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Acts 11 is a great “little” chapter. It only consists of two stories — Peter’s report to the Jerusalem church about the work of the Holy Spirit among Gentiles and Barnabas and Saul’s (Paul) ministry to the church in Antioch. With these two stories, Luke begins to transition his focus from the story of the church in Jerusalem and its leaders (Peter, John, and others) to the expansion of the church among the Gentiles, which centers on the ministry of Paul.
Excitement (vv. 1-18)
In the first half of the chapter, Peter gives a report to the church in Jerusalem about the work of the Holy Spirit among the Gentiles. At first, the congregation did not respond favorably. They criticized Peter for going “to uncircumcised men and [eating] with them” (vs. 3). But, as Peter began to explain to them the vision he had seen and the ministry of the Spirit that he had experienced, their hearts were softened. They became excited about the Gentiles coming to faith. Verse 18 reads, “When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, ‘Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.'”
This has been my experience. When true Christians hear of the work of God in bringing people to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit, they get excited. They want to celebrate the work of the Savior. They want to sing for joy because people have received new life. They want to praise God for he is greatly to be praised for rescuing men, women, and children from their sins. A miracle of grace has happened, and it is greater than any earthly or ethnical distinction we make between men and women. The grace of God extends beyond all boundaries and brings men and women together in Christ. That is reason to celebrate!
The First “Christians”
In verses 19-30, Luke tells us about the congregation in Antioch. It is a mixed congregation, comprised of both Jews and Gentiles, and developed out of two missionary endeavors.Stephen, first, traveled through Phonecia, Cyprus, and Antioch proclaiming the gospel only to Jews. He spoke of the truth of Christ, and many Jews responded to the call to faith. Then, other “men of Cyprus and Cyrene” traveled in the same region speaking the truth to Gentiles. The had of the Lord was on them as well and many Gentiles heard the message of Christ and responded in faith. These men and women assembled in Antioch and were called “Christians”.
(The term “Christian” was most likely a label placed on the congregation by the unbelieving public. It is an indication that the church was beginning to have an identity of its own, one not associated with the Jews. As the movement grew, it became recognized socially.)
Characterized by Graciousness
Finally, I would note that the Antioch congregation was characterized by graciousness. They “determined every one according to his ability, to send relief to the bothers living in Judea. And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.” They responded to Judean Christians’ needs by sending famine relief. Isn’t that a beautiful and gracious thing?
Wouldn’t it be awesome if Christians everywhere responded to the expanse of the gospel with excitement and graciousness like the believers in Antioch?
Jesus said, “…But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” ( Acts 1:8).
The promise has come true. We are a testament. The gospel has come to the Gentiles. God was faithful to keep his promise. His disciples were faithful to fulfill their responsibility. They spread the gospel to the Gentiles and to “the ends of the earth.” Acts 10 marks the beginning of this kingdom expansion (at least figuratively).
Cornelius Had a Vision
A God-fearning Gentile had a vision from God in which God told him to send for Peter who was to explain the mystery of Christ to him. Cornelius was a “sort of” Jewish convert — he believed in the God of Jews and served him, but he hadn’t fully submitted to the religious rites, especially circumcision. However, he did follow the two other “expressions” of Jewish piety — prayers and almsgiving. Further, he led his whole household in seeking after the God of Israel.
Peter Had a Vision
While on his journey to the city (Joppa), Peter went onto a housetop to pray. There he had a vision from God in which God revealed two things to him. First, God declared all animals clean and acceptable to eat. (Eating BBQ is now pleasing to the Lord. PRAISE THE LORD!) Peter was hesitant to believe the promise, but God affirmed and reaffirmed it three times. Second, God told Peter about Cornelius. God had a plan for Cornelius, and Peter was part of that plan.
Peter Preached Good News to the Gentiles
Peter boldly stood and proclaimed the good news of Christ before the Cornelius and those he had gathered around him. Peter’s messages was simple (as it has been throughout Acts), and it centered on Jesus. Jesus lived perfectly; he worked graciously; he died unjustly; and he rose mightily from the grave. He reconciled men and women to God through his life death and resurrection. That is the gospel. Nothing else compares. Don’t be fooled.
