Overcoming Exclusivity (Acts 11)

Were Old Testament laws of exclusivity based upon ethnicity or avoiding pagan practices like idolatry and child sacrifice? Should we therefore exclude people of different ethnicities from the church who have the same faith in Christ? Let’s look at Acts 11.

Did the Jerusalem church question why Peter had fellowshipped with non-Jews, Gentiles?

The apostles and the brothers and sisters throughout Judea heard that even the Gentiles had welcomed God’s word. When Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him. They accused him, “You went into the home of the uncircumcised and ate with them!” (Acts 11:1-3 CEB)

How did Peter explain his actions to the Jewish converts in Jerusalem?

Then Peter told them exactly what had happened: I was in the town of Joppa and was praying when I fell sound asleep and had a vision. I saw heaven open, and something like a huge sheet held by its four corners came down to me. When I looked in it, I saw animals, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds. I heard a voice saying to me, “Peter, get up! Kill these and eat them.” But I said, “Lord, I can't do that! I've never taken a bite of anything that is unclean and not fit to eat.” The voice from heaven spoke to me again, “When God says that something can be used for food, don't say it isn't fit to eat.” This happened three times before it was all taken back into heaven. Suddenly three men from Caesarea stood in front of the house where I was staying. The Holy Spirit told me to go with them and not to worry. Then six of the Lord's followers went with me to the home of a man who told us that an angel had appeared to him. The angel had ordered him to send to Joppa for someone named Simon Peter. Then Peter would tell him how he and everyone in his house could be saved. After I started speaking, the Holy Spirit was given to them, just as the Spirit had been given to us at the beginning. I remembered that the Lord had said, “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” God gave those Gentiles the same gift that he gave us when we put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. So how could I have gone against God? (Acts 11:4-17 CEV)

How did the church at Jerusalem react to Peter’s news of the inclusion of Gentiles?

When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.” (Acts 11:18 ESV)

How far had scattered brethren traveled to escape persecution? Was the Gospel at first only shared with Jews?

Those who had been scattered as a result of the persecution that started because of Stephen made their way as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message to no one except Jews. But there were some of them, Cypriot and Cyrenian men, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Hellenists [either Greeks or Greek-speaking Jews], proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. (Acts 11:19-21 HCSB)

How did the ministry of Barnabas begin? How fruitful was his ministry?

When the church in Jerusalem heard this news, they sent Barnabas all the way to Antioch. When he arrived, he rejoiced to see what the grace of God had done, and with hearty determination he kept encouraging all of them to remain faithful to the Lord, because he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith. And so a large number of people was brought to the Lord. (Acts 11:22-24 ISV)

How did Barnabas and Saul begin working together? How did the name Christian begin?

Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians [Christianos] first in Antioch. (Acts 11:25-26 KJV)

What place did prophecy have in the early church and what is an example?

Now in those days, some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabus stood up and indicated by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius. And as any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the service of the brothers living in Judea. And this they did, sending it in charge of Barnabas and Saul to the elders. (Acts 11:27-30 LSB)