Peter Explains His Actions

HOOK

DO NOT FORGET TO UNMUTE

It’s the 12th day of November — Thursday! Election updates:

State of Georgia will do a recount of all the ballots

State of Pennsylvania Legislature mobilized their audit of elections

Not a single State has certified the results of their elections

Take note of December 14 when the “electors” are put together to cast their vote for the winning presidential candidate

Yesterday right here at “The Message” we saw what happened when Peter, along with some Christians who came with him from Joppa arrived at the house of Cornelius— after the conversation between Peter and Cornelius, Peter shared the good news of peace through Jesus— and while he was still speaking, the Holy Spirit came on Cornelius and the gentiles present — from this we learned:

GOD DOES NOT SHOW FAVORITISM

SALVATION IS OFFERED TO EVERYONE

THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GIVEN TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE

Now let’s see what are the events that ensued after— open your Bible to ACTS 11:1-18, once you get there, type “let’s begin with chapter 11”

When reading in advance, whenever you’re studying God’s Word— look for words that defines that CHARACTER of God, COMMANDS to obey, PROMISES to claim, good EXAMPLES to follow and bad examples to avoid, ENCOURAGEMENTS & CHALLENGES to keep you going, reasons to be THANK GOD for, PRAYERS to pray

READ ACTS 11:1-18

BOOK

Acts 11:1–18 NIV

1 The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him 3 and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.” 4 Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story: 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. 6 I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. 7 Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’ 8 “I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 “The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’ 10 This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again. 11 “Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. 12 The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. 14 He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.’ 15 “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?” 18 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

WHAT: Peter explained his actions— why he went to a Gentile’s house— why he ordered them to be baptized with water

WHERE: Jerusalem

WHEN: Still during the time of the early church

WHO: Peter with 6 Christians with him— circumcised [Jewish] believers— perhaps the apostles [keep in mind that the church started in Jerusalem where most of the apostles are based]

WHY: To answer to their criticism

While much of the narrative mirrors chapter 10, this passage focuses on God’s intervention on behalf of the Gentiles— showing that Peter has not just accepted the Gentiles as Christians but has become their “advocate”

LOOK

THE CIRCUMCISED BELIEVERS CRITICIZED HIM

Circumcised believers likely refers to those in the Christian community who wanted to require Gentiles to first become Jews— including requiring them to be circumcised in order to be considered true Christians— Paul said something about circumcision in GALATIANS 2:3

JOHN BAPTIZED WITH WATER, BUT YOU WILL BE BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

We talked about this for many times— that these baptisms are two separate acts of grace— and here again is another biblical proof and basis for that

WHO WAS I TO THINK THAT I COULD STAND IN GOD’S WAY?

Peter’s reasoning here seem to echo Gamaliel’s [Paul’s teacher] argument to the Sanhedrin— that if God is indeed behind the Church’s message and mission, then no one will be able to stop it— ACTS 5:38-39

After hearing Peter’s explanation, they had no more further objections, they praised God and said...

EVEN TO GENTILES GOD HAS GRANTED REPENTANCE THAT LEADS TO LIFE

There a couple of things that came very clear to me here— 1. The criticism of the circumcised believers and 2. God’s intervention

It is very common for all of us to criticize before even knowing the facts behind— specially this season of division— we criticize without getting all the facts we need to know and understand

No one can stand in the way of God— When Paul spoke about God’s sovereign choice he said these— ROMANS 9:18

Now, let me put these in two sentences that you can keep in your hearts and minds...

TOOK

I SHOULD LISTEN FIRST BEFORE MAKING ANY CRITICISMS

NO ONE CAN STAND IN THE WAYS OF GOD

SING

Pastor Manny— Build My Life