Peter's Defence Before His Brethren

And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying, I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me: Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven. And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me. And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house: And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. - Acts 11:1-18

    God's servants always meet with opposition in the world. They expect it (John 15:20-21). The prophets of the Old Testament, the apostles of the New and faithful gospel preachers throughout the ages have constantly been the objects of mockery, derision, slander and persecution. The message of the cross has always been offensive to men, and still is. The doctrine of God's free and sovereign grace in Christ has never been approved of by the masses. The church of God has a message from God to deliver to men and women who are his enemies. We expect opposition from God's enemies. But in Acts 11:1-18 Peter is standing in the midst of his brethren at a church meeting, defending his ministry before people who should have rejoiced in it! He could handle opposition from the Pharisees, the Sadducees and the Libertines easily enough. He expected it. But it must have been an astonishing, painful thing for him to meet with opposition in the church of Christ and to have to defend himself before his own brethren.

    Being led by God to do so, Peter went to Cresarea and preached the gospel to a congregation of uncircumcised Gentiles. Because they believed the message of grace and redemption through Christ, the sinner's substitute, these Gentiles were baptized by Peter in the name of the Lord. When the Jewish believers heard about what Peter had done, instead of rejoicing in God's grace, they were very angry! In this passage Peter explains what God had done. The Holy Spirit has recorded this sad incident in the history of God's church to teach us several important lessons.

    1. God’s people in this world have many faults (11:1-3)

    Here is a marvellous revelation of human nature. The church at Jerusalem was in an uproar, not because of some grave doctrinal error or sinful deed, but because Peter had eaten with Gentiles! The uproar was so great that later it caused Peter himself to err (Gal. 2:11-16). They ignored the facts that God's name was worshipped and honoured at Cresarea, that this thing was done by God's direction, that the saving grace of God had reached many and that God's mercy was going out to the whole world. Nothing was said about any of these things! They were ready to condemn Peter because he had been in the home of an uncircumcised Gentile and had eaten with him.

    This church that had once been 'with one accord' and filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, once so mightily used of God, was now ready to sit in judgement over God, his servant and his work! It was filled with strife over nothing! By the time we get to the end of the chapter, God had reduced them to utter poverty, living on the charity of the Gentile believers they here derided (11: 27-30). This incident in the church at Jerusalem is recorded to warn us. We must carefully and constantly guard against the evil tendencies of our proud flesh towards harshness, slander and division (Eph. 4: 1-7,30-32; 5:1-2). Be very careful in your assessment of your brother's actions (Matt. 7:1-5). Make allowances for, and be lenient with, one another. Grace teaches people to be gracious!

    2. Human nature will always try to mix works and grace (11:4-17)

    This was the real problem. These Jewish believers thought that uncircumcised Gentiles could not be accepted by God. The only way Peter could exonerate himself was to tell them exactly what had happened, exactly what God had taught him in his vision at Joppa and exactly how Cornelius and his band had responded to the gospel, and to say, 'Brethren, God did this!'

    The sad fact is that Judaizers, legalists, have always plagued the church of God in this world. It is the natural tendency of proud human flesh to say, 'Grace is not enough. God requires something from man.' While declaring that salvation is by grace, they add law keeping, sabbath observance, adherence to religious traditions and customs to the grace of God. In doing so, they destroy the doctrine of grace. Anything done by man, when added to Christ, or added to the grace of God, for justification, sanctification, or any other aspect of salvation, makes the blood of Christ and the grace of God to be of no effect (Gal. 5:1-4).

    Grace and works will not mix (Rom. 11:6: Eph. 2:8-10). Grace produces good works. But grace is not caused by, dependent upon, or even influenced by our works! All preachers of works salvation are enemies of God, of Christ, of the gospel and of men's souls. They are to be held in utter contempt by the church of God (Gal. 1:6-8; 5:12; Phil. 3:2). God's gospel simply declares with regard to the whole work of salvation, 'God did it!' God thought it; God bought it; God wrought it!

    3. God’s people, though they have many faults, submit to and receive spiritual instruction

    'When they heard these things, they held their peace and glorified God' (11:18). Having been corrected, these brethren acknowledged their error and turned from it. True believers do err in many ways (1 John 1:8,10). But believers do not hold the Word of God in contempt. Like David, when God confronts them with their sin, they bow to the Word of God (2 Sam. 11:26-12:24).

    4. God’s saving grace always produces genuine repentance (11:18)

    Repentance, like faith, is a gift of God. It is not something men work up. It is not something that can be produced by human power and reason. Repentance is something God grants to sinners through Jesus Christ by the preaching of the gospel (Acts 5:31). Legal fear is not repentance; both Cain and Simon Magus had that. Moral reformation is not repentance; the Pharisees had that. Trembling at the Word of God is not repentance; Felix had that. Remorse for sin is not repentance; Judas had that. A desire for heaven is not repentance; Esau had that. What is repentance? It involves at least these four things:

    1. Conviction (John 16:8-14). No one will ever repent until he is convinced by the Spirit of God of his sin, Christ's righteousness and God's judgement of sin by Christ's accomplished redemption.

    2. Conversion (1 Thess. 1:9). Repentance is a turning of the heart to God, as he is revealed in Christ, in reconciliation and love.

    3. Commitment (Mark 8:34-38). There is no repentance towards God where there is no commitment to Christ as Lord.

    4. Continuation (Matt. 5:22). Every true penitent keeps on repenting, coming to Christ, following Christ and consecrating himself to Christ. Like faith, true repentance never ceases. It seeks Christ until it has Christ in the fulness, perfection and joy of heavenly glory.