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1. EXTENSION OF THE WORD TO SYRIAN ANTIOCH

By the end of this topic, learners should be able to:
Define the term gentiles. Narrate Peter's answers to the Jerusalem critics. Relate the setting up of the church at Antioch commenting on the points of interest. Explain the imprisonment and escape of Peter.

1.0 PETER ANSWERS JERUSALEM CRITICS

The apostles in Jerusalem also heard that the Gentiles had received the Holy Spirit and the word of God. When Peter came back to Jerusalem the Jews accused him of dining with the uncircumcised. He explained that he had received a vision from God on top of a house in Joppa. He told them that in the vision there was a large cloth-like object that had animals and other creatures being lowered and also how the Lord asked him to kill and eat. Peter explained that although he had refused to eat the unclean animals, the Lord insisted that he had no right to call other animals and creatures unclean. The Lord had also sent three men to call Peter to the house of Cornelius for he was led by the Holy Spirit in everything he did. According to the angel Peter had to go to the house of Cornelius for they had to be saved through his preaching and teaching on that same day. As he began speaking there the Holy Spirit came upon people just like on the Day of Pentecost.

Peter then explained that the apostles had no power to stop the word of God from reaching to the Gentiles. When they heard all these words they were silent and they began praising God for what he had done for the Gentiles repentance to life.

1.2 Commentary

Peter's actions were approved by the Jerusalem church.
The Jewish disciples were still strict on the observance of the Law.
There was a problem on the Jews mixing with the Gentiles as the Jews felt the Gentiles were not conversant with the laws of Moses and God. Peter cleared the issue when he was asked to visit Cornelius.
A gentile is a non-Jew or a person who does not observe the Jewish law.
The Jews seem to have been objecting to the Peter's act of staying and eating with the Gentiles. They were not challenging the preaching and baptism.

1.3 Setting up a church at Antioch (Acts 11:19-30)

Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoeni′cia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyre′ne, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number that believed turned to the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad; and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a large company was added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul. When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church, and taught a large company of people; and in Antioch the disciples were for the first time called Christians.

Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Ag′abus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over the entire world; and this took place in the days of Claudius. And the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brethren who lived in Judea; and they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

1.4 Summary

Then those who were scattered after the death of Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch preaching to the Jews only. Some of the people came to join the church at Antioch. At Antioch they preached to the Hellenists (Greek speaking Jews). The Hand of the Lord was with them and many people were converted. They also went to see the church in Jerusalem and Barnabas was sent to assess the situation in Antioch. After that Barnabas went to Tarsus with Paul. When he had found Paul he brought him to Antioch where they stayed for a year preaching the good news to the people. For the first time the converts at Antioch were called Christians. Prophet Agabus prophesied that there was going to be a great drought in the whole land. The disciples had to contribute what they had so that they could alleviate the situation. Paul and Barnabas were sent with the contributions with the contributions.

1.5 Commentary

Antioch was the third largest city in the Roman Empire. The first two were Rome and Alexander.
The following were the consequences of starting the church at Antioch :

a. The Greeks to whom the gospel was preached to were pagan worshippers of the Greek gods. These were the first real Gentiles by race, religion that were entering the church.

b. Barnabas became the leader there. The leaders in Jerusalem wanted to investigate the new movement there as they had done in the case of Phillip's work in Samaria. The generosity of the Spirit is demonstrated by helping the new church and by inviting Saul to join him.

c. The disciples received a distinct name. They began to be known as Christians. They spoke of themselves as the "believers". The Jews called them the Nazarenes.

d. Antioch later became the leading centre for missionary work among the Gentiles. Agabus is an example of a Christian prophet. Elders of the Jerusalem church were also mentioned here. These elders were appointed in the Jewish synagogue to see the conduct of the services and to attend the business affairs of the community and the early church seems to have adopted the same system. The elders were under the officials of the church, acting with the apostles.

1.6 The imprisonment and escape of Peter

Herod the King killed James and then imprisoned Peter. Peter was visited in prison by the angel, who led him out of the city. Peter went to the hose of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where the servant Rhoda did not believe that it was Peter at the gate. After being welcomed by the disciples he departed.

1.7 Commentary

Herod the King is here Herod Agrippa I, a nephew of Herod Antipas. He ruled Galilee in the time of Jesus. He was given the title "King of the Jews"
James was the first apostle to be martyred. There is a belief that his brother John was put to death about this time also. However this view conflicts with that John is also heard of later in Ephesus.
The days of the unleavened bread constituted a week after the Passover feast. During these days no execution was allowed.
Peter was guarded by four sets of soldiers and they took turns during day and night.
The visitor who released Peter is said to be an angel but this may have been a messenger who was sent by the Holy Spirit to release him.
John Mark is mentioned for the first time here. He was the man who later wrote the first gospel (Matthew) His mother evidently had a big house and his father was probably dead as he is not mentioned here.
James who is mentioned here is the brother of Jesus who Jesus had visited after his resurrection.