Lesson 12: Triumph Of The Kingdom (Acts 11-12)

Throughout history, the Kingdom of God has been challenged on various fronts. In this class we will note how the Kingdom triumphed over two very different challenges: 1) the saints misunderstanding God’s purpose in redeeming the Gentiles and 2) secular persecution of the church.

Notes From The Text

11.1-18, Peter Defends Going To The Gentiles

• Vs. 1, recall that Cornelius had asked Peter to remain with him for some days (10.48). Peter must have done so because word had traveled ahead of him back to Judea.
• Vs. 2, “the circumcision party” refers to a segment of Jewish Christians, those with the least understanding that the Old Law was passing away. Such a segment would continue to cause problems in the church (Acts 15).
• Vs. 3, recall that Peter had the same misunderstanding (see Acts 10.28).
• Vs. 12, these six brethren would provide valuable confirmation of all that transpired (see Acts 10.23).
• Vs. 14, these words were not recorded in Acts 10.4-6. They are of extreme importance as they clearly show Cornelius was not saved, even though he was sincere and devout.
• Vs. 15, see Acts 2.1-4. The uniqueness of the event is clear because Peter could not appeal to any other event than the giving of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
• Vs. 16, see Matthew 3.11; Acts 1.5.
• Vs. 17, “the implication was clear. The Jewish brethren must cease at once their contention over what had happened at Caesarea. God had settled the matter. The Gentiles were to be granted status in the church, and that without submitting to elements of the Mosaic law. Additionally, there is this thought. If refusing baptism to the Gentiles would have been withstanding God, what is a person doing who refuses this divine ordinance for himself?” (WJ, 134)
• Vs. 18
  • These Jewish brothers overcame deep prejudice because they were committed to finding the truth. When God’s will was presented to them, they submitted themselves to that will.
  • True repentance does indeed lead to life (see 2Corinthians 7.10).

11.19-30, The Church In Antioch

• Vs. 19
  • See Acts 8.1-4.
  • All three areas mentioned were heavily Greek, and each was represented on the day of Pentecost, 2:9-10. The main point of the passage is to show that up until news of Cornelius’ conversion spread, evangelistic efforts were focused only on the Jews and not the Gentiles.
• Vs. 20
  • Antioch was located ~300 miles north of Jerusalem and was the third largest city of the Roman empire, boasting a population of 500,000 people.
  • Some translations say that they spoke to Greeks (non Jews) while other translations say they spoke to Hellenists (Greek speaking Jews). Context favors that they spoke to Greeks (non Jews).
• Vs. 21, note that belief preceded turning to the Lord. The doctrine of “faith only” demands that salvation occurs at the moment when one believes. This passage only confirms what we’ve found throughout Acts. Those who believe must act on that belief: they turn to the Lord.
• Vss. 22-24, fits what we know of Barnabas’ character (see Acts 4.36-37; 9.27).
• Vs. 25, Tarsus was about a 100 mile journey by boat, more by land. Barnabas recognized that the Lord needed more workers in the field of Antioch, so he did not hesitate to go and get Saul.
• Vs. 26, Antioch was the first church comprised of Jews AND Gentiles. It was now clear that the disciples were no longer a sect of Judaism, but something completely different. Thus they were called Christians, i.e. those associated with Christ.
• Vs. 28, Claudius “reigned from A.D. 41-54. The historians Suetonius, Tacitus, and Josephus all mention famines during this period. Suetonius speaks of the reign of Claudius as being characterized by ‘continual scarcity’ (Claudius, 18), and Josephus describes a famine in which many people in Jerusalem died for lack of food (Antiquities, 20.2.5).” (Wayne Jackson)
• Vs. 29, see 1Corinthians 16.2; 2Corinthians 8.1-6.
• Vs. 30, this is the first mention of elders in the book of Acts. Their importance in the early church is apparent from what we read in Acts 14.23. Note that the famine was universal (vs. 28), but the church (as a collective body) was only sending to their fellow saints. This does not argue against a Christian’s responsibility to help any and all who are in need. However, this does indicate that the church’s responsibility is to aid other saints.

12.1-25, Herod Vs. The Church

• Vs. 1, while the church had already faced persecution from the leaders of the Jews, but this marks the first time that a secular leader persecuted the church. Who was this Herod?
  • A grandson of Herod the Great. Aristobulus, whom Herod had killed, was his father.
  • Agrippa was a good friend of Gaius (Caligula), who became emperor in AD 37.
  • Agrippa was first given the territory that his uncle Philip had ruled (Iturea and Traconitis). He was given the territory that his uncle Antipas ruled in AD 39 (Galilee and Perea). Agrippa was proclaimed king instead of ethnarc.
  • Gaius (Caligula) died in AD 41 and was succeeded by Claudius. Claudius not only confirmed Agrippa in his kingdom, but added Judea and Samaria to his kingdom. Agrippa ruled over all this territory from AD 41-44.
• Vs. 2, note the words of Jesus in Mark 10.35-40.
• Vs. 3, Josephus confirms that Agrippa was “very ambitious to please the people” (Antiquities 19.7.3). The days of Unleavened Bread occured immediately after Passover (see Exodus 12.14-18).
• Vs. 4, Each squad consisted of 4 soldiers. The squads would watch over Peter in shifts, 2 guarding him in the cell and 2 standing outside the door (vs. 6). Why were such measures taken to guard one man? Recall what happened the last time Peter was imprisoned (Acts 5.17-21). Note: Passover (Greek pascha) was tragically translated as “Easter” in the KJV. This has led to much confusion over the years. However, there is no Scriptural evidence that the church celebrated any special day or holiday, aside from their weekly worship on the first day of the week.
• Vs. 11, “There is the tone of a personal remembrance in these words, as though Luke has learned these details from Peter himself. There he was, at night, free, standing in the open street. He thinks about it for a moment. He is not dreaming! It has actually happened, and he is on the outside of the prison, a free man.” (Garreth Reese)
• Vs. 15,
  • Did they have no confidence in the prayers they were constantly offering (see vs. 5)?
  • It was a popular notion among the Jews that each person had an angel. It appears that some of the early church held to this concept. The Bible does not teach that every person has their own “guardian” angel, as is popularized in the religious world, but it does teach that angels do minister to the saints (Hebrews 1.14).
• Vs. 17, James the brother of Jesus (see Matthew 13.55; 1Corinthians 15.7).
• Vs. 19, Roman law required that guards receive the same punishment that escaped prisoners were due to receive.
• Vs. 20, Tyre and Sidon were in the Roman province of Syria, and thus not under the control of Herod. It may be that they taxed his goods in their seaports, thus incurring his wrath.
• Vs. 22, Herod was familiar enough with the God of the Jews and their laws to understand that this kind of adulation was not fit for a man. However, he allows his ego to be stroked, thus incurring the wrath of God.
• Vs. 23, Josephus recorded this event, stating that Herod died in five days. The year was AD 44.
• Vs. 24, Herod had tried to stamp-out Christianity, but his efforts were futile. God prevailed, and His Kingdom continued to expand.
• Vs. 25, John Mark was first introduced in vs. 12.