BIBLE STUDY LESSON 17

SERIES U --- THE EARLY CHURCH

MOSHIACHIANS

A COUNCIL IN JERUSALEM

From Acts 11:1-30

The news that Gentiles had accepted YHVH’s Word soon spread to the apostles and brothers all over Judea. When Peter returned to Jerusalem, those who still believed that circumcision was necessary began to criticize Peter. [Why did you visit the home of Gentiles and even eat with them?] they asked. Peter explained the circumstances to them. [While I was praying in Joppa,] he said, [I had a vision. Something that looked like a great sheet came down from the sky, lowered by its four corners until it was close to me. As I stared at it, I saw many kinds of animals, reptiles, and birds, but nothing that Jews are permitted to eat. Then I heard a voice speaking to me. ‘Get up, Peter. Kill whatever you wish and eat it,’ the voice said. But I answered, ‘No! I have never eaten forbidden food!’ Again, the voice from heaven came, ‘When YHVH tells you something is right, don’t say that it’s wrong!’ This happened three times, then the sheet was drawn back into the sky. As soon as this happened, three men arrived from Caesarea. They had been sent to the house to find me. Ruach HaKodesh told me to go with them without a single doubt. These six brothers from Joppa who are here today went with me to the house of Cornelius in Caesarea. Cornelius told of an Angel who stood in his house and said, ‘Invite Simon Peter to come to your house and tell you how to be saved.’ When I spoke to Cornelius and his friends and family, Ruach HaKodesh came upon them in the same way that He came on us at Shavuot. Then I remembered our Adonai’s saying, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with Ruach HaKodesh.’ If YHVH gave them Ruach HaKodesh just as He gave the Spirit to us when we believed in Adonai Yeshua Moshiach, why should I try to stop YHVH?] When the Jerusalem believers heard what Peter said, they had no further criticism, but praised YHVH for all that had happened. [Now we know that YHVH has given the Gentiles the privilege of turning to Him for eternal life,] they said. At that time, the believers who had moved from Jerusalem because of the persecution which began with Stephen’s death, went as far away as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. Wherever they went, they took the Good News about Yeshua, but to the Jews only. However, some of them who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene told the Greeks there about Yeshua. Adonai was pleased with this, and before long, a large number of these Greeks became believers. The news about these Greek believers soon reached the church at Jerusalem, and Barnabas was sent to Antioch to work with them. When Barnabas arrived at Antioch and saw how YHVH’s blessing was on them all, he was delighted and encouraged the believers to remain true to Adonai. Barnabas was a good man, a faithful believer, and filled with Ruach HaKodesh. Before long, many at Antioch came to Adonai. Barnabas left Antioch for a while to visit Tarsus where he looked for Saul. When Barnabas found him, he brought Saul back to Antioch. For a year, Barnabas and Saul met with the believers at Antioch, teaching many of them. It was at Antioch that the believers were first called believers. About that time some prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, whose name was Agabus, told of a great famine that would come over the world, an event which did happen during the reign of Claudius. When the Antioch believers heard that, they took up a collection for the believers in Judea, each giving as much as he could afford. Then they sent the collection with Barnabas and Saul to the elders in Jerusalem.

COMMENTARY

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF PAUL -- JERUSALEM TO ANTIOCH

After Paul escaped from Damascus, he returned to Jerusalem. When he joined the prayer meetings of the believers, his former friends were amazed at the almost complete change that had come over him. The believers too, were surprised by Paul’s sudden conversion. They were afraid he was a spy. But Barnabas reassured the believers, telling them of Paul’s experience on the Damascus Road. When Paul began to proclaim Moshiach in the synagogues of Jerusalem, his former friends determined to stop him. They began to secretly plot his death. But the believers discovered the danger. They safely smuggled Paul from Jerusalem to Caesarea, where they put him on a ship bound for his native land of Cilicia. Almost two years later, Paul was living in the city of Tarsus when Barnabas arrived with news from Antioch. He told Paul about the great numbers of Gentiles who were accepting the Gospel. So many had become believers that the young church in Antioch needed more people to help. Paul agreed to return with Barnabas. For a full year they worked in Antioch, preaching and baptizing the new believers. When the church became strong enough to stand on its own, the two men were free to return to their homes. But news came to Syria of the believers who were suffering from the famine in Judea. Paul and Barnabas at once set out again, this time for Jerusalem. Before they left, the believers in Antioch gave them money for the believers in Jerusalem.