Daily Scripture Reading Acts 11:2-26

I often hear Christians claim that when they had a decision to make, they prayed about it, and then God spoke to them and gave them an answer. I don’t think they are implying God spoke to them in an audible voice, I think they mean God put an idea in their mind.

The problem with claiming God spoke to them is they can’t prove God put the idea in their mind. Maybe He did. Maybe He didn’t. Non-Christians can have a sudden burst of inspiration and gain clarity about a decision they have to make. That doesn’t mean God spoke to them.

In today’s passage, we will read a verse in which Peter claimed the Spirit spoke to him. That was different than the modern concept of being spoken to by God. Peter did not mean he suddenly had an idea in his mind. In his case the Spirit gave him very specific instructions, and he knew beyond any doubt whatsoever that the Spirit had given him that command.

Yesterday, we finished reading Acts chapter 10 in which Peter explained the truth about Jesus to a Roman centurion named Cornelius, as well as the family and friends of Cornelius. They believed Peter’s message, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, and then they were baptized. This took place in Caesarea.

Acts 11:2 And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those who were circumcised took issue with him,

Acts 11:3 saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.”

We know from Acts 10:28 that the Jews considered it unlawful to associate with a foreigner.

Acts 11:4 But Peter began speaking and proceeded to explain to them in orderly sequence, saying,

Acts 11:5 “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 heaven, and it came right down to me,

Acts 11:6 and when looking closely at it, I was observing it and saw the four-footed animals of the earth and the wild beasts and the crawling creatures and the birds of the sky.

Acts 11:7 And I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise up, Peter; slaughter and eat.’

Acts 11:8 But I said, ‘By no means, Lord, for nothing defiled or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’

Acts 11:9 But a voice from heaven answered a second time, ‘What God has cleansed, no longer consider defiled.’

Acts 11:10 And this happened three times, and everything was drawn back up into heaven.

Acts 11:11 And behold, immediately three men appeared at the house in which we were, having been sent to me from Caesarea.

Acts 11:12 And the Spirit told me to go with them without taking issue at all. These six brothers also went with me and we entered the man’s house.

Notice the phrase “the Spirit told me”. Acts 10:19-20 tells us the exact words spoken to Peter. The message was a very specific command to go with the three men who were looking for him.

There are many Christians today who give testimony about a decision they made in the past and claim the Lord spoke to them about that issue. What that usually means is they had a decision to make, and as they pondered it, they had an idea in their mind about the correct path to take. They believe God put that idea in their mind; therefore, they say God spoke to them. They typically do not mean to imply they heard an audible voice. This concept of being spoken to by God is very different from what happened to Peter.

Christians in the 21st century should be careful about claiming God spoke to them. In fact, it is probably better to say God guided or led us to a certain decision.

The problem with claiming God spoke to us when we have a clear path in our mind is we don’t know for sure God put the idea in our mind. Maybe He did. Maybe He didn’t. Even non-Christians can ponder a dilemma and suddenly have a clear idea of the best path forward. That doesn’t mean God put the idea in their mind.

Another problem with claiming God spoke to us is it dilutes the meaning of verses like Acts 11:12. The Spirit spoke to Peter, gave him very specific instructions, and did so in a format that Peter could have proved the Spirit spoke to him. When people today claim God spoke to them, they cannot prove it. All they have is the knowledge that they had an idea in their mind of the correct path forward. They can’t prove God put the idea in their mind.

Acts 11:13 And he reported to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and summon Simon, who is also called Peter;

The pronoun “he” in verse 13 refers to the centurion.

Acts 11:14 and he will speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’

The pronoun “he” in verse 14 refers to Peter.

Acts 11:15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning.

Acts 11:16 And 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.’

Acts 11:17 Therefore 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 prevent God’s way?”

Acts 11:18 And when 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.”

Today, the church is comprised mostly of Gentiles, so it is not at all controversial as to whether or not Gentiles can be believers. However, the early church was comprised mostly of Jews. For them, it was a drastic change in mindset to accept the idea that Gentiles could become believers.

Acts 11:19 ¶ So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone.

Note the phrase “no one except to Jews alone”. In the 1st century, the Jews were scattered all over the world. As the early Christians spread out from Jerusalem and preached the gospel, at first they spoke it only to Jews.

Phoenicia was an area along the coast just north of Galilee. Tyre and Sidon were in Phoenicia, meaning Jesus had visited Phoenicia.

Cyprus is an island in the Mediterranean Sea.

Antioch was a city far north of Galilee. It was about 300 miles / 500 km from Jerusalem to Antioch. It would have taken at least 10 days to travel that far by land.

Acts 11:20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, proclaiming the good news of the Lord Jesus.

In this verse we see there was a concerted effort by Jewish Christians to preach the good news about Jesus to the Gentiles. Again, that was a big shift in mentality for them to do that.

Acts 11:21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.

Acts 11:22 Now the news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch,

Acts 11:23 who, when he arrived and saw the grace of God, rejoiced and began to encourage them all with a purposeful heart to remain true to the Lord;

Acts 11:24 for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a considerable crowd was brought to the Lord.

Acts 11:25 And he left for Tarsus to search for Saul;

It was about 140 miles / 230 km to travel to Tarsus from Antioch via land. That would have taken at least 5 days. Barnabas may have traveled by boat.

Acts 11:26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it happened that for an entire year they met with the church and taught a considerable crowd. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

The Holy Spirit told Peter to go to Caesarea and meet with some Gentiles. This does not mean Peter suddenly had a feeling it was okay to eat with uncircumcised people. Instead, Peter knew God Himself was giving him a clear command.

What are some occasions you prayed about a decision and you felt God spoke to you?

How was that different than the direction Peter received from the Spirit regarding Cornelius?

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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”