The Holy Spirit Descended Upon the Gentiles
Before Peter finished preaching, the Holy Spirit descended upon the Gentiles. The people were filled with faith and the Holy Spirit to the amazement of those with Peter. Peter commanded that they be baptized in the name of Jesus. The Gentiles didn’t need to be circumcised; they needed to be baptized. They weren’t becoming Jews; they became Christians. They received the blessings of the New Covenant in Christ, and its sign is baptism, not circumcision.
Walls of Hostility are Destroyed By God in Christ
Jesus destroyed the wall of hostility that existed between Jew and Gentile. He destroyed any and all ethnic or religious walls of divisions between men and women. He brings all those who would come to him in faith together in his new life — Jew, Gentile, white, black, male, female, slave, free. “But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility…” (Eph. 2:13-14).
How does this truth reshape the way you think about other people, especially those with whom you’ve previously erected or had erected a wall of hostility?
Praise God today for bringing you into his covenant people through Christ. You were once far off, but you’ve been brought near in Christ.
Are there any Corneilus’s in your life to whom God is calling you to go and proclaim the good news? If so, will you be like Peter and go?
Throughout history Christians have used the refrain, “The Holy Spirit is at work!” to describe their excitement about what God is doing in their lives and those of their churches. This was certainly the case for the first Christians. Luke (in Acts — he’s the author) tells us of all the miraculous works of God in and around the lives of that small band of believers. God is advancing His kingdom through the proclamation of His gospel and the miraculous transformation of men’s and women’s lives for His glory.
Acts 9 contains several stories of these miraculous transformations. The first is perhaps the most familiar. Even if you have a cursory knowledge of the Bible and Christian history, you are somewhat familiar with the conversion of Saul on the way to Damascus. Two less known, but no less dramatic stories conclude the chapter in Peter’s healing of Aeneas and Dorcus in the name and power of the Lord Jesus Christ. Between these two miraculous transformation stories, we find Barnabas (perhaps as equally dramatic) bringing and standing with Paul (Saul) before the other apostles in Jerusalem. They were afraid of this man, but Barnabas wasn’t (or, at least overcame his fear).
I only want to focus on the first of these stories today.
Saul
God Takes Initaitive: Jesus approached Saul on his journey to Damascus with a blinding light and confronted him about his plans to persecute and kill Christians (Jesus literally says, “me.”). It was Jesus (the risen Lord) who initiated the interaction with Saul. It was Jesus who called to Saul. It was Jesus who said, “Follow me.” Saul action was to respond after Jesus came to him.
God is Sovereign: Jesus sent Saul into the city with a change of orders. Instead of persecuting Christians, he would be preaching the gospel of our resurrected Lord. Jesus had chosen to use Saul for this divine purpose. He was to be transformed for that purpose.
God’s Call is Irresistible: When Saul received the call from Jesus, he couldn’t refuse it. He couldn’t reject it. He couldn’t walk away from it. Jesus took hold of Saul’s heart and transformed it. Saul could not resist the dramatic call of God on his life.
Ananias
God Takes the Initiative: Ananias was a faithful man. He was a disciple in Damascus when he had a vision from the Lord that told him to go and help Saul. Ananias wasn’t looking for this call, but God sought him out.
God is Sovereign: Ananias had a divine appointment. He had been selected by the sovereign and gracious hand of God to go to Saul, to minister grace to Saul. He didn’t want to go at first, but God sent him anyway.
God’s Call is Irresistible: Ananias couldn’t say no. He had received call from God. He had to answer the call. He didn’t have an option to walk away. His heart wouldn’t let him. He didn’t want to resist the call after he had an encounter with Jesus. He was chosen by God. He was sent by God. And, he went.
The Same is True for Us.
