Acts Lesson Twenty-six: Acts 12:20-25 – God’s Wrath and Power
20 He had been very angry with the Tyrians and Sidonians. Together they presented themselves before him. They won over Blastus, who was in charge of the king’s bedroom, and through him they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food from the king’s country. 21 So on an appointed day, dressed in royal robes and seated on the throne, Herod delivered a public address to them. 22 The assembled people began to shout, “It’s the voice of a god and not of a man!” 23 At once an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give the glory to God, and he became infected with worms and died. 24 Then God’s message flourished and multiplied. 25 After they had completed their relief mission, Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, taking along John who is called Mark. (HCSB)
The narrative in this lesson can be divided into two parts.
The Power of God’s Wrath – verses 20-23.
The Power of God’s Hand – verse 24-25.
The Power of God’s Wrath
As we take a look at this section of the passage, let’s look at the background of Tyre and Sidon to understand their significance to this passage.
The relationship between Tyre, Sidon, and Israel goes back to the days of King Solomon as found in 1 Kings 5:9ff.
They depended on Israel for food – Ezra 3:7.
Now let’s look at the events in the passage since we understand the background between the parties in question.
In some manner, both Tyre and Sidon had angered King Herod.
They were in danger of losing the support and assistance they had been accustomed to from the Jews.
In typical political maneuvering, they enlisted one of King Herod’s trusted servants, Blastus, to obtain a chance to plead their case before the king.
This meeting would serve a dual purpose.
It would enable the king to display his authority and glory.
It would enable the delegates from Tyre and Sidon to stroke his ego with flattery.
The Jewish historian, Josephus, provides much greater detail about the meeting.
The meeting took place during a festival honoring Claudius Caesar.
Herod wore a magnificent silver robe that glistened in the morning sun in honor of the occasion.
Because of the sun shining off the robe, the people began to shout, “the voice of a god and not of a man.” Josephus also recorded that the people responded that Herod was more than a mortal.
Herod neither affirmed nor denied the accolades from the crowd.
Then, looking up, Herod saw an owl.
Earlier in his life, when imprisoned in Rome, Herod had seen a vision of an owl and was told by a fellow prisoner that it was a sign of good news.
This proved true as he was subsequently released and installed as king in Israel.
However, the prisoner also told him that if he saw a vision of an owl a second time, he would only have five days to live.
Because Herod accepted the accolades and didn’t give God the glory, an angel of the Lord struck him with an affliction.
Herod was then taken to his residence and died five days later.
There is no discrepancy between Luke’s account of being struck at once with an affliction and Herod dying five days later. The angel of the Lord did strike Herod immediately, but the resulting death occurred five days later. One can imagine that Herod suffered for those five days before finally dying.
From this narrative, we can see several points that directly connect to the world we live in today.
The Tyrians and Sidonians were only concerned about obtaining food.
However, in the quest to obtain the food, they were willing to flatter the ego of a megalomaniac.
In this narrative, King Herod is a form of the future “man of sin” who will some day rule the world and persecute God’s people. The antichrist will make himself a god and demand all worship him.
Today’s world lives for praise and pleasure. Today’s world lives for the physical and ignores the spiritual. It lives by force and flattery instead of faith and truth.
The Power of God’s Hand
Although this section is only two verses long, but it presents a simple and strong message.
The spread of the Gospel message flourished and multiplied. In various places, Luke gives progress reports on the advancement of the Gospel and the state of the church.
Acts 6:7
Acts 9:31
Acts 12:24
Acts 16:5
Acts 19:20
Acts 28:31
From its humble beginnings in Jerusalem, the church will spread throughout the known world.
At the beginning of Acts 12, it appeared as if Herod was in control. James was executed, and Peter was in prison awaiting execution. By the end of Acts 12, Herod is dead, and the church is very much alive and growing.
The secret to the early church was prayer.
Acts 12 concludes with the return of Barnabas, Saul, and John Mark. Some things to note about this verse.
It likely occurred a couple of years after the death of Herod.
This would agree with the dating of the famine requiring the relief mission by Barnabas and Paul.
Evangelism to Judea and Samaria was now well established.
The message to the Gentiles had been spearheaded by Philip, Peter, and the church at Antioch.
Now, the focus will shift to Paul as he takes the Gospel to the Gentiles and the “ends of the earth.”
Applications
Do you focus on the temporal or the eternal? In the case of the Tyrians and Sidonians, the focus was on temporal to the point that they elevated a man to the status of an idol in place of God. This was an indication of faith, or lack of, in not trusting their needs would be provided.
Do you elevate a person to an unhealthy status in your mind? We all have our favorite athletes, singers, actors, etc., but when we put them on a pedestal, we display an unhealthy attitude towards them. Our equality with the most famous or powerful person will be proven when we stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
How do spiritual storms affect you? Regardless of the trials or tribulations that we face, we need to stand firm in the calling God has placed on each of our lives. It isn’t easy, but as a follower of Jesus, that is the path we need to follow.
About that time King Herod cruelly attacked some who belonged to the church, 2 and he killed James, John’s brother, with the sword. 3 When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too, during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4 After the arrest, he put him in prison and assigned four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but prayer was being made earnestly to God for him by the church.
6 On the night before Herod was to bring him out for execution, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while the sentries in front of the door guarded the prison. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. Striking Peter on the side, he woke him up and said, “Quick, get up!” Then the chains fell off his wrists. 8 “Get dressed,” the angel told him, “and put on your sandals.” And he did so. “Wrap your cloak around you,” he told him, “and follow me.” 9 So he went out and followed, and he did not know that what took place through the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 After they passed the first and second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went outside and passed one street, and immediately the angel left him.
11 Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from Herod’s grasp and from all that the Jewish people expected.” 12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many had assembled and were praying. 13 He knocked at the door in the gateway, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer. 14 She recognized Peter’s voice, and because of her joy, she did not open the gate but ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the gateway.
15 “You’re crazy!” they told her. But she kept insisting that it was true. Then they said, “It’s his angel!” 16 Peter, however, kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astounded.
17 Motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he explained to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. “Report these things to James and the brothers,” he said. Then he departed and went to a different place.
18 At daylight, there was a great commotion among the soldiers as to what could have become of Peter. 19 After Herod had searched and did not find him, he interrogated the guards and ordered their execution. Then Herod went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there. (HCSB)
In this passage, two significant things occur.
First, the persecution against the church reaches a new level of intensity.
Second, the transition from Peter and the Apostles being the main participants to Paul in the remainder of Acts occurs.
The passage itself contains two storylines.
The first is the martyrdom of James.
The second is the arrest and subsequent miraculous escape of Peter.
James is Martyred – verses 1-5.
Before we get into the passage itself, let’s have a detailed look at the main protagonist in this narrative, King Herod. Here are details about King Herod, which should shed additional light on the events in this passage.
This is Herod Agrippa, the grandson of Herod the Great.
The Herods were Edomites, descendants of Esau.
In a sense, we see Esau persecuting Jacob once again.
James is another form of the name Jacob.
The picture here is a time of tribulation the Jews will endure in the last days.
In Matthew 20:20-23, James and John were promised a baptism of suffering.
James was the first of the Apostles to be martyred.
John was the last to die and lived a life of suffering.
He was the nephew of Herod Antipas, who had John the Baptist beheaded.
The family was despised by the Jews, who resented having Edomites rule over them.
Herod the Great had Agrippa’s father, Aristobulus, executed because Herod the Great feared an assassination attempt.
Herod the Great then had Agrippa, and his mother sent to Rome, where he could grow up and be educated along with the children of Roman aristocracy.
The friendships he developed during this time eventually led to his ruling over a swath of the Jewish kingdom nearly as large as the one Herod the Great ruled.
In 37 A.D., the emperor Caligula gave him the title of king.
He initially ruled over the lands of the Transjordan and the Ten Cities (Decapolis) north of Galilee.
In 39 A.D., his area of rule was expanded to include Galilee and Perea, areas formerly under the control of his uncle, Antipas, who had been sent into exile.
In 41 A.D., his former classmate, Claudius, now installed as the emperor, gave his control of Judea and Samaria.
He was now “king of the Jews” as he ruled over all of Judea, Samaria, Galilee, the Transjordan, and the Decapolis.
Much, if not all, of his good fortune, was due to his friendships with Caligula and Claudius.
Because of the fact that the Herod family descended from the Edomites, the general population hated them, which drove Agrippa to try and gain favor with the Jews by doing them “favors.”
The events in this passage likely took place in the spring of 42 or 43 A.D., at the height of his power and influence.
In verse two, we read that Agrippa had James killed with the sword. Although it is not necessary for understanding the passage, we don’t know which method, Roman or Jewish, was used to kill James.
Roman method – beheading.
Jewish method – because Jewish customs forbade beheading as a desecration to the body, they would thrust the sword through the body.
Because Agrippa would be concerned with gaining favor with the Jews, it would seem more likely that the Jewish method would be preferred.
Since Agrippa saw that he, indeed, did gain favor with the Jews for the execution of James, he decided to arrest the ringleader, Peter, as the next person to be tried, convicted, and executed. However, because he didn’t want to offend anyone, he decided to postpone the trial until after the Passover festival was complete, as a guilty verdict and subsequent execution during Passover would be considered a desecration.
Assigning four squads of four soldiers to each squad was standard Roman practice. This would involve changing the guard every three hours throughout the twelve hours of the night to ensure that alertness was maintained. Looking ahead to verse six, we also read that Peter was bound with two chains. It’s possible, given historical records, that Peter was chained to the guards. Why would Agrippa use such a large contingent for a peaceful prisoner? It was probably likely that the Sanhedrin had informed Agrippa of Peter’s previous Houdini-like escape, and he didn’t want a repeat performance.
We also see the spiritual characteristics of the church on display during Peter’s imprisonment. They were earnestly praying for him during this time. This is a lesson for all of us, regardless of the trials or difficulties we may be going through. Bring it before the Lord in humble supplication. Often, that is the only thing we are able to do, but at the same time, the most effective.
We could ask one question before moving on to discuss the deliverance of Peter. Why was James allowed to be martyred, and Peter was rescued? Both were faithful servants of God and needed by the church. The only answer is the sovereign will of God. This was the very thing that the church prayed about after their experience with persecution in Acts 4:24-30. Herod had attempted to “stretch forth” his hand to destroy the church in Acts 4, but God stretched forth His hand to perform signs and wonders and to glorify Jesus, Acts 4:28-30. God allowed James to be killed but kept Peter from harm. Almighty God was in control, not any person.
