reflections - Acts 11

Acts 11:

Unity in the Early Church, Work of the Spirit, Affirming “Word of God”

This is in reference to Acts 11:1-18. This research comes out of attention to detail on the scriptures in light of the “I was wondering” series where we asked “Can I really trust the Bible?"

Peter had just returned to the Apostles (Jerusalem) where he was immediately confronted for “eating with” and spending time with what they called the “uncirciumsed”. These were Gentiles, who would have been considered outside of the blessings and promises from God to the “circumsied” or the People of Israel.

Peter goes on to defend his actions, pointing towards the Holy Spirit and the Will of God being the driving force for what had happened.

Verse 1 tells us that “the Gentiles also had received the word of God.”

In light of our study of the scriptures and the significance of the idea behind “word”, here is further evidence that God’s word is alive and active. It was moving among people who would have been considered by the Jews especially as “outsiders”.

They had received this word and people were starting to hear about it!

This is why the Apostles confronted Peter on this matter in the first place.

“You went into the house of the uncircumcised men and ate with them.”

This echoes the cries of the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law, who objected to Jesus eating with and communing with “sinners” like in the calling and feast held by Matthew.

We tend to miss the nuance of such a statement, for we do not fully understand the cultural context in which these words were initially spoken. The “uncircumcised” were generally not to be affiliated with, and Jews were expected to keep with their own. This is especially true in regard to purity and cleanliness expectations as outlined in the law. This cultural way of thinking was deeply rooted in the way of thinking of the early Christians, who did not see themselves so much as a “new religion”, but rather people who believed and followed the foretold Messiah - who they believed to be Jesus Christ.

The cultural influence of such thinking is even reflected in Peter’s response to the Lord when at first he hesitates to his command.

“Surely not Lord! Bathing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.”

This echoes Peter’s rejection of Jesus’s predictions of his death. Peter is quick to object to things that he thinks should not happen. Both instances reveal the cultural influences behind his logic.

He denies the death of Jesus, because he expects Jesus to be the Messiah-King to overthrow the oppression of the state and reestablish continuity with the Temple and order of Jewish life. Jesus replies to his denial “get behind me satan” and tells Peter that he has “concerns not of God, but of man” in his opposition. Jesus knew what had to happen, while Peter and many of the Jews (if not most) from around this same time period had their own understanding of what the Messiah would be, look like and accomplish. They expected a powerful king - like David - to slay the giants who opposed them, their lifestyle and worship, but Jesus comes in humility - in a manger, establishing a different type of kingdom than any of them could ever had imagined. Indeed a kingdom more powerful than any of us could ever fathom.

Peter’s hesitation to eat the “unclean” food in this story also illustrates the cultural forces at play in his way of thinking. Because the law played such a powerful role in the daily and hourly lives of Jews at this time, it would have only been second nature to assume to remain under it. In fact, Jesus himself told the disciples that he came to “fulfill not destroy” the law. But clearly, prompted by the Work of the Holy Spirit in the Church, Jesus was reforming what the cultural experience and the demographics of what would be considered “the Church”. Indeed, this is even clear in his commissioning to the Disciples to “go, make disciples of all nations.” Of course the Diaspora Jews had been spread across the various regions of the Mediterranean especially since the exiles, Greek control under Alexander and now the opportunity for travel and trade under the safety of the Roman Empire. But when Jesus says all nations in this commission, we must assume that he means much further even, than the reaches of Judaism in the Roman world at this time. Under the new kingdom, which was proclaimed not only by Jesus and John the Baptist, but also the prophets of old, would include “all nations” just as was promised to Abraham and the covenant under the stars.

This is why Jesus replies to Peter’s hesitation:

“Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

Cleaned by the blood of Christ, there is now opportunity for all who will put their faith in him to be made new and enter into the Kingdom of God, the Body of Christ, the Confessing community who partakes in the communion of the new covenant.

What follows this command is two interesting perspectives from, historically have been hesitant and restrictive people. First Peter, then the other Apostles. Their responses reveal the tender work of the Holy Spirit as God was beginning to show the true nature and purpose of the Church.

Later in this story Peter says “the Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them.”

How the Spirit communicates this to Peter is not explained. One could assume that literal spoken words were used, which could be the case.

However, I would like to suggest, especially in regard to our recent study of the Peace and Presence of God, that a certain peace came of Peter in that particular moment. The very presence of God the Spirit (who dwells in us as we are his temple) allows Peter to come to a quick decision over what to do in this circumstance. Often times, we must be discerning in all of our major decisions in life. But clearly as this example shows, there are generally times when we will not have the time or ability to “go into the wilderness to pray” like Jesus so often did. An example of this was Jesus’ preparedness for the temptations of the Devil during his 40 days of fasting. Jesus’ awareness of God’s word and truth allowed him to make critical and vital decisions based on the fast approaching context he was in. The devil temps him with three things, one after another, giving little to no time to discern, pray or ask for wisdom from a mentor - Jesus was put on the spot. Likewise, there will be moments in our lives, where the “active and alive” Word of God should help influence our processing in moments where time is of the essence. Not only does the Spirit of God play a vital role in helping us discern, as we see here in Peter’s story, but also the overarching truth that the Spirit of God also played a vital role in the authorship of the Word of God itself - which we should use to help us discern all the time, but especially use that as a foundation of truth to make in the moment decisions and actions upon.

Proverbs 14 go check it out!

When talking about the Spirit, Peter recalls what Jesus told the disciples about the promise of the Holy Spirit. He recalls how Jesus promised the “comforter” as a gift, which was actually better than having Jesus himself! (Verse 16).

He goes on to say:

“If God gave them the same gift as he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?”

Peter was aware of the work of God’s Spirit at Pentecost. He heard the tongues of fire, the redemption of the tower of Babel.

He saw how the Spirit helped grow the Church as it added in number daily.

He was there and challenged Annaias and Sapphira when the “tested the Spirit of the Lord” when they lied about their money and donation to the Church.

He saw the courage of Stephen as he went before the people “who killed the Messiah” and died for his faith in Jesus.

He saw Saul the man who persecuted the Church, now changed - called Paul - who was an active member of the spreading the good news of Jesus.

The point is that Peter recognized the work of the Holy Spirit in the Church and ultimately trusted Jesus - the one who promised that the Father would send another in his place. Peter had learned his lessons from the hesitations and denials. And he would do so no more.

If God was to send this gift to others, even the “uncircumcised” who was Peter to deny that? Who was Peter to work against the will of God?

The final example we get in this story of the Spirit’s work is in the responses of the remaining disciples.

Historically they had been concerned about who was the greatest.

They debated over who could sit next to Jesus when he took his throne.

Two of them wished to call down destruction from heaven on people who did not believe them and their message.

The disciples - were examples of what we would call a “hasty” group.

This is especially evident when they initially responded to Peter negatively and condemning his association with the “uncircumcised”. But the Spirt of God was at work within their hearts too and at the end of this story, unity was reached on this matter.

“When they heard this, they had not further objections and praise God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

Their demeanor changed. Their outlook changed.

This is all evenidence of the Work of the Holy Spirit within them.

Further, and to conclude, it also points to God’s desire for unity within the Body of Christ.

To be on mission not for defining who is in and who is out, but rather to be fully dependent on the Spirit of God, through his Divine Authorship of the “WORD” of God, through which defines EVERYTHING about us.

Noah Miller - Caledonia CRC Office - 10/22 8:00AM