Biblical Missionaries Peter and the Gentiles

Lesson #9 for August 29, 2015

Scriptures: [Acts 2:5-21; 10:1-48; 11:1-10; 15:1-35; Romans 2:14-16][i].

1.    This lesson focuses on the means God used to change Peter from a relatively narrow-visioned-Jewish-fisherman disciple into an apostle to the Gentiles.

2.    Read Acts 8:1,4ii. After the stoning of Stephen and the severe persecution that began against Christians (A.D. 34) largely due to the work of Paul, the Christians scattered from Jerusalem and Judea to Samaria and other areas, preaching the gospel. Philip began preaching in Samaria. Some time later, Peter traveled to Joppa where he stayed with a tanner named Simon. We assume that the tanner was also a Christian. As a tanner, of course, he had to violate many of the traditional Jewish laws regarding ritual cleanliness. Every day he dealt with dead creatures and used excrement in his work.

3.    Read Acts 9:32-43iii. Lydda was a small village not far from Joppa. We are told that in Lydda Peter healed a man named Aeneas. Later, in Joppa he raised a believer named Tabitha or Dorcas back to life. Thus, many people in Joppa became believers. (Acts 9:42)

4.    But, Peter had not given up his distinctive Jewish ideas. To devout Jews, their customs often took on the characteristics of divine absolutes. How do we distinguish between those customs and ideas that are culturally determined and those which are truly a part of the gospel?

5.    Just before ascending back to heaven, Jesus give the commission to His disciples to preach the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth. (Acts 1:8iv) Ten days later on the day of Pentecost, Peter and the others had the Holy Spirit descend upon them in what we now call the early rain. (Acts 2:5-21[v]) At that time, Peter had said that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. People from as many as 15 different countries were there to hear his message. We do not know whether those were all Jews from those different countries or if some of them were actually Gentiles.

6.    Where did Peter get the outline for his sermon? Is it possible that he used the ideas that Jesus Himself had given to the travelers on the road to Emmaus? (See Luke 24:13-35vi.) Notice these important points in Peter sermon:

First, Old Testament prophecies and promises are fulfilled in Christ (Acts 2:17-21)vii, a truth revealed through the powerful works and signs accompanying His ministry, as well as through His death and resurrection (vss. 22-24)viii.

Second, Jesus was exalted, placed at God’s right hand, and is now Christ (the Messiah) and Lord of all (vss. 33-36 [Acts 2:33-36]ix). In Him, all who repent and are baptized will receive forgiveness for sins (vss. 38, 39 [Acts 2:38-39[x]]).

(Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide for Sunday, August 23.) [Content in brackets is added.]

Note that all includes not just Jews but Gentiles as well.

7.    What were the events and factors that led up to the outpouring of the early rain? Seventh-day Adventists have believed that the latter rain will be greater and more glorious than the former rain. How do you think that will take place in our day? What factors will make it possible? Is God waiting for a new group of Peters, Pauls, Stephens, and Phillips?

8.    Read Acts 10:1-48xi. It would be very interesting to know more about how Cornelius came to be a “follower of the way.” Clearly, he had already recognized the superiority of Old Testament teachings and Jewish beliefs to his polytheistic religious background. He was a man of prayer, study, and giving alms to the poor. He was very friendly to Jewish believers.

9.    The Roman army’s headquarters for all of Judea, including Jerusalem, was in Caesarea on the seashore north of Joppa. Cornelius was one of six centurions commanding the 600 soldiers that made up the Italian cohort based there. He was a member of an illustrious Roman military family that had been responsible for defeating Hannibal from Carthage who had caused so much trouble for Rome in the past. Had Cornelius heard about Jesus?

Believing in God as the Creator of heaven and earth, Cornelius revered Him, acknowledged His authority, and sought His counsel in all the affairs of life. He was faithful to Jehovah in his home life and in his official duties. He had erected the altar of God in his home, for he dared not attempt to carry out his plans or to bear his responsibilities without the help of God.—Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 133.1. [Note that this was before he met Peter.]

10.    Notice carefully that it was God working through Cornelius who called Peter. It was not Peter going forth with an intention to evangelize Gentiles. And Cornelius was already a “follower of the way.” How many of us are as faithful as was Cornelius? How many Gentiles do we know who have received messages from God?

11.    After three times receiving the vision of the sheet coming down from heaven and saying, “No” each time, Peter woke up and realized when the Gentile servants of Cornelius arrived at the door that God intended for him to go with them. After spending the night, they set out together. Knowing what kind of reaction he would get from his friends back in Jerusalem, Peter took six of the believers from Joppa with him. Peter was not going to take any chances!

12.    Arriving at the home of Cornelius, Peter was met by Cornelius who bowed down to him in worship. Fortunately, Peter made him get up and reminded him that he was only a man. What would Caesar have said if he had received reports of a Roman centurion bowing down to a humble Galilean fisherman?

13.    Peter entered the home of Cornelius and began discussing the gospel with all who were gathered. We do not know how long Peter spoke to them. But, eventually, the Holy Spirit descended upon those converts from among the Gentiles, apparently in the same way He had descended upon the apostles at Pentecost. What do you think happened there? When the Bible says they were “speaking in strange tongues and praising God’s greatness,” (Acts 10:46xii, GNB) what does it mean? How many of the Christian doctrines do you think Peter covered before he baptized them? In any case, Peter stayed with them for several days.

