Acts 11

Acts 11:1-18

33. PETER’S DEFENSE BEFORE HIS Acts 11:1-18 God’s servants always meet with opposition in the world. They expect it (John 15:20-21). The prophets of the Old Testament, and the apostles of the New, and faithful gospel preachers throughout the ages have constantly been the objects of mockery, derision, slander, and persecution. The message of the cross has always been offensive to men and still is. The doctrine of God’s free and sovereign grace in Christ has never been approved of by the masses. The church of God has a message from God to deliver to men and women who are his enemies.

We expect opposition from God’s enemies. But in Acts 11:1-18 Peter is standing in the midst of his brethren at a church meeting, defending his ministry before people who should have rejoiced in it! He could handle opposition from the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Libertines easily enough. He expected it. But it must have been an astonishing, painful thing for him to meet with opposition in the church of Christ and defend himself before his own brethren. Being led of God to do so, Peter went to Caesarea and preached the gospel to a congregation of uncircumcised Gentiles. Because they believed the message of grace and redemption through Christ, the sinners’ Substitute, these Gentiles were baptized by Peter in the name of the Lord. When the Jewish believers heard about what Peter had done, instead of rejoicing in God’s grace, they were hopping mad! In this passage Peter explains what God had done. The Holy Spirit has recorded this sad incident in the history of God’s church to teach us several important lessons. GOD’S PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD HAVE MANY FAULTS (Acts 11:1-3). Here is a marvelous revelation of human nature. The church at Jerusalem was in an uproar, not because of some grave doctrinal error or sinful deed, but because Peter had eaten with Gentiles! The uproar was so great that later it caused Peter himself to err (Galatians 2:11-16). They ignored the facts that God’s name was worshipped and honored at Caesarea, that this thing was done by God’s direction, that the saving grace of God had reached many, and that God’s mercy was going out to the whole world. Nothing was said about any of these things! They were ready to condemn Peter because he had been in the home of an uncircumcised Gentile and ate with him. This church that was once “with one accord” and filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, once so mightily used of God, was now ready to sit in judgment over God, his servant, and his work! It was filled with strife over nothing! By the time we get to the end of the chapter, God had reduced them to utter poverty, living on the charity of the Gentile believers they here derided (Acts 11:27-30). This incident in the church at Jerusalem is recorded to warn us. We must carefully and constantly guard against the evil tendencies of our proud flesh toward harshness, slander, and division (Ephesians 4:1-7; Ephesians 4:30-32; Ephesians 5:1-2). Be very careful in your judgment (assessment) of your brother’s actions (Matthew 7:1-5). Make allowances for and be lenient with one another. Grace teaches people to be gracious! HUMAN NATURE WILL ALWAYS TRY TO MIX WORKS AND GRACE (Acts 11:4-17). This was the real problem. These Jewish believers thought that uncircumcised Gentiles could not be accepted of God. The only way Peter could exonerate himself was to tell them exactly what had happened, exactly what God taught him in his vision at Joppa, and exactly how Cornelius and his band responded to the gospel, and say, “Brethren, God did this!” The sad fact is, Judaizers, legalists have always plagued the church of God in this world. It is the natural tendency of proud human flesh to say, “Grace is not enough. God requires something from man.” While declaring that salvation is by grace, they add law keeping, sabbath observance, adherence to religious traditions and customs to the grace of God. In doing so, they destroy the doctrine of grace. Anything done by man, when added to Christ, or added to the grace of God, for justification, sanctification, or any other aspect of salvation, makes the blood of Christ and the grace of God to be of non-effect (Galatians 5:1-4). Grace and works will not mix (Romans 11:6 : Ephesians 2:8-10). Grace producers good works. But grace is not caused by, dependent upon, or even influenced by our works! All preachers of works salvation are enemies of God, of Christ, of the gospel, and of men’s souls. They are to be held in utter contempt by the church of God (Galatians 1:6-8; Galatians 5:12; Philippians 3:2). God ’s gospel simply declares with regard to the whole work of salvation, “God did it!” God thought it! God bought it! God wrought it! GOD’S PEOPLE, THOUGH THEY HAVE MANY FAULTS, SUBMIT TO AND RECEIVE . “When they heard these things, they held their peace and glorified God” (Acts 11:18). Having been corrected, these brethren acknowledged their error and turned from it. True believers do err in many ways (1 John 1:8; 1 John 1:10). But believers do not hold the Word of God in contempt. Like David, when God confronts them with their sin, they bow to the Word of God (2 Samuel 11:26 to 2 Samuel 12:24). GOD’S SAVING GRACE ALWAYS GENUINE (Acts 11:18). Repentance, like faith, is a gift of God. It is not something men work up. It is not something that can be produced by human power and reason. Repentance is something God grants to sinners through Jesus Christ by the preaching of the gospel (Acts 5:31). Legal fear is not repentance; both Cain and Simon Magus had that. Moral reformation is not repentance; the Pharisees had that. Trembling at the Word of God is not repentance; Felix had that. Remorse for sin is not repentance; Judas had that. A desire for heaven is not repentance; Esau had that. What is repentance? It involves at least these four things:

