Tonight we continue our study of the book of Acts. Remember we are using the Scriptural outline for the book found in 1:8.
(Acts 1:8b) "…Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
Tonight we continue studying the development of Christianity in Judea and Samaria.
I. Christianity in Jerusalem 1:1-8:3
A. The risen Lord 1:1-26
B. Pentecost 2:1-47
C. The Healing of a Lame Man 3:1-26
D. The beginning of persecution 4:1-37
E. Purging the Church 5:1-42
F. Conflict within the Church 6:1-7
G. Stephen - The First Martyr 6:8 - 8:3
II. Christianity in Judea and Samaria 8:4- 12:25
A. Christians scattered and the ministry of Philip Acts 8:4-40
B. The Conversion of Paul 9:1-31
C. The Conversion of Gentiles 9:32-11:30
1. The preparation of Peter 9:32-10:22
2. The Preaching of Peter 10:23b-48
3. The Plea of Peter 11:1-18
a. The accusation v 1-3
1) When news of this latest event reached Jerusalem some of the believers there were upset
2) The term 'they that were of the circumcision' points to a division which already existed in the Jerusalem church
a) They who were believers and
b) They who were believers but still held to the law of Moses - called elsewhere "Judaizers"
3) Their complaint against Peter was that he went into the house of Cornelius and ate with him
a) This accusation was made against the Lord as well
b) Eating is a mark of acceptance and fellowship
b. The answer v 4-17
1) Peter tells them of his vision and the vision of Cornelius
2) He relates how that the Holy Spirit came upon them just as He did on the day of Pentecost
3) He remembered what Jesus had said about the Holy Ghost
4) Peter then concludes his answer with an observation and turns the tables on his accusers - "What was I, that I could withstand God?"
c. The acquittal v18
1) The saints recognized that the conversion of the Gentiles was initiated by God and that they shouldn't stand in his way
2) Their response had two important results
a) It preserved unity in the body of Christ
b) It brought about Jewish opposition to the Christian Church
4. The preparation of the church at Antioch 11:19-30
a. The nature of the church v 19-21
1) The city of Antioch was primarily a Greek city, but there were also groups of Syrians and Jews there
2) This city was evangelized by those Jews who were scattered as a result of the persecution. cf 8:1
3) The general rule of practice was to go to the Jews only - but remember we are viewing a period of transition here
4) Some departed from this general practice and preached Christ to the Gentiles
5) God blessed and a great many of these people in Antioch came to know the Lord
b. The confirmation of the church v 22-26
1) Earlier the Jerusalem church had sent Peter and John to confirm Philip's ministry in Samaria
2) Now they send Barnabas to confirm the ministry in Antioch
3) When Barnabas arrived he could see that God was at work and he was pleased
4) He remained there for an undetermined amount of time encouraging the believers and seeing God's blessings continue
5) Barnabas knew that God had chosen Paul for a ministry to Gentiles (cf. 9:15) so under direct leading of God - he departed for Tarsus to find Paul and bring him to Antioch
6) NOTE: It was in Antioch that people began calling believers 'Christians'. Initially this was intended to be a means of identifying the believers as a separate group. "ian" means 'belonging to the party of' so these believers were of Christ's party.
c. The charity of the church v 27-30
1) Believers with the gift of prophecy came to Antioch from Jerusalem
2) Agabus was one of those who came - he prophesied of a great famine throughout the land
3) The church determined to send an offering to Jerusalem to help their brethren in need
4) Paul and Barnabas brought their offering to Jerusalem
5) NOTE: Their giving was individualized and it was according to their ability
Next Time: Persecution of the Jerusalem Church