The Rescue of Peter – verses 6-19.
Possibly the most striking statement in this passage is found in verse six, “Peter…was sleeping.”
How could Peter possibly be sleeping when he knew the next day he was to be executed?
The prayers of the church surely provided comfort to him. They were praying day and night for about a week.
Faith in the Word of God and Jesus’ promises were the key.
Let’s review what Jesus told Peter in John 21:18-19.
Peter would not die until he was older.
Peter would die by crucifixion, not by the sword.
Peter’s faith in what Jesus told him allowed him to be at peace and understand that against all odds, he would not die at this time.
We should all ask ourselves if we have the same sense of peace as we face the trials, almost certainly not a threat of execution, in our lives. How we act reflects the level of faith we have in God.
In verses seven to eleven, we see Peter obeying what the angel told him to do. At first, Peter thought he was having a dream, and the events were not real. It wasn’t until after they passed through two sets of guard posts and the gate leading to the city, passed the first street, and the angel left him, that Peter finally realized that this wasn’t a dream, he was free! He proclaims that the Lord sent the angel to rescue him from the clutches of the enemy. He then makes his way to the house where the believers had gathered in prayer for him during the Passover festival.
This was a sensible choice for two reasons. First, surely Peter understood that the prayers of the saints were heard in heaven and directly contributed to his release. Second, he wanted to let them know their prayers were heard and answered. There are four points connected to the prayers of the believers.
Many people were involved in praying.
They were praying earnestly.
They prayed day and night for about a week.
They prayed specifically for Peter’s release.
The scene at Mary’s house is almost comical. Peter knocks on the door; a servant named Rhoda recognizes his voice but is so overwhelmed with joy that instead of opening the door, she runs and tells the others that Peter is at their door. Their response indicates a couple of things.
A lack of faith in the power of their prayers.
They had prayed for about a week for Peter’s release.
Peter was now knocking on the door, but they didn’t believe it was him.
Their belief in angels.
The Jews believed in guardian angels.
Matthew 18:10.
Hebrews 1:14.
Each person had a guardian angel as their spiritual counterpart.
They believed that the angel appeared immediately after the person’s death.
This is why they responded to Rhoda with the phrase, “It’s his angel.”
Verse seventeen has three components.
Peter gives them the details of his miraculous deliverance.
He tells them to report what had happened to James and the brothers.
He departs from them and goes to “a different place.”
He could have done this for two reasons.
To avoid the likely wrath of Agrippa.
To prevent the gathered believers from being connected to his escape.
We don’t know where the “different place” was located.
It could have been a safer place in Jerusalem.
It could have been a location outside the city.
The narrative now switches from the events surrounding Peter to the consequences of his escape.
When the guards woke up, Peter was gone, but there was no indication of how his escape occurred.
A search was made to find Peter, but it was not successful.
Herod then had the guards interrogated to find out how Peter escaped.
One has to wonder whether Peter’s previous escapes had entered Agrippa’s thoughts.
Agrippa’s plan to curry additional favor with the Jews had now come undone.
We also see evidence of Roman law coming into play.
A guard that allowed a prisoner to escape was subject to the same penalty the escapee would have suffered.
The fate that befalls the guards leaves little doubt that Agrippa had intended to execute Peter.
With his plan unraveled, Agrippa now makes his way back to his residence in Caesarea, likely embarrassed and in a foul mood.
Applications
Believers are to pray. Although Peter’s situation appeared grim, there was a large group of believers who gathered to pray for about a week for his release. The same is expected of us. No matter how dark the situation may appear, we are to bring our prayers before God. We see once again in this passage that the early church was a church of prayer, a model that should be part of every New Testament church.
Believers are to have peace regardless of the circumstances, trusting that God is in control and He will work according to His sovereign plan for the good of all. If we are absorbed with feelings of anxiety or worry, it indicates that we don’t trust God. Rest in the assurance of His Word. Jesus said He would never leave us nor forsake us. Do you believe that?
No matter how others hurt us, actual or intended, remember that it isn’t our place to retaliate. God will bring judgment in His time according to His plan. We’ll read in the next section that Agrippa met a swift end after his failed attempt to execute Peter. We are to follow Jesus and leave judgment to the Lord.
Acts Lesson Twenty-four: Acts 11:19-30 – The Church in Antioch
19 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. 20 But there were some of them, Cypriot and Cyrenian men, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Hellenists, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 Then the report about them was heard by the church that was at Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to travel as far as Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged all of them to remain true to the Lord with a firm resolve of the heart, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And large numbers of people were added to the Lord. 25 Then he went to Tarsus to search for Saul, 26 and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.
27 In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine throughout the Roman world. This took place during the time of Claudius. 29 So each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea. 30 They did this, sending it to the elders by means of Barnabas and Saul. (HCSB)
I’ll split this lesson into two parts.
The church at Antioch – verses 19-26.
The Gentiles provide aid to the church at Jerusalem – verses 27-30.
The Church at Antioch
Before we dig into this passage, let’s take a look at the city of Antioch, the focus of the first part of the passage. Here are some facts, historical and cultural, that are pertinent to the understanding of the passage.
Founded in 300 b.c. by the first Seleucid ruler, Seleucus Nicator.
The population was approximately 500,000 people.
There was a sizable Jewish population, estimated between 25,000 and 50,000 people.
It was the third-largest city in the Roman Empire, behind Rome and Alexandria.
It was known as “Antioch the Golden, Queen of the East.”
It was a planned city, laid out in a grid pattern.
Its main street was over four miles long.
Paved with marble.
Lined on both sides by marble colonnades.
It was the only city in the ancient world at the time that had its streets lighted at night.
It had a busy port.
It was a center for luxury and culture.
It attracted a multitude of different people, including wealthy retired Roman officials.
It was a wicked city.
Possibly only Corinth was worse.
Greek, Roman, and Syrian deities were honored.
The local shrine was dedicated to Daphne, whose worship included immoral practices.
Despite all the challenges, it presented an exciting opportunity for evangelism.
The persecution that the early church faced, in this passage linked to Stephen, we see that instead of suppressing the advance of the Gospel, it actually enhanced its spread. The believers who were spread across the region weren’t shy or restrained in speaking about Jesus. This opportunity for evangelism led to “a large number who believed turned to the Lord.”
The news of the large numbers of converts made its way back to the main church in Jerusalem and its leaders. They understood and accepted their responsibility to lead and shepherd the flock, wherever they might be scattered. In this case, it was the church at Antioch. The Jerusalem church commissioned Barnabas to go to Antioch and oversee the believers living there. If we remember back to the lesson that covered Acts 4:36, we’ll recall that Barnabas was nicknamed “son of encouragement,” the perfect choice to encourage and shepherd this new congregation.
How did Barnabas encourage this new church?
He was glad about what he saw. Whether or not they worshipped in the same way as the church in Jerusalem isn’t known, nor is it relevant. What Barnabas did see was a group of believers who were genuine in their love and worship of God.
He emphasized their “heart condition” as he taught them. To remain “true to the Lord” includes the following:
Loving God.
Walking as He walks.
Obeying what is contained in His Word.
Selflessly serving Him.
What were the results of Barnabas’ shepherding efforts?
The evangelism and witness of the believers made a significant impact in the city of Antioch.
Large numbers of people were added to the Lord.
When believers are firmly rooted in the Word, their witness will have an impact. Each church needs to have balance.
Between edification and evangelism.
Between worship and witness.
Between teaching and testifying.
The growth of the church meant that Barnabas needed help in shepherding the flock.
However, he needed someone to help with a Gentile congregation.
Barnabas immediately thought of Paul.
We recall that Barnabas had befriended Paul in Acts 9.
Barnabas knew about Paul’s commission to the Gentiles, Acts 9:15.
We can safely conclude that the two discussed Paul’s calling to the Gentiles on numerous occasions during their time together.
About ten years had passed from the point Paul had been converted to the time Barnabas brought him back to Antioch. Scripture doesn’t tell us precisely what he was doing, but we can infer some events.
He was likely evangelizing both Jews and Gentiles.
He may have founded the churches in Cilicia during this time; Acts 15:23, 41 and Galatians 1:21.
He may have experienced some of the sufferings listed in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28.
What we see Barnabas do is something all churches should do. Leaders and mature believers placing newer/less mature believers in positions of serving. This enables them to grow in their maturity and take on more significant roles in the future. Instead of the pastor/elder or deacons doing the work in the church, it is the responsibility of each member to contribute to their local congregation.
The first section of this week’s passage includes the term “Christian.” This term is found in only three places in the New Testament.
Here in Acts 11:26.
Acts 26:28.
1 Peter 4:16.
Some things to note about the term “Christian.”
The term was not originally used by Christians to describe themselves. They preferred other names.
Believer.
Disciple.
Brother/sister.
The first extensive use of the term by a Christian writer was by Ignatius, bishop of Antioch, around the beginning of the second century.
It was actually made as a derisive label, combining two words.
The Latin suffix “ian” means “belonging to the party of.”
Some of the pagan citizens of Antioch joined this with the Hebrew name “Christ” and came up with Christian.
The use of the new label would indicate a third group apart from Jews and Gentiles.
This indicates that Christians were no longer viewed as a segment of Judaism. Instead, they had now become a distinct and separate group in the region.
This presented two problems.
Christians would lose the protection Rome gave to a religio licita or a legitimate and legally recognized religion. While under the umbrella of Judaism, they enjoyed this protection. Now, it had been removed.
How should Christians view the hope of Israel and the promises of Jewish Scripture?
These two problems would loom over them as the Christian mission moved increasingly onto Gentile soil.
The term itself has lost most of its meaning to those who allegedly are followers of Jesus.
It no longer means that a person has turned from sin and trusted in Jesus.
It no longer means that they’ve received salvation by grace.
Many call themselves Christians:
Even though they’ve never been born again.
Because they don’t view themselves as pagans.
Because they were born into a Christian family.
Because they attend church.
Because they volunteer at church.
Because they give to the church.
The only authentic way to become a Christian is to repent from sin and place your faith in Jesus.
Gentiles Provide Aid to the Church in Jerusalem
Let’s look at some things we can discern from this small section.
The prophets mentioned in verse 27 were Christians ministering to the local assemblies, teaching and revealing the Word of God.