This story is normative in the Bible and in Christian experience. God is the one who initiates His interactions with us. It is God who comes to us in our need. It is God who seeks us out when we wander from his fold. It is God who rescues us with his own blood. It is God’s Spirit who arrests our hearts. It is God who comes to us in our times of need and rebellion from him. He does it because he loves us and has sovereignly chosen us to be his. And, the advances of his sovereign and electing grace in our lives is irresistible. When he transforms our hearts for his glory and purpose, we cannot resist him. Resistance is simply impossible.
Christian history is stained with the blood of martyrs. Stephen was the first, and many men and women have followed suit. Acts 6 and 7 tell his story.
Stephen Was Full of Faith and of The Holy Spirit
We first meet Stephen in 6:5 where he is described as a man “full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.” He believe in Jesus. He held on to Jesus with his life. He believed God and took him at his word. He was a man full of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit led him. The Spirit guided him. The Spirit empowered him.
Because of the work of the Spirit in his life and because of his faith in Christ, he was able to do many wonders and signs among the people. He was a living testimony to the greatness of God’s power attained and expressed through faith. And, God was pleased to use him in a drastic way in the advancement of the church.
I will take a moment to challenge us here. I believe that Stephen received a unique gift of God’s Spirit that allowed him to do the astonishing wonders and the signs among the people. But, I also believe that we can learn much from him by way of his willingness to be used by God. He allowed himself to be used by God for great things. He gave himself totally to Christ in faith. He willingly submitted to the Holy Spirit. If we will do the same, we will be surprised at just how much God can and will use us.
Stephen Was Seized
Some men of the Synagogue tried to dispute him, but they were unsuccessful. So, they decided to trump up charges against him.
“[T]hey secretly instigated men who said, ‘We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.’ And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, and they set up false witnesses who said, ‘This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us'” (6:11-14).
Then, Stephen preached, and it was quite a sermon. The Holy Spirit spoke through him, and he challenged the men of Israel with clarity and boldness.
Stephen was Stoned
After he preached this powerful sermon, the people were enraged. They bitterly ground their teeth at him and resolved to kill him. But, Stephen saw the glory of the God by the power and witness of the Holy Spirit.
A Forgotten God and A Forgiving Heart
As I read Stephen’s story, I’m reminded of a book I leafed through a few months ago — Forgotten God by Francis Chan. Chan’s desire is for Christians to reverse our tragic neglect of the Holy Spirit. This challenges me. It hits close to home. I struggle to be “in-tune with” and rely upon the Holy Spirit in my life of faith. I often find that I have practically neglected the Holy Spirit. Stephen didn’t. I want to be more like Stephen. I pray you do as well. May the Lord help us to do so.
Verse 7:60 amazes me. Look at it again. “And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.'” As he was dying an unjust death, Stephen prayed for mercy on his accusers and murderers (including Saul). That blows my mind. That’s evidence of a heart given to the Holy Spirit.
In the first part of Acts 6, we find the selection and commissioning of the first Deacons. These seven men were “of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom” (6:3) and were given a specific task — to care for the widows in the daily distribution of food (6:1-2). Several things quickly become apparent when we read about these men.
There’s a Need (6:1)
The congregation had a need — the widows were being neglected as the congregation grew. There was no one to prepare and distribute food to them. And, the Apostles were busy caring for the congregation in spiritual terms by devoting themselves to discipling the congregants in the word of God, preaching the word of God, and praying for the church and world. They didn’t have time to care for the physical needs of the widows and others. So, they appointed deacons to do this important work.
There’s No Building or Budget
I can’t help but notice that the the congregation didn’t have a building, and the congregation didn’t have a budget. There is no reference to these most frequently assigned deacon duties. The point is not that the management of property and finances isn’t important. Quite the contrary. It is. But, it is not the deacons’ main responsibility. The deacons were, first, to participate in the ministry of the church by meeting the physical needs of the congregants and those in their surrounding community. Everything else that they did was to enable them to accomplish this responsibility.
