Week 17, Acts 11:1-13:3 Hook

Week 17, Acts 11:1-13:3 Hook Main Point: The Gospel is for everyone. Current Event: When setting the dinner table, there are a few staple utensils that will accompany any plate: knife, spoon and fork. Although the knife and spoon have been a part of cultures since antiquity, the fork is a relatively new and somewhat scandalous tool. Although the first forks were used in ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, they were two-tined instruments used solely as cooking tools. The Middle Ages witnessed the birth of a small version, used for dining by wealthy families of the Middle East and Byzantine Empire. In 1004, the Greek niece of the Byzantine emperor used a golden fork during her wedding feast and set the kingdom ablaze with controversy. Most Europeans ate with their hands and a knife at this time and the local clergy judged her use of that fork as sinfully decadent. According to a Smithsonian article, when the bride died of the plague a few years after her wedding, Saint Peter Damian determined that it was punishment for her hateful vanity. 1 It s difficult to imagine that the common fork was once viewed with such disdain. What are some other tools, technologies, or social norms that are common today but were once viewed with critical eyes? 1 https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/a-history-of-western-eating-utensils-from-the-scandalous-forkto-the-incredible-spork-64593179/

Describe how an Israelite might have viewed a Gentile in the Old Testament. What hurdles might that present for Gentiles seeking to join the early church?

Week 17, Acts 11:1-13:3 Book Main Point: The Gospel is for everyone. Text Summary: Acts 11:1 13:3 In this section of Acts, Luke marks the transition of the Gospel s official movement from the Jews to the Gentiles, highlighting the power of God to accomplish this task. No longer is Gentile conversion an isolated experience. It is a full-fledged movement accepted by the apostles and authenticated by the Holy Spirit. The passage ends with a transition from Peter to Paul as the primary agent of God s message. Acts 11:1-30 [Read] Sub-Point: The spread of the Gospel to all people is both approved and initiated by God. Verses 1 3 The beginning of Acts 11 summarizes what transpired between Peter and Cornelius in chapter 10. The skeptical Jewish apostles (and general Jewish community) were already hostile toward Peter s endorsement of the half-jewish Samaritan believers and the Hellenists (Acts 6 8). But at least these groups had some sort of connection to Jewish customs. Now, to hear that Peter was fellowshipping with a total Gentile became the last straw. As Peter enters Jerusalem, his fellow apostles, the Jerusalem church, and the general Jewish public are ready to charge him with heresy (v. 2). Verse 3 is their way of saying that Peter had totally set aside the Jewish features of Christianity, endangering the relations between the church and the nation. 2 Peter, however, is convinced that God wants to offer salvation to the Gentiles as well as the Jews, but his fellow Jewish Christians still needed to be convinced. 3 Q: What caused the church of Jerusalem to be upset with the salvation of the Gentiles? Q: What man-made barriers exist in the Church today that slow the spread of the Gospel? Verses 4 16 To defend his actions, Peter recounts his experiences at Joppa and Caesarea, including the vision in which God spoke to him (vv. 5-10), the divine hand behind everyone involved (vv. 11-14), and the verification of the Holy Spirit that salvation had come to the house of Cornelius (vv. 15-16). Also, as the Jews relied heavily on the validation of multiple witnesses, Peter understandably identifies respectable witnesses, namely, those of the Jewish party who had come with him and seen the salvation of the Gentiles with their own eyes. 2 This paragraph and the preceding paragraph are jointly informed by Longenecker, EBC, 885 886. 3 Polhill, NAC, 265.

Verses 17 18 Peter s recollection has a two-fold emphasis. First, it was God alone who divinely initiated the spread of the Gospel to the Gentiles. Second, Peter was unwilling to come against the obvious work of God in Cornelius house. Peter s defense makes it is clear that this Gentile household was given the gift of the Holy Spirit in the same way the Jewish Christians had experienced His outpouring at Pentecost (v. 17). The Lord was obviously in this situation, which left the dumbfounded Jewish leaders with only one appropriate response, a petition to God that He would grant repentance to Gentiles (v. 18). Q: How have you seen God use personal testimonies to draw people to Himself? Verses 19 21 In the previous section, we viewed the mission to the Gentiles closely, at a household level in Peter s experience with Cornelius. Now we zoom out to see that the entire Church is being filled with Gentile converts (v. 19). The big point is that Peter s experience with Gentile conversion was not an isolated event. It s one step in a growing movement! Even Christians such as Barnabas and Saul are evangelizing Gentiles in Antioch, a dark pagan city known for its sexual depravity. 4 By purposefully including these leaders, Luke is showing us that the inclusion of non-jews in the Gospel isn t just something Peter is doing his own, as a rogue apostle (vv. 20-21). Other key players are validating and encouraging this movement of the Gospel to those well outside the Jewish community and its norms. The Gospel isn t just for the Jew, or the half-jew, or the Jewinfluenced. It s for everyone! Q: Why do you think the Gentiles in Antioch were receptive to the Gospel? In your experience, what prepares someone to be receptive to the Gospel? Q: Have you ever felt led by God to share the Gospel with someone with whom you have little in common? Describe your experience. Verses 22 30 In this section, Luke highlights that since the same Spirit has been given to both the Jewish and Gentile church, the same fruit is being produced in both. One, just like the Jewish church, this group of believers is dedicated to the apostles teaching (vv. 25-26). Two, the Gentile church exhibits the abundant fruit of conversion just as the church in Jerusalem did. They even bear the fruit of remarkable generosity through their collective effort to financially support the Jewish Christians who had once seen them as racial enemies (vv. 27-30). When the trustworthy Barnabas sees these things on his investigative trip, he heartily affirms them in their validity (vv. 22-23). 4 Sailhamer, NIV Compact Bible Commentary, 503, and Hughes, Preaching the Word (Acts), 158.

