Context of Peters message
Acts 10 explains the events of what makes up Peter’s Acts 11 message. The news about Cornelius travelled fast and in no time the leaders in Jerusalem wanted an explanation from Peter what was happening in Caesarea. Peter himself knew he was breaking Hebrew traditions by entering the house of Cornelius, a gentile.
It is significant that the Holy Spirit fell on the people three distinct times in the book of Acts. The first was Pentecost and not only was Peter present, but he preached the Pentecost sermon. The second was at Samaria. This time it was Peter who wanted the explanation from Philp what was happening with Samaritans being baptized. Then the Holy Spirit fell on the Samaritans and God confirmed that the gospel was for Samaritans as well as Jews.
What happened at Caesarea was the ultimate stretch for the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. This time it was gentiles receiving the gospel. It was a huge deal. Peter himself had taken a complete change on the issue based on a direct revelation from God three times with the sheet coming down from the sky. It was even reinforced with Cornelius vision corresponding to the exact time as Peter’s.
As a result of Cornelius household coming to faith the Holy Spirit fell on the gentiles the same way he did on the believing Jews on Pentecost day in Jerusalem. This Pentecost experience happened three times. It happened in Act chapter 2 with the Jews. It happened in Acts chapter 8 with the Samaritans. It happened in Acts Chapter 10 with the Gentiles.
In this message of Acts chapter 11 Peter explains how Gentiles received the Word of God at Caesarea. A large number of priests came to faith after Stephens Martyrdom. The downside of that blessing is that they call Peter to explain himself when Gentiles come to Christ.
These priests who came to faith are already prepared to impose Judaism on Gentile believers. Peter himself was reluctant to go into the house of a Gentile, but he knows that God told him to go, through a vision he received three times. Probably James and John and the other apostles had questions too about why Peter went into the home of an uncircumcised Gentile to share the gospel and baptize the household. All of this brings us to the message of Peter where he explains everything.
The Message versions says that Peter was “called on the carpet”. “What do you think you’re doing rubbing shoulders with that crowd, eating what is prohibited and ruining our good name?”
Peter’s Sermon
Acts 10:4-17 message version
4-6 So Peter, starting from the beginning, laid it out for them step-by-step: “Recently I was in the town of Joppa praying. I fell into a trance and saw a vision: Something like a huge blanket, lowered by ropes at its four corners, came down out of heaven and settled on the ground in front of me. Milling around on the blanket were farm animals, wild animals, reptiles, birds—you name it, it was there. Fascinated, I took it all in.
7-10 “Then I heard a voice: ‘Go to it, Peter—kill and eat.’ I said, ‘Oh, no, Master. I’ve never so much as tasted food that wasn’t kosher.’ The voice spoke again: ‘If God says it’s okay, it’s okay.’ This happened three times, and then the blanket was pulled back up into the sky.
11-14 “Just then three men showed up at the house where I was staying, sent from Caesarea to get me. The Spirit told me to go with them, no questions asked. So I went with them, I and six friends, to the man who had sent for me. He told us how he had seen an angel right in his own house, real as his next-door neighbor, saying, ‘Send to Joppa and get Simon, the one they call Peter. He’ll tell you something that will save your life—in fact, you and everyone you care for.’
15-17 “So I started in, talking. Before I’d spoken half a dozen sentences, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as he did on us the first time. I remembered Jesus’ words: ‘John baptized with water; you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ So I ask you: If God gave the same exact gift to them as to us when we believed in the Master Jesus Christ, how could I object to God?”
By the grace of God the Apostles and priests who were asking Peter to explain himself realized what was happening. Now they see that in context this was the plan of God from the beginning when God called Abraham to be a blessing to all the families of the earth (Genesis 12:1-3). Now they had the eyes to see. It all made sense to them, and they were praising God for what happened.
The results of the message
There was a dramatic shift as a result of Peter’s sermon. Now the persecuted believers scattered because of Stephen’s martyrdom made a significant change. Now they are preaching the gospel to the Gentiles. This happened most significantly in Antioch. Many gentiles came to faith in Christ in Antioch.
Barnabas went to Antioch to disciples these gentile believers. He brought Saul to help him. This was the persecutor who by dragging believers to prison scattered the believers from Jerusalem and now Saul who was traveling to arrest more believers had come to faith on the Damascus road and is helping Barnabas disciple the gentile believers in Christ.
Conclusion
I have stated that Peter’s Pentecost sermon in Acts Chapter 2 is the most significant sermon in the Bible, even more than the Sermon on the Mount. Maybe this sermon in Acts 11 is more significant. This time is the Holy Sprit for the Gentiles, not just the Jews.
The great commission has now unfolded. Look at Acts 1:8 and see the Lord instructing the disciples to be witnesses to Samaritans and Gentiles.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
There is still an ongoing battle between freedom in Christ and the Judiazers who think Gentiles should first become Jews. This is seen in the Jerusalem council and the first letter in the New Testament that Paul wrote, Galatians.
But despite the ongoing struggle against legalism this sermon of Peter in Acts 11 is the mark of victory for grace of the Lord Jesus. It is the beginning of the fulfillment of the gospel going to the gentiles and to the ends of the earth.
