“…who was I, to think that I could oppose God?” (Acts 11:17)

Peter Continues Jesus’ work  Aeneas  Allusion to Luke 5:24  Similar result: everyone responds!  Dorcas (Tabitha)  One who does good and helps the poor  Allusion to Mark 5:41, Luke 8:54  Contrasting result: “This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.”

God Does a New Thing!  Cornelius  A God-fearing soldier in Caesarea  Confronted by angel  Peter  A fisherman and witness in Joppa  An unsettling vision; “Get up & eat!”  An unsettling visit; “Get up and go…”

God Does a New Thing! (part 2)  The meeting  A misdirected act of submission to Peter  A commitment to listen—in God’s presence!  The sermon  The recognition of God’s impartiality  The retelling of the life, death, resurrection of Jesus  The response– “We are witnesses!”

God Does a New Thing! (part 3)  God’s Spirit is given!  The Pentecost of the Gentiles!  “Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water?” (see Acts 8:36)  Peter stays with them a few days  Peter defends his actions in Jerusalem  Circumcised believers criticized him: “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate…”  He recalls Jesus’ words: “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16, Acts 1:5)  “Who was I to think that I could oppose God?” (see Gamaliel’s advice in Acts 8:39)

The Church at Antioch  Men from Cyprus and Cyrene begin to speak to Greeks  Barnabas is dispatched; he encourages them  Barnabas finds Saul and brings him back  Agabus prophesies famine  Antioch takes a collection for the Jerusalem church  Barnabas and Saul return with the gift