with him.

13. Acts 11:10 "Now this was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven. What was done three times? We already talked about this. The “Three times” was the argument between Peter and God. Get up kill and eat. No. I won’t.

14. Acts 11:11 "At that very moment, three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent to me from Caesarea. Those are Cornelius’ servants and the devout soldier who came from Caesarea.

15. Acts 11:12 "Then the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. GO with these men Peter is very accurate when he says that the Holy Spirit told him, “GO with these men” Here we learn that those six brothers, who had accompanied Peter to Caesarea, have also accompanied Peter to Jerusalem.

16. Acts 11:12 "Then the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. Can you see the purpose of these six brothers being with Peter? It was not only to witness the events with Cornelius, but to also be Peters witnesses in Jerusalem. Peter is explaining: It was not only me, we all entered the house!

17. Acts 11:13… "And he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, 'Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, he And “he”, he is talking about Cornelius. This is the topic. Cornelius is the one who saw the angel. The angel told Cornelius- send to Joppa. Bring Peter now.

18. Acts 11:14… 'who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.' Peter would explain to Cornelius how to become a Christian. The word in verse 14 that the angel said is not found in the account of the angel’s speech in Acts 10, but they are implied.

19. Welcome to Chapter 11

20. Acts 11:15… "And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. We need to see that “As upon us” is limited to the apostles and not to the whole multitude in Pentecost. This is the second incident concerning the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The church has already been established for a while and Peter does not mention any other case but this one. It is very obvious that this is the second case of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

21. Acts 11:15… "And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. But what would convert Cornelius and his house- the Holy Spirit or the words spoken by Peter? We all know the answer. Not the H.S. But the gospel of Jesus. The Holy Spirit would not contradict Himself. To Phillip He said: Get close to that chariot.

22. Acts 11:16… "Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, 'John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' Acts 1:5, 8; Acts 2:1-4. Peter is talking about that occasion. Here is where we learn for certain that what happened at Cornelius’ house was the baptism with the Holy Spirit, just as it was at Pentecost, and not some other measure of the Spirit.

23. Acts 11:17… "If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?" The “gift” is the baptism of the H.S. “Us” has reference to “the Apostles” What Peter is arguing here is that whatever happened during the Pentecost was happening at the house of this man. God is sending the exact same “promise” that he sent on Pentecost. What right did I have to oppose the manifest will of God?

24. Acts 11:17… "If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?" He was showing me that the Gentiles should be welcomed into the fellowship of believers. I was not in the position to argue with God at all and that’s the reason why I entered into the house and ate with them, because they are our brothers in Christ. Who am I? Can you see here that Peter is not the pope?

25. Acts 11:18… When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life." They were convinced as Peter had been, by the manifest indications of the will of God. They were silent, and then they started to glorify God. What were they saying?

26. Acts 11:18… When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life." Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life. Were these people really thinking that salvation was limited to them? Were they really thinking that God was the God only of the Jews? Were they really thinking that outside of the Jews, no one would be saved? Yes!

27. Acts 11:19… (a) Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. We have here, a new and important portion of the history of the church, and it begins with these words… From this point on, Acts is concerned with the efforts made to convert the Gentiles. Concerning the scattering of the church, by the persecution that followed the death of Stephen, which we already studied in chapters 8 and 9. The Gospel is being preached all around, according to the commandment that came from Lord Jesus. 1.Phillip is going to Samaria. 2.Saul to Damascus 3.Peter to Joppa and Caesarea and now we shall see the disciples going to Antioch.

28. Acts 11:19… (b) Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. How far is the gospel going according to Luke? Well, Luke mentioned real cities that exist now days but with different names: Phoenicia and Cyprus…

29. Acts 11:19… (c) Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. Cyprus is an island off the Southern coast of Asia Minor in the Mediterranean Sea. It was likely that these people, evangelizing in Cyprus, prepared the way for the work of Paul and Barnabas, Acts 13:4…

30. Acts 11:19… (d) Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. Antioch. Antioch. There were as many as five different cities with the same name in the NT world. One Antioch was located in Pisidia in Asia Minor, while the other referred to here, was located in Syria.

31. Acts 11:19… (e) Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. These men who came to Antioch were following the custom of the Apostles who, for many years, preached only to the Jews. Not everyone knew for sure what had just happened in the House of Cornelius, so they continued to visit only Jews for now…

32. Welcome to Chapter 11

33. Acts 11:20… (a) But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. “Some of Them”- The ones who were scattered abroad. These people were natives of Cyprus and Cyrene. For sure, these men who were preaching in Antioch might have been at the Pentecost in Jerusalem and now, they are taking charge concerning the preaching. Acts 2:9; 6:9; 13:1… These men spoke to the Hellenists, that is, to the Jews who spoke Greek.