1. (John 16:8-14). No one will ever repent until he is convinced by the Spirit of God of his sin, Christ’s righteousness, and God’s judgment of sin by Christ’s accomplished redemption.
2. (1 Thessalonians 1:9). Repentance is a turning of the heart to God, as he is revealed in Christ, in reconciliation and love.
3. (Mark 8:34-38). There is no repentance toward God where there is no commitment to Christ as Lord.
4. (Matthew 5:22). Every true penitent keeps on repenting, coming to Christ, following Christ, and consecrating himself to Christ. Like faith, true repentance never quits. It seeks Christ until it has Christ in the fulness, perfection, and joy of heavenly glory.

Acts 11:19-30

34. “THE WERE CALLED " Acts 11:19-30 Acts 11 is a turning point in the history of the early church. The church at Antioch, established under the ministry of Barnabas (Acts 11:22-24), was the first gospel church to be established among the Gentiles. Paul and Barnabas labored together in Antioch for about a year. During that time the church grew enormously. The church at Jerusalem was no longer the center of evangelism. When that church was on the decline, when the time had come for the gospel to be carried to the Gentile world, God raised up this church at Antioch.

It took up the banner of gospel truth and held it high for five hundred years until the entire city was destroyed by an earthquake in 526. It was this church which sent out the first missionaries (Paul and Barnabas - Acts 13) to proclaim the gospel to the world. Before they were done, these two men carried the gospel to the entire civilized world. The events at Antioch recorded in these verses and the lessons here taught and illustrated by the Spirit of God may be summarized by four statements. First, BY THE OF HIS WISE AND GOOD GOD CAUSED HIS ELECT TO HEAR THE GOSPEL AT THE TIME HE HAD WHEN HE WOULD SAVE THEM. God has a purpose in everything he does, and his purpose is always good. The Lord God sent persecution to his church at Jerusalem so that he might be gracious to his chosen among the Gentiles (Compare Acts 8:1-4; Acts 11:19; Romans 8:28). At the time of love God will cause his chosen ones to hear the gospel and believe (Ezekiel 16:8; Psalms 65:4). These believers who were greatly afflicted by God’s hand of providence were yet obedient to him. Though they were persecuted, they went everywhere “preaching the Lord Jesus” (Acts 11:20). In the midst of trouble and sorrow they were faithful witnesses. Though they could not have understood the purpose of God in their trials, they did understand their responsibility and faithfully performed it. “And the hand of the Lord was with them” (Acts 11:21). God never forsakes his own (Isaiah 41:10-14). Our heavenly Father does not always tell us what he is doing, but he assures us that all he is doing is for our good, the good of his elect in general, and his own glory. As the result of the persecution at Jerusalem the gospel was preached at Antioch, “and a great number believed and turned unto the Lord.” Second, THE LORD GAVE HIS CHURCH AT ANTIOCH PASTORS TO HIS HEART, WHO FED THE SAINTS WITH AND (Acts 11:22-26; Jeremiah 3:15). First, he sent Barnabas to them, “a good man,” generous, charitable, and kind, “full of the Holy Ghost” (Ephesians 4:18-21), and “full of faith”. He believed God and had proven himself faithful to God. Barnabas served the church of God wherever he was needed, with everything he had, long before he was sent out to preach the gospel. He was not a novice, but a man of proven faithfulness. Let no man be sent into the work of the gospel ministry who has not been proven as a faithful man (1 Timothy 3:1-6; Titus 1:6-9).