Because they made the trip from Jerusalem to Antioch, not a short journey at that time, we can infer that there was some type of close relationship between the two churches.
We are introduced to Agabus.
He had the gift of foretelling, predicting the famine in this narrative.
He also manifested this gift again in Acts 21:10-11 when he prophesied that Paul would be arrested in Jerusalem.
There was a widespread famine.
This occurred during the time of Claudius, who was the emperor from A.D. 41-54.
The Jewish historian Josephus recorded that many died because of a lack of food.
The impact of the famine on the church underscores a shift that has occurred in the Jerusalem church.
In Acts 2-7, the church at Jerusalem didn’t have any needs; they were blessed.
Now the Jerusalem church needed outside assistance.
When we look back at the pattern for giving in Acts 2:44-45 and 4:31-35, we see a spirit of giving that was descriptive for that time. In verse 29, we now see a pattern of giving that I believe is prescriptive for the New Testament church.
The believers didn’t have “all things in common.”
Each gave according to their ability.
In 1 Timothy 5:8, Paul says that if anyone doesn’t provide support for their own, they are worse than a pagan.
In 2 Corinthians 9:7, Paul says that we should give as our heart leads us, not out of compulsion.
Everyone contributed.
We also see a transition in leadership structure in verse 30. In previous sections of Acts, the gifts were laid at the feet of the Apostles. Now, we see the relief aid being given by Barnabas and Paul to the elders of the Jerusalem church. Let’s have a quick look at the term “elder.”
The Greek term is presbyteros.
It is a person of responsibility and authority in socio-religious matters.
This is the first time the term is used in Acts.
They were mature believers who had spiritual oversight of the ministry.
1 Peter 5:1.
2 John 1.
Comparing Acts 20:17, 28 to Titus 1:5, 7, we see that an elder and bishop are equivalent.
They were the pastors of the flocks.
They were assisted by deacons.
The qualifications for both are found in 1 Timothy 3.
Applications
Although we may come from different denominational backgrounds and may worship differently or have different doctrinal beliefs, we should have grace and acceptance on the “minors” of the faith (method baptism for believers, style of worship, song choices, etc.) while having unwavering unity on the “majors” (salvation by faith, Jesus as the Son of God, lived a sinless life, born of a virgin, raised on the third day, etc.).
Don’t try to do it all yourself; enlist the aid of qualified helpers. We see that in Barnabas’ actions. If he was selfish, he could’ve tried to oversee the church at Antioch himself. Instead, sensing a great work of God, he went to get Paul to help him. Whatever ministry we are involved in, we need to remember it’s not ours, it is God’s ministry.
We should be generous according to our ability to help our brothers and sisters in their time of need. This is an obligation clearly laid out in Scripture. We need to examine our heart and make sure we are giving freely and cheerfully, not out of some motivation of selfishness or attempt to gain attention by the size of our gift.
Acts Lesson Twenty-three: Acts 11:1-18 – The Jerusalem Church Accepts the Gentiles
The apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles had welcomed God’s message also. 2 When Peter went up to Jerusalem, those who stressed circumcision argued with him, 3 saying, “You visited uncircumcised men and ate with them!”
4 Peter began to explain to them in an orderly sequence, saying: 5 “I was in the town of Joppa praying, and I saw, in a visionary state, an object that resembled a large sheet coming down, being lowered by its four corners from heaven, and it came to me. 6 When I looked closely and considered it, I saw the four-footed animals of the earth, the wild beasts, the reptiles, and the birds of the sky. 7 Then I also heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat!’
8 “‘No, Lord!’ I said. ‘For nothing common or ritually unclean has ever entered my mouth!’ 9 But a voice answered from heaven a second time, ‘What God has made clean, you must not call common.’
10 “Now this happened three times, and then everything was drawn up again into heaven. 11 At that very moment, three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea arrived at the house where we were. 12 Then the Spirit told me to accompany them with no doubts at all. These six brothers accompanied me, and we went into the man’s house. 13 He reported to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa, and call for Simon, who is also named Peter. 14 He will speak a message to you that you and all your household will be saved by.’
15 “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came down on them, just as on us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 Therefore, if God gave them the same gift that He also gave to us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, how could I possibly hinder God?”
18 When they heard this they became silent. Then they glorified God, saying, “So God has granted repentance resulting in life even to the Gentiles!” (HCSB)
After the conversion of Cornelius and his household, Peter travels back to Jerusalem to relay what had occurred in Caesarea among the Gentiles.
The majority of this passage is a repeat of the events that occurred in chapter ten. Instead of reviewing those portions, this lesson will concentrate on the few but important differences. If you’d like to review chapter ten, please look at Acts lessons twenty-one and twenty-two.
Peter heads back to Jerusalem after spending several days with Cornelius. By the time Peter makes it back to Jerusalem, the events that unfolded were already known. In verses two and three, it becomes clear that not all the believers were happy about what occurred in Caesarea. This will be our first discussion point.
The Circumcision Sect is Not Happy
The term “those who stressed circumcision” is pointing to a strong legalistic segment within the Judean church. Let’s discuss what is known about this group and the general resistance to the inclusion of Gentiles into salvation.
Just as many religious leaders in Judaism were entrenched in legalism, the same problem existed to an extent within the young church. We need to remember that those who comprised the early church were almost entirely made up of those who converted from Judaism.
They represented a conservative minority within the church.
They were dedicated to protecting the Jewish perspective on Christianity.
At this point, many Jewish Christians viewed it simply as a smaller movement within mainstream Judaism.
The issues of Jewish purity and their purity laws and customs would be prevalent in the practices and thought processes of these early Jewish Christians.
They followed Jewish dietary customs about what could and couldn’t be eaten.
Not associating with Gentiles, especially during mealtime, as their food would be considered unclean.
This group didn’t have any issue with:
Sharing the Gospel.
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Baptism in the name of Jesus.
The new believers didn’t understand the relationship between the Law and grace, Jews and Gentiles, and Israel and the church.
There were many converted priests in the Christian church, and these men would likely be zealous for the Law.
They felt that any Gentile who became a Christian must also convert to Judaism and follow the procedures to become a full Jewish proselyte.
Follow Jewish dietary customs.
Become circumcised.
The group’s concern was not that the Gentile believers were baptized; it was that Peter shared a meal with them.
By sharing a meal with them, Peter demonstrated his acceptance of them being Christian brothers and sisters.
However, they were not circumcised, going against Jewish custom.
This group may be the same one mentioned in Acts 15:5.
The Issue of Cornelius
There is one additional nugget of information regarding what Cornelius told Peter when the latter arrived in Caesarea. In his vision, Cornelius related how the angel told him that Peter would speak a message that would result in his and his household’s salvation. This would explain their eager anticipation in hearing the message Peter brought.
Another important to consider as Peter relates the events that occurred in Caesarea is that Peter never mentions the centurion’s name. Who he is isn’t important to the Judean Christians. However, the fact that he was a Gentile is the key sticking point.
Gentile Pentecost
Peter relates how the Holy Spirit descended upon the household, the same as how the Spirit descended at the Jewish Pentecost in Acts chapter two.
Peter remembered what Jesus had told the disciples.
John baptized with water.
They would be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
This is the third “Pentecost” event described in Acts.
Jewish Pentecost in Acts 2.
Samaritan Pentecost in Acts 8.
The Gentile Pentecost in Acts 11.
The fact that God would pour out the Spirit on the Gentiles was a crucial point as Peter explained the event in Caesarea.
It was a testimony that God had truly saved the Gentiles.
If God approved of the Gentiles, how could Peter feel any different?
The word “hinder” in verse 18 means “to oppose” in the original Greek.
Peter couldn’t oppose the inclusion of the Gentiles in the Christian family.
Anyone who would oppose their inclusion would be opposing God.
At this point, there wasn’t much the “circumcision group” could say as a rebuttal.
However, this isn’t the last time that Gentile inclusion and not following Jewish customs and traditions would be an issue to the church.
There were three questions that persisted for years until they were brought before the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15.
What lifestyle was appropriate for Gentiles coming to Christ directly from a pagan background?
How do the Gentile believers relate to Jewish Christians?
How should the Jerusalem church handle these individuals?
Although it may appear on the surface that the church successfully dealt with the issue of including Gentiles into the family of God, history shows that the transition wasn’t smooth. The main issue in the socio-political framework was the inclusion of members of the very group who were occupying and controlling Israel.
From the 40’s until the Jewish revolt in AD 70, the situation became increasingly tense.
During that time, the main issues weren’t food laws and circumcision.
To welcome Gentiles as equals could, and was, viewed as fraternizing with the enemy.
This would eventually bubble over in AD 70 with the Jewish revolt and subsequent destruction of Jerusalem and the nation of Israel.
In the rapidly changing world we live in today, it is important to keep that point in mind. The church must be faithful to God while navigating the changing socio-political landscape.
Applications
Legalism has no part in a biblical church or the lives of followers of Jesus. Yes, there are specific guidelines and doctrines we need to follow (the red letter passages in the New Testament are a good place to start), but just as Jesus pointed out the lack of understanding of the Pharisees, we need to make sure we don’t do the same things.
When confronted by fellow believers, we need to maintain a calm demeanor and exhibit patience, and be directed by the Spirit. This is precisely what Peter did in this passage. The pre-Pentecost Peter would likely have had a confrontation with the circumcision sect. However, the Spirit-led Peter was able to calmly explain the events that transpired and point out that God’s hand was leading the Gentiles into the family of God.
Discussion and debate within the body of Christ are ok if…it doesn’t become divisive. We must all agree on the “majors” of the faith and not let the “minors” create disunity. This is especially true across denominational lines. As an example, whether we baptize someone by immersion or sprinkling will not change whether they are saved or not. Only faith in our resurrected Savior will restore our broken fellowship with God.
Acts Lesson Twenty-two: Acts 10:17-48 – Peter Brings the Gospel to the Gentiles
17 While Peter was deeply perplexed about what the vision he had seen might mean, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions to Simon’s house, stood at the gate. 18 They called out, asking if Simon, who was also named Peter, was lodging there.
19 While Peter was thinking about the vision, the Spirit told him, “Three men are here looking for you. 20 Get up, go downstairs, and accompany them with no doubts at all, because I have sent them.”
21 Then Peter went down to the men and said, “Here I am, the one you’re looking for. What is the reason you’re here?”
22 They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who has a good reputation with the whole Jewish nation, was divinely directed by a holy angel to call you to his house and to hear a message from you.” 23 Peter then invited them in and gave them lodging.
