Peter’s Defense of His Ministry Acts 11:1-18

The news that the Gentiles had become receptive to the Word of God was not met with genuine joy among the circumcised Judean brethren.  So, in verses 1-18, we find Peter defending his conduct in connection with bringing the Gospel to the home of Cornelius.  In verses 1-3, the Jerusalem church had leveled a charge against Peter when he come to Jerusalem, for the Jerusalem brethren said to Peter – “Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.”  The root of their charge against Peter was that he went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.  The conduct of Peter had caused great alarm in Jerusalem.  The problem of Peter’s eating with Gentiles was considered detestable to these Jewish brethren; coupled with the fact that Gentile food was viewed as common and unclean.  However, Peter had learned from the great sheet vision that “What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common” (Acts 10:15).

In verses 4-14, we find Peter vindicating his ministry by rehearsing to the circumcised believers the account of what actually happened, beginning with his actual vision he had on the roof of Simon the tanner’s house in Joppa (vv. 5-7), also with his response to the vision (vv. 8-10), and to his travel to Cornelius’ house (vv.11-14).  Peter also related how Cornelius had been instructed in his vision to send for Peter who lodged in Joppa; thus Cornelius’ household will experience salvation at the hearing of Peter’s message (v. 14).

In verses 15 and 16, Peter relates how the Holy Ghost fell on the Gentiles as He did on the Jews during the Day of Pentecost.  Thus, the Gentiles in Cornelius’ house received the gift of the Holy Spirit just like the Jews on the day of Pentecost.  Peter concludes his defense of his ministry by saying really that God had made no difference between believing Gentiles and believing Jews; and because of that fact, how could Peter maintain a barrier that God obviously did not make?  As a result, these Jewish circumcised brethren had to recognize that the salvation of Gentiles was directed by God and they should not try to block it.

Peter’s conduct among these Gentiles and his presentation of the Word proved that salvation is not only for the Jews, but Gentiles also.  These same Gentiles who responded to Peter’s message became members of the church – an entity that is composed of both Jews and Gentiles who respond in faith to the Gospel message!

In closing, any man or woman who responds to the Gospel, can be saved, for Romans 10:9-10 states:  “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

May God Bless!