Acts 11:4-17
4 But Peter began and explained at length to them in an 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 to where I was,
6 and I stared at it and was thinking about it, and I saw the four-footed animals of the earth, the wild animals, the crawling creatures, and the birds of the sky.
7 I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter; kiII and eat.’
8 But I said, ‘By no means, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’
9 But a voice from heaven answered a second time, ‘What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.’
10 This happened three times, and everything was drawn back up into the sky.
11 And behold, at that moment three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea came up to the house where we were staying.
12 And the Spirit told me to go with them without misgivings. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house.
13 And he reported to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying, ‘Send some men to Joppa and have Simon, who is also called Peter, brought here;
14 and he will speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’
15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning.
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.’
17 Therefore, if God gave them the same gift as He also gave to us after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”
Peter’s Defense (2)
Visit to Caesarea
“These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house.” (1) Justifying one’s actions by appealing to divine authority was a common strategy in the ancient world. Peter uses the same approach. (a) Six Jewish brothers accompanied Peter. They served as witnesses to defend Peter’s actions. 2 witnesses (the minimum required) x 3 = 6 witnesses. (b) In the midst of his defense, when Peter mentioned “these six brothers” he likely pointed to them. (2) Peter’s testimony skips the travel details and jumps directly to the moment they entered Cornelius’ house. “And he reported to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying, ‘Send some men to Joppa and have Simon, who is also called Peter…” The vision Cornelius saw was as follows: (1) The angel commanded him to invite Simon, who is called Peter, from Joppa. (b) The angel told him that Peter would speak words that would bring salvation to him and everyone in his house. (3) At this point, Cornelius and his household had not yet been saved. “And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning.” (1) The Holy Spirit came upon those who were listening to the message. (a) This was evidence that they had been saved. (b) “Just as He did upon us at the beginning” refers to what happened on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). (c) Their speaking in tongues was the sign that the Holy Spirit had come upon them. (2) At this moment, Peter recalled the words of the Lord Jesus: “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” This promise of the Lord Jesus was fulfilled even upon the Gentiles. “Therefore, if God gave them the same gift … who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” (1) God gave the same gift to the believing Gentiles. (a) The “same gift” refers to the “Holy Spirit as a gift.” (b) In this matter, there is no distinction between Jews and Gentiles. (c) Gentiles are also saved simply by believing and receive the Holy Spirit. (2) Human beings cannot oppose the work of God. Those who criticize Peter’s actions are opposing the work of God. The growth in Peter is remarkable. Let us also look forward to growth through the Holy Spirit.
Today's prayer
Heavenly Father, nothing can stand in the way of Your work. Please help me not to resist, but to follow through the Holy Spirit. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.