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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Act_11:1-18
1Now the apostles and the brethren who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those who were circumcised took issue with him, 3saying, "You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them." 4But Peter began speaking and proceeded to explain to them in orderly sequence, saying, 5"I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object coming down like a great sheet lowered by four corners from the sky; and it came right down to me, 6and when I had fixed my gaze on it and was observing it I saw the four-footed animals of the earth and the wild beasts and the crawling creatures and the birds of the air. 7I also heard a voice saying to me, 'Get up, Peter; kill and eat.' 8But I said, 'By no means, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered my mouth.' 9But a voice from heaven answered a second time, 'What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.' 10This happened three times, and everything was drawn back up into the sky. 11And behold, at that moment three men appeared at the house in which we were staying, having been sent to me from Caesarea. 12The Spirit told me to go with them without misgivings. These six brethren also went with me and we entered the man's house. 13And he reported to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying, 'Send to Joppa and have Simon, who is also called Peter, brought here; 14and he will speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all your household.' 15And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning. 16And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' 17Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?" 18When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, "Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life."
Act_11:1 This verse implies that the church in Jerusalem's leadership was surprised at this turn of events. They were shocked and not fully supportive! They had not understood the Great Commission (cf. Mat_28:18-20; Luk_24:47; Act_1:8) to include pagans. This same phrase occurs in Act_8:14 at Samaritan's receiving the gospel.
▣ "brethren" This is an early title for believers which emphasizes our corporate family identify (cf. Act_1:15; Act_6:3; Act_9:30; Act_10:23; Act_11:1; Act_11:12; Act_11:29; Act_12:17; Act_14:2; Act_15:1; Act_15:3; Act_15:22-23; Act_15:32-33; Act_15:40; Act_16:2; Act_16:40; Act_17:6; Act_17:10; Act_17:14; Act_18:18; Act_18:27; Act_21:7; Act_21:17; Act_22:5; Act_28:14-15). To be a Christian is to be a part of a family (cf. 1Co_12:13; Gal_3:28; Col_3:11).
▣ "throughout Judea" This shows the geographical limitations of the church up to the time. Even after many years the church had not moved beyond its cultural boundaries. Jesus' command in Act_1:8 had not been obeyed! It is "almost" parallel to Genesis 10-11.
▣ "Gentiles also had received the word of God" This is aorist middle (deponent) indicative. It shows the necessity of a personal reception of the gospel message (cf. Joh_1:12; Joh_3:16; Rom_10:9-13 Eph_2:8-9).
The phrase "the word of God" is parallel to "the gospel." The OT universal promises/prophecies are being fulfilled. See the Special Topic at Act_1:8.
Act_11:2 "When Peter came up to Jerusalem" Apparently the problem with the Gentile mission which continues in Acts 15 was a recurring problem for the Jerusalem leadership of the early church. Many of the converts to Christianity were still very nationalistic (cf. Act_15:5; Act_21:18-26).
NASB "those who were circumcised"
NKJV "those of the circumcision"
NRSV, NJB "the circumcised believers"
TEV "those who were in favor of circumcising Gentiles"
Williams"the champions of circumcision"
This phrase is used in several different senses:
1. in Act_10:45 to describe Peter's six Jewish companions
2. here, it refers to a group of believers in the church at Jerusalem (cf. Act_11:18 or Act_15:5)
3. in Galatians it refers to believers from the Jerusalem church (cf. Act_2:12) as well as Jewish unbelievers (cf. Act_1:7; Act_2:4; Act_5:10; Act_5:12)
There is no question about the sincerity of these believers, nor the logic of their position. However, the radical nature of the gospel had opened the door to all people totally unconnected to the Mosaic Law (i.e., Rom_3:21-31) This is a message (grace, not performance, brings salvation) many modern believers need to hear and heed!
NASB "took issue"
NKJV "contended"
NRSV, TEV "criticized"
NJB "protested"
This is an imperfect middle indicative. This grammatical form can denote repeated action in past time or the beginning of an action. Notice these believing traditionalists took issue with Peter, not with the gospel. They did not see that this was a gospel issue.
Act_11:3 "You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them" Obviously Peter is not the unchallenged leader. Grammatically this verse can be a statement or a question (NRSV).
This issue of table fellowship was very important to Jewish people. This may be the very issue behind the food laws of Leviticus 11. Jews were not to share any social event with Canaanites. Eating in the Ancient Near East was a kind of covenant of fellowship.
Jesus had been accused of a similar breach of tradition in Mat_9:11; Mat_11:19; Luk_5:30; Luk_15:2.
Peter struggled with this issue in his ministry (cf. Gal_2:12). This was such a sensitive issue for these first believers. It is so hard to rethink traditions, culture, and personal preferences, but the gospel demands that we do (cf. 1Co_12:13; Gal_3:23-29; Col_3:11). The Jew vs. Gentile model of the OT has been totally replaced with the believer vs. unbeliever model!