14.    Try to imagine yourself walking from Caesarea back to Joppa with Peter and his six Jewish believer friends. What do you think they said to each other? Were they excited about the possibility of the gospel going to Gentiles? Were they worried about what the reaction back in Jerusalem would be? It had been years since Jesus ascended. To how many Gentiles had Peter preached?

15.    It is clear that Peter did not immediately begin trying to evangelize Gentiles. That revolutionary miracle happened in Antioch some time later. Read Acts 11:19-21xiii. It is very interesting to read that believers from Cyprus and Cyrene (modern-day Libya) went to Antioch in Syria (Think of what is happening in Syria today!) and began proclaiming the message to Gentiles as well as Jews. We do not even know the names of those believers; but, they were the first ones we know about in Scripture who openly proclaimed the gospel to Gentiles. And we read, “The Lord’s power was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.” (Acts 11:21xiv, GNB) It was that event and the subsequent work in Antioch by Barnabas and Paul that really led to the gospel going to the Gentiles.

16.    Read Romans 2:13-16xv. Do you think these verses could be describing people like Cornelius? Do we have any information about what happened to Cornelius later in his life? Did he return to Rome and try to spread the gospel there?

17.    One important point to notice in this story is that the angel that appeared to Cornelius could have given him all the information he needed about the gospel. But, he did not. He told Cornelius to call for Peter to come to bring the gospel to him. Is that because Peter could do a better job than an angel? Of course not! Almost certainly, it was because Peter and his associates from Joppa needed that experience, and they needed to relate it to the other believers back in Jerusalem in order to gradually break down the wall of partition between Jews and Gentiles.

18.    God asks us to go and witness to our neighbors and friends and even to people in other lands not so much because they need to hear it but because we need to practice spreading the gospel. And we need to learn how to do it better every day.

19.    Read Acts 11:1-18xvi; remember Acts 15:5xvii. As we could easily imagine, when Peter got back to Jerusalem, there was a reaction! The word had reached the believers in Jerusalem that Peter had actually gone to the house of Cornelius, an uncircumcised Gentile, and had eaten with them. So, Peter thought that it was appropriate for him to give a full account of what happened. Fortunately for him, he knew what to expect when he got back to Jerusalem. That is why he had taken six fellow believers from Joppa to be his witnesses. What he said was apparently convincing enough so that the members of the council of believers recognized that the Holy Spirit had fallen upon the Gentiles. Peter concluded by saying: “It is clear that God gave those Gentiles the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ; who was I, then, to try to stop God!” (Acts 11:17, GNB) That was apparently powerful enough evidence that the criticism stopped, at least temporarily.

20.    Unfortunately, we know from reading Galatians 2:11-14xviii that Peter still had some inherent prejudice. He had to be rebuked openly and pointedly by Paul at Antioch.

21.    Having reviewed the story of Cornelius and Peter, what changes do you think took place in the house of Cornelius after that interaction? He was already a man of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Did Cornelius ever travel to Jerusalem to try to meet other Christian believers? Did any of them travel to meet him at Caesarea? We know that some time later Philip moved to Caesarea with his four prophesying daughters. Do you think Cornelius had anything to do with their acceptance there? (Acts 21:8-9xix)

22.    We should also note that as a Roman centurion, Cornelius had probably been a religious man all his life. But, in his earlier days as a soldier and presumably a member of one of the mystery religions, he probably worshiped Mithra and may even have been involved in emperor worship. Clearly, those forms of religion were unacceptable in God’s eyes. So, while we may reach out to people of all kinds and tell them that God accepts them, not all religious experiences are acceptable to God. In our day, political correctness would tell us to speak as if all religions are equal; but, that is obviously not true. How do we respect people without recognizing and honoring their religious beliefs? First, we must do our best to understand our audience.

23.    Read Acts 15:1-35xx. After Paul and Barnabas had returned from their first missionary journey and reported how successful they had been at converting Gentiles to become Christians, a great deal of controversy over that information arose in Antioch. Jewish believers from Jerusalem had gone to Antioch and proclaimed that Gentiles must be circumcised before they could become Christians. Of course, that led to some very strong opposition from Paul and Barnabas. So, it was decided that a group of believers should travel from Antioch to Jerusalem to set the issue before the church leaders. It is important to notice who it was that thought the Gentiles must be circumcised before they became Christians. (See Acts 15:5.) But, fortunately, Peter had learned something from his experience with Cornelius. Only after hearing Peter’s speech before the council was it possible for them to sit quietly and listen to the report of Paul and Barnabas. They took “baby steps” in reaching out to Gentiles.

24.    Peter told of his astonishment when, in speaking the words of truth to those assembled at the home of Cornelius, he witnessed the Holy Spirit taking possession of his hearers, Gentiles as well as Jews. The same light and glory that was reflected upon the circumcised Jews shone also upon the faces of the uncircumcised Gentiles. This was God’s warning that Peter was not to regard one as inferior to the other, for the blood of Christ could cleanse from all uncleanness.

