History · Chapter 11 of 28
Acts 11
Back in Jerusalem, believers criticize Peter for eating with Gentiles. He recounts his vision and how the Holy Ghost fell on Cornelius' household, and they fall silent and glorify God. The scattered believers reach Antioch, where many Greeks turn to the Lord. Barnabas is sent, fetches Saul, and there the disciples are first called Christians. When famine is foretold, the church sends relief to Judaea.
What happens in Acts 11
When Peter returns to Jerusalem, believers of the circumcision confront him for entering a Gentile home and eating with uncircumcised men. Peter answers not with argument but by rehearsing the whole story in order: his vision of the sheet, the voice telling him not to call common what God had cleansed, the three men sent from Caesarea, and the Spirit's command to go without doubting. As he began to speak, he says, the Holy Ghost fell on them as on the apostles at the beginning.
If God gave them the same gift, who was Peter to withstand God? His hearers fall silent and glorify God for granting repentance to the Gentiles. Meanwhile believers scattered by persecution reach Antioch and preach to Greeks, and many turn to the Lord. Barnabas is sent, rejoices, and brings Saul from Tarsus. There the disciples are first called Christians. The prophet Agabus foretells famine, and the church sends relief.
Acts 11 in context
Acts 11 follows directly from the Cornelius account, showing how the Jerusalem church wrestled with what God had done. Antioch, a large Gentile city in Syria, becomes the base for the mission that will spread through the rest of Acts.
The naming of believers as Christians marks a new identity distinct from Judaism. Barnabas, whose name means son of encouragement, plays a quiet but pivotal role by seeking out Saul and bringing him into the work.
Main themes of Acts 11
Acts 11 (KJV)
1And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. 2And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, 3Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. 4But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying, 5I 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: 6Upon 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. 7And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. 8But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. 9But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 10And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven. 11And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me. 12And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house: 13And 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; 14Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. 15And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. 16Then 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. 17Forasmuch 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? 18When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. 19Now 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. 20And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the LORD Jesus. 21And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. 22Then 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. 23Who, 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. 24For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. 25Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: 26And 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. 27And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. 28And 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. 29Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: 30Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Verses to carry from Acts 11
“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.”Acts 11:16
“When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.”Acts 11:18
“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.”Acts 11:26
New Testament quotation
How Acts 11 points to Jesus
At the turning point of his defense Peter remembers a word of the Lord Jesus: John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost (v16). Jesus had spoken this promise before his ascension, and now Peter watches it fulfilled in a Gentile home. The recollection of Christ's own words settles Peter's conscience and the church's fear, for who can withstand God when he keeps his Son's promise? The chapter also shows Christ's people first bearing his name in Antioch (v26), called Christians because they belong to him.
Everything that spreads in these verses spreads because Jesus is preached and believed. The mission is not the disciples' invention but the outworking of what the risen Christ promised his followers would receive.
Questions about Acts 11
Why were the Jerusalem believers upset with Peter?
They were devout Jews who understood the law to forbid eating with Gentiles and entering their homes. Peter had done both. Their concern was not petty; it touched deep convictions about holiness and covenant identity. Peter answers by showing that God himself had gone before him, giving the Gentiles the same Spirit, so that resisting them would mean resisting God.
Why is it significant that believers were first called Christians at Antioch?
The name appears where the gospel had spread beyond Jewish believers to a mixed Gentile city. It marked a community whose defining identity was Christ himself, not ethnicity or law. Whether given in respect or mockery, the name stuck because it was true: these were people of Christ, known by their attachment to him above every other loyalty.
Reflection
Peter's critics became worshippers once they heard what God had actually done. We too can hold firm opinions that soften when we see the Spirit at work in people we doubted. Stay open this week to the evidence of God's grace in unexpected lives, and let it move you from argument to praise.
A prayer from Acts 11
Read the whole Bible with the family
Open it in the app, study it live with someone, and let it lead you to Christ.
Open the BibleRead it togetherSee what God is doing