Acts 11: The Church Embraces the Gentiles
Peter explains his actions, and a thriving new church rises in Antioch.
Acts 11 (WEB)
1 Now the apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
2 When Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision contended with him,
3 saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men, and ate with them!”
4 But Peter began, and explained to them in order, saying,
5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision: a certain container descending, like it was a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners. It came as far as me.
6 When I had looked intently at it, I considered, and saw the four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky.
7 I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter, kill and eat!’
8 But I said, ‘Not so, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered into my mouth.’
9 But a voice answered me the second time out of heaven, ‘What God has cleansed, don’t you call unclean.’
10 This was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven.
11 Behold, immediately three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent from Caesarea to me.
12 The Spirit told me to go with them, without discriminating. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house.
13 He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying to him, ‘Send to Joppa, and get Simon, who is called Peter,
14 who will speak to you words by which you will be saved, you and all your house.’
15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning.
16 I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.’
17 If then God gave to them the same gift as us, when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?”
18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life!”
19 They therefore who were scattered abroad by the oppression that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews only.
20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus.
21 The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
22 The report concerning them came to the ears of the assembly which was in Jerusalem. They sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch,
23 who, when he had come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad. He exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they should remain near to the Lord.
24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and many people were added to the Lord.
25 Barnabas went out to Tarsus to look for Saul.
26 When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they were gathered together with the assembly, and taught many people. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
27 Now in these days, prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
28 One of them named Agabus stood up, and indicated by the Spirit that there should be a great famine all over the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius.
29 As any of the disciples had plenty, each determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea;
30 which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Acts 11 (KJV)
1 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,
3 Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.
4 But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,
5 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:
6 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.
7 And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.
8 But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.
9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
10 And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.
11 And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.
12 And the spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house:
13 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;
14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
16 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.
17 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?
18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.
21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
27 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:
30 Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Acts 11 (ASV)
1 Now the apostles and the brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.
2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,
3 saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.
4 But Peter began, and expounded [the matter] unto them in order, saying,
5 I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, a certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even unto me:
6 upon which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw the fourfooted beasts of the earth and wild beasts and creeping things and birds of the heaven.
7 And I heard also a voice saying unto me, Rise, Peter; kill and eat.
8 But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath ever entered into my mouth.
9 But a voice answered the second time out of heaven, What God hath cleansed, make not thou common.
10 And this was done thrice: and all were drawn up again into heaven.
11 And behold, forthwith three men stood before the house in which we were, having been sent from Caesarea unto me.
12 And the Spirit bade me go with them, making no distinction. And these six brethren also accompanied me; and we entered into the man’s house:
13 and he told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying, Send to Joppa, and fetch Simon, whose surname is Peter;
14 who shall speak unto thee words, whereby thou shalt be saved, thou and all thy house.
15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning.
16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit.
17 If then God gave unto them the like gift as [he did] also unto us, when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?
18 And when they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then to the Gentiles also hath God granted repentance unto life.
19 They therefore that were scattered abroad upon the tribulation that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to none save only to Jews.
20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus.
21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number that believed turned unto the Lord.
22 And the report concerning them came to the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas as far as Antioch:
23 who, when he was come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad; and he exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord:
24 for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
25 And he went forth to Tarsus to seek for Saul;
26 and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that even for a whole year they were gathered together with the church, and taught much people, and that the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
27 Now in these days there came down prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be a great famine over all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius.
29 And the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren that dwelt in Judea:
30 which also they did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
Summary
Back in Jerusalem, some criticize Peter for eating with Gentiles, so he carefully recounts his vision and how the Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius's household. Hearing this, the believers fall silent and then praise God for granting repentance to the Gentiles as well. Meanwhile, the scattered believers reach Antioch, where many turn to the Lord, and Barnabas and Saul spend a year teaching the growing community. It is in Antioch that the followers of Jesus are first called “Christians,” and they send relief to fellow believers facing famine.
Main Characters
- Peter — Explains his encounter with Cornelius and defends welcoming the Gentiles.