Even in the most pagan of places, the fledgling Gentile church bears all the marks of an authentic Christlike witness, so much, in fact, that this is where believers were first dubbed Christians (v. 26). Luke s message in this section is clear. The gospel of Jesus has been unleashed not only to the Jews and neighboring Samaritans, but to all Gentile cities and people groups! The Spirit of God bears fruit wherever it pleases Him! Q: Why do you think the Gentiles were marked by generosity and kindness toward the Jewish believers? Q: Consider the movement of God that is sweeping across the Gentiles in today s passage. What movements of God have you seen in your lifetime? Q: What would it take for a movement of God, a spiritual awakening, to take place in your community? How might your Bible Fellowship help to usher in that movement? Acts 12:1-13:3 Sub-Point: The Spirit of God empowers His leaders to witness during difficult times. Verses 1 4 In chapter 12, Luke turns his attention back to the church in Jerusalem. Though persecution flooded the Church after Stephen s death, the apostles had remained largely untouched up to this point. Now Herod Agrippa has assumed rule over Judea and makes the apostles a specific target in his efforts to suppress the Christian movement (v. 1). He starts with the murder of James and the imprisonment of Peter (vv. 3-4). 5 By worldly standards, the Church seems helpless to combat the advancing powers of the world. Herod Agrippa is closing in, and the apostles are in the path of his violence. Q: When have you experienced a sense of helplessness at the hands of people who hate the message of the Gospel? Verses 5 11 While Peter is in captivity, the church remains steadfast in prayer (v. 5). Luke highlights two things: Peter s helplessness and God s power. Peter s passivity during his imprisonment is seen in many ways. One, he s asleep between two guards, as opposed to 5 Polhill, NAC, 275 278. Herod Agrippa made every attempt to please the Jews, as ancient historians tell us. He curried the favor of the influential Pharisees and used his position to wield power over this arena of the Roman Empire. However, his apparent Jewishness was largely a face he put on when he was at home. When away, he lived a very Roman life according to pagan customs. Whether operating in a Jewish or Roman way of life, both groups hated Christianity, and he saw to it to end this movement for the interests of both groups.

making speeches or banging against the prison walls. Two, he is in chains. And three, guards stand at the door (v. 6). Next, when a flash of light accompanying the angel God sends to rescue Peter does not wake up the apostle, the angel has to jostle Peter awake to give him directions (vv. 7-8)! Even then, he remains dazed as his chains fall off and he passes the guards on the way to freedom (v. 9). His stupor does not wear off until he is outside on the streets, where he finally regains his senses (v. 11). The only part Peter plays is obeying the angel as he stumbles forward. One can imagine his yawning and rubbing his eyes the entire time God was breaking him out of jail! Luke makes it clear that Peter has not escaped by his own earthly strength or wit, but by the power of heaven. While believers may be helpless on their own, God is able to deliver them, even if they are half-asleep! Though Rome s army is stationed at the door, it only takes one messenger coming in the power of the Lord to nullify their threat. Power for the believer is found only in the Lord, for Peter and for us today. 6 Q: What image would you use to share with someone how God set you free from sin? Verses 12 14 While the previous section showed God to be the power of deliverance for His people, these verses show how we access that power, which is through prayer. Realizing the danger he is in, Peter runs to one of the meeting places of the Jerusalem church, the home of Mary, John Mark s mother (v. 12). The account of Peter s arrival is laced with bewilderment, confusion and hilarity. A group of forlorn believers are offering up prayers on Peter s behalf, likely assuming he will be killed as James was. When the excited doorkeeper (Rhoda) sees Peter, she comically leaves him locked outside as she runs back to the others with a joyful report (vv. 13-14). Verses 15 17 When the believers are told their prayers have been answered, they accuse Rhoda of being out of her mind (v. 15). She insists and they delay, claiming she saw Peter s angel. Finally, after Peter s incessant knocking, they open the door, where Peter stands, a living answer to their prayer (v. 16)! Once the commotion fades, Peter tells what happened at the prison (v. 17). Then he tells them to spread the story, especially to James, who assumes leadership of the church in Jerusalem from this point onward, since Peter is about to journey elsewhere. The story of his rescue becomes a favorite of the early church, encouraging their trust in God and offering laughter in tough times. 7 6 This paragraph and the preceding paragraph are jointly informed by Polhill, NAC, 280 281 and Hughes, Preaching the Word (Acts), 163 167. 7 Hughes, Preaching the Word (Acts), 170.