The next day he got up and set out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went with him. 24 The following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and worshiped him.
26 But Peter helped him up and said, “Stand up! I myself am also a man.” 27 While talking with him, he went on in and found that many had come together there. 28 Peter said to them, “You know it’s forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or visit a foreigner. But God has shown me that I must not call any person common or unclean. 29 That’s why I came without any objection when I was sent for. So I ask: Why did you send for me?”
30 Cornelius replied, “Four days ago at this hour, at three in the afternoon, I was praying in my house. Just then a man in a dazzling robe stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your acts of charity have been remembered in God’s sight. 32 Therefore send someone to Joppa and invite Simon here, who is also named Peter. He is lodging in Simon the tanner’s house by the sea.’ 33 Therefore I immediately sent for you, and you did the right thing in coming. So we are all present before God, to hear everything you have been commanded by the Lord.”
34 Then Peter began to speak: “Now I really understand that God doesn’t show favoritism, 35 but in every nation the person who fears Him and does righteousness is acceptable to Him. 36 He sent the message to the Israelites, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all. 37 You know the events that took place throughout Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were under the tyranny of the Devil, because God was with Him. 39 We ourselves are witnesses of everything He did in both the Judean country and in Jerusalem, yet they killed Him by hanging Him on a tree. 40 God raised up this man on the third day and permitted Him to be seen, 41 not by all the people, but by us, witnesses appointed beforehand by God, who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to solemnly testify that He is the One appointed by God to be the Judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about Him that through His name everyone who believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins.”
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speaking in other languages and declaring the greatness of God.
Then Peter responded, 47 “Can anyone withhold water and prevent these people from being baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days. (HCSB)
Today’s lesson continues the narrative of the previous lesson; the visions of Cornelius and Peter and the subsequent obedience of Peter in traveling to Gentile territory.
Up until this time, the Apostles had not shared the Gospel with the Gentiles. Even the Samaritans were considered “superior” to Gentiles as at least they were “half-breed” Jews with a reverence for the Mosaic law. Peter’s decision to go to the Gentiles was not based primarily on the Great Commission but rather because the Spirit had specifically commanded Peter to go. During this time, Peter struggled with the idea of the Gospel and salvation being made available to the Gentiles before their witness to the Jews was complete. It also becomes clear that during this transition period, the early followers of Jesus are introduced to the concept of the church. With the Jewish background of the Apostles and their reliance on the temple, this was a shift in thinking. Previously, believers in God needed to go to the temple, but now God would be in their presence wherever they met.
I’ll divide this passage into two sections.
Peter’s journey to Caesarea: verses 17-33.
Peter’s message to the Gentiles: verses 34-48.
Peter’s Journey to Caesarea
Verses 17-23
At this point, Peter is unsure about the meaning of the vision he experienced. The vision pertained to the removal of the Jewish restrictions on food and eating, but what could this mean? As Peter ponders this question, the messengers from Cornelius arrive, and Peter begins to discern at least a portion of what the vision means.
A group of Gentiles is looking for Peter by name.
God’s leading in the whole event is evident.
Peter’s vision included a voice from heaven.
Cornelius’s vision included a visit from an angel.
Now, Peter was receiving a message directly from the Spirit telling him the men were looking for him, that the Spirit sent the men to him, and that Peter was to go with them to Caesarea.
When we review this section of the passage, there are two points of emphasis.
The devoutness of Cornelius.
The leading of God.
Cornelius was to hear Peter’s message.
Peter began to understand the effect of his vision.
He was to witness to the centurion chosen by God.
He was to associate with those he previously viewed as “unclean.”
Verses 24-26
Peter and the three messengers sent by Cornelius start the next morning for the journey to Caesarea. Peter takes along six Jewish Christians from Joppa (Acts 11:12). Because the journey is approximately thirty miles, it takes two days for the group to arrive in Caesarea. This means that four days have elapsed since Cornelius had his vision.
Let’s consider some facts from these three verses.
Cornelius never doubted that Peter would come.
He was expecting him.
He had called for his relatives and close friends to come to his home.
This large gathering was a portent of the outpouring of the Spirit in this Gentile home.
Cornelius’s reverence for Peter was on full display as the group entered the home.
Cornelius fell at Peter’s feet and worshipped him.
This is similar to what Paul and Barnabas experienced with the Gentiles at Lystra, documented in Acts 14:14f.
Peter quickly responds that he is only a man and should not be worshipped.
Verses 27-29
Peter engages in conversation with Cornelius and enters his home to find a large group waiting for him. What is interesting to note is the direction of the conversation. Peter doesn’t tell them of his vision but rather the conclusions he drew from the vision.
Those in attendance needed to grasp the depth of the cultural barrier that was removed by Peter, as a Jew, coming into the home of a Gentile. This visit would have been viewed with horror by any ordinary Jew.
However, God revealed to Peter that he shouldn’t think of a non-Jew as someone who was unclean or common.
Peter’s vision only contained symbols of unclean food, but he perceived that the symbolism was talking about people.
All people were God’s creation, and all were declared clean (not righteous or saved).
God led Peter to Cornelius, declaring that Cornelius was clean.
The pre-existing purity laws could no longer separate Jew and Gentile.
Since God no longer distinguished between Jew and Gentile, neither could Peter.
However, Peter still didn’t understand that God was going to make Cornelius a Christian brother of Peter. This is the reason Peter asked why they sent for him.
Verses 30-32
This section is the third time the vision event is presented, with a few variations.
It is now four days since the vision occurred.
A man in a dazzling robe appeared to Cornelius. This is another way of saying it was an angel.
The reason for the repetition is to focus the reader on the fact that it was divine action that led to this meeting happening.
Peter still wasn’t fully aware of why he was there.
Verse 33
Peter may not have been fully understanding yet of why he was there, but he did understand that God brought them together. Cornelius understood that God brought Peter to his house to share something of importance. That is why he invited family and friends, so that they could hear the message from Peter.
Verses 34-43
Peter now begins his address to Gentiles gathered in the home of Cornelius. Let’s list some facts and themes from Peter’s message.
God doesn’t discriminate based upon ethnicity.
God does discriminate between right and wrong behavior and attitude.
Those who revere and respect God are acceptable.
Those who reject Him are not acceptable.
Peter is focusing this statement primarily on Cornelius.
Cornelius was a man of prayer.
Cornelius was a generous man and practiced charity towards those in need.
We need to be careful so we don’t view this as works-based salvation.
There is a similarity between Cornelius and Abraham.
Abraham was a man of faith and trusted in God.
Cornelius is also pictured as a man of faith and placing trust in God.
God was already extending grace to him.
This grace was manifested in his good deeds.
God would now reveal His greatest grace, the Gospel of Jesus, and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
As James writes in his epistle, faith and works are inseparable.
Just as in Peter’s other messages in Acts, the emphasis is placed on God’s work through Jesus.
God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and power.
Jesus traveled around the region preaching repentance and healing people.
Many were witnesses, including Peter, of what Jesus accomplished.
Jesus was crucified. Just as in Peter’s other speeches, he attributes the crucifixion to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
God raised Jesus on the third day, allowing Him to be seen by many.
Jesus ate and drank with the Apostles after his resurrection.
This idea is unique to this sermon.
However, it would have been important when preaching to Gentiles like Cornelius where the idea of a bodily resurrection would be a new idea.
Jesus commanded the Apostles, and all His followers, to preach the Gospel message.
The prophets testified beforehand about the coming of Jesus. However, this is the only one of Peter’s sermons where he doesn’t specifically draw connections between the Old Testament and Jesus. He may have been heading in that direction, but the outpouring of the Spirit cut short his message.
Verses 44-48
While Peter is still speaking, the Holy Spirit suddenly is poured out on the people gathered in Cornelius’s house. Some things to note about this event.
The Christian brothers that Peter brought were “astounded” because the Spirit was given to the Gentiles.
In the two previous Pentecost events, Jew and Samaritan, there wasn’t the same level of surprise as both groups were Jewish.
However, here the Spirit is given to a group of people who have no tie to the Jewish people. God is quickly moving the believers into uncharted territory.
They spoke in other languages and declared God’s greatness.
There is much debate about the correct interpretation of “speaking in other languages” in this section.
The Greek word for tongues in verse 46 is the same used in Acts 2. If that is true, then the verse is talking about a human language.
However, since this was a group of Gentiles who were either family or close friends of Cornelius, the idea of various human languages being spoken may not pass the logic test. The situation here is different from Acts 2, where people were gathered from various parts of the Mediterranean region.
It is possible that they began to speak in a “heavenly language.”
It is not possible to draw a concrete conclusion on the meaning, but in any event, God received the glory.
The point of the verse is the divine certification of salvation to the Gentiles.
Peter now asks the question of whether or not baptism should be denied to the Gentiles.
The new believers were baptized in the name of Jesus.
Peter doesn’t perform the baptism himself. Instead, it appears that one or more of the six Christian brothers who accompanied him performed the baptism.
This would indicate that the early church leaders didn’t place emphasis on who performed the baptism, as long as it was a fellow believer.
Peter then spends several days in the house of Cornelius.
It is safe to say that this involved the sharing of meals between ethnic Jews and the Gentile hosts.
Peter fully embraces God’s direction that there is no longer any distinction between Jew and Gentile.
However, not all the Jewish Christians are ready for this transition.
In the next lesson, we’ll see that Peter faces some opposition from his brothers in Jerusalem.
Applications
We need to be discerning regarding visions. Not all visions are from God. However, when it is clear that it is from God, we must be obedient. We see this from both Cornelius and Peter in this and the preceding section. When it is clear that God is giving you a “vision,” do you act on it, or do you delay or even ignore it? If Peter had not been obedient, Cornelius might have never received the Gospel message.
We need to be ready to share the Gospel regardless of the circumstances or timing. Peter went on a two-day journey, shared the Gospel, and the Spirit convicted those hearing the message. In the end, the entire household was saved.
Don’t let your ethnic, cultural, society, or any other barrier prevent you from bringing the message of salvation to the lost.
There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment. 2 He was a devout man and feared God along with his whole household. He did many charitable deeds for the Jewish people and always prayed to God. 3 About three in the afternoon he distinctly saw in a vision an angel of God who came in and said to him, “Cornelius!” 4 Looking intently at him, he became afraid and said, “What is it, lord?”
