Studies in Book of Acts

Chapter 11:1-30Apostle Ronald C Hill Sr.

January 18-21, 2012

In the process of the study of the word of God we must seek to discern how God and man communicated with each other. We should also seek to detect and comprehend the principle,

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which is a rule or standard that is being established by God. Once we have perceived the fixed and predetermined policy of God we are to embrace that truth and we are to profess

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it and practice it when the opportunity presents itself.

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I trust we can perceive that God had communicated with both Cornelius and Peter that He is the God who will honor prayer.

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1. We note Peter praying in Acts 3:1 and Acts 10:9.

Acts 3:11 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

Acts 10:9  

9  On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:

2. We also note Cornelius praying in Acts 10:1,2.

Acts 10:1

1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

Acts 10:2

2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

I trust we can also perceive that God communicated with both men during the time they prayed and after they had prayed.

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If we are wise we would observe how God dealt with them and expect to receive a similar result in our lives if we do what they did which was to pray.

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3. We also note how both men obeyed the voice of God once they understood what God was saying.  

If Peter and Cornelius who were mere men could communicate with God and follow His instruction so can I, if I do what they did.

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The fact that God will hear and answer prayer is a fixed and pre-determined policy that is supported by a plethora of verses throughout the Bible.

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How is it possible for a true believer not to pray is the question?

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From our study thus far we also see that the Holy Spirit is the major person in the life of a Christian after they have accepted Christ as Savior.

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As we continue the study of the one and only history book in the New Testament we will observe repeatedly that there can be no ministry or fellowship with God without the presence of the Holy Spirit.

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Acts 11:1

1 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.

Acts 11:2

2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,

Acts 11:3

3 Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.

A. Word quickly got back to Judea that Peter had preached to the Gentiles and that they had been saved.  

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B. When Peter returned to Jerusalem, he was challenged by those of the “Circumcision” ;for eating with Gentiles. The “Circumcision” here refers to Christian who were born

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B. Jews and who had practiced the Jewish religion before accepting Christ as savior.

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C. Although they were born again, they yet held on to their former way of thinking. They believed that a Gentile must be circumcised in order to received the full blessing of

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C. God. They still thought it was wrong for Peter to eat with the Gentiles.

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1. We recall that Peter had that same belief before God dealt with him upon the roof.  

2. Peter heard the voice of God and was courageous enough to obey God. His courage caused the church to question his actions.

When we obey God we can expect to receive strong disapproval and harsh criticism from those who are in the body of Christ that are yet holding on to outdated and or unbiblical principles.

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D. Do we not find it remarkable how the church leaders were so blinded by their prejudices of pride and bigotry that they were unable to detect clearest discoveries of divine truth.

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D. How could they not see that God had revealed His love for the Gentiles by saving them and filling them with the Holy Spirit? Instead of them being happy someone had gotten

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D. saved they wanted to protect what they believed to be true.

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Acts 11:4

4 But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,

E. Peter now began to defend why he had gone into the home of a Gentile and to eat with them. In Acts 11:5-18 Peter gave a simple recital of all that had happened to him from

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E. chapter 10 of Acts, which was covered on last week.  

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1. He said that the sheet from heaven came right down to where he was.

2. He spoke of gazing intently at what was on the sheet.

3. Peter reported that the voice of the Lord had instructed him to kill and eat and that he refused to obey the Lord at first.

4. The Lord told Peter “What God has cleansed and pronounced clean he was not to call common or unclean”. This occurred three times.

5. Peter says immediately there were three men waiting at the door for him.

6. The Holy Spirit instructed him to accompany these men without any hesitation, misgiving or discrimination.

7. Peter adds the detail that six brethren accompanied him from Joppa to Caesarea. I believe Peter took those men with him to have support and witnesses.

8. Peter tells how Cornelius had reported seeing an angel in his house. The angel instructed him to send for Peter.

9. Peter was to give and explain a message by which Cornelius and his household would be saved.

10. Peter says as he began to speak the Holy Spirit fell on them as He had on them at the beginning.

11. Peter says he remembered the word of the Lord in regards to water baptism and being baptized in the Holy Spirit.

12. Peter then says “If God gave to them the same Gift as He gave to them when they believed on the Lord Jesus Christ who was I and what power and authority had I to interfere with what God was doing.