This faithful pastor rejoiced in the grace of God upon his people and “exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord” (Acts 11:23). Then Barnabas went to Tarsus and persuaded Paul to come to Antioch to help him in the work. As stated before, they labored together as a pastoral team at Antioch for a full year (Acts 11:25-26). Third, THROUGH THE OF THESE TWO GOSPEL GOD SAVED MANY, AS IT PLEASED HIM (Acts 11:20-21; Acts 11:24). This is God’s method of grace (Romans 10:17; 1 Corinthians 1:21; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23-25). God has a people in this world whom he will save: his elect, his redeemed! At the time appointed, God will cause his chosen to hear the gospel. And he will give them life, faith, and repentance through the preaching of the gospel, by the power of his Holy Spirit. Fourth, “AND THE WERE CALLED FIRST AT ANTIOCH” (Acts 11:26-30). Until this time the Christian religion had been looked upon as a sect of Judaism, like the Pharisees and Sadducees. The early believers were Jews. They were circumcised. They lived among the Jews. They kept the Mosaic feasts, holy days, rituals, and ceremonies, and worshipped in the temple and in synagogues.

The trappings of legal worship were not dropped, or destroyed all at once (Hebrews 8:13). But something new, something totally different happened at Antioch. These converts were not Jews, but Gentiles. They had no background in Judaism and no relationship to the Mosaic law. They had lived as pagans, idolaters, who engaged in the most godless, vile lifestyles imaginable. Among these people God was pleased to raise up a church.

Vile Gentiles had been given repentance and faith in Christ. They became followers of Christ. And their pagan neighbors invented a new name to describe this strange group of people. They called them “Christians”. What does that name mean? A Christian is a person, like Christ, anointed of God (1 John 2:27).

As an Augustinian is one who follows Augustine, so a Christian is one who follows Christ. As a baker is one whose business is baking, so a Christian is one whose business is Christ. A Christian is a voluntary slave to Christ in his household. There was something about the believers at Antioch which caused their neighbors and relatives to look upon them with scorn, and say with contempt and derision, “They are Christians!” What was it? What made these people so unique, so different? It was not their dress, their speech, their diet, or even their social life that made them peculiar. If we carefully study the usage of this word “christian” here and the other two places where it is found in the Bible (Acts 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16), six things will become obvious.

1. A Christian is a person who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ as he is revealed in the gospel (Acts 11:20-21; Acts 26:28). Believing the gospel message, we trust ourselves to the hands of Christ. We believe the gospel; but we trust Christ alone for salvation, eternal life, and everlasting acceptance with God.
2. A Christian bows to Christ as his Lord and King (Acts 11:21). Faith surrenders to the claims of Christ as Lord and willingly resigns to his rule (Luke 14:25-33).
3. A Christian is one who with purpose of heart cleaves unto the Lord (Acts 11:23). Believers persevere in faith. They cling to Christ, saying, “Lord, to whom shall we go” (John 6:68). We have no other hope.
4. A Christian is one who assembles with God’s people in the name of Christ (Acts 11:26). Sheep are social creatures. Goats roam alone! Believers identify themselves with Christ and one another in baptism (Romans 6:4-6), gather together in worship (Hebrews 11:26), break bread in sweet communion (1 Corinthians 11:24-28), and are united in the cause of Christ.
5. A Christian is one who walks in love with his brethren (Acts 11:27-30). God’s people love each other. “He that loveth not knoweth not God” (1 John 4:8; 1 John 5:1).
6. A Christian is one who patiently bears suffering and reproach for the glory of God (1 Peter 4:16). They follow the example of Christ even in the things they suffer (1 Peter 2:21).

Acts 11:28-30

35. A LESSON IN GIVING Acts 11:28-30 Agabus the prophet informed the saints at Antioch that there was going to be a great famine in the world, “which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea: Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.” These children of God are held up by the Holy Spirit as examples to us. They exemplify the grace of giving. They were informed by Agabus of a need and were moved by the Holy Spirit, speaking through Agabus, to do what they could to help their brethren in Judea (Acts 11:28). Then they spontaneously determined, without any pressure but the pressure of love and grace in their hearts, to give for the relief of their Jewish brethren, people they had never met (Acts 11:29). The believers at Jerusalem had already sold their possessions and gave everything they had to support their brethren and to see that the gospel was preached throughout the world (Acts 4:34-37). Had it not been for the generosity of the believers at Jerusalem there would have been no believers at Antioch! Now the saints at Antioch, in gratitude to God and their brethren from whom they had received the gospel, determined in their hearts to help their brethren in Judea when the need arose. Every man resolved to give according to his own ability. Each person’s giving was spontaneous, free, and unconstrained. Spontaneous giving is not careless giving.