There are Resources to Distribute
The congregation had resources to distribute for the glory of God. The congregants had willingly and generously given their possessions so that the needs of men, women, and children could be met (4:32-37). It was the deacons’ job to distribute these resources in order to minister to the people. They were to lead the congregation in meeting physical needs. They were lead the congregants in being good stewards of their personal resources and those of the congregations. They were to facilitate gospel ministry with the distribution of resources.
There Was Church Growth
“The word of God continued to increase, and the number of disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith” (6:7). The church grew because of the deacons’ ministry. Can you believe that? The deacons led the church in meeting the needs of those within and without the congregation, and the church grew. God used this deacon ministry, this servant ministry to bring people, even priests, to himself. Wow.
Deacons are part of God’s plan to redeem the world. They are to make this vision of meeting physical needs through service and the management and distribution of the congregation’s resources a reality. That’s a privilege.
Acts 4 and 5 continue the story of the beginning of the New Testament Church. What began as a small group in an upper room in Jerusalem has quickly spread to a large group of people who are dedicated to the Way of Christ.
In their story, these early Christians modeled the three dimensions of the Christian life. Those dimensions are:
Any attempt to live the Christian life without one of these three dimensions falls short and leaves us lacking. We are saved by Christ for Christ to be a part of his people and to work to accomplish his purposes. The New Testament Christians knew nothing of an individualized Christian faith that is to be lived in isolation. They lived, worked, worshipped, and ministered Christ’s grace together.
Further, I would note one other theme that is written all over Acts 2-5.
Spiritual Awakening
Luke wrote the theme of spiritual awakening throughout his narrative from the time of Peter’s sermon on. The formula for this awakening is: the gospel is proclaimed (either with or without a miraculous sign) + gathered people listening intently + conviction of sin = spiritual awakening in the soul. It’s that simple. Or, is it? Is there more to it? Yes!
Luke tells us that there is more to spiritual awakening than following a formula. There is yet only one active ingredient in the spiritual awakening process. It is the Holy Spirit, not any of those things mentioned above. The earliest Christians couldn’t ensure spiritual awakening any more than we can. They had to rely upon the Holy Spirit. We do too. We can prepare for awakening. We can fulfill our responsibility for spiritual awakening by proclaiming the gospel and gathering people. But, only he can convict people of their sin. Only he can bring about awakening.
These early Christians witnessed a special display of the Holy Spirit. The sought him out. They were faithful to proclaim the truth. They lived their faith. He decided to grace them with his presence. The call for us today is to imitate the early believers our faithfulness to proclaim the truth, to gather people, to live our faith, to pray for the Spirit to bring about conviction of sin and boldness (4:23-31). But, we are to wait on the Holy Spirit. We are to trust him to accomplish his purposes. Let us not be discouraged. Rather, let us be encouraged. Let us wait on him expectantly. Let us seek spiritual awakening by seeking Christ and his kingdom (Mathew 6:33).
The first Christians experienced some unique and powerful things. They saw the Spirit of God moving in a fresh and special way. He was doing many wonders and signs through the apostles. Miracles were regular occurrences. This was an exiting and worshipful time.
The purpose of these miracles was to demonstrate the Spirit’s power and the presence of God’s kingdom on earth. That makes sense, doesn’t it? But, they had a further purpose too. They were to give the apostles an opportunity to explain the gospel of the kingdom of God. The miracle took place, and the apostles explained it. Wonder and awe then came upon the people.
This sign/explanation process is exactly what we find in chapter 3. Peter and John healed a lame beggar at the temple gate. Then Peter preached a sermon (and it was a bold one) in which he explained the gospel and the healing that had just taken place.
The Healing
This is a straight-forward story of God’s healing grace. The man asked the two apostles for alms at the temple gate. They responded by telling him that they had no money. Then, Peter said, “…what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk” (3:6)! The man did! He got up and walked. He leapt for joy and praised God. Many recognized him as the man at the gate, “and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him” (3:10b).
The Sermon
Naturally, the people ran to Peter and John. They needed to know what had happened. They needed to see these two men who had wrought such a change in this man’s life. They wanted to get the skinny on what had taken place. You can imagine the excitement, the chaos. And, Peter was ready to give them what they thought they wanted.
