Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Acts 11
Acts 11:17If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?”
Peter realizes that if God gave the same gift to Gentiles as He did to the original disciples, no human has the right to stand in God's way.Acts 11:23When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose,
Acts 11:26and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.
This verse records the historic moment in Antioch where the followers of Jesus were first called Christians.
Historical & Cultural Context
Peter Defends God's Global Vision
Following the events in Acts 10 where Peter visited the home of Cornelius, a Roman officer, word spreads back to the headquarters in Jerusalem. The Jewish believers are confused and upset because Peter broke long-standing religious traditions by eating with people who weren't Jewish. Peter returns to Jerusalem not to apologize, but to explain how God clearly orchestrated the entire encounter through visions and the Holy Spirit.
The Gospel Takes Root in Antioch
While the leaders in Jerusalem process this news, the message of Jesus continues to travel further away due to the persecution that started after Stephen's death in Acts 7. In the city of Antioch, a diverse group of believers begins sharing the gospel with Greeks, leading to a massive spiritual awakening. The Jerusalem church sends Barnabas to investigate, and he eventually recruits Saul to help lead this growing, multi-ethnic community.
The Expansion of the Kingdom
In Acts 11:1-30, the scene shifts from the formal religious setting of Jerusalem to the bustling, diverse streets of Antioch. We see the early church wrestling with its own identity as it transitions from a small Jewish movement to a global faith that welcomes everyone.
Peter's Vision Recounted (Acts 11:1-10)
1 Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.
2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying,
3 saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.”
4 But Peter began and explained it to them in order:
5 "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me."
6 And when I had fixed my gaze on it and was observing it I saw the four-footed animals of the earth and the wild beasts and the crawling creatures and the birds of the air.
7 And I heard a voice saying to me, 'Rise, Peter; kill and eat.'
8 But I said, 'By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.'
9 But the voice answered a second time from heaven, 'What God has made clean, do not call common.'
10 This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven.
Commentary:
Peter explains his vision of the sheet to show that God has changed the rules about what is clean.
The Spirit Falls on the Gentiles (Acts 11:11-18)
11 And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea.
12 And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house.
13 And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, 'Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter;
14 he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.
11 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, "Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life."
16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'
17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?”
18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, "Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life."
Commentary:
The Jerusalem church accepts that God has given the Holy Spirit to non-Jews as well.
The Church in Antioch Grows (Acts 11:19-24)
19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews.
20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus.
21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.
22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose,
24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.
Commentary:
A new, diverse church begins in Antioch and Barnabas is sent to encourage them.
Barnabas and Saul Team Up (Acts 11:25-26)
25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.
Commentary:
Saul joins Barnabas in Antioch, and the disciples are first called Christians.
Generosity Across Borders (Acts 11:27-30)
27 Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
28 And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius).
29 So the disciples determined, everyone according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.
30 This they did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
Commentary:
The Antioch church sends financial help to believers in Judea during a famine.
Breaking Barriers and Building Community
Radical Inclusion
This chapter reveals that God's kingdom has no borders. By clearing the way for Gentiles to join the church without first becoming culturally Jewish, God shows that faith in Jesus is the only requirement for belonging.
The Power of Encouragement
Through the character of Barnabas, we see how vital it is to support new believers. His ability to see God's grace in others and his willingness to bring in Saul to help shows that ministry is about building others up.
Practical Unity
The relief sent to Judea demonstrates that the church is a global family. True faith leads to practical action, where those with resources help those in need, regardless of their cultural differences.
Applying the Lessons of Antioch Today
In Acts 11:1-3, Peter faced people who valued their traditions over God's new work. You can apply this by examining your own habits or 'rules' to ensure they aren't making it harder for new people to feel welcome in your community.
Barnabas was full of the Holy Spirit and looked for the good in others as seen in Acts 11:23-24. You can be a Barnabas by actively looking for where God is working in your friends' lives and offering them the encouragement they need to keep going.
The believers in Antioch gave 'everyone according to his ability' in Acts 11:29. This teaches you that generosity isn't about the amount, but about a heart that is willing to share what you have with those who are suffering.
God's Kingdom Has No Borders
Acts 11 declares that God has spoken a word of life that is intended for every person on earth. In the story of Peter and the growth of the Antioch church, we see that God's character is defined by a grace that refuses to be limited by human tradition. The message is clear: the Holy Spirit is moving to bring people together, inviting us to set aside our prejudices and join in what He is doing. When we follow His lead, we become part of a global family that cares for one another and bears the name of Christ.
What This Means for Us Today
Faith is an invitation to step outside of our comfort zones and see people the way God sees them. The early church learned to embrace outsiders, and we are called to be people of encouragement and radical welcome. Acts 11 invites us to be part of a community where grace is the standard and love is the evidence of our faith.
- Is there someone you have viewed as an 'outsider' who God might be calling you to reach out to?
- How can you use your specific abilities to help someone in need this week?
- In what areas of your life do you need to let go of 'tradition' to follow the Spirit's leading?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
Connections Across Scripture
Paul gives his own perspective on the tensions between Jewish and Gentile believers and his time in Antioch.
Paul explains the theology behind Acts 11, describing how Jesus broke down the wall of hostility between different groups of people.
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think it was so difficult for the Jerusalem believers to accept that Gentiles could be part of the church?
- Barnabas went to find Saul because he knew he couldn't do the work alone. When have you had to ask for help to accomplish something for God?
- The name 'Christian' was first used in Antioch. What does that name mean to you personally in your daily life?