Peter’s address brought the assembly to a point where they could listen with patience to Paul and Barnabas, who related their experience in working for the Gentiles.—Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 193.1-194.1.

25.    A careful reading of Acts 10 and 11 makes it very clear that Peter understood his vision of the sheet to be talking about not rejecting carrying the gospel to Gentiles. There is no way that passage could be construed to promote the eating of unclean meats. This text is not about dietary restrictions.

26.    In reviewing the council that took place in Jerusalem as recorded in Acts 15, what can we learn about how Christian councils should be conducted in our day? What was the role of personal testimonies? About witnessing? About the role of the gospel and Scripture? About how we should reach out to people in other settings? And about how they related to each other in the council.

27.    We know that Peter was a changed man after his experience over crucifixion weekend. That led up to his preaching on the day of Pentecost. Did those changes make it easy for him to go to the home of Cornelius? How ready are we to move outside of our comfort zone to reach out to others?

Peter had a long and bitter experience trying to do things his own way: contradicting Jesus about His death (Matt. 16:22-24), taking his eyes off Jesus and sinking into the waves (Matt. 14:22-32), severing the ear of the high priest’s servant (John 18:10, 11), falling asleep in Gethsemane (Matt. 26:3646), and finally denying Jesus just hours before His death (vss. 69-75). (Adult Teachers Sabbath School Bible Study Guide p. 120)

28.    For a number of weeks, we have been discussing the issue of missions and what we can learn from some biblical examples. What can we learn from the following quotations:

1.    “[The church] was organized for service, and its mission is to carry the gospel to the world.”—Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 9. [Content in brackets is added.]

2.    “The church is the church only when it exists for others.”—Dietrich Bonhoeffer, quoted in Joel Lawrence, Bonhoeffer: A Guide for the Perplexed (London: Continuum International Pub., 2010), p. 36.

3.    “The church exists by mission, just as fire exists by burning.”—Emil H. Brunner, The Word and the World (London: SCM Press, 1931), p. 108.

29.    Earlier in his experience, Peter had been imprisoned more than once and had given his testimony before the Sanhedrin. (Acts 4) What do you think the Sanhedrin would have said to him after his experience with Cornelius?

30.    If you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? If we look around the world to the rapidly growing cities, the so-called “10/40 Window,” the growing secular and postmodern populations, the task of taking the gospel to all of them might seem almost impossible. What can we learn from this lesson about Peter and others that could help us in our day? It was more than 30 years after the great disappointment in 1844 that the small Adventist Church sent forth its first missionary, J. N. Andrews, who tried to take the Seventh-day Adventist message to Christians in Switzerland. It was almost 20 years later that Adventist missionaries first tried to carry the Adventist message to non-Christian lands. How well are we doing at carrying the gospel even to non-Christians or secular people in our world today? Are we as slow to learn as Peter was?

i-Acts 2:55 There were Jews living in Jerusalem, religious people who had come from every country in the world. 6 When they heard this noise, a large crowd gathered. They were all excited, because all of them heard the believers talking in their own languages. 7 In amazement and wonder they exclaimed, "These people who are talking like this are Galileans! 8 How is it, then, that all of us hear them speaking in our own native languages? 9 We are from Parthia, Media, and Elam; from Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia; from Pontus and Asia, 10 from Phrygia and Pamphylia, from Egypt and the regions of Libya near Cyrene. Some of us are from Rome, 11 both Jews and Gentiles converted to Judaism, and some of us are from Crete and Arabia - yet all of us hear them speaking in our own languages about the great things that God has done!" 12 Amazed and confused, they kept asking each other, "What does this mean?" 13 But others made fun of the believers, saying, "These people are drunk!" 14 Then Peter stood up with the other eleven apostles and in a loud voice began to speak to the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, listen to me and let me tell you what this means. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose; it is only nine o'clock in the morning. 16 Instead, this is what the prophet Joel spoke about: 17 "This is what I will do in the last days, God says: I will pour out my Spirit on everyone. Your sons and daughters will proclaim my message; your young men will see visions, and your old men will have dreams. 18 Yes, even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will proclaim my message. 19 I will perform miracles in the sky above and wonders on the earth below. There will be blood, fire, and thick smoke; 20 the sun will be darkened, and the moon will turn red as blood, before the great and glorious Day of the Lord comes. 21 And then, whoever calls out to the Lord for help will be saved.'

