Acts 11:1-18

Peter's defense of his visit to the gentiles Acts 11:1-18: The apostles and brethren that were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. When Peter returned to Jerusalem he was challenged by the Jewish brethren for preaching to the Gentiles. The brethren at Jerusalem thought it was wrong to receive the Gentiles. God had used a vision to convince Peter that it was right to preach to Gentiles. The Holy Ghost was given to the Gentiles just as He had been given to the Jews.

The Jews seemed insulted by the fact that Peter had stayed in the home of Gentiles, and had even eaten with them. Peter explained the events that had led him to preach to Cornelius. He recounted his vision in Joppa of the unclean beasts. He heard the voice of God say, "What God has cleansed you must not call common." He told these brethren about the three men that were sent by Cornelius and how that the Spirit told him to go with them and not to worry. An angel of the Lord had instructed Cornelius to send for Peter in order to learn how to be saved. Peter did go with these Gentiles and he was accompanied by six Jewish brethren. As Peter began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on the Gentiles just as upon the apostles at the beginning.

Peter believed that refusing Gentiles into the church would be withstanding God. God made no distinction between Jew and Gentile when He granted to the Gentiles repentance unto life. When they heard Peter say this, they became silent and started praising God.