What does Acts 11:17 mean?
Legalistic Jewish Jesus-followers are angry at Peter for eating with uncircumcised Gentiles (Acts 11:2–3). After giving the background information as to why he was even in the same house with them (Acts 11:4–14), Peter explains that he had barely begun to tell them about Jesus when the Holy Spirit came on them. He simply obeyed God's orders; he had nothing to do with the Holy Spirit's choices (Acts 10:9–46).The "gift" here certainly includes the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, but it also includes the spiritual gift of tongues. "Tongues" does not mean an original language no one else can understand. It means a real, earthly language the speaker doesn't normally know. Like the Jesus-followers on Pentecost (Acts 2:4), the Gentiles were spontaneously able to speak other languages when the Holy Spirit came on them (Acts 10:46). Today, the news about Jesus has spread all over the world to all major languages, so the gift of tongues is no longer needed (1 Corinthians 13:8). But watching the Gentiles speak in tongues and praise God convinced Peter and his witnesses that they had, indeed, received the Holy Spirit.
In the next verse, at least some of Peter's audience begin praising God for including the Gentiles in the gospel. Others seem to simply go silent—likely, these legalistic accusers, called the "circumcision party" (Acts 11:2). This faction believes no Gentile should be accepted as following the Jewish Messiah unless they first become a practicing Jew, specifically by being circumcised. They were likely Pharisees before they came to a saving faith in Jesus. Despite having watched Jesus minister to Gentiles and regularly condemn Pharisees throughout His three-year ministry, and despite being the foremost of Jesus' disciples, Peter is still intimidated. Later, when legalistic Jesus-followers arrive at Syrian Antioch, Peter will stop eating with the Gentiles and face Paul's anger (Galatians 2:11–14). Ironically, Paul had been the most zealous Pharisee-trainee of all (Philippians 3:4–6).
It can be difficult to truly turn away from the world's standards. It can be even harder to overcome culture and tradition masquerading as religion. There is pain involved when we face the condemnation of those who refuse to be free. It helps when we can say with all assurance that we are obeying God.