10:1 There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, who was a captain in the Roman army regiment called "The Italian Regiment." 2 He was a religious man; he and his whole family worshiped God. He also did much to help the Jewish poor people and was constantly praying to God. 3 It was about three o'clock one afternoon when he had a vision, in which he clearly saw an angel of God come in and say to him, "Cornelius!" 4 He stared at the angel in fear and said, "What is it, sir?" The angel answered, "God is pleased with your prayers and works of charity, and is ready to answer you. 5 And now send some men to Joppa for a certain man whose full name is Simon Peter. 6 He is a guest in the home of a tanner of leather named Simon, who lives by the sea." 7 Then the angel went away, and Cornelius called two of his house servants and a soldier, a religious man who was one of his personal attendants. 8 He told them what had happened and sent them off to Joppa. 9 The next day, as they were on their way and coming near Joppa, Peter went up on the roof of the house about noon in order to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat; while the food was being prepared, he had a vision. 11 He saw heaven opened and something coming down that looked like a large sheet being lowered by its four corners to the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals, reptiles, and wild birds. 13 A voice said to him, "Get up, Peter; kill and eat!" 14 But Peter said, "Certainly not, Lord! I have never eaten anything ritually unclean or defiled." 15 The voice spoke to him again, "Do not consider anything unclean that God has declared clean." 16 This happened three times, and then the thing was taken back up into heaven. 17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of this vision, the men sent by Cornelius had learned where Simon's house was, and they were now standing in front of the gate. 18 They called out and asked, "Is there a guest here by the name of Simon Peter?" 19 Peter was still trying to understand what the vision meant, when the Spirit said, "Listen! Three men are here looking for you. 20 So get ready and go down, and do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them." 21 So Peter went down and said to the men, "I am the man you are looking for. Why have you come?" 22 "Captain Cornelius sent us," they answered. "He is a good man who worships God and is highly respected by all the Jewish people. An angel of God told him to invite you to his house, so that he could hear what you have to say." 23 Peter invited the men in and had them spend the night there. The next day he got ready and went with them; and some of the believers from Joppa went along with him. 24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea, where Cornelius was waiting for him, together with relatives and close friends that he had invited. 25 As Peter was about to go in, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and bowed down before him. 26 But Peter made him rise. "Stand up," he said, "I myself am only a man." 27 Peter kept on talking to Cornelius as he went into the house, where he found many people gathered. 28 He said to them, "You yourselves know very well that a Jew is not allowed by his religion to visit or associate with Gentiles. But God has shown me that I must not consider any person ritually unclean or defiled. 29 And so when you sent for me, I came without any objection. I ask you, then, why did you send for me?" 30 Cornelius said, "It was about this time three days ago that I was praying in my house at three o'clock in the afternoon. Suddenly a man dressed in shining clothes stood in front of me 31 and said: "Cornelius! God has heard your prayer and has taken notice of your works of charity. 32 Send someone to Joppa for a man whose full name is Simon Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner of leather, who lives by the sea.' 33 And so I sent for you at once, and you have been good enough to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God, waiting to hear anything that the Lord has instructed you to say." 34 Peter began to speak: "I now realize that it is true that God treats everyone on the same basis. 35 Those who fear him and do what is right are acceptable to him, no matter what race they belong to. 36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, proclaiming the Good News of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know of the great event that took place throughout the land of Israel, beginning in Galilee after John preached his message of baptism. 38 You know about Jesus of Nazareth and how God poured out on him the Holy Spirit and power. He went everywhere, doing good and healing all who were under the power of the Devil, for God was with him. 39 We are witnesses of everything that he did in the land of Israel and in Jerusalem. Then they put him to death by nailing him to a cross. 40 But God raised him from death three days later and caused him to appear, 41 not to everyone, but only to the witnesses that God had already chosen, that is, to us who ate and drank with him after he rose from death. 42 And he commanded us to preach the gospel to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God has appointed judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets spoke about him, saying that all who believe in him will have their sins forgiven through the power of his name." 44 While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who were listening to his message. 45 The Jewish believers who had come from Joppa with Peter were amazed that God had poured out his gift of the Holy Spirit on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speaking in strange tongues and praising God's greatness. Peter spoke up: 47 "These people have received the Holy Spirit, just as we also did. Can anyone, then, stop them from being baptized with water?" 48 So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay with them for a few days.

11:1 The apostles and the other believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 When Peter went to Jerusalem, those who were in favor of circumcising Gentiles criticized him, saying, 3 "You were a guest in the home of uncircumcised Gentiles, and you even ate with them!" 4 So Peter gave them a complete account of what had happened from the very beginning: 5 "While I was praying in the city of Joppa, I had a vision. I saw something coming down that looked like a large sheet being lowered by its four corners from heaven, and it stopped next to me. 6 I looked closely inside and saw domesticated and wild animals, reptiles, and wild birds. 7 Then I heard a voice saying to me, "Get up, Peter; kill and eat!' 8 But I said, "Certainly not, Lord! No ritually unclean or defiled food has ever entered my mouth.' 9 The voice spoke again from heaven, "Do not consider anything unclean that God has declared clean.' 10 This happened three times, and finally the whole thing was drawn back up into heaven.

