Tag Archives: Acts 11

November 16, 2023 Bible Study — Do Not Allow Jealousy Blind Us to the Working of the Holy Spirit

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Acts 11-13.

I have always assumed that the Believers who went to Antioch and began converting Gentiles did so after Peter had baptized Cornelius because it comes after that in Luke’s account.  However, as I was reading today it occurred to me that the way Luke writes this it could have happened before Peter went to Cornelius’ house.  In any case, it is probable that news of these conversions reached Jerusalem after Peter spoke with the other Believers about what had happened at Cornelius’ house.  I am not sure that there is any significance to that timing, just something I noticed.

Of greater note is what happened in Pisidian Antioch.  When Paul and Barnabas visited the synagogue there they were invited to speak.  From Paul’s introduction his remarks it becomes clear that the Jews there were receptive to Gentile converts.  In addition, those leading the synagogue were initially very receptive to the message preached by Paul and Barnabas.  However, when word spread more widely among the Gentiles than any proselytizing they themselves had previously done, they became jealous.  When they saw how excited the people of the city were to hear what Paul and Barnabas had to say they went from being receptive to their message to trying to counter it.  It reminds me of something which happens all too often in the Church today.  When an energetic, enthusiastic speaker from out of town generates excitement for the Gospel message in ways which the local Church has worked for years to produce, rather than embrace the new enthusiasm all too often we highlight what the new comers get wrong…even if we have to stretch the point to do so.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

November 16, 2022 Bible Study — Welcoming New Believers Into The Church, Then Teaching Them What They Need To Know

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Acts 11-13.

After baptizing Cornelius’ household, Peter went up to Jerusalem to explain what he had done, and why.  Initially, there were objections to Peter socializing with Gentiles who had not converted to Judaism.  However, once Peter gave a full explanation of what happened those objections were silenced (we will see later that at least some of the objectors still had reservations regarding Gentiles joining the Church).  Shortly after this some Jewish Believers arrived in Antioch and began preaching the Gospel to Gentiles there who became Believers.  When the Church in Jerusalem received this news, they sent Barnabas (note that some of those who had preached to the Gentiles in Antioch were from Cyprus, as was Barnabas).  Barnabas spent some time in Antioch and more people came to the Lord.  After witnessing the outpouring of the Spirit on Gentiles in Antioch, Barnabas left to go find Saul.  Luke does not tell us why Barnabas went to get Saul, but I believe Barnabas did so because he thought that the Gentile Believers in Antioch needed to be taught the understanding of God which can be obtained from the Jewish Scripture (what we call the Old Testament) and that Saul was the correct person to teach that to them.  In each of these cases, the Church accepted the moving of the Spirit and then evaluated what needed to be done to solidify the new Believers in their faith.  In the case of Cornelius, the Church knew of Cornelius as a God fearing man, familiar with the Scripture.  In the case of the new Gentile Believers in Antioch, the Church had concern about their knowledge of God, so they sent Barnabas, who upon investigating the situation brought in Saul to teach the new Believers what they needed to know.  In both cases the Church welcomed the new Believers and acted to strengthen their faith.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

November 16, 2020 Bible Study The Importance of Tradition and Sources of Opposition

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Acts 11-13

Years ago I heard that a sermon should always have three points.  Since I started this blog this has bothered me because I tend to find myself with two points to make when I write these, not three.  Today, I actually do have three points, although I am not sure how in depth I will be on all of them.

The first point has to do with what Barnabas did after he had a chance to evaluate what was happening in Antioch of Syria.  He went and brought Saul back to Antioch.  Why?  Well, Antioch of Syria was the first place where believers preached the Gospel to those not already familiar with Judaism.  Saul was highly educated in Jewish law and tradition.  In fact, Saul was probably the most highly educated believer, at least by Jewish standards of education, at this time.  As I read what Luke wrote about Saul, before he became a believer Saul was being groomed to become a member of the Sanhedrin. So, Barnabas went to fetch Saul because he considered him to be the most qualified to teach these new believers the parts of Jewish law and tradition which formed the basis of Jesus’ teachings.

From there I want to go into the roots of opposition to the Gospel message which Paul and Barnabas faced on their missionary journey.  The first instance of opposition which they faced occurred in Paphos.  Perhaps I am reading something which is not there, but it seems to me that Elymas the sorcerer was taking advantage of the governor’s curiosity about Judaism to manipulate him.  When Paul and Barnabas arrived and began teaching the governor the actual word of God, he felt threatened.  Elymas likely did not have more than a very rudimentary understanding of Jewish law and tradition, despite being Jewish.  He attempted to get the governor to stop listening to Paul and Barnabas because he realized that what they were saying would quickly reveal how much of a fraud he was.

The next time Paul and Barnabas faced opposition was from Jews who were upset at the attention they received from Gentiles.  In this case Luke tells us that those who opposed Paul and Barnabas were jealous of the large crowds they attracted.  This jealousy led them to oppose everything Paul and Barnabas had to say.  Again, I am reading between the lines a little bit, but it seems to me that Paul’s opponents here started out with some disagreement with his preaching.  I think their jealousy was twofold.  First, they were jealous that Paul and Barnabas were able to attract such large crowds to their preaching.  But the second was probably just as important.  They were jealous that Paul and Barnabas did not put all of their effort into trying to convince them.  Perhaps the most important part of what Luke tells about this incident is that these opponents went from arguing about the points on which they disagreed to opposing everything which Paul and Barnabas said.

November 16, 2019 Bible Study — The Church Begins To Reach Out To Gentiles

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.  

