The Pilgrim Path---Acts 11: 1 – 18

Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” But Peter began and explained it to them in order: “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. Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air. And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ But I said, ‘By no means, LORD; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’ This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven. And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea. 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. 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; he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the LORD, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 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?” 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.”

“…THEY FELL SILENT”

Being the leader of the “apostolic band” that helped lead in this “new way” in Caesarea---Peter would have some explaining to do once he got to Jerusalem. News of what went on with all these Gentiles had “arrived” long before he did. The members of the circumcision party--- would be bothered. How could this Jewish man---be “gathering” with Gentiles---as if they were all the same? Peter may be a follower of the LORD Jesus---but still, there would have to be some lines drawn with Gentiles---right? None of these men had been circumcised. They were not “rigid” adherents to the Law---AND---disciples of Jesus (this is what the circumcision party would demand). It is quite compelling to note that the man with a history of being a fiery fisherman---is very calm, methodical---and measured in his response (my- how the Holy Spirit does work). Peter begins at the beginning. He relates the entire episode in chronological order. He includes his own hesitation. He includes his own instruction from the heavenly voice. He points out the works of the Spirit of God in Cornelius and his hearers---his telling---is quite telling! The Holy Spirit comes upon those Gentiles---just like He did us----at the beginning. All I could do was think of Jesus saying, “John baptized with water---You will be baptized with the Holy Spirit---how could I get in the way of God?” The response to that was: No response! Nobody could say anything. This was a work of the LORD. Sit for a while and marvel in silence at the Savior’s amazing mercy and might! Ole Jay Kessler of Youth for Christ used to say, “If you can explain it---God did not do it!” And then---they glorified God for granting to the Gentiles repentance that leads to life.

From E. M. Blaiklock: There was to be one church…It required… a major readjustment of all thinking for a people, fiercely conscious of racial privilege and stirred anew by the thought that the Messiah of promise had appeared and spoken, readily to abandon the thought that a unique national destiny approached fulfillment. To accept a re-interpretation of ancient prophecies, to admit a spiritual rendering of old promises accepted and cherished as literal and material, to see Israel melt into the church, and the minority of the chosen lose identity, and privilege, and special place in a global organization, called for insight, faith, self-abnegation, magnanimity, and a transcendent view of God rarely found in any but the most enlightened souls.

From James Montgomery Boice: Prejudice dies hard. But we need to learn from these early lessons regarding the scope of God’s grace in the Gospel. Often we find it difficult to believe that God can accept other people without these others first becoming like us. Yet God does accept them. And it is good he does, because if he did not, you and I would not never have become Christians. We would have been excluded. The only reason we are believers is that God does not show favoritism. That is why we are “in.” Therefore, we must not show favoritism ourselves. We must reach out to everyone, and we must not count it a threat when God brings into our fellowship somebody who from our perspective just doesn’t seem to fit. What matters is not whether other people fit in with us. What matters is that they have been accepted by God.

From William Jenkin: If you delay, delay in looking for riches and honor, and the vanities of the world! O, but now, now, now pursue salvation! It is a must-be. If the present time is gone, you may be undone forever.

HYMN

Arise, O God, and shine in all thy saving might,

And prosper each design to spread thy glorious light;

Let healing streams of mercy flow, that all the earth

Thy truth may know, that all the earth thy truth may know.

Bring distant nations near to sing thy glorious praise;

Let every people hear and learn thy holy ways:

Reign, mighty God, assert thy cause, and govern by thy

Righteousness, and fill the world with righteousness.

To God, the only wise, the one immortal King,

Let hallelujahs rise from every living thing:

Let all that breathe, on every coast, praise Father, Son, and

Holy Ghost, praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

William Hurn, 1813; alt.

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason