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Acts 11

Thursday Evening Bible Study

December 5, 2013

Introduction

Do people see Jesus? Is the gospel preached? Does it speak to the broken hearted? Does it build up the church? Milk – Meat – Manna Preach for a decision Is the church loved? Target 4400 words

On the day of Pentecost, the church was born. It began with the Holy Spirit filling the believers. As the apostles preached about Jesus, the church began to grow.

By chapter seven, the church was beginning to experience persecution. Stephen was the first one to die for his faith. With the persecution, the church began to scatter, and the message of the gospel actually increased as more people heard about Jesus.

One of the main men behind the persecution was a man named Saul. But when Saul headed for the city of Damascus to pursue the Christians there, he was knocked off his horse by a bright light and he met Jesus. We will see Saul in a few weeks using a new name, Paul.

In the last chapter, a new chapter was beginning in the history of the church.

God had been at work in a Roman Centurion named Cornelius. Cornelius had a vision, and God nudged Peter out of his comfort zone and sent Peter to Caesarea where he preached to Cornelius.

11:1-18 Peter defends his actions

:1 Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.

:2 And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him,

:3 saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!”

:2 the circumcision contended with him

The “circumcision” refers to the Jews.

Up until Acts 10, the early church was made up entirely of Jewish believers. No one would have ever thought that a Gentile could be saved.

Just like all the Jews, the church was still under the impression that Gentiles were good for nothing but the fuel for the fires of hell.

It was totally unthinkable that a Gentile could be part of God’s kingdom.

:4 But Peter explained it to them in order from the beginning, saying:

:4 Peter explained it to them

Peter is going to retell the story of what happened in Acts 10.

Lesson

Lone Rangers

Illustration

As the Lone Ranger and Tonto were riding along towards the north, they spotted a war party of about 50 Apaches coming at them. They turned south, but another war party appeared. They turned east and met another war party of braves. They turned west as their last remaining hope and saw another party of warriors. The Lone Ranger turned to his friend and said, “Well, faithful friend, this is the end, there’s not much we can do.” Tonto looked back at the Lone Ranger. “What you mean WE, white man?”

That’s the problem of being a “Lone Ranger”, you might find yourself at times with no one to protect you.

Sometimes believers can fall into the trap of thinking that they’re like the “Lone Ranger”, out to do God’s work all by themselves. They might do their own particular ministry basically on their own. They make decisions about things, even ideas about doctrine and what the Bible is all about – all on their own.

Don’t get me wrong – there are going to be times when you need to do what you believe is right even if nobody else agrees.

But there is value in hearing what the “church” has to say about your ideas. It’s the value of the “multitude of counselors”.

We are a “pastor-led-church”. Our church government is set up with the idea that the Senior Pastor is the one directing the church. Yet I have found over the years how important it is to discuss difficult issues and ideas with others. I talk things over with my wife. I talk things over with my assistant pastors. I will call older more experienced pastors. Our board of elders is gives me wisdom, advice, and feedback.

What you see at work here is the church coming to these conclusions together. It isn’t just the grand Pope Peter making the glorious declaration that Gentiles can get saved. The church adds its input. Peter has to even “defend” himself.

: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.

: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.

:6 creeping things – herpeton – reptile; used chiefly of snakes

Play Indiana Jones Doom Dinner clip

:7 And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’

:8 But I said, ‘Not so, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.’

:9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’

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

:11 At that very moment, three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent to me from Caesarea.

:11 sent to me from Caesarea

Play Joppa & Caesarea map clip

Peter had been in Joppa, and then went north to Caesarea to speak to Cornelius.

: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.

:12 these six brethren accompanied me

Peter has brought his friends with him to testify what had happened.

: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,

:14 who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.’

:14 will be saved – sozo – to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction; to save in the technical biblical sense

:15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning.

:15 the Holy Spirit fell upon them

Peter is recalling the day of Pentecost, the “beginning” of the church.

: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.’

