Acts 11: 1-10
The apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him and said, “You went into the house of the uncircumcised men and ate with them.”
Peter began and explained everything to them precisely as it had happened: I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds of the air. Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’
“I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’
“The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’ This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again.
A Thought
The circumcised believers were Jews that believed Jesus came to them and not to the uncircumcised Gentile people. The Jews, along with Peter, considered the Gentiles unclean. After hearing that the Gentiles had received the word of God, Peter had a vision where God spoke telling him not to call anything unclean that God had cleaned. Now Peter has received criticism for entering the house of the unclean. Peter does not defend himself, but instead, tells precisely what had happened.
Our Prayer
Father thank you that your word when received will resolve conflict. We do not have to defend ourselves when we are listening to your voice. Your word will speak for itself. We just have to be obedient to your voice. Thank you that new life in Christ is available to all people regardless of race, gender, education or lack of, and to all economic level of life. Help us to minister grace and love to all people, in Jesus’ name, amen.