The angel told him, “Your prayers and your acts of charity have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa and call for Simon, who is also named Peter. 6 He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, he called two of his household slaves and a devout soldier, who was one of those who attended him. 8 After explaining everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
9 The next day, as they were traveling and nearing the city, Peter went up to pray on the housetop about noon. 10 Then he became hungry and wanted to eat, but while they were preparing something, he went into a visionary state. 11 He saw heaven opened and an object that resembled a large sheet coming down, being lowered by its four corners to the earth. 12 In it were all the four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, and the birds of the sky. 13 Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat!”
14 “No, Lord!” Peter said. “For I have never eaten anything common and ritually unclean!”
15 Again, a second time, a voice said to him, “What God has made clean, you must not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and then the object was taken up into heaven. (HCSB)
Chapter ten is a turning point in Acts, as salvation now comes to the Gentiles. Jesus gave the “keys of the kingdom” to Peter, and he had used them twice previously with the Jews (Acts 2) and the Samaritans (Acts 8). Now, Peter will use them for the last time as the door is opened for the Gospel to come to the Gentiles.
The events that take place in this chapter occurred about ten years after Pentecost. We might wonder why the Apostles waited so long to take the Gospel to the Gentiles. In the Great Commission, Jesus commanded that His message be brought to all nations. Our human minds would think this should be done sooner rather than later. However, our timing is not God’s timing, and His timing is always perfect. The transition of spreading the Gospel from Jew to Samaritan to Gentile was a gradual process.
When the Sanhedrin stoned Stephen and persecuted the church, that was the pinnacle of the Apostles’ witness to the Jews. After that, the Gospel moved to the Samaritans. Finally, when Jesus commissioned Paul, the special envoy to the Gentiles was chosen.
This lesson is divided into two parts.
Cornelius’s vision – verses 1-8.
Peter’s vision – verses 9-16.
Cornelius’s Vision.
Before we dig into this passage, let’s look at some facts about Caesarea.
It was located about sixty-five miles northwest of Jerusalem and thirty miles north of Joppa.
It was the Roman capital of Judea.
The architecture was Hellenistic in design.
Rebuilt by Herod the Great.
It had a man-made harbor.
A theater.
An amphitheater.
A hippodrome.
A temple dedicated to Caesar.
The Jews hated Caesarea, often calling it “the daughter of Edom.”
According to Josephus, riots between Jew and Gentile created the spark for the Jewish war against Rome in 66 A.D.
Josephus also wrote that the entire Jewish population of 20,000 in Caesarea was massacred in the same year.
From the narrative, we can determine the following facts concerning Cornelius.
He was a Roman centurion in command of 100 soldiers
Centurions are generally depicted in a favorable light in the Gospels and Acts.
This may have led to some success in early Christian mission work among the military.
He left behind the Roman religion of worshipping little “g” gods, pagan myths, and empty religious rituals.
He had turned to Judaism in an effort to find salvation.
He was as close to Judaism as possible without being a proselyte.
He was sincere in his obedience to God’s Law.
He was charitable towards the Jews.
He always prayed to God.
He was not allowed to offer sacrifices in the temple, so his prayers were a type of sacrifice.
However, all this still didn’t mean he was saved.
He knew that his religious practices wouldn’t lead to salvation.
We’ll see that later in Acts 11:13-14, Cornelius asks God to show him the way to salvation.
An angel visits Cornelius.
Cornelius is praying at three in the afternoon, a time that coincides with the Tamid sacrifice in the temple.
God sends an angel to visit Cornelius, acknowledging that Cornelius’ prayers and acts of charity were accepted by God.
The angel tells Cornelius to send for Peter, giving explicit information on where to find him.
Cornelius, in exemplary military fashion, immediately obeys the instructions of the angel.
He chooses two slaves and a devout soldier.
These were probably the most trusted people he could pick.
The “devout” soldier was likely a worshipper of God.
The phrase “attended him” indicates those Cornelius feels are the most trustworthy of the people around him.
Peter’s Vision.
Let’s look at some cultural background context as we examine this part of the passage.
Peter had lived as an orthodox Jew all of his life, as shown by his statement in verse 14.
The Law of Moses created a barrier between the Jews and Gentiles.
Gentiles were viewed as aliens and strangers in regard to Jewish covenants and promises.
The barrier was broken at the cross – Ephesians 2:14-18.
Now, God would make it clear that there was no difference between Jew and Gentile.
No condemnation – Romans 3:22-23.
Salvation for all – Romans 10:12-13.
Facts regarding Peter’s vision.
Peter was hungry, and a vision with food as a focal point would resonate with him.
Noon was not a usual meal time.
The custom was to have a light midmorning meal, followed by a heavier meal in the late afternoon.
The issue of clean and unclean foods was a significant barrier between Jews and Gentiles.
To Jews, the dietary laws were not a matter of etiquette or specific eating habits.
The dietary laws were a matter of identity and survival.
Jews were not allowed to eat with Gentiles.
The people you sit down with to eat are family.
The Jewish “family” was called by God to be separate from the Gentiles.
The whole issue of appearance versus our heart condition that Jesus spoke about – Mark 7:1-23.
God wasn’t simply changing Peter’s eating habits.
God was changing Peter’s understanding of clean and unclean.
Jews weren’t clean, and Gentiles were unclean.
All were unclean before God – Romans 11:32.
A Gentile didn’t need to become a Jew in order to be a Christian.
Peter’s “Jewishness” comes out in his response to “kill and eat.”
Although Peter was polite in his refusal, it was still disobedience.
We can say “no.”
We can say “Lord.”
We can’t say “No, Lord.”
Obedience is required in response to God’s commands.
There is also the interesting point of “threes” with Peter being revisited.
The sheet appeared three times.
This was the third time that Peter verbally refused God’s will.
Three times he denied Jesus.
Jesus asked him three times about his love.
Applications
The Gospel can spread regardless of the location. It just requires obedient messengers. If we remember back to the discussion about Caesarea, we recall that the Jews had an extremely poor opinion of the city. Yet, God’s message will spread where it is taken. What is your Caesarea, and how will you overcome that barrier to obedience?
Fervent prayer is heard. Cornelius “always” prayed to God. If we pray to God in accordance with His will, our prayers are answered. How is your prayer life? Are you like Cornelius, praying always? Or is your prayer life stagnant and unproductive?
Don’t let cultural or ethnic barriers stand in the way of being obedient to God. God’s commands should always be at the forefront. What barriers do you have that prevents you from sharing the Gospel or meeting certain groups of people? In Christ, we are all one people. Tear down the barriers in your life and share the Gospel.
Acts Lesson Twenty: Acts 9:32-43 – Peter Spreading the Gospel
32 As Peter was traveling from place to place, he also came down to the saints who lived in Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. 34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed,” and immediately he got up. 35 So all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. She was always doing good works and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became sick and died. After washing her, they placed her in a room upstairs. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him who begged him, “Don’t delay in coming with us.” 39 So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they led him to the room upstairs. And all the widows approached him, weeping and showing him the robes and clothes that Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40 Then Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down, prayed, and turning toward the body said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. 41 He gave her his hand and helped her stand up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her alive. 42 This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And Peter stayed on many days in Joppa with Simon, a leather tanner. (HCSB)
Luke now switches the narrative from Paul back to Peter. It is clear from the beginning of this passage that Peter is now on an evangelism trip. This passage will focus on two significant events that occur during the journey. Accordingly, this passage will be split into two sections.
The healing of Aeneas in verses 32-35.
The raising of Tabitha in verses 36-43.
Verses 32-35
The setting for the healing of Aeneas is Lydda. This city, predominately Gentile, was located about twenty-five miles from Jerusalem. Historical records don’t indicate who the first evangelists were who visited the area, but there are several possibilities.
Believers who were converted at Pentecost and returned to the town.
Believers who were scattered during the persecution recorded earlier in Acts.
Philip, as he traveled north from Gaza, Azotus, and Caesarea.
The last possibility, Philip, is the least likely to have first evangelized. However, it is safe to say that he was involved in some type of ministry work as he traveled north.
Even less is known about Aeneas.
How old was he?
Was he a believer?
Was he a Jew or Gentile?
What we do know about Aeneas.
He had been paralyzed for eight years.
This meant he was crippled and unable to take care of himself.
He was a burden to himself and others.
There wasn’t any prospect of him being healed.
Let’s also make a quick comparison of the ministry of Peter and Paul.
Both healed crippled people.
Both were arrested and put in jail.
Both were delivered by divine intervention.
Both were treated like gods.
Peter – Acts 10:25-26.
Paul – Acts 14:8-18.
Both gave a bold witness before authorities.
Both confronted false prophets.
Peter – Acts 8:9-24.
Paul – Acts 13:6-12.
Both conducted their ministry through the power of the Holy Spirit.
The last point is the most important. Outside of the power of the Spirit, ministry is meaningless.
Key points about the healing of Aeneas.
Aeneas didn’t ask to be healed.
Aeneas was healed in Jesus’ name.
It was instantaneous.
He immediately rose to his feet.
He made his bed. In the original Greek, this could mean one of two things.
It simply means that he got up and made his bed.
It could also mean preparing a meal for Peter.
In the context, and in comparison where Jesus healed a paralytic, it seems the first possibility is the correct understanding.
The news of his healing spread rapidly.
Those who saw Aeneas walking around became believers. A proper understanding of verse 35 is essential.
It doesn’t mean all those who lived in Lydda and Sharon became believers.
It does mean that all who saw Aeneas walking became believers. A similar situation occurred in John 12:10-11.
Aeneas became a walking miracle and a testimony to the healing power of the resurrected Messiah.
The news of the healing spread to Joppa, where Tabitha died, leading to the residents of that town sending for Peter.
This passage in Acts doesn’t list any further work of Peter. However, from the context of Acts, it is safe to draw the conclusion that Peter was busy. He likely evangelized, taught, and encouraged the members of the church to grow in their faith. Peter was faithful to the commission that Jesus laid upon him in John 21:15-17.
Verses 36-43.
The city of Joppa is where modern-day Jaffa is located. It was on the coast, about ten miles away from Lydda. The city has a connection to the Old Testament. It was where Jonah boarded a boat to escape the call of going to the Gentiles. However, it is here that Peter received his call to go to the Gentiles, a call that he faithfully obeys.