:16 John indeed baptized with water …

I like hearing how Peter’s mind was working. He remembered something Jesus had said …

John the Baptist was the first to talk of this before the beginning of the ministry of Jesus:

(Mt 3:11 NKJV) I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

After the resurrection, before Pentecost, Jesus reminded His disciples:

(Ac 1:5 NKJV) for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

baptized – baptizo – to immerse, to submerge (of vessels sunk)

Water baptism is the immersion of a person into water.

Spirit baptism is the immersion of a person into the Holy Spirit.

: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?”

:17 God gave them the same gift

same – isos – equal in quality, rank, or measure.

Peter realized that the Gentiles had received just as much of an outpouring of the Holy Spirit as the Jews had.

Peter is talking about the gift of the Holy Spirit, the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

(Ac 2:38 NKJV) Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

This was why Peter urged the other brothers to go ahead and baptize these believers in water since God had already baptized them in the Spirit. (Acts 10:44-48)

(Ac 10:44–48 NKJV) —44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, 47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

:17 who was I that I could withstand God?

withstand – koluo – to hinder, prevent, forbid

Lesson

Withstand or yield

It seems that sometimes we have trouble with the way God might lead us at times. What if God wanted to do a new thing?

(Is 43:19 NKJV) Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.

If God had terrible plans, I could see why we would withstand Him, but that’s not the case –

(Je 29:11 NKJV) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Isaiah wrote,

(Is 45:9 NLT) “What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator. Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, ‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’ Does the pot exclaim, ‘How clumsy can you be?’

As the Master Potter He has plans and designs as He begins to mold and shape your life. That plan can only be discovered by yielding to His touch. The minute you seek to withstand Him, the vessel He is seeking to make is marred in the hands of the Potter.

Illustration

The Teacup

An American couple went to England to celebrate their 25^th wedding anniversary. Both the man and the wife were connoisseurs and fanciers of pottery, antiques, and china. When they came to Sussex they went into a Little China shop. Their eyes singled out a beautiful little tea cup on the top shelf. The man said, “Can I see that, that’s the most beautiful tea cup I’ve ever seen.” And as he was holding the tea cup, the tea cup begins to speak.

It said, “You don’t understand, I haven’t always been a tea cup. There was a time when I was just red clay. My master took me and he rolled me and he patted me over and over and over. I yelled out “Let me alone” but he only smiled and said, “Not yet”. And then I was placed on a spinning wheel, suddenly I was spun around and around and around. “Stop it I’m getting dizzy,” I said. The master only nodded and said “Not yet” Then he put me in an oven, I’d never felt such heat. I wondered why he wanted to burn me and I yelled and I knocked on the door and I could see him through the opening and I could read his lips. As he nodded his head he said “not yet.” Finally the door did open “whew”, and he put me on a shelf and I began to cool. “That’s better” I said. And then suddenly he grabbed me and he brushed me and he began to paint me all over. I thought I would suffocate, I thought I would gag, the fumes were horrible. And he just smiled and said, “Not yet”. And then suddenly he put me back into an oven, not the first one but one twice as hot, and I knew that I was going to suffocate. And I begged and I screamed and I yelled, and all the time I could see him through the opening, smiling and nodding his head, “not yet, not yet. And then I knew that there was no hope, I knew that I wouldn’t make it. I was just ready to give up when the door opened and he took me out and he put me on a shelf .Then an hour later he came back and he handed me a mirror and he said “Look at yourself”. And I did. And I said, “That can’t be me, I’m beautiful!” “I want you to remember,” he then said, “I know that it hurt to be rolled and to be patted but if I would have left you, you would have dried out. And I know that it made you dizzy to spin you around and around on a spinning wheel but if I had stopped you would have crumbled. And I know that it hurt and it was hot and disagreeable in the oven but if I hadn’t put you there you would have cracked. And I know that the fumes were oh so bad when I brushed you and when I painted you all over, but you see, if I hadn’t done that you wouldn’t have hardened and there would have been no color in your life. And if I hadn’t put you in that second oven you wouldn’t have survived for very long. The hardness would not have held. But now you are a finished product. You are what I had in mind when I first began with you.”

: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.”

