Study Through Acts: Chapter 11
INTRODUCTION.
A. In our study of Acts ten, we saw four important events:
1. The conversion of Cornelius showed us that God is no respecter of persons.
B. Let us begin our examination of Acts eleven.
I. MEN OF THE CIRCUMCISION QUESTIONS PETER.
A. The apostles and the brethren in Judea heard of the conversion of Cornelius. Those of the circumcision questioned Peter as to why he ate with the uncircumcised. (Acts 11:1-3)
B. Peter told the people the events leading up to the conversion of Cornelius and his household. Peter said, “And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning.” (Acts 11:4-15)
C. Peter then said that he had remembered the Lord say “you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Peter then reasoned that who was he to withstand God, having seen that the Lord had given Cornelius and his household the same gift that He had given to the apostles. (Acts 11:16-17)
D. Those who heard Peter began to glorify God because He had “granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.” (Acts 11:18)
II. THE WORD OF GOD SPREADS.
A. Those scattered abroad after the persecution of Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. A great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. (Acts 11:19-21)
B. When the church in Jerusalem heard of these conversions, they sent Barnabas as far as Antioch. People continued to be added to the church. (Acts 11:22-24)
C. Barnabas went to Tarsus to get Paul. Together, Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch a year teachings the people. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. (Acts 11:25-26)
III. PROPHESYING THE COMING FAMINE.
A. The prophet Agabus went from Jerusalem to Antioch. Agabus prophesied of a great famine. (Acts 11:27-28)
B. The brethren in Antioch sent relief to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Paul. (Acts 11:29-30)
IV. KEY EVENT:
A. Salvation to the Gentiles was accepted by the brethren. (Acts 11:15-18)
1. We saw in chapter 10 God showing Peter that every person can be saved. God is no respecter of persons. In this chapter, Peter relayed his experience to other brethren. These brethren acknowledged that God had granted repentance to the Gentiles.
2. Christians are bound by the same command to go and preach the gospel to every nation. (Matthew 28:18-20)
a. The phrase every nation shows that all nationalities have the right to hear the truth of “repentance to life.”
b. What are we doing to make sure the life saving message is spread to the lost? (Cf. 1 Corinthians 3:5-8)
B. The disciples of Jesus Christ were first called Christians in Antioch. (Acts 11:26)
1. There is no other name by which Jesus’s disciples are called.
2. There are two other passages which refers to disciples of Christ as Christians. (Acts 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16)
C. The warning of the famine and the subsequent aid sent by the disciples shows that benevolence towards other saints can exist beyond the local congregation. (Acts 11:27-30)
1. In the beginning of the church (Acts 2-6) we saw examples of local aid for the local needy saints.
2. However, the example found in Acts 11:27-30, along with Paul’s other references to taking up collections, show that saints from one church can send help to the needy saints of other congregations.
a. 1 Corinthians 16:1-4
b. 2 Corinthians 8:1-7
c. 2 Corinthians 9:6-9
CONCLUSION.
A. Remember the key point seen in our study:
1. Salvation to the Gentiles was accepted by the brethren.
2. The disciples of Jesus Christ were first called Christians in Antioch.
3. The warning of the famine and the subsequent aid sent by the disciples shows that benevolence towards other saints can exist beyond the local congregation.
B. In chapter 12, we will see the death of James, the brother of John, the imprisonment and miraculous release of Peter, and the death of Herod.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
A Study Through Acts: Chapter 11 -- April 10, 2005 - File # 705 - Acts, a study of
by John M. Duvall - Lawton, OK