15:1 Some men came from Judea to Antioch and started teaching the believers, "You cannot be saved unless you are circumcised as the Law of Moses requires." 2 Paul and Barnabas got into a fierce argument with them about this, so it was decided that Paul and Barnabas and some of the others in Antioch should go to Jerusalem and see the apostles and elders about this matter. 3 They were sent on their way by the church; and as they went through Phoenicia and Samaria, they reported how the Gentiles had turned to God; this news brought great joy to all the believers. 4 When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, to whom they told all that God had done through them. 5 But some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and told to obey the Law of Moses." 6 The apostles and the elders met together to consider this question. 7 After a long debate Peter stood up and said, "My friends, you know that a long time ago God chose me from among you to preach the Good News to the Gentiles, so that they could hear and believe. 8 And God, who knows the thoughts of everyone, showed his approval of the Gentiles by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he had to us. 9 He made no difference between us and them; he forgave their sins because they believed. 10 So then, why do you now want to put God to the test by laying a load on the backs of the believers which neither our ancestors nor we ourselves were able to carry? 11 No! We believe and are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are." 12 The whole group was silent as they heard Barnabas and Paul report all the miracles and wonders that God had performed through them among the Gentiles. 13 When they had finished speaking, James spoke up: "Listen to me, my friends! 14 Simon has just explained how God first showed his care for the Gentiles by taking from among them a people to belong to him. 15 The words of the prophets agree completely with this. As the scripture says, 16 "After this I will return, says the Lord, and restore the kingdom of David. I will rebuild its ruins and make it strong again. 17 And so all the rest of the human race will come to me, all the Gentiles whom I have called to be my own. 18 So says the Lord, who made this known long ago.' 19 "It is my opinion," James went on, "that we should not trouble the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead, we should write a letter telling them not to eat any food that is ritually unclean because it has been offered to idols; to keep themselves from sexual immorality; and not to eat any animal that has been strangled, or any blood. 21 For the Law of Moses has been read for a very long time in the synagogues every Sabbath, and his words are preached in every town." 22 Then the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, decided to choose some men from the group and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose two men who were highly respected by the believers, Judas, called Barsabbas, and Silas, 23 and they sent the following letter by them: "We, the apostles and the elders, your brothers, send greetings to all our brothers of Gentile birth who live in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. 24 We have heard that some who went from our group have troubled and upset you by what they said; they had not, however, received any instruction from us. 25 And so we have met together and have all agreed to choose some messengers and send them to you. They will go with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul, 26 who have risked their lives in the service of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We send you, then, Judas and Silas, who will tell you in person the same things we are writing. 28 The Holy Spirit and we have agreed not to put any other burden on you besides these necessary rules: 29 eat no food that has been offered to idols; eat no blood; eat no animal that has been strangled; and keep yourselves from sexual immorality. You will do well if you take care not to do these things. With our best wishes." 30 The messengers were sent off and went to Antioch, where they gathered the whole group of believers and gave them the letter. 31 When the people read it, they were filled with joy by the message of encouragement. 32 Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, spoke a long time with them, giving them courage and strength. 33 After spending some time there, they were sent off in peace by the believers and went back to those who had sent them. 35 Paul and Barnabas spent some time in Antioch, and together with many others they taught and preached the word of the Lord. 36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the believers in every town where we preached the word of the Lord, and let us find out how they are getting along." 37 Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them,

Romans 2:14 The Gentiles do not have the Law; but whenever they do by instinct what the Law commands, they are their own law, even though they do not have the Law. 15 Their conduct shows that what the Law commands is written in their hearts. Their consciences also show that this is true, since their thoughts sometimes accuse them and sometimes defend them. 16 And so, according to the Good News I preach, this is how it will be on that Day when God through Jesus Christ will judge the secret thoughts of all.

ii-Acts 8:1 And Saul approved of his murder. That very day the church in Jerusalem began to suffer cruel persecution. All the believers, except the apostles, were scattered throughout the provinces of Judea and Samaria. 4 The believers who were scattered went everywhere, preaching the message.

iii-Acts 9:32 Peter traveled everywhere, and on one occasion he went to visit God's people who lived in Lydda. 33 There he met a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had not been able to get out of bed for eight years. 34 “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ makes you well. Get up and make your bed.” At once Aeneas got up. 35 All the people living in Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

36 In Joppa there was a woman named Tabitha, who was a believer. (Her name in Greek is Dorcas, meaning “a deer.”) She spent all her time doing good and helping the poor. 37 At that time she got sick and died. Her body was washed and laid in a room upstairs. 38 Joppa was not very far from Lydda, and when the believers in Joppa heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him with the message, “Please hurry and come to us.” 39 So Peter got ready and went with them. When he arrived, he was taken to the room upstairs, where all the widows crowded around him, crying and showing him all the shirts and coats that Dorcas had made while she was alive. 40 Peter put them all out of the room, and knelt down and prayed; then he turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 Peter reached over and helped her get up. Then he called all the believers, including the widows, and presented her alive to them. 42 The news about this spread all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. 43 Peter stayed on in Joppa for many days with a tanner of leather named Simon.

iv-Acts 1:8 But when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power, and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

v-Acts 2:5 There were Jews living in Jerusalem, religious people who had come from every country in the world. 6 When they heard this noise, a large crowd gathered. They were all excited, because all of them heard the believers talking in their own languages. 7 In amazement and wonder they exclaimed, “These people who are talking like this are Galileans! 8 How is it, then, that all of us hear them speaking in our own native languages? 9 We are from Parthia, Media, and Elam; from Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia; from Pontus and Asia, 10 from Phrygia and Pamphylia, from Egypt and the regions of Libya near Cyrene. Some of us are from Rome, 11 both Jews and Gentiles converted to Judaism, and some of us are from Crete and Arabia—yet all of us hear them speaking in our own languages about the great things that God has done!” 12 Amazed and confused, they kept asking each other, “What does this mean?”