:18 God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life

The Jewish church in Jerusalem has come to the conclusion that Gentiles are now genuinely getting saved. It will be a few years later for some of the implications of this to be worked out. Questions will arise over whether these Gentiles will now need to become circumcised and be law-abiding Jews as well as believers. That question will be dealt with when we get to chapter 15.

Lesson

Can they be saved?

That was the issue that the early church wrestled with, in particular with the Gentiles.

Remember the yucky "unclean foods" from Indiana Jones? Are there people that kind of "creep you out"? Are there people you might think of as "unclean"?

Drug dealers?

Prostitutes?

Murderers?

Pedophiles?

Are there people that you know of whom you have thought, “they could never be saved…”?

Sometimes it’s not the “ugly” people, but the “beautiful” people who don’t seem to need God…

Illustration

Kirsten Powers is a journalist who contributes to USA Today, Newsweek, and is a Democratic commentator for Fox News. She writes,

Just seven years ago, if someone had told me that I'd be writing for Christianity Today magazine about how I came to believe in God, I would have laughed out loud. If there was one thing in which I was completely secure, it was that I would never adhere to any religion—especially to evangelical Christianity, which I held in particular contempt.

I grew up in the Episcopal Church in Alaska, but my belief was superficial and flimsy. It was borrowed from my archaeologist father, who was so brilliant he taught himself to speak and read Russian. When I encountered doubt, I would fall back on the fact that he believed.

Leaning on my father's faith got me through high school. But by college it wasn't enough, especially because as I grew older he began to confide in me his own doubts. What little faith I had couldn't withstand this revelation. From my early 20s on, I would waver between atheism and agnosticism, never coming close to considering that God could be real.

After college I worked as an appointee in the Clinton administration from 1992 to 1998. The White House surrounded me with intellectual people who, if they had any deep faith in God, never expressed it. Later, when I moved to New York, where I worked in Democratic politics, my world became aggressively secular. Everyone I knew was politically left-leaning, and my group of friends was overwhelmingly atheist.

I sometimes hear Christians talk about how terrible life must be for atheists. But our lives were not terrible. Life actually seemed pretty wonderful, filled with opportunity and good conversation and privilege. I know now that it was not as wonderful as it could have been. But you don't know what you don't know. How could I have missed something I didn't think existed?

Kirsten might have been thought of by many as the last person to become a Christian, but she did. She was invited to a church where she began to hear rational answers to her questions. Eventually she had an encounter with God, and now she’s a believer.

11:19-26 Barnabas goes to Antioch

:19 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.

:19 scattered after the persecution

(Ac 8:1 NKJV) Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Now we see some of those believers moving as far north as Antioch. Don’t forget that Saul was the one behind the persecution that caused the church to scatter.

:19 Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch

See Tyre to Antioch map clip

The capital of Phoenicia was Tyre. Cyprus is the big island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Antioch is far to the north in what is now Turkey.

:19 to no one but the Jews only

Initially the gospel is only preached to Jews. These Jewish believers still had the mindset that God only saved Jews.

:20 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.

:20 men from Cyprus and Cyrene

Play Cyprus and Cyrene map clip

Cyprus is the large island, not too far from Antioch (100 miles)

Cyrene is a city in North Africa, in modern Libya, 850 miles from Antioch.

On the day of Pentecost, there were Jews from Cyrene who heard the gospel being preached by Peter when the Holy Spirit had fallen on the church.

(Ac 2:10 NKJV) Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,

Note that some of the preachers were “proselytes”, meaning they were Gentiles who had converted to Judaism.

And now some of these believers have travelled to Antioch to preach the gospel.

:20 come to Antioch

Antioch was a city in ancient Syria (today the city is in modern Turkey, close to Syria).

The city is 300 miles north of Jerusalem. It was the third largest city in the empire, with a population of about 500,000. Antioch was one of the cosmopolitan centers of the world of that day and a center of commerce. It would eventually replace Jerusalem as the center of Christianity through its missionary activity.

