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BOOK 44 OF 66 · HISTORY · KING JAMES BIBLE

Acts 11

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REVIEWED OVERVIEW

Acts 11 Overview

Peter returns to Jerusalem and is criticized for eating with uncircumcised Gentiles. He recounts the vision and the Holy Ghost falling on Cornelius’s household, concluding that he could not withstand God. The believers glorify God for granting Gentiles repentance unto life. Meanwhile scattered witnesses reach Antioch, many turn to the Lord, Barnabas and Saul teach there for a year, the disciples are first called Christians, and the church sends famine relief to Judaea.

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Before you read Acts 11

Coming from

Cornelius, a devout Gentile centurion, is instructed by an angel to send for Peter. Meanwhile Peter receives a repeated vision teaching him not to call common what God has cleansed. In Cornelius’s house Peter realizes God is no respecter of persons and preaches Jesus’ death, resurrection, lordship, and the promise that whoever believes in Him receives remission of sins. While Peter is still speaking, the Holy Ghost falls on the Gentile hearers, and they are then baptized in water.

In this chapter

Acts 10 ended with uncircumcised Gentiles receiving the Holy Ghost upon believing and then being baptized. Acts 11 explains the event to skeptical Jewish believers and shows its wider consequences.

Leads into

Acts 12 returns to Jerusalem persecution: James is killed, Peter is imprisoned and miraculously released, Herod is judged, and the word of God grows.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Peter’s defense rests on God’s action, not personal preference. The same Spirit-gift given at the beginning was given to Gentile believers, proving divine acceptance.

‘Repentance unto life’ describes God granting the Gentiles a life-giving turn toward Him; it should not be isolated to teach that moral reformation earns eternal life, especially after Acts 10’s explicit belief-for-forgiveness statement.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

The church must let God correct inherited prejudices

Jerusalem believers change their conclusion when confronted with what God has done.

Gentile inclusion expands without a different gospel

Antioch grows through preaching the Lord Jesus.

Healthy churches need teaching as well as conversion growth

Barnabas brings Saul, and together they teach a large congregation for a year.

Christian identity produces practical generosity

The Antioch disciples send relief according to ability.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Acts 10:34–48

Peter’s retelling depends on the actual sequence of belief, Spirit reception, and baptism in Cornelius’s house.

Acts 15:6–11

Peter later appeals again to this event when circumcision is proposed as necessary for Gentile salvation.

Galatians 2:11–14

Antioch later becomes the setting where fellowship across Jew-Gentile lines must be defended consistently.

2 Corinthians 8–9

Paul later develops voluntary, proportionate generosity for needy saints, echoing Antioch’s relief effort.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not treat “repentance unto life” as repentance from sins added as a second condition beside faith

The narrative context is Gentiles turning to the Lord through the preached gospel.

Do not make the name “Christian” the moment people became saved

They are already disciples before the label is reported.

Do not assume disagreement in Jerusalem means the church rejects Gentiles permanently

The believers listen to evidence and glorify God.

Do not overlook Antioch’s importance

It becomes a major missionary and teaching center in Acts.

Read Acts 11 watching for…

Peter’s step-by-step defense.

The phrase ‘same gift as he did unto us.’

The Jerusalem church’s changed response.

The move from scattered persecution to Antioch growth.

Barnabas’s search for Saul.

The first use of the name Christian and the relief offering.

TWBC REVIEW STANDARD

Plain language. Scripture first. Fact distinguished from inference. No filler. No fake certainty. Designed to help you read the Bible itself.

Chapter outline3 sections
1-18Peter explains the Gentiles’ conversion, and the church glorifies God for granting them life19-26Scattered believers preach in Antioch, Barnabas encourages them, and Saul joins the work27-30Prophets warn of famine, and the disciples send relief to Judea
1

And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.

2

And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,

3

Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.

4

But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,

5

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:

6

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.

7

And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.

8

But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.

9

But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

10

And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.

11

And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.

12

And the spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house:

13

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;

14

Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.

15

And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.

16

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.

17

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?

18

When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

19

Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.

20

And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.

21

And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.

22

Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.

23

Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

24

For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

25

Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:

26

And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

27

And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.

28

And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.

29

Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:

30

Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

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Acts 11:12

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