13 But others made fun of the believers, saying, “These people are drunk!”

Peter's Message

14 Then Peter stood up with the other eleven apostles and in a loud voice began to speak to the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, listen to me and let me tell you what this means. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose; it is only nine o'clock in the morning. 16 Instead, this is what the prophet Joel spoke about:

17 ‘This is what I will do in the last days, God says:

I will pour out my Spirit on everyone.

Your sons and daughters will proclaim my message;

your young men will see visions,

and your old men will have dreams.

18 Yes, even on my servants, both men and women,

I will pour out my Spirit in those days,

and they will proclaim my message.

19 I will perform miracles in the sky above

and wonders on the earth below.

There will be blood, fire, and thick smoke;

20     the sun will be darkened,

and the moon will turn red as blood,

before the great and glorious Day of the Lord comes.

21 And then, whoever calls out to the Lord for help will be saved.’

vi-Luke 24:13 On that same day two of Jesus' followers were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking to each other about all the things that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed, Jesus himself drew near and walked along with them; 16 they saw him, but somehow did not recognize him. 17 Jesus said to them, “What are you talking about to each other, as you walk along?”

They stood still, with sad faces. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn't know the things that have been happening there these last few days?”

19 “What things?” he asked.

“The things that happened to Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. “This man was a prophet and was considered by God and by all the people to be powerful in everything he said and did. 20 Our chief priests and rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and he was crucified. 21 And we had hoped that he would be the one who was going to set Israel free! Besides all that, this is now the third day since it happened. 22 Some of the women of our group surprised us; they went at dawn to the tomb, 23 but could not find his body. They came back saying they had seen a vision of angels who told them that he is alive. 24 Some of our group went to the tomb and found it exactly as the women had said, but they did not see him.”

25 Then Jesus said to them, “How foolish you are, how slow you are to believe everything the prophets said! 26 Was it not necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and then to enter his glory?” 27 And Jesus explained to them what was said about himself in all the Scriptures, beginning with the books of Moses and the writings of all the prophets.

28 As they came near the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther; 29 but they held him back, saying, “Stay with us; the day is almost over and it is getting dark.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 He sat down to eat with them, took the bread, and said the blessing; then he broke the bread and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Wasn't it like a fire burning in us when he talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?”

33 They got up at once and went back to Jerusalem, where they found the eleven disciples gathered together with the others 34 and saying, “The Lord is risen indeed! He has appeared to Simon!”

35 The two then explained to them what had happened on the road, and how they had recognized the Lord when he broke the bread.

vii-Acts 2:

17 ‘This is what I will do in the last days, God says:

I will pour out my Spirit on everyone.

Your sons and daughters will proclaim my message;

your young men will see visions,

and your old men will have dreams.

18 Yes, even on my servants, both men and women,

I will pour out my Spirit in those days,

and they will proclaim my message.

19 I will perform miracles in the sky above

and wonders on the earth below.

There will be blood, fire, and thick smoke;

20     the sun will be darkened,

and the moon will turn red as blood,

before the great and glorious Day of the Lord comes.

21 And then, whoever calls out to the Lord for help will be saved.’

viii-Acts2:22-24Good News Translation (GNT)

22 “Listen to these words, fellow Israelites! Jesus of Nazareth was a man whose divine authority was clearly proven to you by all the miracles and wonders which God performed through him. You yourselves know this, for it happened here among you. 23 In accordance with his own plan God had already decided that Jesus would be handed over to you; and you killed him by letting sinful men crucify him. 24 But God raised him from death, setting him free from its power, because it was impossible that death should hold him prisoner.

ix-Acts 2:Good News Translation (GNT)

33 He has been raised to the right side of God, his Father, and has received from him the Holy Spirit, as he had promised. What you now see and hear is his gift that he has poured out on us. 34 For it was not David who went up into heaven; rather he said,

‘The Lord said to my Lord:

Sit here at my right side

35 until I put your enemies as a footstool under your feet.’

36 “All the people of Israel, then, are to know for sure that this Jesus, whom you crucified, is the one that God has made Lord and Messiah!”

x-Acts 2:Good News Translation (GNT)

38 Peter said to them, “Each one of you must turn away from your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven; and you will receive God's gift, the Holy Spirit. 39 For God's promise was made to you and your children, and to all who are far away—all whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

xi-Acts 10:Peter and Cornelius

10 There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, who was a captain in the Roman army regiment called “The Italian Regiment.” 2 He was a religious man; he and his whole family worshiped God. He also did much to help the Jewish poor people and was constantly praying to God. 3 It was about three o'clock one afternoon when he had a vision, in which he clearly saw an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius!”

4 He stared at the angel in fear and said, “What is it, sir?”

The angel answered, “God is pleased with your prayers and works of charity, and is ready to answer you. 5 And now send some men to Joppa for a certain man whose full name is Simon Peter. 6 He is a guest in the home of a tanner of leather named Simon, who lives by the sea.” 7 Then the angel went away, and Cornelius called two of his house servants and a soldier, a religious man who was one of his personal attendants. 8 He told them what had happened and sent them off to Joppa.

