Acts 11:1

ἤκουσαν δέ, now they heard. The report of what had happened at Cæsarea reached Jerusalem before Peter’s return. Hence it seems that he accepted the hospitality of the new converts.

ὅτι καὶ τὰ ἔθνη ἐδέξαντο τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ, that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.

Where animate objects and especially persons are spoken of it is common in both classical and N.T. Greek for nouns in the neuter plural to be joined with a plural verb. Cf. Matthew 27:52 πολλὰ σώματα τῶν κεκοιμημένων ἁγίων ἠγέρθησαν. For an instance of this usage about things inanimate see below Acts 11:13, note. At the news of the acceptance of the word of God by the Gentiles, had there been no additional information about Peter’s eating with Cornelius, the disciples would have rejoiced, and would have welcomed this further spread of the word, as they did (Acts 8:14) the conversion of the Samaritans, but to some, who were not only Christians, but strict observers of Jewish ritual, it was a cause of offence that Peter had consented to become the guest of a Gentile.