He preached a powerful sermon that emphasized two things: the greatness of Jesus and the necessity of faith and repentance. Take a moment to note the references to each of these points in the sermon. Verses 13, 14, 15, and 17 refer to Jesus’ greatness in six qualities.
He is the divine servant of a covenant keeping God. He is Holy. He is Righteous. He is the Author of Life. He is raised from the dead. And, he is the suffering servant about whom the prophets prophesied.
Notice also verses 16, 19, and 26 where Peter emphasizes the necessity of faith in the “name of Christ” (16) and repentance from sins. True conversion to Christianity is only possible where there is faith in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ coupled with repentance, a turn from “wickedness” (3:26) and a “turn back” (19) to God through Christ. Both are essential.
Wrap Up
Paul wrote to Timothy that “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.” Acts 3 profits me in all four of these aspects. But, I think it is most helpful in teaching and correcting me. It teaches me that the main purpose of miracles is to demonstrate God’s power so as to draw me and others to himself (Jesus taught the same). And, it teaches and corrects me when I fail to keep faith and repentance in the proper tension and relationship when it comes to my understanding, communication, and living of true biblical Christianity.
Acts 2 has been one of my favorite chapters in the Bible for a long time. As a pastor, it is my “go to” chapter. It has everything I point to when challenging our congregation and my own pastoral leadership. The apostles are gathered and waiting for the Holy Spirit (presumably in fellowship and prayer). Peter preaches a Christ-centered sermon. And, it describes the communal life of the first Christian congregation. Add to that the salvation of some Pharisees and you have a gripping start to the church’s unfolding narrative.
Holy Spirit
At the conclusion of chapter 1, the apostles are waiting on the promised Holy Spirit. The tension is think as their anticipation mounts. What will it be like when the Spirit arrives? How will the Spirit affect their lives? What will the “power” be like? How will they be witnesses? How will it all play out?
Luke doesn’t make us wait long. In verse 2:2 he writes, “And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.” Wow! Talk about a dramatic scene.
The Holy Spirit arrived and there was no question that He was there. The result of His presence among the apostles was no less dramatic. “And they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Take a moment to imagine that scene. What a spectacle!
These utterances had a purpose too. Their purpose was to testify to the reality of Jesus Christ in a way that people could understand the gospel message. It’s that simple. God had providentially chosen to communicate his message of grace and mercy through the apostles as they were led and empowered by the Holy Spirit. The apostles would be “powerful witnesses” for the purpose of communicating God’s message to people. That’s what the Holy Spirit does. He testifies to Christ.
Boldness
Peter not only received the gift of a tongue to be communicate Christ’s message, he received boldness. Can you believe that Peter, the man who denied Jesus three times, stood before a multitude and proclaimed Christ by explaining the prophecy of Joel and the Psalms? Can you believe that he spoke so directly and boldly to the crowd? I can’t. But, he did it. Why? Holy Spirit boldness.
Church
I love the way Luke describes the communal life of the first Christian congregation. Isn’t it a beautiful description of what must have been a sweet communion? They loved Jesus and each other. They spent time together. They hung out in each other’s homes. They shared their belongings. They met each other’s needs. They prayed together. They worshipped together. They studied together. Simply put, they just did life together. And, they did this life on a mission. (We’ll talk a lot about this mission in the coming chapters.)
Wouldn’t it be great if we were a part of a congregation that modeled that first one? Wouldn’t you love to be a member of something like that? What can you do to help make it a reality?
Finally, I do not want us to fall into the temptation of romanticizing this congregation. They weren’t perfect. They had issues. Some of them came out of self-righteous Jewish backgrounds. Others came from licentious pasts, and even paganism. Yet, they came together to share the common life that they had in Christ. Could it be that the struggles of their varied backgrounds were the things that made their common bond in Christ so strong?
Let me challenge you to be realistic about your struggles. Share them with others. Make yourself available for others to share their struggles with you. And, then cement yourself in the life we have in Christ.