Heavenly power for deliverance is accessed by earthly prayer, which can contain a mix of both true fervor and human skepticism. We can take hope in the example of Peter and the praying church. Though we stumble forward, all we must do is simply obey God s direction. Though we struggle with doubt, we must simply gather to pray. God is always powerful to deliver, even through vessels who are doubtful or half-asleep. Q: When have your prayers been distracted by doubt? What tools are helpful when doubts arise? Verses 18 20 We have seen God act in opposition to Agrippa by delivering Peter from his clutches. Now, Luke records the conclusion of God s judgment, Agrippa s death. 8 Though Agrippa tries to flex his earthly power by killing the soldiers who failed to end the advancing Christian movement, God demonstrates His divine power by putting an end to Agrippa s advancement (v. 18). Donning his royal robe and reveling in the pedestal his people have placed him on, Agrippa concludes an economic agreement with Tyre and Sidon during a festival honoring Caesar (vv. 19-20). From an earthly perspective, Agrippa is the definition of political sovereignty. However, just as in the prison, things are not as they appear. Verses 21 24 Thousands chant Herod s name and ascribe him divine status (vv. 21 22), but it takes one agent of God, once again, to demonstrate true power. Just as God used an angel for Peter s deliverance, He uses one to bring about Herod s downfall, striking him in front of the adoring crowds and bringing him to a gruesome death (v. 23). Immediately after recording Herod s death, Luke states, the word of God increased and multiplied (v. 24). Nothing stops the Gospel s advancement, not even the worst of earthly leaders. Whether in prison or a palace, God has the power to advance His message. Q: It can be easy to condemn Herod from a distance, but how are you prone to basking in the praise of other people? How do you tend to cultivate pride and selfishness? Verses 12:25 13:3 Luke shows his readers how the word of God increased and multiplied by bringing the storyline back to Saul and Barnabas (12:25). They have fulfilled their commitment to bring financial aid to the church in Judea. After returning, they go about everyday life in this Gentile church, and eventually, the Holy Spirit calls them out again for a special purpose (13:2). By fasting for, praying over, and sending out the apostles with the Gospel, the Antioch church reveals how mission-minded it is (13:3). The primary Gospel agent in Acts transitions from Peter to Paul, signaling the Good News is now officially in phase three of the plan (Acts 1:8). The 8 Polhill, NAC 284.

Gospel has left Jerusalem, traveled to Judea and Samaria, and is now on its way to the ends of the earth by the incredible power of God.

Week 17, Acts 11:1-13:3 Took Main Point: The Gospel is for everyone. Current Event: Incredible things happen when God s people pray. Take a few moments and ask your class to pray individually that God might present them with opportunities to share the Gospel this week. After prayer, challenge the class members to find a partner and practice the 3 Circles method of evangelism. Click the link below for a refresher video (begin at time marker 2:27). http://prestonwood.org/connect/group-studies/bible-fellowship-leader-resources/3-circlesevangelism Lesson Conclusion: No matter the circumstance, God is committed to seeing the Gospel spread to the ends of the earth through both His people s proclamation and prayers. Today, we should likewise trust in God s power, pray for God s help, and proclaim God s Good News in all situations, whether that means prosperity, prison or persecution. Challenges Pursue the outsider. Just as the apostles brought the Gospel to unexpected people, we must also look to bring the Gospel to those we assume are unreachable. Who in your life do you assume could never be one of God s people? Take time to pray for that person this week. Begin a Gospel-sharing journey with him or her, trusting that God can reach anyone. Repent of trusting in earthly power. As we saw in Peter s prison story and Agrippa s death, the power that comes from God is at odds with the way the world defines power. We often trust in the Agrippas of our time, putting the powers-that-be on a higher pedestal than the God of the Bible, whether in the workplace, political system, or educational institutions. Take time this week to identifying the earthly powers you tend to run to for strength. Pray that you would run to God instead. Pray in freedom. As we saw in the Church s prayers for Peter that were lifted up in Mary s house, sometimes our prayers can be truly fervent while also being a little doubtful. As you spend time in prayer this week (hopefully prayers that include freedom for oppressed Christians), pray with freedom, knowing that as God worked through the petitions of these imperfect believers in Acts, He still moves in mighty ways.