34. Acts 11:20… (b) But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. What exactly are these men doing? They are “preaching The Lord Jesus”. We are commanded to teach Only Jesus. He is the foundation of our salvation so, when it come to faith, only the name of Jesus is important…

35. Acts 11:20… (c) But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. Read Acts 8:35, 36 to see what “preaching Lord Jesus” includes. They all needed to understand, in Antioch of Syria, that Jesus is Lord. To the Jews, Peter and Paul would preach that Jesus is the Messiah and to the Gentiles, that He Is Lord.

36. Acts 11:21… (a) And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. Does that mean that God blessed their work? Or does this mean that they were working miracles? The hand of the Lord was used frequently in the Old Testament, in regards to the mighty manifestation of the Power of God, on behalf of His People. We can see the same expression in (Ezekiel 1:3; 3:14, 22; 8:1).

37. Acts 11:21… (b) And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. Note again that “turning to the Lord” is something that follows “believing”. The expression denotes the conversion of the people of Antioch from heathenism to Christianity. Acts 3:19 He could just as well have said, “A large number that believed were baptized”—for in Acts 3:19 we learned that baptism is the turning point at which a man comes to Christ.

38. Acts 11:22 (a) Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. The news about, or from these new preachers reached the ears of the church that was at Jerusalem. Was the church at Jerusalem the “mother” church? Why then, were they involved in every move that the Christians made? When Phillip was preaching, they sent Peter and John- Acts 8:14… Now, they are sending Barnabas. Barnabas was naturally from what city? Cyprus. Why did they send Barnabas? Acts 4:36, 37; 9:27…

39. Acts 11:23… (a) When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. Barnabas rejoiced because of what he had seen. These preachers were doing the work. Brothers and sisters, at this point, maybe 10-15 years after the establishment of the church, only the church of Christ existed in those days and nobody else did. They did not worry about different doctrines but about those of “the circumcision” and also about the Pharisees that at this point, were losing power. Barnabas could see for himself the grace of God. That is the gift that we did not deserve. Having the opportunity to be a part of the kingdom of Christ. Having the opportunity to share heaven with God. This is the grace of God. The Sending of Jesus.

40. Acts 11:23… (b) When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. He encouraged them all… Do we need to do this now days? How much good does encouragement do to the Christian? 1 Timothy 3:2…1 Thessalonians 4:18… 1 Thessalonians 5:11… Hebrews 3:13… Hebrews 10:24, 25… Galatians 6:2. If a church does not know how to encourage its members, when the members are in trouble, sooner or later, they will depart. I need encouragement. A lot! I Am serious. We need to take care of one another. Many look at the preacher as only a rival and fighting object. Ask how he is doing, how things are going, if everything is ok, etc…

41. Acts 11:24… For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. This is the reason why Barnabas encouraged the brothers in Antioch. He was a good man. Full of The H.S and of Faith. Was Barnabas a strong Christian? He was Very strong! These are the kind of people that the church of Christ is looking for. 1.Christians willing to encourage others, 2.Christians that can set good examples. 3.Christians with a lot of love for the church. 4.Christians who really understand what it means to be a Christian.

42. Acts 11:24… For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. Others begin to come to Christ. When we practice what the Bible says, when we open our hearts to the word and set a good example, this is the normal result… Others begin to come to Christ. Matthew 5:16; John 15:8; 1 Peter 2:12. Through Barnabas, his example, devotion and faithfulness caused many to be added to the church. This must be our goal. The church was growing because every member in the beginning was very responsible for their own work. They were all preaching and helping others. Calgary, We need to grow more and more. Let’s not be happy and satisfied with the number that we have.

43. Welcome to Chapter 11

44. Acts 11:25… Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. For now, the mission is done. Barnabas left the church and the church was very strong at that point. He now needed to move on. Remember what Lord Jesus said: “Unto the End of The World”… This is just the beginning. Barnabas left Antioch and was ready to move on to the city of Tarsus, looking for Paul.

45. Acts 11:26… (a) And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. “That for a whole year”. Antioch was an exceedingly important city in numbers, wealth, and influence. It was probably for this reason that they spent so long a time there instead of travelling to other places. The attention of the apostles, in the beginning, was directed to cities. Cities were places of influence and centers of power.

46. Acts 11:26… (b) And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. Later, Luke says that Paul spent three years in Ephesus (Acts 20:31). And, he continued a year and a half at Corinth( Acts 18:11). It may be added, that the first churches were founded in cities; and the most remarkable success attended the preaching of the gospel in large towns.

47. Acts 11:26… (c) And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. Up to this point, believers of Christ had been designated as: “believers”, “saints”, “Disciples”, “Brethren”, “those of the way”, They first were called They first were called: By whom? God or the enemies? Many say that we should not call ourselves “Christian” because this “term” was given to Christ’s followers by his enemies and it is degrading! Is in Antioch that they are called Christians for the first time… Did you know that?

48. Acts 11:26… (d) And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. call divinely called Let me explain something. The Greek word— chrematizo (call) is almost always used in the New Testament to mean “divinely called” Was the name given by the enemies of Jesus? Well, let me say that Galileans, Nazarenes, etc, were names given by enemies to put down the origin- either of Jesus or His disciples but, Christian is and was not given in that sense. The name Christian means honor, because we follow Christ… Acts 11:26; 1 Peter 4:16.

