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The Early Church · New Testament

Acts 11

Acts 11: Peter explains himself at Jerusalem and the church at Antioch

General context

News reaches the apostles and brethren in Judea that the Gentiles have received the word of God, and when Peter comes to Jerusalem those of the circumcision contend with him, saying he went in to men uncircumcised and ate with them. Peter rehearses the matter from the beginning in his own words: the trance at Joppa, the sheet, the voice telling him to slay and eat, his refusal, the answer that what God has cleansed he must not call common, the three repetitions, the arrival of three men, the Spirit's instruction, the six brethren who went with him, the angel's message to the man at Cesarea, and the Holy Ghost falling on them as on the apostles at the beginning. He recalls a word of the Lord about baptism with water and with the Holy Ghost and asks what he was that he could withstand God. His hearers hold their peace and glorify God. The narrator then turns to those scattered by the persecution that arose about Stephen, who travel as far as Phenice, Cyprus and Antioch, preaching at first to Jews only, until men of Cyprus and Cyrene speak to the Grecians at Antioch and many believe. Jerusalem sends Barnabas, who is glad and exhorts them, and who is called a good man, full of the Holy Ghost and of faith. He goes to Tarsus to seek Saul and brings him to Antioch, where for a whole year they teach, and where the disciples are first called Christians. Agabus foretells a great dearth, and the disciples send relief to Judea by Barnabas and Saul.

Cited passages: Acts 11:1, Acts 11:2, Acts 11:3, Acts 11:4, Acts 11:5, Acts 11:7, Acts 11:8, Acts 11:9, Acts 11:10, Acts 11:11, Acts 11:12, Acts 11:13, Acts 11:15, Acts 11:16, Acts 11:17, Acts 11:18, Acts 11:19, Acts 11:20, Acts 11:21, Acts 11:22, Acts 11:23, Acts 11:24, Acts 11:25, Acts 11:26, Acts 11:27, Acts 11:28, Acts 11:29, Acts 11:30

Acts 11 (KJV)

1And the apostles and brethren that were in Judæa heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.

2And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,

3Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.

4But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,

5I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:

6Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

7And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.

8But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.

9But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

10And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.

11And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Cæsarea unto me.

12And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house:

13And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;

14Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.

15And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.

16Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.

17Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?

18When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

19Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.

20And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.

21And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.

22Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.

23Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

24For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

25Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:

26And 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 first in Antioch.

27And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.

28And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Cæsar.

29Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judæa:

30Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

This page shows the King James Version. In the app, reading opens in the Berean Standard Bible unless you have chosen another translation. The reader includes five translations: the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), the King James Version (KJV), the World English Bible (WEB), the Bible in Basic English (BBE), and the American Standard Version (ASV). Search covers three of them: Berean Standard, King James, and World English. Basic English and American Standard readers search the King James words.

Historical context

Peter's retelling adds a figure the earlier account does not give, saying these six brethren accompanied me, where 10:23 says only that certain brethren from Joppa went with him. The saying he remembers is introduced as the word of the Lord and printed as John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost, without naming where it was said. The narrator states that the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch but does not say who gave the name. The single time marker in the chapter belongs to the text itself, which says the foretold dearth came to pass in the days of Claudius Cesar. Agabus is named as one of the prophets who came from Jerusalem. The Barnabas sent to Antioch is the man introduced at 4:36 and the one who spoke for Saul at 9:27, and this chapter names no other Barnabas.

Cited passages: Acts 11:12, Acts 10:23, Acts 11:16, Acts 11:26, Acts 11:28, Acts 11:27, Acts 4:36, Acts 9:27

Literary context

The first half replays the previous chapter in Peter's own voice, in first person and by order, and the words What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common stand again at 11:9 exactly as at 10:15. The complaint at 11:3 is met with narration rather than argument, and the answer to it is silence followed by praise at 11:18. The second half reaches back further, naming the persecution that arose about Stephen and picking up the scattering reported at 8:4, then moves the account's center from Jerusalem to Antioch. Barnabas appears twice in the same pattern he showed at 9:27, first vouching for a work and then fetching Saul. The chapter ends with relief moving in the opposite direction from the news, from Antioch back to the elders in Judea.

Cited passages: Acts 11:4, Acts 11:9, Acts 10:15, Acts 11:3, Acts 11:18, Acts 11:19, Acts 8:4, Acts 11:25, Acts 9:27, Acts 11:29, Acts 11:30

Key moments

  1. Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised (Acts 11:3). Those of the circumcision at Jerusalem confront Peter about entering and eating with Gentiles.
  2. Peter tells it by order (Acts 11:4). Peter answers by rehearsing the whole matter from the beginning.
  3. What was I (Acts 11:17). Peter asks how he could have withstood God after seeing the same gift given.
  4. They hold their peace (Acts 11:18). The hearers stop objecting and say God has granted repentance to the Gentiles.
  5. Preaching to the Grecians (Acts 11:20). Men of Cyprus and Cyrene at Antioch speak to the Grecians about the Lord Jesus.
  6. Barnabas seeks Saul (Acts 11:25). Barnabas leaves Antioch for Tarsus to look for Saul.
  7. Called Christians at Antioch (Acts 11:26). After a year of teaching, the disciples are called Christians first in Antioch.

For reflection

The objection raised against Peter is about eating with uncircumcised men, and his answer never addresses the meal directly. What does the text show about why his account satisfied the people who raised it?

People in this chapter

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