Today, I am reading and commenting on Acts 11-13

When Peter returned to Jerusalem, we have the first controversy in Church history.  Rumors of what Peter had done had preceded him, or perhaps just spread around.  In any case, some of the believers thought Peter had done something wrong.  Now, the first thing I want to note is that the Church did NOT respond with, “He’s one of the Twelve, who are you to question him?”  No, the Church said, “Let’s ask Peter what happened and why.”  Then, they all listened as Peter explained what had happened and why.  Peter told them about his vision, and Cornelius’ vision.  Then, he told them how the Holy Spirit came upon the Gentiles, just as he had upon the Jewish disciples.  Peter also pointed out that there were six witnesses to what had happened, who all saw it the same way he did (the fact that it was not just Peter’s word for what happened is important).  When those who objected to what Peter had done heard how God had worked, they stopped objecting and praised God.  So, charges of misconduct against Peter were not dismissed out of hand because he was Peter.  However, when people heard his explanation they accepted that he had behaved as God had directed.  

Interestingly, at about the same time the Holy Spirit was directing Peter to Cornelius, other believers were reaching out to Gentiles in Antioch of Syria.  When the Church in Jerusalem heard what was happening there, they sent Barnabas to look into it.  When Barnabas got there and saw what was going on, he was happy about it.  Then he went to Tarsus and brought Saul back with him.  Which raises the question, why did Barnabas get Saul?  I believe Barnabas wanted Saul to pass on his understanding of following Christ from the perspective of someone thoroughly trained in Jewish religious traditions.  Christianity is not a brand new religion.  It is a fulfillment of Jewish prophecies.

 

 

November 16, 2018 Bible Study — Do Not Call Unclean That Which God Has Made Clean

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Acts 11-13.

    Most times when I read the account of Peter’s visit with Cornelius and his explanation of his actions I think about the lesson that the Gospel message is for all people (and I will get back to that today). However, I think we need to learn from those who initially opposed the baptism of Cornelius and his household. Their initial opposition was a result of their legitimate concern about maintaining standards, about believers keeping themselves pure from sin. However, when they heard what had happened, they accepted that God was at work in ways they had not anticipated, or even thought possible. They recognized that God had validated Peter’s interpretation of his vision by bestowing the Holy Spirit upon the members of Cornelius’ household. God will welcome all people who seek Him, no matter how unclean, sinful, or otherwise inappropriate their background may be. Those who follow Christ should be willing to associate with anyone who will associate with us because we cannot know whom the Holy Spirit will descend upon and bring to repentance and salvation. However, we need to make note of the fact that God calls everyone to repent of their sins. Our willingness to associate with sinners must never extend to condoning their sin. In his vision the voice told Peter, “Do Not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” Christ died to make all people clean from sin if they will accept His cleansing. Who are we to decide who has and has not been cleaned?

November 16, 2017 Bible Study

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Acts 11-13.

    It was Barnabas, “the son of exhortation”, who introduced Saul to the leaders of the Church when he returned to Jerusalem after his conversion. Now, in today’s passage we read that after Barnabas arrived in Antioch, at the behest of the leaders of the Jerusalem Church, and saw what was happening he went to get Saul. Luke does not really tell us what about the situation in Antioch made Barnabas think Saul was the answer, but Barnabas’ action here combined with his earlier intervention for Saul in Jerusalem suggests that they had known each other before Saul’s conversion. I noticed something today that I do not recall anyone ever commenting on. It was believers from Cyprus who began preaching to Gentiles in Antioch and Barnabas was originally from Cyprus. I have heard and read many messages that speak of Barnabas being selected by the Jerusalem Church for this mission because of his personality. However, it seems likely that Barnabas was chosen because of his connections with those who had first begun converting the Gentiles in Antioch. Further, I believe that Barnabas brought in Saul because of Saul’s background as a student of the Law of Moses and rabbinical traditions. Barnabas’ idea appears to have been that Saul could teach the Gentile believers what they needed to know from the Law of Moses. In a similar manner, we need to teach those who were not raised in Christian traditions the understandings which underpin Jesus’ teachings (such as God as the standard for what is good and the idea that everyone is guilty before the Law).

    I noted in a previous post about how Luke changes the names by which he refers to people as they were thought of differently by those who would have been present. In today’s passage we have something similar. When Barnabas and Saul set out on their missionary journey, Barnabas’ name comes first. Then, after Luke switches to using the name “Paul” instead of “Saul” he also starts listing the duo as “Paul and Barnabas”, Paul now gets top billing instead of Barnabas. Before I mention more about this, I want to make note of the fact that Barnabas and Saul begin their journey in Cyprus, Barnabas’ home country. I think it is worth noting the context in which Luke changes each of these things. He first refers to Saul as Paul when Paul confronts a Jewish sorcerer in order to evangelize a Gentile.

On a side note, that Gentile was named Sergius Paulus. One of the possible explanations for Saul being called Paul is that he had a connection with a family with that same surname…including the possibility of Saul or his father having been adopted by someone with that surname. Personally, I prefer an alternate explanation. Saul may have been known as Paul because he was a small man (Paulus in Latin means small). Which leads me to imagine a scrawny, short Paul confronting a tall, imposing Elymas.

Then Luke switches the name order of the two evangelists when they travel to Antioch in Pisidia, which is where they first switch their focus from preaching to Jews to preaching to Gentiles. Paul and Barnabas changed their focus because some of the Jews became jealous of the attention which the pair received from the Gentiles of the town. The Jews had had a synagogue in this town for generations without much interest from the general populace. Suddenly Paul and Barnabas show up and everyone wants to see what is going on. How often do we fall into the same trap, becoming jealous of someone who manages to draw crowds to listen to God’s word? We should be happy that people are listening to God’s word, even if those preaching it have shortcomings in what they are teaching. As Paul says in one of his letters, whether for good reasons or bad, Christ is preached!