Acts 11:18

ESV 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."

NIV When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life."

NASB When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, 'Well then, God has also granted to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.'

CSB When they heard this they became silent. And they glorified God, saying, "So then, God has given repentance resulting in life even to the Gentiles."

NLT When the others heard this, they stopped objecting and began praising God. They said, 'We can see that God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of repenting of their sins and receiving eternal life.'

KJV When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

NKJV When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”

What does Acts 11:18 mean?

The reason Peter ate with Gentiles is because they accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior and received the Holy Spirit as evidenced by their spontaneous ability to speak in other languages. When Peter saw the incontrovertible evidence of their acceptance into God's kingdom, he had them baptized into the church (Acts 10:44–48). This is the explanation he has given to those who objected to his eating with "unclean" people (Acts 11:2–17).

It's likely this verse describes two different groups. The first group, who fell silent and likely stayed that way, is probably the "circumcision party" who first charged Peter with breaking the Mosaic law by eating with the uncircumcised Gentiles (Acts 11:2–3). These men were most likely Pharisees before they believed in Jesus. It seems this group caused a great deal of trouble in the early church. They insisted Gentiles could only join the church and worship the Jewish Messiah if they became Jews by being circumcised. Later, Paul will find them so wearisome he will call them mutilators of the flesh (Philippians 3:2) and declare they should just go all the way and castrate themselves (Galatians 5:12).

The other group, likely the other disciples and James the brother of Jesus, see this as a fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham to bless the nations through him (Genesis 26:4). They know that heaven celebrates more for a repentant Gentile than a "holy" Jew (Luke 15:7). Jesus had told them His good news should first be spread in Jerusalem, but His followers should take the message to the world (Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8), and that, yes salvation is from the Jews, but it is for the world (Romans 1:16).

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Context Summary
Acts 11:1–18 describes Peter defending his actions in Acts 10. The Holy Spirit led him to share Jesus' story with a house filled with Gentiles. As he had barely started, the Holy Spirit fell on the Gentiles and Peter had them baptized into the church. Now, he has returned to the church in Jerusalem and has some explaining to do. Despite Peter being the most prominent of Jesus' twelve disciples, the legalistic Jews have already gained significant influence in the church. It's a good reminder we must always follow God and be ready to defend our response to His leading.

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Chapter Summary
Acts 11 accelerates the journey of the message of Jesus into the Gentile world. Peter returns to Jerusalem and explains to the church leaders how the Holy Spirit has fallen on a group of Gentiles in Caesarea Maritima (Acts 11:1–18). Then the church hears how Gentiles are coming to faith far north in Syrian Antioch; they send Barnabas to investigate and Barnabas brings in Saul (Acts 11:19–26). Finally, prophets travel from Jerusalem to Antioch to request aid for the Jerusalem church (Acts 11:27–30). The scene is almost set for Paul's extensive evangelism career to begin.

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