It is clear from the passage that Tabitha was highly regarded in the community. Whether she made the clothes out of charity or if she was particularly skilled in that area and used that to bless others is unknown. We can learn from the context of the passage that she was respected and valued among the widows, a group that was particularly vulnerable in the ancient world.
The believers in Joppa heard that Peter was in the area and swiftly sent for him to come. There is no recorded incident in Acts of any of the Apostles raising the dead, yet their faith in Peter caused them to summon him.
The standard Jewish custom regarding a dead body is the following:
The body was washed.
It was anointed with spices.
It was buried.
There are several events recorded in Scripture of the dead being raised to life.
Elijah raising the son of the widow Zarephath – 1 Kings 17:17-24.
Elisha raising the son of the Shunammite woman – 2 Kings 4:32-37.
Jesus raising the widow’s son – Luke 7:11-17.
However, the closest connection is found in Jesus raising Jairus’s daughter in Mark 5:35-43.
In both cases, the mourners were removed from the room where the dead body was.
The words spoken were almost identical.
Mark: talitha cumi – little girl, arise.
Acts: Tabitha cumi – Tabitha, arise.
Both touched the body.
Jesus took the girl’s hand before speaking, not being concerned about becoming ceremonially unclean.
Peter took Tabitha by the hand after she was raised from the dead.
In both cases, it was the power of God that raised the dead person.
Just as the healing of Aeneas attracted great attention, there is little doubt that Tabitha rising from the dead would have spread like wildfire throughout the region. We don’t know precisely how long “many days” equaled. We do know that it was long enough for Peter to evangelize the area and to create a firm foundational understanding of following Jesus entailed, as faith built on miracles alone is not a strong faith.
The fact that Peter would stay with Simon, a leather tanner, is in itself quite remarkable. Tanners were considered unclean by rabbinical standards (Leviticus 11:35-40). Here, we see a picture of Peter moving steadily from a Jewish legalistic mindset to one of freedom in God’s grace.
Applications
Do you go/do when the Spirit calls you? In this passage, Peter is obedient several times. He was faithful to take the Gospel to the lost, he healed Aeneas without being asked, and he quickly went to Joppa when called even though the situation would appear hopeless. We need to remember this was the first “raising from the dead” that happened in the new church.
Are you selfless in serving others? Again, we see Peter in this passage serving others selflessly. He did what needed to be done, when it needed to be done.
Do you let your cultural norms interfere with your Kingdom work? As a Jewish Christian, one would think that Peter would avoid staying with a tanner. However, Peter placed Kingdom work over cultural norms. Our allegiance should be first and foremost to Jesus. Whenever there is a conflict between Kingdom and worldly expectations, Kingdom expectations must take priority.
Acts Lesson Nineteen: 9:1-31 – The Commissioning of Saul (Paul)
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest 2 and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. 4 Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 “Who are You, Lord?” he said.
“I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting,” He replied. 6 “But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. 9 He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink.
10 There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Here I am, Lord!” he said.
11 “Get up and go to the street called Straight,” the Lord said to him, “to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, since he is praying there. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so he can regain his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.”
15 But the Lord said to him, “Go! For this man is My chosen instrument to take My name to Gentiles, kings, and the Israelites. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for My name!”
17 So Ananias left and entered the house. Then he placed his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road you were traveling, has sent me so that you can regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
18 At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. 19 And after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for some days. 20 Immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: “He is the Son of God.”
21 But all who heard him were astounded and said, “Isn’t this the man who, in Jerusalem, was destroying those who called on this name and then came here for the purpose of taking them as prisoners to the chief priests?”
22 But Saul grew more capable and kept confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that this One is the Messiah.
23 After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. So they were watching the gates day and night intending to kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the wall. 26 When he arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to associate with the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, since they did not believe he was a disciple. 27 Barnabas, however, took him and brought him to the apostles and explained to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road and that He had talked to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 Saul was coming and going with them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He conversed and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they attempted to kill him. 30 When the brothers found out, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. 31 So the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace, being built up and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, and it increased in numbers. (HCSB)
Acts Lesson Nineteen: 9:1-25 – The Commissioning of Saul (Paul)
The narrative now switches from the mission work among the Samaritans and Gentiles by Philip to Saul, who I will call Paul from this point forward. Paul was a witness to the execution of Stephen and was likely aware of the evangelism efforts of the early church. Paul was so incensed by what he perceived as the blasphemous conduct of the Christian church that he became a one-man wrecking crew, trying to destroy the church by rounding up every believer he could find. However, on his way to Damascus to arrest any Christian he might find there, Paul had a one-on-one encounter with Jesus. I’ll break this lesson into three parts.
Paul’s encounter with Jesus, verses 1-9.
Paul’s encounter with Ananias, verses 10-19.
Paul’s in Damascus, verses 20-25.
Paul in Jerusalem, verses 26-31.
Paul’s encounter with Jesus – verses 1-9.
Before we dig into this passage, it can be neatly summarized in three points.
Paul saw a light.
Paul heard a voice.
Paul obeyed a call.
Every sinner lives in a world of darkness until the light of Jesus illuminates them to the truth of who Jesus is and how Jesus can take away their sins and restore their fellowship with God.
There is another interesting point regarding Paul and what would eventually be his calling to bring the Gospel to the lost. The church of Jesus is one united body made up of both Jews and Gentiles. Paul was both Jewish and Gentile. He was a Jew by birth but a Gentile by citizenship. Paul was trained in Old Testament scripture, well versed in Greek philosophy, and knowledgeable in Roman law. Paul was the ideal choice to bring the Gospel message as his life was an example of both Jew and Gentile being equal in Christ.
Now let’s return to the passage. There is some debate about whether or not the Sanhedrin would have jurisdiction in this case, which involved individuals living outside of the Jewish nation. Historical records do indicate that the high priest had been given rights of extradition in earlier times. Therefore, it is possible that the Roman government still granted the high priest this same right. Paul also speaks, in 2 Corinthians 11:24, of receiving scourgings from synagogues. Regardless, Paul left Jerusalem with authorization letters from the Sanhedrin to arrest any believers he may find. The very idea that Paul would make that journey illustrates the level of zeal he possessed in rooting out the members of the young church. The distance between the two cities is approximately 150 miles, requiring a journey of around 10-14 days to complete.
Historical records indicate that, at the time, Damascus had a sizeable Jewish population, with as many as 30-40 synagogues in the city. Since there were already believers there, it is apparent that the church was being effective in its evangelism efforts. It is also likely that some of the believers fled the persecution that was occurring in Jerusalem, which may have also factored into Paul’s desire to go to Damascus and bring the believers back.
From the point that Paul experienced the blinding light, he is a broken man. Here is why he was broken.
Paul had relentlessly persecuted the followers of Christ.
Paul now has a one-on-one encounter with Christ, confirming His resurrection.
In persecuting the followers of Jesus, Paul now understands that he was persecuting the risen Lord.
Persecution against any believer is persecution against the church of Jesus.
In persecuting the risen Lord, Paul was an enemy of God.
The realization that he was an enemy of God completely flips his world. What he thought he was doing for God, he now realizes he was doing against God.
Jesus then instructs Paul to go into the city and wait for further instructions. Without even questioning what was asked of him, he obeys the command.
Paul’s companion travelers were a witness to what occurred even though they didn’t receive the same revelation.
They could verify that a heavenly manifestation occurred.
However, they were not the recipients of it, but they could attest to the change that happened to Paul after the event.
There could be several reasons for Paul not eating or drinking for three days.
It could be an expression of repentance.
It could be because of shock and confusion.
It could be because of his broken spirit upon realizing what he had done against God.
It could be a combination of all of the above.
Paul’s encounter with Ananias – verses 10-19a.
The narrative now switches to a disciple named Ananias. Not only does Jesus appear to Ananias in a vision, but He also appears in a vision to Paul that Ananias would come to him, lay hands on him, and that he would regain his sight.
One has to wonder what went through Ananias’ mind as he was told to seek out the, at that time, biggest threat to the church, Paul. I believe it also gives a glimpse to Ananias’ standing within the Christian community in Damascus. Although it is possible that any believer could have been called to perform this task, it would make Paul’s acceptance into the Damascus Christian church easier if Paul’s advocate was a well-respected member, or possibly even someone in a leadership position.
Evidence of Ananias’ doubt and concern is evidenced by his statement that he’s heard how much damage Paul has inflicted on the church and that the purpose of Paul’s visit is known within the Christian community.
There is a linkage between verses 15 and 16. Paul, once the persecutor, was now to become the persecuted as he shared the Gospel.
From Ananias’ greeting to Paul, “brother,” it is clear that Paul was now part of the body of Christ. His spiritual conversion had occurred somewhere between the initial meeting with Jesus and his period of reflection while he waited for Ananias to lay hands on him. Ananias informs Paul that Jesus sent him, verifying the vision that Paul received, and Paul regained his sight. Ananias then baptized Paul and Paul began to eat and regain his strength.
Paul in Damascus – verses 19b-25.
If there were any doubts about the validity of Paul’s conversion, his actions in proclaiming the Gospel in the synagogues would have dispelled those doubts. Still, his astounding conversion amazed the believers in Damascus. It would appear that his zeal in evangelism far surpassed his previous zeal in trying to arrest and kill Christians.
In verse 24, the Greek word that was translated into “proving” means to join or put together. From the context of the passage, it appears that what Paul was joining was Old Testament passages that pointed to Jesus and then explained how Jesus fulfilled them. Paul’s previous schooling under Gamaliel now bears fruit as Paul is able to articulate how Jesus is the fulfillment of numerous Old Testament prophecies and skillfully deflect any attempts by the Jews to prove otherwise.
Eventually, this led to the Jews in Damascus hatching a plot to kill Paul. The phrase “after many days” is somewhat misleading, as Luke underplays the amount of time. We know from Galatians 1:17-18 that the time Paul spent in Damascus was three years. Once the plan to kill Paul was known, his disciples came up with a plan to ensure his escape.
Since the Jews were watching the gates, they had to come up with a plan that would avoid the use of the gates. Paul also mentions this event in 2 Corinthians 11:32-33. There he says that the governor under King Aretas, a Nabatean king, was guarding the city. Why would an Arabian king be looking for Paul? It is quite possible that during his time in Damascus, he also embarked on a mission trip to the surrounding Arab areas. The Jews likely joined forces with the Nabateans to capture Paul, with the Jews watching the gates and the Nabatean forces watching the surrounding areas. Regardless of the forces arrayed against Paul, he was able to make good his escape from Damascus and made his way to Jerusalem.