It is giving that is prompted by the Spirit of God, guided by the Word of God, and carried out with thoughtful determination and purpose of heart (2 Corinthians 9:7). By giving to meet the needs of their brethren, these saints at Antioch were following the example of Christ himself (Philippians 1:1-8; 2 Corinthians 8:7-9). Taking the Antioch believers as an example, I want to show you eight things plainly revealed in the Word of God about giving.

1. If we would give anything for the glory of God and the honor of Christ, OUR GIFTS MUST BE BY LOVE AND TOWARD THE LORD JESUS CHRIST (2 Corinthians 8:7-9). The Apostle Paul refused to give any commandment about giving. He simply says that our giving is to be a proof or demonstration of our love for Christ. We prove the sincerity of our professed love to Christ by what we give and why we give it. In this dispensation of grace, God has given us no laws telling us how much we are to give. Like all other acts of worship, our gifts must be motivated by love. “The love of Christ constraineth us!” Love for Christ is the key. Love is generous, overflowing, and sacrificial. Love sets its own guidelines. Love is a law unto itself. Love determines what the believer gives, how much he gives, and how often he gives.
2. If we would give as unto the Lord, OUR GIFTS MUST ARISE FROM A WILLING HEART (2 Corinthians 8:12). That which is given out of a sense of duty, responsibility, debt, or legal constraint is not free. Only when our gifts come from willing hearts, only when they are given freely and cheerfully are they accepted by God. The quantity given is totally insignificant to the Lord. It is not the amount given, but the motive of the gift that matters (Exodus 35:4-5; Exodus 35:29).
3. WE SHOULD ALL GIVE TO OUR ABILITY, IN TO OUR (1 Corinthians 16:2). Carnal men and religious legalists talk about percentages and specific amounts. But the New Testament never speaks of such things. Our gifts to the cause of Christ, the preaching of the gospel, and the poor among us are to be based upon our ability. God’s people are not tax-payers (tithers), but sons! We do not owe ten percent of our income to the government of God’s kingdom. God’s kingdom, his church is our family. When we give, we are giving to meet the needs of our family. What miser will be stingy with his own family? There should be an equality in giving too (2 Corinthians 8:13-14). A few people should not be expected to carry the load for all. Each should do what he has the ability to do in the support of Christ’s kingdom. Yet, the poor should not be expected to carry the same load as the wealthy.
4. ALL GOD’S PEOPLE SHOULD GIVE FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE GOSPEL (1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 9:7). Men and women, rich and poor, old and young, all who believe the gospel should give a portion of their earthly goods for the support of the gospel. We should all be willing to share what we have for the common good of God’s church.
5. If we would honor Christ in our giving, WE MUST BE BOTH LIBERAL AND IN GIVING (2 Corinthians 9:5-6). Believers are liberal and generous because they have been treated liberally and generously by God (Romans 5:21; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11). Giving is like sowing seed in the earth. A wise farmer sows his best seed and scatters it generously. That is the way we are to give (Galatians 6:6-10). We have given nothing until we have taken what we want, what we need, what we can use for ourselves, and have given it to our Lord (Mark 12:41-44).
6. ANY GIFT THAT IS BY CHRIST AS AN ACT OF WORSHIP, FAITH, AND TO HIM MUST BE (2 Corinthians 9:7). The Word of God leaves it entirely up to you what you give, who you give it to, where you give, the way you give, and when you give. There is nothing legal about it. God’s people are not in bondage. “God loveth a cheerful giver!” He will not have legal gifts of a grudging spirit.
7. Whether our gifts are made in public offerings of worship, to private individuals, or to specific causes, WE ARE TO GIVE AS UNTO THE LORD (Matthew 6:1-5). Do nothing to be seen of men or honored by men. That which is done unto the Lord, for the honor of God, will be seen and honored by him (Mark 14:3-9). In all acts of worship (prayer, giving, fasting, Bible reading, etc.) strive to maintain privacy. The minute you advertise what you do for Christ you expose a hypocrite’s motive!
8. THIS KIND OF GIVING IS WELL- TO GOD (Philippians 4:18; Hebrews 13:16). Give out of a loving and grateful heart, hoping for nothing in return. Of these two things you may be assured: (A) You will never suffer loss by generosity (Luke 6:38). “The only way to have more than enough to spare is to give more than you can spare” (Oswald Smith). “Many a man becomes empty handed because he does not know the art of distribution” (C. H. Spurgeon). (Read Psalms 37:16-26). (B) The more you can be trusted with to use for the kingdom of God, the glory of Christ, and the furtherance of the gospel, the more you will have to use. If you are willing to give, God will supply you with the ability to give (2 Corinthians 9:10; Philippians 4:19).