Acts of the Apostles - Chapter 11

In Acts 11, we see Peter and the other Jewish Christians learning that they had misunderstood God's plan for salvation, that he also intended to save non-Jews, the Gentiles of every race.

It always inspires me the way God's people, even in these early times, responded exactly as I do today!  I find hope in it because I see that God loves and is patient with us even though we can be like silly children!  At first, I stubbornly resist change; and only after something convinces me otherwise, do I accept what is new--a new idea or way of doing something for example.  Well, knowing how we are, God provides something convincing!  In Acts 11, Peter describes to the believers at Antioch the powerful vision and experience which taught him that God made the Gentiles no more profane than the Jews (which at the time would have seemed absolutely ridiculous and unbelievable to them), and he goes on to describe how the Holy Spirit had come on the Gentiles exactly as it had happened to the Jewish believers on Pentecost.  When they heard Peter's testimony, the Jewish believers who were listening "glorified God, saying, 'God has then granted life-giving repentance to the Gentiles too.'”*

As an interesting side note, we see that "it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians."*  

This chapter and the next wrap up what I call Part One of Acts.  Throughout Part One, we see Peter as a central figure, taking the reins directly from Jesus and leading the young church through many early tests.  He and the other Apostles assumed many risks as they preached, performed miracles, and testified that Jesus Christ was the long-promised Messiah.  Despite great and threatening opposition, and only by the power of the Holy Spirit, they successfully established a coherent group of believers that would carry on as Jesus instructed, making Church together, even to this day.  That is worth some thought.

Beginning at the end of chapter twelve, we begin journeying with Saint Paul.  He is called the Apostle to the Gentiles, and he will be taking his testimony throughout much of the known world.