Paul in Jerusalem, verses 26-31.
Although Paul had been evangelizing in Damascus for approximately three years, he still wasn’t trusted or accepted in Jerusalem. The memory of what he had done to the believers previously in Jerusalem was still fresh in their minds. Undoubtedly, they believed that his “conversion” was a ploy to infiltrate and then crush the Jerusalem church. A few points about their rejection of Paul.
It would be reasonable to believe that the church in Damascus would have relayed the news about Paul’s work there. Therefore, their rejection is somewhat strange.
Possibly Paul’s disappearance for almost three years lent a feeling of suspicion to the validity of his conversion.
Where did he go?
What did he do?
Why did he wait so long to contact the elders in Jerusalem?
What right did he have to call himself an apostle?
It was the efforts of Barnabas that led to a breakthrough in the Jerusalem’s church acceptance of Paul. This is the same Barnabas from Acts 4:36-37, known as the “son of encouragement” to those around him. Because of Barnabas’ reputation, there is no reason to find a hidden meaning behind his support of Paul. It was through the effort of Barnabas that Paul was accepted into the Jerusalem Christian community.
Paul now begins his preaching of the Gospel in Jerusalem. We don’t know how long it took, but eventually, the Hellenistic Jews plotted to kill Paul. Let’s look at this topic in more detail.
The Hellenistic Jews were the same ones plotted against Stephen, leading to his martyrdom.
Paul was a Hellenistic Jew and likely felt an obligation or responsibility to take up the mantle left by Stephen. Paul makes a reference to this in Acts 22:20.
The Hellenists were not going to let Paul become the new Stephen.
To understand more fully what transpired, read Acts 22:17-21, where Paul gives a more detailed account of this event.
Jesus appears to Paul in a vision and tells him to leave.
The church leaders help Paul to leave Jerusalem and go to Tarsus.
The fact that they believed Paul’s vision demonstrates proof that the Jerusalem church had fully accepted and trusted Paul by this point.
Paul doesn’t appear in Acts again until Acts 11:25 when Barnabas brings Paul to the church at Antioch.
That places Acts 11:25 about seven to ten years after Paul left Jerusalem and ten to thirteen years after his conversion.
It is safe to believe that Paul used Tarsus as a base for reaching the Gentiles with the Gospel.
It is possible that some of the trials listed in 2 Corinthians 11:24-26 occurred during the seven years in question.
Only one Roman beating is recorded in Acts (16:22), with two others unaccounted for.
The five Jewish beatings are not recorded anywhere.
Only one shipwreck is recorded in Acts 27. leaving two unaccounted for.
Although Paul doesn’t appear for about seven years, it seems he was far from idle during that time.
Luke now inserts a summary verse.
The Gospel was being spread just as Jesus commanded.
The center would shift from Jerusalem to Antioch.
The key leader would shift from Peter to Paul.
The Gospel would be taken to the ends of the earth.
Although it was a time of peace for the church, it wasn’t a time of complacency.
They grew spiritually.
They grew in numbers.
Applications
If you have a clear word or instruction from God, are you obedient even when it may not make sense? Both Paul and Ananias were obedient even though Paul had to do a 180, and Ananias was called to go visit the very person he should’ve been avoiding.
Do you make an active effort to share the Gospel? Regardless of our spiritual gifting, Jesus commands all of us to bring the Gospel to the lost.
When you come in contact with others who are either sharing a false message, either purposely or because of lack of understanding, do you attempt to correct them? We should never condone false teaching in the church, even if our actions could harm us.
Acts Lesson Eighteen: Acts 8:26-40 Philip Evangelizes an Ethiopian Eunuch
26 An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip: “Get up and go south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is the desert road.) 27 So he got up and went. There was an Ethiopian man, a eunuch and high official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to worship in Jerusalem 28 and was sitting in his chariot on his way home, reading the prophet Isaiah aloud.
29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go and join that chariot.”
30 When Philip ran up to it, he heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you’re reading?”
31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the Scripture passage he was reading was this:
He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb is silent before its shearer,
so He does not open His mouth.
33 In His humiliation justice was denied Him.
Who will describe His generation?
For His life is taken from the earth.
34 The eunuch replied to Philip, “I ask you, who is the prophet saying this about—himself or another person?” 35 So Philip proceeded to tell him the good news about Jesus, beginning from that Scripture.
36 As they were traveling down the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, “Look, there’s water! What would keep me from being baptized?” [37And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart you may.” And he replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”] 38 Then he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him any longer. But he went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip appeared in Azotus, and he was traveling and evangelizing all the towns until he came to Caesarea. (HCSB)
In the previous lesson, Philip was being successful as an evangelist in the region of Samaria. Now, he is told by an angel to go to an area southwest of Jerusalem for another evangelistic mission, this time to an important Ethiopian eunuch. As we go through this passage, we’ll see three critical requirements for a successful missions trip or evangelistic outreach.
A man of God. In this example, it is Philip. God uses people to reach the lost with the gospel message.
The Spirit of God. The Spirit led Philip to the eunuch. The Spirit opened the heart of the eunuch to receive the message. When the Spirit brings an obedient messenger into contact with a softened heart, a harvest occurs.
The Word of God. Scripture reveals the truth about Jesus and leads to understanding and submission to the truth.
A couple of other facts to remember as we go through this passage.
In the minds of the Greeks and Romans at the time this occurred, Ethiopia was considered the “end of the earth” and illustrated part of the completion of Jesus’ Great Commission, to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
The conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch may very well be the first conversion of a Gentile.
Verse 27
There are a few critical points to know regarding this unnamed Ethiopian official.
Since he was in charge of Candace’s treasury, his official title was likely equivalent to a modern country’s Minister of Finance.
Eunuchs were considered trustworthy and loyal to their rulers, making them particularly suited for a financial role.
He had finished a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and was heading home.
He was likely a God-fearing Gentile who believed in Yahweh but had not become a complete convert to Judaism.
Since he was a eunuch, he would not be able to become a full member of a Jewish congregation.
Verses 28-29
It was likely no accident that the eunuch was reading from Isaiah. Of all the Old Testament writings, Isaiah is the one that holds the greatest hope for the eunuch in the picture of God’s ideal future. Isaiah 56:3-8 No foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord should say, “The Lord will exclude me from His people”; and the eunuch should not say, “Look, I am a dried-up tree.” 4 For the Lord says this: “For the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, and choose what pleases Me, and hold firmly to My covenant, 5 I will give them, in My house and within My walls, a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters. I will give each of them an everlasting name that will never be cut off.6 And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord minister to Him, love the name of Yahweh and become His servants, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold firmly to My covenant— 7 I will bring them to My holy mountain and let them rejoice in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” 8 This is the declaration of the Lord God, who gathers the dispersed of Israel: “I will gather to them still others besides those already gathered.”
Verses 30-33
Philip now runs up to the chariot and asks the eunuch if he understands what he is reading. When the eunuch replies that he doesn’t, the opportunity to evangelize presents itself. The passage that the eunuch is reading is Isaiah 53:7-8, but it’s from the Greek Septuagint and one of the most difficult of the servant texts to interpret. Here is a list of the basic pattern of suffering, humiliation, and exaltation of Jesus.
The image of the slaughtered lamb is Jesus’ crucifixion.
The silent lamb is Jesus’ silence before those who accuse Him.
The justice that was denied to Jesus reminds us of the false accusations of blasphemy and the failure of Pilate to release Jesus.
The phrase “describe His generation” is a difficult one to interpret. This may be a reference to all of Jesus’ disciples through the generations (years).
The phrase “taken from the earth” is a reference to Jesus ascending in His glory and being exalted to the right hand of the Father.
Verses 34-35
The eunuch is curious to learn more about the passage, and this presents an opportunity for Philip to explain what the prophet is saying and point to the fulfillment in Jesus. In the same way, we need to be sensitive to those around us who are curious to learn more about God and be a faithful witness of the Gospel message.
Verses 36-38
Although the passage doesn’t explicitly state that Philip ended his explanation of the Gospel message with an invitation to commit his life to Jesus, it is obvious that an invitation occurred. This invitation led to the eunuch asking to be baptized as they passed by some water. Philip follows up this request for baptism with a question to confirm that the eunuch understood the Gospel and was willing to commit to Jesus. When the eunuch confirms his belief in the Gospel message, Philip tells the chariot to stop, and he baptizes the eunuch.
Verses 39-40
After the baptism, the two are separated. Philip is miraculously transported to Azotus, which is close to Gaza, and he then proceeds to Caesarea. During his journey up the coast, he was not idle but was faithful with his time, evangelizing in the towns as he went.
The eunuch continued his journey home, “rejoicing” as he went. It is likely that he shared his newfound joy with those around him and those that he met on the journey. There is no other confirmed information regarding him. Some of the later church fathers said he became a missionary to Ethiopia, but that is not confirmed through other sources. If nothing else, he would have shared what had happened to him with others.
As a summary, here are a few facts regarding this passage.
Barriers to the spread of the Gospel continue to fall.
The eunuch was a Gentile and black. His baptism into the fellowship of God’s people demonstrates that all are welcome, regardless of color or physical handicaps.
The first converted foreigner in Acts was an African, long before Paul brought the message of the Gospel to Europe.
Philip’s accomplishments were considerable.
He pioneered the Samaritan mission.
He opened the door for the Gentile mission.
Peter followed him in evangelism in both Samaria and Caesarea (the conversion of Cornelius).
Philip was a visionary in mission work outside of Israel and the Jews.
Applications
Are you sensitive and responsive to the leading of the Holy Spirit? In this passage, Philip’s submission to the Holy Spirit led to his obedience and the opportunity to share the Gospel leading to the eunuch’s salvation.
Are you ready in and out of season to share the Gospel? Philip had no plans to travel outside of Samaria. Still, he was ready when called upon.
Do you have the ability to discern whether someone has genuinely submitted to Jesus? Philip’s assessment was that the eunuch did understand and submit to the truth of the Gospel, allowing him to baptize the eunuch. This is in contrast to the previous passage where Simon the Sorcerer was able to fool Philip. We won’t always get it right, but we need to make a determination before baptizing someone.
Acts Lesson Seventeen: Acts 8:1-25 The Gospel Spreads
Saul agreed with putting him to death.
