But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,
Acts 11:4 is Peter's answer to the believers in Judea and the Jerusalem leaders who were surprised, offended, and met him with severe censure because he had preached to Gentiles, gone in to men uncircumcised, entered their houses and eaten with them. His defense was to rehearse the whole matter from the beginning and expound it by order, tracing step by step how God opened the gospel to the Gentiles from his vision in Joppa through his visit to the household of Cornelius and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. While praying in Joppa he fell into a trance and saw a vessel like a great sheet let down from heaven containing four-footed beasts and wild beasts and creeping things and fowls. He was told, Arise, Peter, slay and eat, but refused on the ground that nothing common or unclean had ever entered his mouth, was told, What God hath cleansed call not thou common, and this was done three times.
Immediately afterward three men arrived from Caesarea, the Spirit bade him go with them nothing doubting, and he went with six brethren as witnesses, acting with caution even though commanded by God. Cornelius had been directed by an angel to send to Joppa for Simon Peter, who would tell him words whereby he and his house would be saved. As Peter began to speak the Holy Spirit fell on the Gentiles who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ just as on the apostles at the beginning, which reminded him of the word of the Lord that John baptized with water but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost, so that since God had given them the like gift he concluded he could not withstand God.
The vision taught that God had cleansed the Gentiles, so Peter was no longer to keep the ceremonial distinction of circumcision and uncircumcision nor to look upon Gentiles as unclean, for God is no respecter of persons. The orderly rehearsal silenced the disciples, broke down prejudice, and convinced them that his course was in direct fulfillment of the plan of God, that old prejudices and exclusiveness were to be utterly destroyed by the gospel of Christ, and they glorified God that He had granted to the Gentiles repentance unto life. The account marks the time for an entirely new phase of the Christian church, in which the door that Jewish converts had closed against the Gentiles was manifestly thrown open, and Peter had to explain from the beginning what God had done among the Gentiles before the leaders could accept that the Lord had given the uncircumcised the Holy Spirit and opened the gospel to them.
Gentile believers in Jesus Christ stand on perfect equality with Jewish disciples, with no requirement of circumcision. God carries the work forward by breaking down prejudice through cooperation between heavenly messengers and men on earth, even setting a man of decidedly prejudiced sentiments to do a work that breaks down those prejudices. He enlightens all who love and fear Him even when they do not yet know all the truth, sending a heavenly messenger to bring about what is needed to bring many Gentiles to the truth. Every true believer must stand ready to be taught by God and to yield his own ideas, for if he holds to his own ideas and is unwilling to be taught, God cannot use him but will pass him by and take those willing to walk in the ways of the Lord.
Acts 11:4 is Peter's answer to the believers in Judea and the Jerusalem leaders who were surprised, offended, and met him with severe censure because he had preached to Gentiles, gone in to men uncircumcised, entered their houses and eaten with them. His defense was to rehearse the whole matter from the beginning and expound it by order, tracing step by step how God opened the gospel to the Gentiles from his vision in Joppa through his visit to the household of Cornelius and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. While praying in Joppa he fell into a trance and saw a vessel like a great sheet let down from heaven containing four-footed beasts and wild beasts and creeping things and fowls. He was told, Arise, Peter, slay and eat, but refused on the ground that nothing common or unclean had ever entered his mouth, was told, What God hath cleansed call not thou common, and this was done three times.
Immediately afterward three men arrived from Caesarea, the Spirit bade him go with them nothing doubting, and he went with six brethren as witnesses, acting with caution even though commanded by God. Cornelius had been directed by an angel to send to Joppa for Simon Peter, who would tell him words whereby he and his house would be saved. As Peter began to speak the Holy Spirit fell on the Gentiles who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ just as on the apostles at the beginning, which reminded him of the word of the Lord that John baptized with water but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost, so that since God had given them the like gift he concluded he could not withstand God.
The vision taught that God had cleansed the Gentiles, so Peter was no longer to keep the ceremonial distinction of circumcision and uncircumcision nor to look upon Gentiles as unclean, for God is no respecter of persons. The orderly rehearsal silenced the disciples, broke down prejudice, and convinced them that his course was in direct fulfillment of the plan of God, that old prejudices and exclusiveness were to be utterly destroyed by the gospel of Christ, and they glorified God that He had granted to the Gentiles repentance unto life. The account marks the time for an entirely new phase of the Christian church, in which the door that Jewish converts had closed against the Gentiles was manifestly thrown open, and Peter had to explain from the beginning what God had done among the Gentiles before the leaders could accept that the Lord had given the uncircumcised the Holy Spirit and opened the gospel to them.
Gentile believers in Jesus Christ stand on perfect equality with Jewish disciples, with no requirement of circumcision. God carries the work forward by breaking down prejudice through cooperation between heavenly messengers and men on earth, even setting a man of decidedly prejudiced sentiments to do a work that breaks down those prejudices. He enlightens all who love and fear Him even when they do not yet know all the truth, sending a heavenly messenger to bring about what is needed to bring many Gentiles to the truth. Every true believer must stand ready to be taught by God and to yield his own ideas, for if he holds to his own ideas and is unwilling to be taught, God cannot use him but will pass him by and take those willing to walk in the ways of the Lord.