Peter Defends His Actions

October 25, 2015 Background Scripture: Acts 11:1 – 18 Lesson Passage: Acts 11:1 – 18a In last week’s lesson, the scriptures revealed how Peter struggled to overcome his personal bias against Gentiles as God used him to deliver the gospel message to the household of Cornelius. Although Peter did what God required of him, it is not clear that his attitude was in line with his actions. In other words, was he convinced that this needed to be his attitude concerning Gentiles going forward? Our lesson passage is a reminder that what God begins in us He completes. When Peter arrived back in Jerusalem, some of the Jewish Christians debated with him concerning his actions with the Gentiles. Peter had a serious choice to make: he could agree with his Jewish colleagues and treat his ministry to the Gentiles as an unfortunate error on his part that should not be repeated or he could agree with God and defend his ministry to the Gentiles. Having been brought up in the traditions of the Jews, it would have been easier for Peter to accept the attitude that he always had that agreed with the Jews. Undoubtedly, the vision God gave to Peter prior to his assignment at Cornelius’ house played a major part in Peter’s decision. But the final push Peter needed came as a result of the work of the Holy Ghost at Cornelius’ house. Those of Cornelius’ household who heard and believed Peter’s preaching received the baptism of the Holy Ghost and the manifestation of it served as a witness for Peter and those who traveled with him that everything was approved of God. This was the core of Peter’s defense to his fellow countrymen. God gave Peter a vision of His ability to cleanse the previously unclean and then God showed his approval of Gentiles who placed their trust in Him at the house of Cornelius. Since God gave the Gentiles the same spiritual gift He gave the Jews, Peter was satisfied that what he did was all within the will of God. Peter recognized after God’s work at Cornelius’ house that his bias against the Gentiles would in effect be bias against the work of God. Peter refused to allow himself to be in the position of opposing God’s work even though God’s work appeared to be contrary to Peter’s Jewish upbringing. This was Peter’s argument to his countrymen in Jerusalem who challenged his going into a Gentile’s home and fellowshipping with them. Peter’s defense of his actions caused his countrymen to acknowledge that God had also extended eternal life to the Gentiles. For this, they celebrated and glorified God. Had Peter given in to the prejudice of his countrymen, all of them would have been worse for it. Instead, Peter defended his actions as being orchestrated by God and he acknowledged that God had provided the Gentiles the same sign the Jews received in the beginning. The writing of the Apostle Paul helps us to understand the witness of the Holy Ghost baptism. Paul declared that speaking in unknown tongues is given as a sign to unbelievers but prophesying or preaching is given to believers. The Jews did not want to accept that God would save Gentiles but they could not deny the sign God gave to witness against their unbelief. Rather than give in to negative peer pressure, Peter defended his actions by referring to the sign God gave them of His acceptance of the Gentiles and he and his countrymen were able to overcome prejudice because of it. Robert C. Hudson October 5, 2015