The Acts of the Apostles
Chapter 11
Vs. 1-2 Peter went back to Jerusalem. He told them what happened with the Gentiles.
Vs. 3 They started to blame him for eating with the Gentiles.
Vs. 4-14 Peter told them all about his dream and what God said about eating those meats.
Vs. 15 Peter told them that the Holy Spirit came on them just like the Holy Spirit came on us.
Vs. 16,17 Peter told them that he remembered what Jesus said That John would baptize with water, but we (the believers) would be baptized with the Spirit.
God’s spirit came down on the Gentiles in the same way so how could Peter say that they were not accepted by God? How could Peter say No, and go against God?
Vs. 18 When the other disciples heard what Peter said, they accepted and believed what God did for the Gentiles. They said, God has given salvation to the Gentiles, also.
Vs. 19 After Stephen died. (He was put to death by men throwing stones at him until he died. ) After that time, the Jewish leaders made trouble for other believers.
Many of these Jewish believers, left Jerusalem, they traveled to other cities. They told people in other cities about Jesus. But they talked only to other Jewish people. They were not talking about Jesus to the Gentiles.
Remember, the Jewish people knew about the Messiah promised Saviour. So when the believers told the Jews about Jesus they showed them how Jesus was that promised person the Old Testament talked about.
The Gentiles did not worship the God in heaven. They worshipped idols. So to talk to the Gentiles you had to first tell them about the true God in heaven. That He was the only God. And that Jesus was his son.
Then they told them what Jesus did.
The Jews had some understanding to start with. But for the Gentiles all of this was new.
Vs. 21 God was with these believers who were telling others and many people believed on Jesus.
Vs. 22 When the disciples that were in Jerusalem heard about the good things that were happening in the city of Antioch they sent Barnabas to help teach them.
Vs. 25 Barnabas stayed there for awhile, then he went to find Saul —who was now a Christian—-and he would be called Paul, now—-Barnabas brought Saul/Paul to Antioch.
Vs.26 They stayed there a year to preach and teach. It was here in this city that believers in Jesus Christ first were called “Christians”.
Vs. 27 -30 While they were they in the city, some men came to visit them one of them had a prophecy about the future. He said that there soon would be hard times come to the area. People would have a hard time having food, money, things they needed.
So the people in Antioch agreed together that they would send money to help—–whatever they were able they would help.
So they did that and they sent the gift of money with Barnabas and Saul/Paul to take to Jerusalem.