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Acts 11

30 verses

TL;DR

Peter’s vision at Joppa leads to Gentile baptism, prompting the church’s expansion to Antioch and the first use of the title Christians.

Summary

Peter, after hearing that Gentiles had accepted the word, is rebuked by the circumcised Jews for associating with uncircumcised men. He recalls a divine vision in Joppa where a heavenly vessel speaks to him to eat the unclean, yet God says only what He has made clean. The vision is repeated three times, and three men from Caesarea arrive to confirm the message. Peter, guided by the Spirit, baptizes these Gentiles, demonstrating that the Holy Spirit works for all believers. The apostles then spread the gospel beyond Jerusalem: to Cyprus, Antioch, and back to Judea, with Barnabas and Saul (later Paul) traveling to Antioch, where the church grows rapidly and the people are first called Christians. Prophecies about a great famine are foretold by Agabus, and the early church sends aid to the brethren in Judea.

Outline
  1. Peter’s vision and Gentile baptism at Joppa
  2. Expansion of ministry to Gentiles and Antioch
  3. Barnabas and Saul’s mission and Antioch’s growth
Themes
Inclusion of GentilesGuidance of the Holy SpiritUnity of the early Church
Keywords
visionGentilesbaptismHoly SpiritinclusionAntiochBarnabasSaulAgabusChristians
People
PeterJohnJesusBarnabasSaulAgabusEldersGentile believers
Places
JoppaJerusalemCaesareaPheniceCyprusAntiochTarsusJudea
Things
vision of the vesselHoly Spiritbaptismprophecy of famineaid to brethrenlabel "Christians"
Key Verses
  • Acts 11:5-10: Depicts the divine vision that overturns Peter’s understanding of purity
  • Acts 11:16-17: Shows the Holy Spirit’s action in Gentile baptism
  • Acts 11:24-27: Marks the growth of the Antioch church and first use of the term "Christians"
  • Acts 11:28-30: Illustrates prophetic warning and communal aid
Questions
  • What does Peter’s vision reveal about God’s view on purity?
  • How does the early church’s response to the famine demonstrate Christian generosity?
  • What factors contributed to the first use of the title "Christians"?
  • In what ways does the narrative illustrate the expansion of the church beyond Jewish borders?
Sentiment

positive
depicts God’s grace, community growth, and unity