Acts 11:17 - Printer Friendly

ESV: If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God 's way?"

NIV: So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?"

NASB: Therefore, if God gave them the same gift as He also gave to us after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?'

CSB: If, then, God gave them the same gift that he also gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, how could I possibly hinder God?"

NLT: And since God gave these Gentiles the same gift he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to stand in God’s way?'

KJV: 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?

NKJV: If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?”

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.

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.