Gladly Acts

God Gave Them the Same Gift!

Acts 11:1-18
   And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
   And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,
   Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.
   But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,
   I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:
   Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
   And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.
   But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.
   But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
   And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.
   And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.
   And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house:
   And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;
   Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
   And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
   Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
   Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
   When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

Just as Peter had anticipated the Apostles and Judean believers in Jerusalem who were still keeping the law of Moses after being born again questioned his sharing God's Word with the Gentiles. Peter reviewed from the beginning all that had happened and pointed out the six brethren that had gone with him as witnesses. This record adds to the information given in Chapter 10 that Cornelius had been told by God that Peter would tell him words whereby he and all his household would be saved. No wonder Peter had responded immediately with the Word of God regarding salvation.

Verse 16 indicates that at some point Peter remembered the Word of the Lord - how he said "John indeed baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost." The works of the law and ceremonial cleansing have been done away with in Christ. God gave the Gentiles THE SAME GIFT of holy spirit He had given the Judean believers. How could Peter argue with God? Here is recognition that water was replaced by holy spirit and that it was available to be born again without the works of the law!

The response of the Apostles and believers at Jerusalem was acknowledgment of the ONE BODY of Christ and that God also had granted to the Gentiles repentance unto life. Although the church at Jerusalem continued to practice the law in the years to come, they had at least risen up for the moment to recognize the grace of God and the ONE BODY. What a great day!

The End

Gladly Acts

Chapters 10 & 11

The Gentiles Receive

Chapters 13-14

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