Ancient church historians (Jerome, Eusebius) have told us that Luke, the writer of Acts, came from Antioch as well, and perhaps it’s here that he is first introduced to the Lord and raised up as a Christian.

:20 spoke to the Hellenists

Hellenists – Hellenistes – a Hellenist; one who imitates the manners and customs or the worship of the Greeks, and use the Greek tongue; used in the NT of Jews born in foreign lands and speaking Greek

Typically we see the term “Hellenists” to refer to Jews who had adopted the Greek culture over the Jewish culture, and these were usually Jews living outside of the land of Israel.

Yet it seems that Luke is contrasting the “Hellenists” here with verse 19, where they preached “to no one but the Jews only”.

I think the gospel was being preached to the Gentiles. Remember that some of the preachers were “proselytes”.

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

:21 the hand of the Lord was with them

The phrase “the hand of the Lord” is a mostly Old Testament kind of phrase, appearing 38 times in the Bible, but 34 of those times in the Old Testament (the other four times by Luke). In looking at the usage in the Old Testament, it seems to be a reference to how God displays His power. It’s interesting to see how Luke is pairing this Old Testament, Jewish phrase, with the work of God upon a Gentile church.

:22 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.

:22 Barnabas

His name was originally Joses, but the apostles had nicknamed him “Barnabas”, or, “son of encouragement”.

This is the third time we’ve met Barnabas.

The first time was back in the days after Pentecost when he was one of the believers who gave from their possessions to support the church.

(Ac 4:36–37 NKJV) —36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Note where Barnabas was from. He was from Cyprus, one of the places where the first evangelists were from who had reached Antioch. Perhaps the apostles think that Barnabas might be a logical person to send because of this connection.

The second time was when he took Saul aside and found out that he had truly been converted, and then helped convince the apostles that God had saved Saul and that he was one of them.

(Ac 9:26–27 NKJV) —26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

Perhaps Barnabas had a knack for telling whether a person’s conversion was genuine or not. He is sent to help these new believers in Antioch.

:23 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.

:23 had seen the grace of God

Beautiful phrase

Can you “see” the grace of God?

:23 encouraged them all

Remember, his nickname (Barnabas) means “son of encouragement”.

He’s doing his thing.

:23 purpose of heart … continue

purpose – prothesis – a setting forth of a thing; a purpose

It comes from a verb meaning to place before, to expose to view; to set before one’s self, propose to one’s self

Barnabas is encouraging the people to propose to themselves the purpose of “continuing” with the Lord.

He’s asking them to make a determined choice to follow God.

:23 continue – prosmeno – to remain with, to continue with one

Lesson

Encourage to Continue

The writer to the Hebrews was concerned about his readers quitting and giving up. Throughout the book he is encouraging them (like a Barnabas) to keep going.

(Heb 3:12–14 NKJV) —12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,

The problem is that sometimes we don’t exactly encourage each other …

Illustration

A wealthy businessman hosted a spectacular party in which he had filled his swimming pool with sharks, barracuda, and other assorted dangerous fish. He announced to his guests that he would like to challenge any of them to try swimming across the pool, and he would offer a first prize of either a new home in the mountains, a trip around the world for two, or a piece of his business. No sooner had he made the announcement than there was a splash and a man swam rapidly across the infested waters and bounded up out on the other side. The millionaire said to the dripping man, “That was a stunning performance. What prize do you want?” He answered tersely, “Right now I really don’t care about the prize. I just want to get the name of the turkey who pushed me in.”

Encourage. Don’t push.

The difference between an eastern and western shepherd. Western shepherds “drive” or push their flocks. The shepherds in the middle east “lead” their flocks. They develop a relationship with them, they name the sheep, the sheep follow.

Our encouragement is to continue – keep going.

Illustration

Norwegian wharf rats

I remember hearing about tests done with laboratory wharf rats. These are the rats that live under the piers along the waterfront. One group of rats was placed in a large container of water, in the dark, with no place to stand on, they had to keep swimming. They all drowned within fifteen minutes. The second group was placed in a similar container, yet every ten minutes the lab technician would open the container, take the rats out, stroke them a few seconds, and put them back in the water. They didn't have time to rest, they just got a little encouragement. These rats went on swimming for over 12 hours (or something like that...).