The next stop on our journey through the New Testament is the book of Acts. Acts picks up right where Matthew left off. At the end of Matthew, Jesus sent the disciples out into their world to live daily lives that were dedicated to him and his kingdom. That’s what they did. Acts is their story.
If I could sum Acts in one sentence it would be, “Acts is the story of a group of people who believed personally in the Lord Jesus Christ and who expressed their individual and communal lives in such a way that was powerful, graceful, and attractive.” In short, Acts is about the power of God at work in and through the lives of his people, the Church. And, it was something to behold.
Luke begins his account of this early band of believers with a scene in which Jesus instructs his disciples to wait in Jerusalem until the Father’s promised Holy Spirit came upon them. He moves quickly to the story of Jesus’ ascension into Heaven where it is clear that Jesus was present and received his ascension in bodily form. From there two themes stand out that I’ll note this morning.
Promise
In verse 4, Luke records Jesus reiterating the reality of the Father’s promised Holy Spirit who would come upon them. Then, in verse 8, he tells them that they will receive power when the promised Holy Spirit comes upon them. I think this is important.
The Holy Spirit’s presence with them was a promise that Jesus initially made prior to his arrest and crucifixion. He had told them that he would not leave them alone, and, in fact, he told them it would better for him to depart and send the Holy Spirit. Now, the promise is closer to coming true. Jesus is leaving them, but he has not left them as sheep without a shepherd. He is giving them his Holy Spirit. However, they would have to wait in faith a little longer. He would be faithful.
He still makes promises to us. Are we willing to wait on him to fulfill those promises. That’s where we get in the most trouble, isn’t it? Our desire to rush things gets in the way. Our desire to “know” what life will be like gets in the way. But, Jesus calls us to wait on him, to trust him.
Power
The apostles were to receive power. This isn’t just any power. It is the power of God himself, the power of the third person of the Trinity. They were to receive Holy Spirit power. That’s huge! Why? because it is Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. We’ll come back to this power often in Acts. For now, let us think on the nature of such power in the gospel of Christ.
I chose not to comment on chapter 27 because I wanted it to speak for itself. There is much to say about Jesus’ sufferings, rejection, and crucifixion, and we will cover those things in great detail later in our reading of the New Testament. As you read chapter 27, my prayer was, and is, that the reality of the King’s humble sacrifice sinks deep into your soul and touches you with his amazing grace and love.
Chapter 28 is AWESOME! I can’t emphasize that enough. It is the story of our hope. It is the reason for which we live our lives. It is the reality of our everlasting confidence in our Great God! HE’S NOT DEAD! HE IS ALIVE!
“Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen as he said” (28:5).
All Authority Is Given to Me
Because Jesus was raised from the dead he has all authority on heaven and earth. It has been “given to him” (28:18). That means he has authority over everything in our lives, that he has authority over our lives. There is nothing outside of his authority. And, there is no limit to his power. There is no need for us to fear life. There is no need for us to question his presence in our lives. There is no need for us to wonder if he can do all that he has promised, or if he has the authority to do what he has promised. He does! Trust and submit to him.
As You are Going
Verse 19 is the most familiar verse in chapter 28. It is the beginning of what we know as “the Great Commission.” Jesus says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” We often read this as an imperative telling us to “go” into all the nations. But, Jesus actually instructs his disciples (and us) to be about the business of disciple making “as we are going” into all the world daily.
Jesus assumes that we will be out and about in the world in which we live. He assumes that we will have jobs, have neighbors, have families, etc. And, he instructs us that while we’re living our lives among our families, our co-workers, and our neighbors to be about the king’s business of making disciples, of interacting with people for Jesus. This isn’t just a “missionary” command, it is a “disciple” command. It is for everyone who calls upon the name of Christ and follows him. Jesus says, “As you are going (living your daily lives) make disciples of all people.”
Are we fulfilling this command with our lives? Are you living your life daily in such a way to introduce people to Christ and encourage them to come to him? What an amazing privilege and call we receive at the end of Matthew’s Gospel! It demands a response. What is yours?
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