9 The next day, as they were on their way and coming near Joppa, Peter went up on the roof of the house about noon in order to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat; while the food was being prepared, he had a vision. 11 He saw heaven opened and something coming down that looked like a large sheet being lowered by its four corners to the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals, reptiles, and wild birds. 13 A voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat!”

14 But Peter said, “Certainly not, Lord! I have never eaten anything ritually unclean or defiled.”

15 The voice spoke to him again, “Do not consider anything unclean that God has declared clean.” 16 This happened three times, and then the thing was taken back up into heaven.

17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of this vision, the men sent by Cornelius had learned where Simon's house was, and they were now standing in front of the gate. 18 They called out and asked, “Is there a guest here by the name of Simon Peter?”

19 Peter was still trying to understand what the vision meant, when the Spirit said, “Listen! Three[a] men are here looking for you. 20 So get ready and go down, and do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.” 21 So Peter went down and said to the men, “I am the man you are looking for. Why have you come?”

22 “Captain Cornelius sent us,” they answered. “He is a good man who worships God and is highly respected by all the Jewish people. An angel of God told him to invite you to his house, so that he could hear what you have to say.” 23 Peter invited the men in and had them spend the night there.

The next day he got ready and went with them; and some of the believers from Joppa went along with him. 24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea, where Cornelius was waiting for him, together with relatives and close friends that he had invited. 25 As Peter was about to go in, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and bowed down before him. 26 But Peter made him rise. “Stand up,” he said, “I myself am only a man.” 27 Peter kept on talking to Cornelius as he went into the house, where he found many people gathered. 28 He said to them, “You yourselves know very well that a Jew is not allowed by his religion to visit or associate with Gentiles. But God has shown me that I must not consider any person ritually unclean or defiled. 29 And so when you sent for me, I came without any objection. I ask you, then, why did you send for me?”

30 Cornelius said, “It was about this time three days ago that I was praying[b] in my house at three o'clock in the afternoon. Suddenly a man dressed in shining clothes stood in front of me 31 and said: ‘Cornelius! God has heard your prayer and has taken notice of your works of charity. 32 Send someone to Joppa for a man whose full name is Simon Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner of leather, who lives by the sea.’ 33 And so I sent for you at once, and you have been good enough to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God, waiting to hear anything that the Lord has instructed you to say.”

Peter's Speech

34 Peter began to speak: “I now realize that it is true that God treats everyone on the same basis. 35 Those who fear him and do what is right are acceptable to him, no matter what race they belong to. 36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, proclaiming the Good News of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know of the great event that took place throughout the land of Israel, beginning in Galilee after John preached his message of baptism. 38 You know about Jesus of Nazareth and how God poured out on him the Holy Spirit and power. He went everywhere, doing good and healing all who were under the power of the Devil, for God was with him. 39 We are witnesses of everything that he did in the land of Israel and in Jerusalem. Then they put him to death by nailing him to a cross. 40 But God raised him from death three days later and caused him to appear, 41 not to everyone, but only to the witnesses that God had already chosen, that is, to us who ate and drank with him after he rose from death. 42 And he commanded us to preach the gospel to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God has appointed judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets spoke about him, saying that all who believe in him will have their sins forgiven through the power of his name.”

The Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit

44 While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who were listening to his message. 45 The Jewish believers who had come from Joppa with Peter were amazed that God had poured out his gift of the Holy Spirit on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speaking in strange tongues and praising God's greatness. Peter spoke up: 47 “These people have received the Holy Spirit, just as we also did. Can anyone, then, stop them from being baptized with water?” 48 So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay with them for a few days.

xii-Acts 10:46 For they heard them speaking in strange tongues and praising God's greatness. Peter spoke up:

xiii-Acts 11:The Church at Antioch

19 Some of the believers who were scattered by the persecution which took place when Stephen was killed went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, telling the message to Jews only. 20 But other believers, who were from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and proclaimed the message to Gentiles[a] also, telling them the Good News about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord's power was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

xiv-Acts 11:21The Lord's power was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

xv-Romans 2:13 For it is not by hearing the Law that people are put right with God, but by doing what the Law commands. 14 The Gentiles do not have the Law; but whenever they do by instinct what the Law commands, they are their own law, even though they do not have the Law. 15 Their conduct shows that what the Law commands is written in their hearts. Their consciences also show that this is true, since their thoughts sometimes accuse them and sometimes defend them. 16 And so, according to the Good News I preach, this is how it will be on that Day when God through Jesus Christ will judge the secret thoughts of all.

xvi-Acts 11:Peter's Report to the Church at Jerusalem

11 The apostles and the other believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 When Peter went to Jerusalem, those who were in favor of circumcising Gentiles criticized him, saying, 3 “You were a guest in the home of uncircumcised Gentiles, and you even ate with them!” 4 So Peter gave them a complete account of what had happened from the very beginning:

5 “While I was praying in the city of Joppa, I had a vision. I saw something coming down that looked like a large sheet being lowered by its four corners from heaven, and it stopped next to me. 6 I looked closely inside and saw domesticated and wild animals, reptiles, and wild birds. 7 Then I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat!’ 8 But I said, ‘Certainly not, Lord! No ritually unclean or defiled food has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 The voice spoke again from heaven, ‘Do not consider anything unclean that God has declared clean.’ 10 This happened three times, and finally the whole thing was drawn back up into heaven. 11 At that very moment three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea arrived at the house where I was[a] staying. 12 The Spirit told me to go with them without hesitation. These six fellow believers from Joppa accompanied me to Caesarea, and we all went into the house of Cornelius. 13 He told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, ‘Send someone to Joppa for a man whose full name is Simon Peter. 14 He will speak words to you by which you and all your family will be saved.’ 15 And when I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came down on them just as 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 It is clear that God gave those Gentiles the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ; who was I, then, to try to stop God!”