: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.

:24 a great many people were added to the Lord

Evangelism continues. The church grows.

:25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul.

:25 Tarsus

Play Antioch to Tarsus map clip

Tarsus is 85 miles (as the crow flies) west of Antioch.

:26 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.

:26 he brought him to Antioch

Apparently Barnabas felt he needed some help. He didn’t think he could do this work by himself. It’s been about five years since Barnabas has seen Saul. Saul has been a believer about 9 years.

After Saul was converted on the road to Damascus (Acts 9), he went to Arabia for three years (Gal. 1:17), then back to Damascus. After stirring up some trouble, he fled from Damascus and came to Jerusalem briefly (Gal. 1:18) before being sent back home to Tarsus (Acts 9:30). He’s now been in Tarsus for about 4-5 years, preaching in the regions of Syria and Cilicia (Gal. 1:21).

Isn’t it ironic that the man behind the persecution that led to the church being scattered, is now part of the team that is building up those new believers?

Lesson

Raise up the next generation

We often talk about the pair of “Paul and Barnabas”, but in reality, Paul was the younger believer. In fact, when they were ministering to the pagans in Lystra, they were mistaken for gods, and called Zeus and Hermes (Acts 14:12), Zeus being the head of the gods, and Hermes simply his messenger. Barnabas was the one they were calling Zeus.

What we see here is the older, mature believer going out and pulling in the younger brother to help him with the work.

I think we all need to be working to replace ourselves. Train up the next generation to take over when we get too old!

Illustration

A young boy complained to his father that most of the church hymns were boring and old-fashioned, with tiresome words that meant little to his generation. His father challenged him with these words: “If you think you can write better hymns, why don’t you?” The boy accepted the challenge, went to his room, and wrote his first song. He would write 350 hymns in his lifetime. The year was 1690, and the young man was Isaac Watts. Among his hymns are “Joy to the World,” “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” and many other classics.

It is because of Barnabas that Saul (Paul) will go on to be the apostle that spreads the gospel like no other and goes on to write much of the New Testament.

:26 Christians – Christianos – Christian, a follower of Christ

Though the word “Christ” is a Greek term, the “-ianos” is a Latin type of ending, used in other similar ways (“Herodians”, followers of Herod).

This name wouldn’t be coming from the unbelieving Jews. They would use the name “Christ” (Messiah) differently because they did not consider Jesus the “Messiah”.

It seems that this is a name given to the disciples by Gentiles as a way to differentiate the believers from a regular Jew.

Some think the term started off as a name to ridicule the believers, but eventually the church decided to keep it.

11:27-30 Famine Relief

:27 And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch.

:28 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.

:28 Agabus – “locust”

Church tradition has it that Agabus was one of the “seventy” disciples that Jesus sent out in Luke 10.

We’ll see Agabus again, many years later in Caesarea, when Paul is on his last trip to Jerusalem (Acts 21:10-15)

:28 there was going to be a great famine

Josephus records a famine occurring in 46 AD.

:29 Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.

:29 determined to send relief

This reminds of the story of Joseph where God warns the world through Pharaoh’s dream about the coming famine. God used Joseph to prepare the world for the famine ahead. Now God is using the church to prepare people for the coming famine.

Some years later, Paul would take up another offering for the church in Jerusalem (Acts 24:17), an offering he would receive from the Gentiles churches (1Cor.16; 2Cor. 8-9)

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

:30 sent it to the elders

The church in Antioch felt compelled to help out the people in Judea, so they took up a collection and sent it south with Barnabas and Saul.

We see the church involved in “relief” work long before there was a Red Cross, Salvation Army, or Samaritan’s Purse.

If you follow the chronology of the events, it appears that the church sent money at least three years BEFORE the famine. (Herod dies in 44AD - Acts 12:23; famine comes in 46AD)

Barnabas and Saul are going to spend some time in Jerusalem while some interesting things take place.