A new direction

Acts 11:1-18
by Brian Knitter

Last week, Peter had a revelation from God: God’s message of salvation is for all. Up to this point, God’s message, it was thought, was only for God’s chosen people; the Jews. God had sent Peter to a Roman household, and that household was baptized. “Gentiles” were now part of God’s kingdom! Peter had been given a new direction, had seen its effects, and was now rushing back to tell his friends. Were his friends happy? They were. . .

. . . NOT! Their first reaction was: “you did what? You ate with those uncircumcised people, and then baptized them?” Peter’s friends were still working within the old boundaries: No contact with non-Jews; and if you wanted to be a Christian, you first had to become a Jew (which meant circumcision for men). Peter had new boundaries. He was so excited, he retold the whole story to his friends . . . and they believed! God softened their hearts, and Peter was persuasive. These friends had no further questions, and they praised God for this new direction.

So, what can we take from this lesson? For me, three things come to mind (though I am sure that many more applications can be drawn from this):

1. Peter HAD to tell this good news to his friends. He was compelled to.

2. The “church” was equipped to change direction quickly and follow God wherever He led.

3. We no longer have any excuse for excluding anyone from the Good News of Jesus Christ.

My missionary heart loves this passage! Peter was sharing the Gospel with his friends (“Gospel” literally means “good news”); telling them that no one was to be excluded. The “membership” requirements were also abolished: God does not want anything to stand in the way of His people coming to Him. Remember when Jesus said: “let the little children come to me?” Same thing– becoming a Christian should not be complicated. Our goal is to simply spread God’s message of Good News about His Son, and what He did for all. God will take care of the rest.