Acts 11: 1-18

(Acts 11: 1-18)

And the apostles and brethren that were in Judæa heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.  And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying, 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: 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. And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.  And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.  And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Cæsarea unto me.  And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house: 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;  Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.  And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.  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.  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?  When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

Circumcisions in Jerusalem condemned Peter, knowing that "Peter entered the house and ate and drank with the Gentiles who were uncircumcised." The conversion of the Gentile Cornelius and the events in his home were incomprehensible to the Jews. Their traditions and customs had already become stereotypes, and their strong sense of superiority and prejudice could hardly understand what Peter ate and drank with the uncircumcised.

『 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. 』 To the self-condemning church in Jerusalem, Peter explained that everything that took place in Caesarea came from God's command. 『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. And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. 』Peter was a Jew who obeyed the word of God. Thus, eating the unclean things seen in the vision, although God's command, could not have been easily followed. Therefore, Peter could not obey immediately despite the command of God.

『 But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. 』 Previously, the Israelites lived a different life from the Gentiles. Nevertheless, the Lord shakes his values and beliefs at once. 『But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 』God made Israel the chosen people of the Lord, but now that grace has turned to the Gentiles. This is the beginning of an era in which the Lord's salvation history works for all people.

After seeing the vision, Peter was led by God to meet three Gentiles. Also, the Lord has already commanded Cornelius in a vision to send an angel to invite Peter. Peter could not understand God's command at first, but realized that everything was in the Lord's plan, and now he told them the message of salvation. The Spirit of the Lord came upon the Gentiles who heard the Gospel through Peter. Peter came to realize that the appearance of the Holy Spirit on the Gentiles was similar to the events of Pentecost on the Jews, and he explained to the Jerusalem people that all this was done by God.

『 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. 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? 』 As a result of this incident, the Holy Spirit came to the Gentiles like Jews. Through this incident, the great history of God's salvation came to the realization of Peter and the Jews in Jerusalem, who could not understand. They too were forced to acknowledge God's work. It is the Lord's salvation plan that all nations of the world come to the Lord to repent and have the opportunity of joy to obtain eternal life. 『When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. 』