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Acts 11:1-18
Fifth Sunday of Easter C (First Lesson) May 10, 1998
Acts 11:1-18
The apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received
the word of God. [2] So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers
criticized him [3] and said, "You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate
with them."
[4] Peter began and explained everything to them precisely as it had happened: [5] "I
was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a
large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I
was. [6] I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles,
and birds of the air. [7] Then I heard a voice telling me, 'Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.'
[8] "I replied, 'Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my
mouth.'
[9] "The voice spoke from heaven a second time, 'Do not call anything impure that God
has made clean.' [10] This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven
again.
[11] "Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house
where I was staying. [12] The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them.
These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man's house. [13] He told us how
he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, 'Send to Joppa for Simon who is called
Peter. [14] He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be
saved.'
[15] "As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the
beginning. [16] Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John baptized with water, but
you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' [17] So if God gave them the same gift as he
gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose
God?"
[18] When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying,
"So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life."
(NIV)
Acts 11:1-18 (Peter’s defence)
The imperfect state of human nature strongly appears, when godly persons are displeased even to hear that the word of God has been received, because their own system has not been attended to. And we are too apt to despair of doing good to those who yet, when tried, prove very teachable. It is the bane and damage of the church, to shut out those from it, and from the benefit of the means of grace, who are not in every thing as we are. Peter stated the whole affair. We should at all times bear with the infirmities of our brethren; and instead of taking offence, or answering with warmth, we should explain our motives, and show the nature of our proceedings. That preaching is certainly right, with which the Holy Ghost is given. While men are very zealous for their own regulations, they should take care that they do not withstand God; and those who love the Lord will glorify him, when made sure that he has given repentance to life to any fellow-sinners. Repentance is God’s gift; not only his free grace accepts it, but his mighty grace works it in us, grace takes away the heart of stone, and gives us a heart of flesh. The sacrifice of God is a broken spirit.
(Matthew Henry Concise Commentary)