Acts 11:13 - Printer Friendly

ESV: 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;

NIV: He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter.

NASB: And he reported to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying, ‘Send some men to Joppa and have Simon, who is also called Peter, brought here;

CSB: He reported to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa, and call for Simon, who is also named Peter.

NLT: He told us how an angel had appeared to him in his home and had told him, ‘Send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter.

KJV: 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;

NKJV: And he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter,

The story of Cornelius and the angel is important. All Scripture is meaningful and preserved for a reason (2 Timothy 3:16–17). However, this particular story is recounted three times in the Word of God. Peter is in Jerusalem relating how a centurion named Cornelius had told him about his vision in Caesarea Maritima. Cornelius is Roman but worships the Jewish God and is well respected for his giving nature and his constant prayer. An angel came and told him to call for Peter, who was thirty-five miles south in Joppa, to hear what he had to say (Acts 10:3–6). He did so, Peter came, and Cornelius told him about the angel's message (Acts 10:30–32).

Peter is telling Cornelius' story to the leaders of the church in Jerusalem. Some of the "circumcision party"—Jewish Jesus-followers who are still legalistic regarding the Mosaic law—have condemned Peter for eating with Gentiles. Peter is explaining why he did so: Jesus sent him a vision, the Holy Spirit told him to go, and an angel told Cornelius to send for him (Acts 11:1–12). That's a pretty strong defense.

Peter adds more of the angel's message than what is recorded in the original story in Acts 10. The angel tells Cornelius that Peter will explain how Cornelius and his household can be saved (Acts 11:14). It's very possible that at this time, Philip the evangelist is in Caesarea (Acts 8:40). But sharing Jesus' story "to the end of the earth" is the responsibility of the twelve apostles (Acts 1:8). It was Peter who preached to the Greek-cultured Jews on Pentecost (Acts 2) and who, along with John, validated the faith of the Samaritans with whom Philip shared the gospel (Acts 8:14–17). So, it is Peter who brought the salvation of Jesus to a houseful of Gentiles.

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.

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.

Until the martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 7:54–60), the story of Jesus' followers remained mostly in Jerusalem. Saul started persecuting the church and the members fled, taking Jesus' story with them. This included Philip who shared Jesus' story with Samaritans and an Ethiopian official (Acts 8). Saul's persecution even led to his own conversion (Acts 9). And Peter brought the gospel to a group of Gentiles (Acts 10). After one more story about Peter and rising persecution by the Roman government, the book of Acts will turn to Saul, who will use the Greek variation of his name, Paul, and his missionary journeys to southeast Europe.

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.