- Barnabas — Encourages the new church in Antioch and brings Saul to help teach.
- Saul — Partners with Barnabas in teaching the Antioch believers for a year.
- Agabus — A prophet who foretells a famine, prompting the church to send relief.
Key Verse
Acts 11:26 (WEB)
When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they were gathered together with the assembly, and taught many people. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
Lessons Learned
- Sharing our experiences of God can resolve conflict and build unity.
- God's grace reaches beyond the boundaries we expect.
- A healthy church both teaches truth and meets practical needs.
- Identity in Christ unites diverse people into one community.
- Accountability strengthens the church. Peter willingly explains his actions to his critics, showing that openness to scrutiny — rather than defensiveness — builds trust and unity in the body of Christ.
- God's Spirit moves ahead of our plans. The Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius's household before Peter could say all he intended, reminding us that God's work cannot be contained by human initiative or timing.
- Encouragement is a ministry gift. Barnabas traveled to Antioch, saw the grace of God at work, and "exhorted them all" to remain near the Lord — demonstrating that a timely, generous word sustains new believers through the early stages of faith.
- Teaching produces lasting growth. Barnabas and Saul spent an entire year together with the Antioch assembly teaching many people, illustrating that steady, committed instruction — not just inspiring moments — is what matures a congregation.
- A Christ-centered identity reshapes community. Believers were first called "Christians" in Antioch, signaling that their shared allegiance to Jesus was more defining than their ethnicity, background, or former religion.
- Generosity flows out of genuine community. When Agabus prophesied famine, each disciple "according to his plenty" determined to send relief to Judea, showing that true fellowship translates Spirit-prompted concern into concrete, sacrificial action.
- How does Peter's explanation change the minds of his critics?
- What made the church in Antioch such a healthy, growing community?
- Why might the name “Christian” have first been given here?
- How does the church respond to news of the coming famine?
- When has hearing someone's story changed your perspective?
- Peter recounts the events step by step — the vision at Joppa, the Spirit's command to go without hesitation, Cornelius's angelic visitation, and finally the Holy Spirit falling on the Gentiles just as it had on the apostles at Pentecost. His clinching argument is a question: "If then God gave to them the same gift as us, when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?" (Acts 11:17, WEB). Faced with undeniable evidence that God himself had acted, his critics "held their peace, and glorified God" (Acts 11:18, WEB), concluding that the Gentiles too had been granted repentance to life.
- Several factors combined: "the hand of the Lord was with them" so a great number believed and turned to the Lord (Acts 11:21, WEB); Barnabas, described as "a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith," arrived to encourage them and exhort steady commitment to Christ (Acts 11:23–24, WEB); and Barnabas recruited Saul, so that for a full year skilled teachers were present in the assembly (Acts 11:26, WEB). The Antioch church was marked by Spirit-empowered evangelism, encouraging leadership, and sustained teaching.
- Antioch was the first city where the gospel took deep root in a largely Gentile, cosmopolitan setting outside Judea. The community there was visibly distinct — diverse in background yet united by devotion to Jesus — making the nickname "Christians" (followers of Christ) a natural outside observation (Acts 11:26, WEB). The name likely arose because the movement was publicly identified with its center, Jesus the Christ, rather than with Judaism or any other existing group.
- When Agabus indicated by the Spirit that a great famine was coming, the disciples acted immediately and collectively: "as any of the disciples had plenty, each determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea" (Acts 11:29, WEB). They gathered the funds and sent them to the Judean elders through Barnabas and Saul (Acts 11:30, WEB). The response was proportional, voluntary, and practically organized — a model of the church meeting material needs within the wider body.
- Look for responses that connect a specific personal experience — a conversation, testimony, or moment of listening — to a genuine shift in understanding or attitude. A useful follow-up is Proverbs 18:13: "He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him" (WEB). Encourage participants to reflect on what it felt like to be heard, and how Peter's patient, orderly account (Acts 11:4, WEB) models the kind of storytelling that opens hearts rather than hardens them.