#BibleStudy. Expressions of Faith. Acts Ch 11. Even to Gentiles

¹⁵ “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. ¹⁶ Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ ¹⁷ So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?” ¹⁸ When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

Acts 11:15-18

Chapter 11:1-3 sets the scene for today’s Scripture.

• Peter is back in Jerusalem meeting with circumcised believers/Jewish converts.
• These converted Jews are unhappy with his actions in Caesarea.

The next eleven verses recap most of Chapter 10 as Peter gives the rationale for his actions.

• Verse 15 had to shock Peter’s audience.
• Verses 16 -17 provide insight into Peter’s thought process.

First, he quotes Jesus regarding the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Second, he admits he’s had a change in his thinking.

Verse 18 reveals how the Holy Spirit worked in the hearts of Jewish Christians.

They 

• now have no objection to Peter’s interactions with Gentiles.
• praise God.
• come to a profound conclusion in v18.

“So then, even to Gentiles 

God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

From time to time you hear something that goes against your Spiritual grain, and you refuse to listen to any explanation.

• Sometimes that’s a good thing.
• Too often, your closed-minded attitude reduces the chance of reconciliation or compromise.

This could have been the case as Peter explained.

He admits 

1. changing his mind about Jewish dietary rules.
2. entering a Gentile home.

Either of those statements could have ended this scene with an opposite outcome than what occurred.

Instead, the outcome was the acceptance of Gentile converts to Christianity.

The next time you are rubbed the wrong way, do what the Jewish Christians did.

Listen to the 

1. explanation.
2. whole explanation.

Then, follow God’s direction in your response.

 

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