Acts 11 | Daily Bible Reading & Reflection

Acts 11 Devotional: Witness the defense of Peter and the growth of the church in Antioch. Explore how the Holy Spirit fell upon the Gentiles, confirming that salvation is a gift of grace for all who believe in Jesus Christ.

Dear brothers and sisters, peace in Christ. Welcome to Acts Chapter 11. Today, we witness a monumental shift in the history of the early Church. What started in a small room in Jerusalem is now spreading like wildfire to the ends of the earth. We see the apostles grappling with the beautiful reality that God’s grace knows no borders. Let us open our hearts to the expansive, inclusive love of our Savior.

Acts Chapter 11 Introduction:

The Open Door and the First "Christians"

Acts 11 begins with a moment of tension: Peter is criticized by the believers in Jerusalem for eating with uncircumcised Gentiles. In response, Peter recounts his vision and the clear work of the Holy Spirit among Cornelius and his household. The result is a beautiful moment of worship where the Jewish believers realize that "God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life." The scene then shifts to Antioch, where a vibrant, multicultural church is born. It is here, in the midst of this diverse community, that the followers of Jesus are first called "Christians."

What can we learn from this today? In this chapter, we see the Mission of the Universal Church. As your Statement of Faith affirms, the Church is the body of Christ, composed of all true believers born of the Spirit. Acts 11 teaches us that the Gospel is not the property of one culture or group; it is the "power of God for salvation to everyone who believes." We also see the essential role of Encouragement, as Barnabas is sent to Antioch and "rejoices" in the grace he sees there. Finally, we see the Unity of the Spirit in action, as the new believers in Antioch immediately move to send relief to their brothers and sisters in Judea during a famine. True faith always results in a love that holds nothing back from those in need.

Bible Verse - Acts 11

Peter Explains His Actions

11 The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him 3 and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”

4 Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story: 5 “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. 6 I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. 7 Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’

8 “I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’

9 “The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’ 10 This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again.

11 “Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. 12 The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. 14 He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.’

15 “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 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?”

18 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

The Church in Antioch

19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

22 News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

27 During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) 29 The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. 30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

Prayer

When the believers heard Peter’s report, they "had no further objections and praised God." As we enter into prayer, let us join them in praising the God who grants repentance and life to all people.

Prayer Theme: "One Body in Christ"

Dear Heavenly Father, We praise You for Your heart for the nations. We believe that salvation is a gift of Your grace, received through faith in Jesus Christ alone, and we thank You that this gift has been extended to us. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for Your work of regenerating hearts, convicting the world of sin, and uniting believers of every tongue and tribe into one Body.

Lord, I ask that You would give me the heart of Barnabas today. Help me to be "full of the Holy Spirit and faith," looking for the evidence of Your grace in the lives of those around me. Forgive me for any subtle prejudices or barriers I have built in my heart that prevent me from seeing others as You see them. Teach me to be generous, not just with my words, but with my resources, being quick to respond to the needs of my brothers and sisters in Christ. May I wear the name "Christian" with humility and integrity, reflecting the character of Jesus in everything I say and do.

We pray for the global Church, especially in places where there is division or persecution. May the unity of the Spirit be a powerful witness to a fractured world. We lift up missionaries and church planters who are laboring in difficult fields; grant them the same "open doors" You gave to the believers in Antioch. We pray for our local community, that our church would be a place where everyone—regardless of their background—can find the life-changing grace of the Gospel. Amen.

Daily Application Question

The believers in Antioch were "first called Christians" because their lives so clearly reflected the life of Christ. If someone were to give you a name based only on your actions this past week, what name would they choose?

Frequently Asked Questions about Acts 11

Why were the Jewish believers upset with Peter at first? For centuries, Jewish law and tradition strictly forbade eating with or associating with Gentiles to maintain ritual purity. They did not yet fully understand that Jesus had fulfilled the law and made all things "clean" through His sacrifice.
What is the significance of the city of Antioch? Antioch became the first great "missionary center" of the Church. It was a diverse, pagan city where the Gospel proved its power to transform people from vastly different backgrounds.
Why is the name "Christian" significant? The suffix "-ian" means "belonging to the party of." Being called a Christian meant being recognized as a "partisan of Christ." While likely intended as a nickname or slur by outsiders, the believers adopted it as a badge of honor.

Thank you for joining us for Acts 11. May you walk today in the joy of being part of God’s global family, empowered by the Spirit to demonstrate His love. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow for the dramatic rescue of Peter in Acts Chapter 12.

Navigate the Journey

Previous: ← Acts Chapter 10 | Next: Acts Chapter 12 →

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