Act_11:4-18 Peter recounts his experience at Simon's and Cornelius' houses (Acts 10) for the Jewish leaders at Jerusalem. This repetition (cf. the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15) is Luke's way of showing how important this issue (world evangelization) was for the life of the church. This was a theological watershed moment!
Act_11:4
NASB "in orderly sequence"
NKJV "in order from the beginning"
NRSV "step by step"
TEV "a complete account"
NJB "the details point by point"
The word kathexçs is used in the NT only by Luke (cf. Luk_1:3; Luk_8:1; Act_3:24; Act_11:4; Act_18:23). It has the connotation of explaining something in a logical, temporal, or sequential order. This fits Luke's research method (cf. Luk_1:1-4), personality, and professional training (physician).
Act_11:6 "fixed my gaze on it" See note at Act_1:10.
Act_11:12
NASB "without misgivings"
NKJV "doubting nothing"
NRSV "not to make a distinction"
TEV "without hesitation"
NJB "have no hesitation"
There are several Greek manuscript variants connected to the tense of this participle (present middle from Act_10:20 or aorist middle in MSS P74, à i2, B). It is even omitted in the Greek manuscripts P45, D, and some Old Latin and one Syrian version. Scribes tended to make parallels agree. As with most of the textual variants in the NT, these do not affect the meaning of the phrase. The UBS4 put the aorist middle participle in the text but gives it a "C" rating (difficulty in deciding).
Act_11:14 "will be saved" Cornelius' piety and generosity did not make him a Christian! He and his family and friends are saved by faith in Christ!
Act_11:15 This verse is theologically crucial in seeing the purpose of the repeated Pentecostal experience in Acts. God used the inaugurating experience in Jerusalem to show His acceptance of other racial, geographical, and cultural groups (cf. Act_11:17). The experience was not only for Cornelius, but for
1. Peter
2. the accompanying Jewish believers
3. the church in Jerusalem
Act_11:16 "I remembered the word of the Lord" This is an allusion to Jesus' words in Act_1:5. This shows the pattern of the early Apostles' approach to theology:
1. quote Jesus
2. use Jesus' example
3. quote the OT (cf. Mat_3:11; Act_1:5)
Peter is establishing that the Lord Himself foresaw this development (i.e., sign).
Act_11:17 "if" This is a first class conditional sentence which is assumed to be true from the author's perspective or for his literary purposes.
▣ "God gave to them the same gift" This, like Act_11:15, refers to the Pentecost experience (cf. Act_2:1-4; Act_8:15; Act_10:46; Act_15:8). Salvation, like the Spirit, is also a gift from God (cf. Rom. 3:24; 5:15-17: 6:23; Eph_2:8).
▣ "after believing in the Lord" It must be received (cf. Act_11:1; Joh_1:12; Eph_2:8-9). Notice how Act_11:17 asserts both the sovereignty of God and the mandated human response. There are several prepositions in the NT used to describe faith in Jesus:
1. epi = on (here)
2. eis = into
3. en = in
4. hoti = statement about Jesus
5. Dative case without preposition
This variety seems to imply that there was no specific grammatical form connected to "believe" (pisteuô). Usually the personal, volitional aspect is emphasized (except for hoti, which means the content of the gospel or doctrines). Jesus is a person to be welcomed! See Special Topics at Act_2:40; Act_3:16.
Act_11:18 "they quieted down and glorified God" Peter's testimony not only stopped the negative atmosphere, but it engendered praise! Most of these early leaders and believers were teachable and flexible. They were willing to adjust their theology and follow God's lead.
▣ "God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life" There are several passages in the NT that imply that the sovereign God is the source of repentance as well as grace (cf. Act_5:31; Act_8:22; 2Ti_2:25).
The theological issue related to this phrase is, "how is the sovereignty of God related to salvation versus the demanded response of humans?" Are faith and repentance (cf. Mar_1:15; Act_3:16; Act_3:19; Act_20:21) human responses or gifts from God? There are texts which strongly imply that they are a gift from God (cf. Act_5:31; Act_11:18; Rom_2:4; and 2Ti_2:25). Since I believe that all Scripture is inspired (cf. 2Ti_3:16) then one must compare all texts related to any theological issue and not succumb to a proof-text or denominational method. It is obvious that the one true God is in control of all things! Acts emphasizes this over and over. However, He has chosen to relate to His highest creation by means of covenant. God always takes the initiative and sets the agenda, but mankind must respond and continue to respond. It is never an either/or question. It is always a both/and relationship. See Special Topic: Covenant at Act_2:47. For "repentance" see Special Topic at Act_2:38.
Michael Magill, NT TransLine (p. 435, #24) has a good summary statement of what the early believing Jews in Jerusalem thought would happen.
"The Jewish believers knew the message was for the world. But that salvation was to come to the Gentiles apart from Judaism, with all the implications that this has, was a new thought for them. They were assuming salvation would be proclaimed to the world as part of and through a true, spiritual Judaism; that Judaism would reign and all people would become Jews as part of finding life in Christ; that Israel's culture would gloriously become world culture."