13. When they heard this, they were quieted and made no further objection. They then glorified God, saying God has also granted to the Gentiles the ability to repent and received eternal life strictly by faith without any rituals or ceremonies or Judaism.

F. All their objections about what Peter had done were gone. This was to their credit. When we accuse people of doing wrong and discover we were the one that was

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F. wrong we should ask for forgiveness and move on.

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A Church now being Planted in/at Antioch  

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Acts 11:1919 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.

G. The narrative now goes back to the time of the persecution following the martyrdom of Stephen.  

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1. Those who were scattered after the persecution carried the gospel to the cities of Phoenicia a narrow coastland along the Northeast Mediterranean and including the ports of Gyre and Sidon (modern Lebanon).

2. To Cyprus, a large island in the northeast Mediterranean.

3. To Cyrene, a port City on the North Coast of Africa (Modern Libya).

H. However, they preached the gospel to no one but the Jews.

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Acts 11:20

20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the LORD Jesus.

Acts 11:21

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

1. Verse 20 implies that they were latecomers to Antioch and when they came they preached the Lord Jesus to the Grecians.

They preached to Hellenist Jews. A Hellenist Jew was a Jew whose main language was Greek.

2. In verse 21, the blessing of the Lord accompanied their preaching because a large number of souls were saved. This is one of the sure ways to know that God is pleased with your preaching.  

I. We note that no name was given as to who was doing the preaching in Antioch. It’s not so important as to who is preaching; as it is what they are preaching.

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Acts 11:22

22  Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.

Acts 11:23

23  Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

Acts 11:24

24  For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

J. When the news of the great spiritual awakening reached the church at Jerusalem they decided to send Barnabas. Barnabas, whose name meant “son of encouragement” was truly

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J. a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and faith.

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3. Barnabas continuously exhorted and urged and encouraged them all to cleave to and remain faithful to the Lord.  

Acts 11:25

25  Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:

Acts 11:26

26  And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves

Acts 11:26

26  with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. 

K. Barnabas departed from Tarsus seeking after Saul. Saul had been sent to his hometown of Tarsus for his own safety.

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Acts 9:29

29  And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

Acts 9:30

30  Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

Acts 9:31

31  Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and

Acts 9:31

31  in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

L. When Barnabas found Saul he brought him back to Antioch and they assembled themselves in the church a whole year.  

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M. The disciples were first called Christian in Antioch. The word “ Christian” occurs only three times in the New Testament.  

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Acts 11:26

26  And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves

Acts 11:26

26  with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. 

Acts 26:28

28  Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

1 Peter 4:16  

16  Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

1. “Christian” originally was a term denoting a servant and follower of Christ. Today it has become a general term devoid of its original meaning. To claim to be a Christian should mean that Christ and Christ alone is our

1. Lord and source for life. It should mean that Christ and His word revealed in scripture have become our supreme authority and our only hope in the present and in our future.

Acts 11:27

27  And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.

Acts 11:28

28  And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world:

Acts 11:28

28  which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.

Acts 11:29

29  Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:

Acts 11:30

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

N. Although Antioch became the center from which the gospel went out to the Gentiles, it always maintained full and hearty fellowship

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N. with the churchat Jerusalem. The church at Jerusalem was the center for Jewish evangelism.  

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O. The ministry of the prophets is now the focus in the book of Acts. The prophets were believers who had been gifted by the Holy Spirit

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O. to speak as themouthpieces of God. They would receive revelations from God and then deliver them to the people.  

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P. One of the prophet’s name was Agabus. He predicted that a great famine would sweep over the inhabited earth. The famine did come in the days of Claudius Caesar.

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Where are the prophets of today? Those who will give a word, then have documentation, that what they have said; has come to pass.

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I believe a major cause of the silence of the prophets is because most mainline denominations only promote the office of the Pastor and the evangelist. If and when a man or

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woman of God has the boldness and courage to declare themselves to be a prophet or even an Apostle they are looked upon with a eye of suspicion.

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1. When the famine came every man resolved to send relief, each according to his individual ability to the saints who lived in Judea.  

2. They sent their contributions to the Elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul. This is the first mention of the term “Elder” in the Book of Acts.  

3. No information is given as to how these men became elders. In the Gentile churches, Apostles or their representatives appointed Elders.  

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