Acts 11: 1-4: Peter Is Asked to Explain

"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 to them in order:... "

The word "Gentiles" here is translated from a Greek word ethnos, in other places translated nations. Yes, the nations had received the word of God. This is what God intended all along. God had told Israel through the prophets that because of their disobedience He would give His Word to other nations. In their pride, arrogance, and disobedience, they refused other nations and did not listen to God's prophets. They were not obedient to the Lord in the mission he had given them.

Jonah is a good example of this problem. First he refused to obey God about evangelizing the Ninevites. Second, he was not happy when they repented. He wished them to be judged and destroyed. Jonah was wrong about this, of course. He was supposed to bring God's law and word to all nations, and be overjoyed when they received it gladly. But he looked down on "sinners," would not associate with them, and was not joyful when they were converted.

When you read the gospels, note how Jesus, John the Baptist, and the gospel writers speak about this. In particular, the following.

Matthew 3:7-9; "But when [John the Baptist] saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, 'You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.'"

In Matthew 8:10-12, Jesus commends the faith of a Roman centurion over and above any from Israel;

"Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven and the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Also see Matthew 9:1-12, 32-34; 11:16-19; 12:1-8, 14, 22-32, 38-42; 13:10-17, 53-58; 15:1-20; and many more.

Also in these first few verses of Acts 11, the "circumcision party" criticizes Peter. For what? For going to uncircumcised men and eating with them. Things are turned around. Those of the circumcision party have uncircumcised attitudes, which have been drilled into them by wicked and false teachers. There are many passages which illustrate this; outward and physical circumcision is supposed to be a sign of an inner attitude, of a new heart, a new desire to be a slave of righteousness, etc. Here are a couple of examples.

Romans 3:25-29;

"For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God."

Acts 7:51; Stephen is speaking to the council, including the high priest, all physically circumcised;

"You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you."

Later in Acts 11: 18, the "circumcision party" humbly accepts the strong teaching God through Peter's experience and words gives them about this. Peter was later tripped-up into hypocrisy by the circumcision party, which we have a record of in Galatians 2:11-13;

"But when Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy."

Christ has given His people, His Church, a commission to take His message to all nations, tribes, tongues, and peoples. Those who need His message are sinners, all who have been or are bound and held in the terrible oppressive bonds of iniquity. O Lord God, let us not forget that we are to take Your message of liberty, joy, peace, righteousness, and love to all who need it, and all of us need it. Christians must continue to preach to each other, and to those around them in everything they do, and if necessary use words. As You said to Your people in the OT, and they too often neglected, so You say to us;

"I have made you a light for the Gentiles (nations), that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth." Isaiah 49:6.

DR