Lesson #7 (Chapters 11 & 12) Peter Explains Baptizing Gentiles and the Church Grows Peter Reports to the Jerusalem Church: Acts 11 1 Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, 3 “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” 4 But Peter began and explained it to them in order: 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me. 6 Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ 8 But I said, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’ 10 This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven. 11 And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea. 12 And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. 13 And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; 14 he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ 15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?” 18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.” The Church is Scattered into Antioch of Syria 19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. 25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. I. Saul of Tarsus RE-ENTERS the Acts narrative HERE in chapter 11; He had been “waiting for God’s direction … II. The Biblical Principle of Waiting A. Moses tended sheep on the plains of Midian for 40 years (until age 80) B. David was anointed King by Samuel, then David waited 13 years before he reigned as King C. Elijah confronted the “evil empire” then stayed at the brook Cherith for 1½ years; then he moved to obscure Zarephath D. Joseph, would-be- Prime-Minister of Egypt: but first he would be slave, house-boy, accused rapist, and prison dweller E. Esther would courageously face her husband to King (Persia); but she first spent years in the shadows --- waiting F. How does your resume read? … Typically God’s way has a lot of “waiting in it” Psalms 27:14 NIV Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Psalms 37:7 NIV Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him. Psalms 37:34 NIV Wait for the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you. Psalms 62:5 NIV Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. Psalms 91:1 NIV He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalms 94:17-19 NIV Unless the LORD had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death. When I said, "My foot is slipping," your love, O LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul. Isaiah 40:31 NIV Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 49:23 NIV Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who hope in me will not be disappointed. Hosea 12:6 NIV You must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always. G. “Hurry” is rarely in scriptures; “hurry up” is more in our vocabulary because WAITING goes against human nature III. Finding Saul in the Shadows A. Saul in Tarsus for 5 or 6 years; Paul will later reflect on what he learned Romans 8:25 NIV But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. B. Our culture says just the opposite: “If you’ve got it, FLAUNT it” … “Go for it” … “You deserve it” … “Name recognition is everything” (no reference to the depth of your character or motive of your actions) IV. Meanwhile, A Revival is Happening among Gentiles without Saul’s Help\ V. Church was growing by leaps and bounds: Acts 11:19-21 NIV Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. Acts 11:22 NIV News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. A. Barnabas (from Cyprus – Acts 4:36) knew culture, people, an encourager B. “Saul will fit right in” … and he did! The Church MULTIPLIED Acts 11:23,24 NIV When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. C. If you want to grow the church, bring people to the Lord VI. Meanwhile, Saul of Tarsus was likely hunkered down in a cave near Tarsus! (Much later, Paul will recall what was happening to him! … 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 NIV I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know — God knows. And I know that this man — whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows — was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell. 2 Corinthians 12:7,9-10 NIV To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me … But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. VII. The Time for Saul to Emerge from the Shadows A. Antioch is swelling with new converts to Christ and Barnabas needs help Acts 11:25-26 NIV Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. B. Saul made a difference because Saul was DIFFERENT … in the shadow of the Almighty he had been humbled Four Principles for Waiting: 1st: When God prepares a person for effective ministry, He includes what the person would rather omit – (a period of WAITING!) 2nd: As God makes a person wait, He shows that person is that he/she is not indispensable – that’s humbling! 3rd: While hiding the person away, He reveals new dimensions the Word (The Bible)– giving understanding! 4th: When God finally chooses to use the person, it comes at a time least expected, when he/she feels least qualified (more effective!) 27 Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.