On that day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the land of Judea and Samaria. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him. 3 Saul, however, was ravaging the church. He would enter house after house, drag off men and women, and put them in prison.
4 So those who were scattered went on their way preaching the message of good news. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. 6 The crowds paid attention with one mind to what Philip said, as they heard and saw the signs he was performing. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed, and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.
9 A man named Simon had previously practiced sorcery in that city and astounded the Samaritan people, while claiming to be somebody great. 10 They all paid attention to him, from the least of them to the greatest, and they said, “This man is called the Great Power of God!” 11 They were attentive to him because he had astounded them with his sorceries for a long time. 12 But when they believed Philip, as he preached the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. 13 Then even Simon himself believed. And after he was baptized, he went around constantly with Philip and was astounded as he observed the signs and great miracles that were being performed.
14 When the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had welcomed God’s message, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 After they went down there, they prayed for them, so the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For He had not yet come down on any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 When Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power too, so that anyone I lay hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 But Peter told him, “May your silver be destroyed with you, because you thought the gift of God could be obtained with money! 21 You have no part or share in this matter, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”
24 “Please pray to the Lord for me,” Simon replied, “so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
25 Then, after they had testified and spoken the message of the Lord, they traveled back to Jerusalem, evangelizing many villages of the Samaritans. (HCSB)
Today’s lesson can be divided into three parts.
The introduction of Saul as the main persecutor of the church.
Philip’s evangelism in Samaria.
The story of Simon the Sorcerer.
Verses 1-3
Luke introduced Saul at the end of the previous chapter. Now, he introduces Saul as the main antagonist of the early church. Before moving on, let’s get a detailed picture of Saul from various sections of Scripture.
Born in Tarsus of Cilicia – Acts 22:3.
A Hebrew of Hebrews – Philippians 3:5.
The son of a Pharisee – Acts 23:6.
A Roman citizen – Acts 16:37.
Educated in Jerusalem by Gamaliel – Acts 22:3.
A devoted Pharisee – Acts 26:4-5.
A blameless life when measured against the Law – Philippians 3:6.
On the path to becoming a great leader in the Jewish faith – Galatians 1:14.
Zealous for the Law leading him to persecute the church – Galatians 1:13-14.
Served God with a clear conscience – 2 Timothy 1:3.
Persecuted both men and women to death – Acts 22:4.
Entered synagogues to arrest, imprison, and beat believers – Acts 22:19.
A blasphemer against Jesus – 1 Timothy 1:13.
When considering the background and characteristics of Saul, it is only by the grace of God that such a man could be used to be the greatest evangelist and church planter, as well as writing 28% of the New Testament.
A couple of points to consider over these first few verses.
The scattering mentioned likely pertains to the Hellenistic believers as the apostles were not scattered. The Hellenistic view that God was not bound to a place or nation would have rubbed the religious leaders of Judaism the wrong way. In contrast, the Aramaic-speaking Christians had remained faithful to some Jewish institutions. However, this led to the following actions.
The persecution and scattering led to the Gospel being spread quicker and further.
The second phase of the Great Commission began; the witness to all Judea and Samaria.
Saul began to “ravage” the church.
The Greek word used here would denote wild beasts such as lions, bears, or leopards tearing at the flesh.
He went from house to house, attacking both men and women.
Verses 4-8
Instead of being distraught by the turn of events from Saul’s persecution, the believers took the message of the Gospel to new fields.
A quick historical reminder about Samaritans; they were a mixture of Jewish and Gentile heritage. The region was formed when the Assyrians invaded and captured the ten northern tribes of Israel in 732 B.C., deporting some and resettling Gentiles into the region to intermarry with the Jews. The Samaritans had their own temple, priesthood, and both Jew and Samaritans opposed interaction with the other.
Now, let’s identify the essential points from these verses.
The Christians scattered from Jerusalem were faithful in proclaiming the Gospel in the areas where they went.
Philip was chosen as a deacon, Acts 6:5, but like Stephen, he grew into an influential evangelist, Acts 21:8.
In verse four, the word “preaching” means to evangelize.
In verse five, the word “proclaim” means to announce as a herald.
Philip was God’s chosen herald to spread the Gospel in Samaria.
To reject the messenger would mean to reject the message and the one who commissioned the herald to deliver it, God.
Philip not only shared the Gospel, but he also performed miracles among them.
Many who were demon-possessed were healed.
Many who had physical ailments were healed.
However, the emphasis is on the Gospel.
They believed in the Gospel because they saw the miracles.
In believing the Gospel, they were saved.
The miracles didn’t save them.
There was great joy among the inhabitants because of the work of Philip.
The Gospel had now begun its outward arc from Jerusalem.
Samaritans were part Jew and part Gentile.
God built a bridge between the two enemies and united them in Christ.
Soon the bridge would extend to the Gentiles in an ever-widening arc.
In the Gospel, there are no unacceptable people, no physical rejects, and no place for prejudice.
Verses 9-25
A basic biblical principle is that whenever there is a movement of God’s work, Satan will try and hijack that movement with false teachers or false doctrine. It happened in the Old Testament, and it continues now in the church age. The enemy doesn’t want the church to advance and win souls, so he will try anything to derail the work of the church.
Let’s further break this section down into two parts. Verses 9-13 and 14-25.
Verses 9-13
We see here a contrast between true holy work done through the power of the Holy Spirit and work that is done through other forces, often demonic or dark in nature. There are times that seemingly good works are, in fact, not done through holy power. Jesus warns of this in Matthew 7:21-23, even going so far as to say that some who do works in His name are deceivers. Let’s look at some details of this section of the passage.
Because the people were astounded and amazed at Simon’s tricks, they believed the things he said.
Scripture doesn’t say precisely what he said, but it does say that the people called him “the Great Power of God,” which he didn’t deny.
This was not only misleading the people as to where his “power” came from but was blasphemy since it wasn’t the work of God.
Simon was an example of those who practice “lawlessness” as described in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12.
He was popular and recognized by the people.
They all paid attention to him.
He had been working among them for a long time.
He enjoyed the attention and adulation.
The work of the Holy Spirit through Philip now began to shift people from Simon to Philip.
The people saw the work of Philip.
People were healed.
Demons were cast out.
The people heard the Gospel message.
They became followers of Jesus.
They were baptized.
Simon was likely afraid he would lose all or most of his following.
He “believed.”
It was a false belief.
Jesus spoke about how the demons even believed in Him. Believing doesn’t mean following.
Simon’s belief was based on wanting to acquire the power he saw manifested in Philip.
Simon fooled Philip with his false belief.
Although Philip was doing work through the power of the Holy Spirit, Simon was able to fool him.
Both Jesus and Paul warn about false believers and/or teachers infiltrating the church and causing harm.
We must always be on guard against those who would harm the church from the inside.
Enemies from the outside are often easy to spot.
Enemies on the inside are much harder to see but often do more significant damage.
We don’t know for sure, but it’s possible the reason Simon followed Philip everywhere was to try and learn the “secret” behind Philip’s miracles.
Verses 14-25
Before we jump into the issue of Simon in this section of the passage, two other points need to be discussed.
The apostles sent Peter and John to Samaria. Why did this occur?
From a historical standpoint, we know that there was a deep and long divide between the Jews and the Samaritans. The two groups had their own view of Judaism and even a somewhat different Pentateuch. Unity is a critical factor in the church.
The Holy Spirit had fallen on them yet. This brings up point number two.
Why didn’t the Holy Spirit fall on them at conversion?
Just as the Jewish church had their Pentecost moment, now the Samaritan church will have theirs.
By having Peter and John go to them, lay hands on them, and for them to receive the Holy Spirit would demonstrate that they were no longer two separate people groups in Jesus’ church. They were now one.
Peter was given the keys to the kingdom of heaven by Jesus in Matthew 16:19.
Peter opened the door to the Jews at Pentecost.
He now opened the doors to the Samaritans.
He would later open the doors to the Gentiles in Acts 10.
The first ten chapters in Acts show a transition from Jew to Samaritan to Gentile.
Now let’s move on to the conclusion of the narrative addressing Simon’s prideful heart.
Just as in Simon’s following Philip around to see if he could discover the secret behind the power of Philip’s ministry, he now sees Peter and John lay hands on the people and wants the same ability. However, he views it as a commodity and thinks he can purchase it from the apostles. We can draw a few conclusions from the final section of this passage.
Simon was never truly converted.
May your silver be destroyed with you.
You have no share in this matter.
Your heart is not right before God.
Repent of your wickedness. This phrase is usually reserved for unbelievers.
He was poisoned by bitterness.
He was bound by iniquity.
All of these factors lead to an overwhelming conclusion that Simon was never saved.
Simon’s response is also telling.
He seems more concerned about avoiding the consequences that Peter pronounced.
Instead of offering a prayer of repentance, he asks Peter to pray for him.
We shouldn’t confuse this with asking others to pray for our needs.
However, only the individual can repent and pray for forgiveness.
Those who won’t pray a prayer of repentance for themselves won’t enter God’s kingdom.
This narrative shows how close a person can get to salvation and still not cross the threshold.
Simon heard the Gospel.
Simon saw the miracles.
He made a verbal profession of faith.
He was baptized.
He was never born again.
He was a clever counterfeit.
If he was not discovered, he could have caused untold damage from inside the church.
Peter and John then make their way back to Jerusalem.
As they passed through Samaria on the return journey, they shared the Gospel.
They didn’t waste an opportunity to reach the lost.
Through the efforts of Philip, Peter, and John, the Gospel was now spreading throughout Samaria.
Applications
Ministry must be done in the power of the Holy Spirit. Successful ministry is never done in our strength. It may appear to work for a time, but eventually, it will crumble, and nothing will be left.
We must always be on the lookout for counterfeit Christians who would undermine the church from within. These same people would also cause the church to look foolish to those on the outside who need to hear the Gospel and come to salvation.
Don’t let pride and jealousy stand between you and salvation. Simon had an unhealthy desire for the power that he saw demonstrated, and instead of submitting to Christ and being used for kingdom work, he tried a shortcut. No matter where God places you, no matter your spiritual gifting, be joyful as you contribute to the kingdom.
Always look for opportunities to share the Gospel, even when you aren’t planning on sharing. Peter and John didn’t waste the opportunities on the trip back to Jerusalem. We run into people every day who are on the path to hell. Don’t miss those chances to share.
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