18 When they heard this, they stopped their criticism and praised God, saying, “Then God has given to the Gentiles also the opportunity to repent and live!”

xvii-Acts 15:5 But some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and told to obey the Law of Moses.”

xviii-Galatians 2:Paul Rebukes Peter at Antioch

11 But when Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him in public, because he was clearly wrong. 12 Before some men who had been sent by James arrived there, Peter had been eating with the Gentile believers. But after these men arrived, he drew back and would not eat with the Gentiles, because he was afraid of those who were in favor of circumcising them. 13 The other Jewish believers also started acting like cowards along with Peter; and even Barnabas was swept along by their cowardly action. 14 When I saw that they were not walking a straight path in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you have been living like a Gentile, not like a Jew. How, then, can you try to force Gentiles to live like Jews?”

xix-Acts 21:Good News Translation (GNT)

8 On the following day we left and arrived in Caesarea. There we stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the seven men who had been chosen as helpers in Jerusalem. 9 He had four unmarried daughters who proclaimed God's message.

xx-Acts 15:The Meeting at Jerusalem

15 Some men came from Judea to Antioch and started teaching the believers, “You cannot be saved unless you are circumcised as the Law of Moses requires.” 2 Paul and Barnabas got into a fierce argument with them about this, so it was decided that Paul and Barnabas and some of the others in Antioch should go to Jerusalem and see the apostles and elders about this matter.

3 They were sent on their way by the church; and as they went through Phoenicia and Samaria, they reported how the Gentiles had turned to God; this news brought great joy to all the believers. 4 When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, to whom they told all that God had done through them. 5 But some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and told to obey the Law of Moses.”

6 The apostles and the elders met together to consider this question. 7 After a long debate Peter stood up and said, “My friends, you know that a long time ago God chose me from among you to preach the Good News to the Gentiles, so that they could hear and believe. 8 And God, who knows the thoughts of everyone, showed his approval of the Gentiles by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he had to us. 9 He made no difference between us and them; he forgave their sins because they believed. 10 So then, why do you now want to put God to the test by laying a load on the backs of the believers which neither our ancestors nor we ourselves were able to carry? 11 No! We believe and are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.”

12 The whole group was silent as they heard Barnabas and Paul report all the miracles and wonders that God had performed through them among the Gentiles. 13 When they had finished speaking, James spoke up: “Listen to me, my friends! 14 Simon has just explained how God first showed his care for the Gentiles by taking from among them a people to belong to him. 15 The words of the prophets agree completely with this. As the scripture says,

16 ‘After this I will return, says the Lord,

and restore the kingdom of David.

I will rebuild its ruins

and make it strong again.

17 And so all the rest of the human race will come to me,

all the Gentiles whom I have called to be my own.

18 So says the Lord, who made this known long ago.’

19 “It is my opinion,” James went on, “that we should not trouble the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead, we should write a letter telling them not to eat any food that is ritually unclean because it has been offered to idols; to keep themselves from sexual immorality; and not to eat any animal that has been strangled, or any blood. 21 For the Law of Moses has been read for a very long time in the synagogues every Sabbath, and his words are preached in every town.”

The Letter to the Gentile Believers

22 Then the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, decided to choose some men from the group and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose two men who were highly respected by the believers, Judas, called Barsabbas, and Silas, 23 and they sent the following letter by them:

“We, the apostles and the elders, your brothers, send greetings to all our brothers of Gentile birth who live in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. 24 We have heard that some who went from our group have troubled and upset you by what they said; they had not, however, received any instruction from us. 25 And so we have met together and have all agreed to choose some messengers and send them to you. They will go with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul, 26 who have risked their lives in the service of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We send you, then, Judas and Silas, who will tell you in person the same things we are writing. 28 The Holy Spirit and we have agreed not to put any other burden on you besides these necessary rules: 29     eat no food that has been offered to idols; eat no blood; eat no animal that has been strangled; and keep yourselves from sexual immorality. You will do well if you take care not to do these things. With our best wishes.”

30 The messengers were sent off and went to Antioch, where they gathered the whole group of believers and gave them the letter. 31 When the people read it, they were filled with joy by the message of encouragement. 32 Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, spoke a long time with them, giving them courage and strength. 33 After spending some time there, they were sent off in peace by the believers and went back to those who had sent them. 34 [a]

35 Paul and Barnabas spent some time in Antioch, and together with many others they taught and preached the word of the Lord.

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