49. Acts 11:27… And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. Prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch… What kind of prophets are these? Let’s all understand that prophets were inspired men, ready to foretell the message from God.

50. Acts 11:28… (a) Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. Among the prophets there is this one called Agabus. He has been mentioned already in the New Testament prophesying for Paul. Agabus is telling the church that there would be a great famine throughout all the world… A famine is a shortage of food, This happened in all the world, that is, the inhabited world at that time- The Roman Empire.

51. Acts 11:28… (a) Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. Luke said that the prophecy was very true because that great famine happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. When was that then? Let’s notice that this is an added note from Luke, long after it happened, that the predicted thing came to pass. Luke is writing his history after the event had occurred, and it was natural to give passing notice to its fulfillment. Claudius was the Roman Emperor from 41-50 AD. So, we can see that it has already been a few years since the first church was established in Jerusalem.

52. Acts 11:29… Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. That is the Christians, the members of the church of Christ in Antioch. Notice that the Christians in Antioch “each”, that is, the whole church. Not only a few helped, but all… They all helped… How? According to their abilities… 1 Corinthians 16:1, 2… 2 Corinthians 8:12… What and who is the help for? Unbelievers? NO. For the needy saints in Judea. Judea has been hit hard and the help is going to the brethren from Antioch to those in Judea.

53. Acts 11:30… This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. This help was given to the brothers who lived in Judea, and was sent to the “elders”. We are going to talk more about the “elders” in every church, later in the book. Who took the help? Paul and Barnabas. With this trip that Paul took, the one back to Jerusalem, we are getting ready to see all of the trips of Paul in which he would establish many churches that you and I know, now days…

55. Acts 12:1… Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. What Time is Luke talking About? Herod Agrippa I is the man Luke is writing about. He appeared only here in chapter 12 in the pages of the New Testament. This Herod was born around 10 BC he was the son of Aristobulus and Bernice and thus he was the grandson of Herod the Great.

56. Acts 12:1… Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. The King stretched out his hand, this equal to mistreat or harass some from the church… We can see the same word being use in Acts 4:3; 5:18… Who is instigating this persecution? Remembers the apostles are not popular with the Pharisees and Sadducees… Notice also that the church is “not” in prophecy any more but it is already a reality

57. Acts 12:2… Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. James, who was this? Murder…One of the person killed was James, the brother of John, one of the leading apostles of the Lord Matthew 10:2. Jesus had told James he would suffer martyrdom Matthew 20:23. James was John brother and very important always when Jesus was doing miracles among people.

58. Acts 12:2… Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. Jesus called James to be one of His followers. Matthew 4:21… He was with Jesus in His Transfiguration and James in there: Matthew 17:5. When he bring to life Jairus daughter Jesus Permitted no one to go in except James, John and Peter. Luke 8:51… He was killed by sword the idea is that he was beheaded by Herod that the idea of die by sword.

59. Acts 12:3… And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. I think that Herod knew who the leaders of the church were; the persecution of the apostles pleased the Jews… I don’t think that the church is in the position to lose two of the most influential apostles in one day. According to Herod peter is next, his plan is to have Peter also executed…But the question is why? What is the crime? Who have they killed? What is the horrible violation that they have trespass?

60. Acts 12:3… And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. All this happened in the days of the Unleavened bread that is it was the Passover feats. Why is Herod killing one and arresting the other one during this time? Maybe he's trying to gain popularity among them by showing them that he is willing to kill anyone who is not willing to observe the law, Maybe by this he’s showing them he's “zeal for the law”.

61. Acts 12:4… So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. After he was arrested, Peter was imprisoned, because during the time of the feats, it would have been deemed as improper to have taken time for a trial and execution of a supposed criminal Peter is heavily guarded, why? According to Luke he is being guarded by 16 soldiers that four squad of soldiers to keep him…

62. Acts 12:4… So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. The plan is to kill Peter after the Passover. Herod was looking this time for a more “public execution” he really wanted to please the people. Probably Peter will face the same judgment and trial that Lord Jesus faced a fake trial and then put him to death.

63. Acts 12:5… Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. Things do not always work out the way men plan, especially when God is not included in the plans. Herod intended to execute Peter as soon the Passover week was ended. Instead his own dead was nearer than that of Peter’s. Peter was kept in prison, and the days of the week passed, until the last night of the Passover week…

64. Acts 12:5… Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. Brothers and Sisters, how important is prayer? Do we value the effectiveness of prayer? Do we recognized the value of the “sincere prayer”? Who was praying For Peter while he was in jail? The church! The church was busy praying for Peter, does it help? 2 Corinthians 11:1… Ephesians 6:18… 1 Thessalonians 5:17… Ephesians 1:16… Philippians 1:4… James 5:13…