Page 18 - Florida Sentinel 10-23-15 Edition

Sunday School
You Don’t Like It; Take It Up With God (Acts 11:1-18)
shared their table. In the an- cient world (not unlike today in many parts of the world) to share a table implied ac- ceptance, intimacy, and rec- iprocity. It might not seem like a terrible criticism to us, but the fellowship and future of the church lay in the bal- ance.
Peter defended (Acts 11:4-14) his actions to these critics in a straightforward manner. He told the story that only he could tell. He re- counted his vision on the roof (Acts 10:9-16). We learn that Peter was not only hungry when the vision hap- pened, but he was also pray- ing, and thus open to God’s leading.
There are clear clues in Peter’s experience of the wideness of God’s mercy. The sheet and voice came from Heaven (divine initia- tive), four corners (symbolic of the four corners of the earth) and four types of ani- mals were identified (sym- bolic of the worldwide dominion mandate of Gene-
sis 1:28-31). Peter strength- ened his defense by indicat- ing his resistance to breaking the Levitical dietary code. Peter said that God was changing what was viewed formerly as unclean. Even the three times that the vi- sion happened is significant.
Peter referenced the men from Caesarea (three men) who came to retrieve him and the six brothers who went with him from Joppa to Cornelius’s house. These voices could affirm Peter’s defense. In addition to these voices Peter quoted Cor- nelius and even said, “The Spirit told me . . .”
In the Old Testament, truth was partially discerned by two or three witnesses (Deuteronomy 17:6). Peter had at least nine men who could affirm what he is saying. Essentially Peter’s defense consisted of a mes- sage of salvation to Cor- nelius’s house.
Peter’s message was basi- cally, “If you don’t like this, take it up with God.” Acts
11:15-18. Peter likened what happened in Caesarea to what happened at Pentecost in Jerusalem (Acts 2:1-4).
The Pentecost experience was clearly an immersion in the Holy Spirit. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is refer- enced seven times in the New Testament (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 1:5; 11:16; 1 Corinthians 12:13). Luke had no interest in clarifying that challenging doctrinal distinction. Luke’s interest was that the Holy Spirit’s initiative was respon- sible for widening the fellow- ship of the church. In fact, Peter could not stand in God’s way.
The testimonies were re- ceived—at least for the mo- ment. This ongoing battle of prejudice would have to be fought another day (Acts 15:1-35), even for Peter (Galatians 2:11-14). For now Peter’s defense was ac- cepted. God “gave” (Acts 5:31) repentance to the Gen- tiles too. The defense rested.
Not everyone is happy with church growth. The wide embrace of the gospel can really mess with preju- dice.
When the Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius’s house, God was turning a new page in the church’s history. The church would never be the same. Perhaps the greatest word in John 3:16 is whosoever. That one word offers the worst sinners the chance to get into the king- dom of God.
Without Facebook, Twit- ter, or texting, what hap- pened in Caesarea did not stay in Caesarea. Word quickly got back to
Jerusalem. The other apos- tles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. This news arrived be- fore Peter could get back, and his critics were waiting for him. Acts 11:1-3
The critic’s zeal for the law of God cannot be faulted. But their message of Jesus “plus” was just enough to make the gospel not the gospel. They might have meant well, but they were dead wrong. They criticized Peter by saying, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.” That would have meant that Peter
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