PETER DEFENDED GENTILE CHRISTIANS

Acts 11:1-4 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them (See also verses 5-18).

Without full understanding that the Jewish law had been made void by the New Covenant, the apostles and brethren that were in Judea were extremely doubtful and perplexed by the conversion of Cornelius and other Gentiles of Caesarea. Therefore they contended with Peter regarding this matter after he had returned to be with them in Jerusalem. Not only had Peter offered God's plan of salvation to the Gentiles, but they assumed that he had also violated God's law, which forbid Jews from entering into the houses of Gentiles and eating with those that were uncircumcised. What a wonderful lesson for us today. These passages should be read, understood, and practiced by all Christians. Lest we make rash judgments of others, full knowledge of God's word is extremely necessary in order to correct the actions of other Christians. Here it is obvious that the brethren of Judea did not have full knowledge of the will of God.

In order to make them fully aware of God's universal plan of salvation, Peter began to explain the vision he received, which assured him that nothing God created was to be considered common or unclean. This not only applied to the things God created for mankind to eat, but also to all mankind in general. And when he had preached the gospel of salvation to Cornelius and his household, they believed Jesus to be the Savior of the world and, immediately the Holy Spirit of God descended upon them as it did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ.

This having taken place, Peter asked this rhetorical of the brethren of Judea: what was I, that I could withstand God? In other words, Peter told them that this was God's will and he was to preach it as truth and not oppose it. This, having taken place, Peter baptized these Gentiles for the remission of their sins just as he had done for believing Jews on the Day of Pentecost. Indeed, prejudice was then, and is still today, not to be found in true Christianity. Applying Peter's vision to the will of God, no one is to be excluded from or denied access to the salvation that can only be found in Christ Jesus.

It is worthy to note that the beginning, referred to by Peter in verse 15, does not mean the beginning of creation, as spoken of in Genesis, chapter one, and following. Rather, this beginning took place on the Day of Pentecost, with the inspired preaching of the first gospel message of salvation through Christ Jesus. This was the beginning of the last days recorded in Acts 2:17. This was the beginning of the Christian Dispensation that resulted from the preaching of the Great Commission given by the Savior to His apostles. His commandment to them was: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen (Matt. 28:19-20). This same commandment was recorded in the Gospel according to Mark. In his gospel message, by inspiration of God's Holy Spirit, Mark wrote: Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned (Mark 16:15-16).

Beginning on the Day of Pentecost, the apostles were commanded to preach God's message of salvation through Christ Jesus to all nations, and to all the world, ...to every creature. The apostles and brethren in Judea, had they fully realized the true meaning of Christ's commandment, they would have never questioned God's invitation to eternal salvation to all people, both Jew and Gentile. But now, when they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

Prejudices carried over from the Law of Moses had now been laid to rest. Indeed, God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). The apostle Paul confirmed this doctrine of God's will to all Christians then, and to us today, when he wrote, For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Rom. 10:12-13). He also wrote, that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel (Eph. 3:6).