Thursday, Feb. 12

Thursday

Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them. But Peter began and explained it to them in order”   - Acts 11:1-4

Peter must have known that he was going to face some questions and skepticism over his acceptance of the gentiles from his Jewish brothers in Jerusalem.  He almost seems ready and eager to tell them the remarkable story of what God has done for the Gentiles.  Notice that when Peter gets to Jerusalem it is particular group of Jewish believers, called the “circumcision party” (probably not the best name for your group) that criticize him.  This was a group of radical Jewish converts to Christianity who still clung firmly to the Old Testament law of Moses as necessary for salvation.  They taught that as a Gentile, your only hope for salvation in Christ was first to become a Jew, and that was accomplished (for men) by the rite of circumcision.  Their view was that Jesus was a Jewish Messiah first, and any gentile that wanted to be saved needed to come to Jesus through the Jewish laws and customs.  

It might sound strange to us, but this group caused real confusion and division among the new believers.  Jesus did not look kindly upon those who would offend the faith of a babe that had come to trust in Him. He said it would be better for that man, that a mill stone be tied around his neck and he by cast into the sea.

What was it that this group accused Peter of?  "You went in to men that were uncircumcised and ate with them."

They are now accusing Peter of eating with Gentiles.  This might not sound like a big deal to us, we might be tempted to think, “big deal, maybe Peter was hungry and they offered him some food, so what?”  However, in ancient middle-eastern cultures (and even in middle - eastern cultures still today) to eat with a person was tantamount to becoming one with them. It was a symbol of acceptance and equality.  To the Jewish worldview, Gentiles were most definitely NOT equal to Jews!  The Jews were God’s chosen people and Gentiles were unclean and outside the favor of God.  That is why a faithful Jew would never eat with a Gentile. 

This whole story is reminiscent of a similar criticism the Jewish leaders leveled at Jesus himself...

“And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”  - Mark 2:15-17

The point is that Peter is only following the teaching and example of his Master - Jesus!  Listen to how he defends his actions when this group accuses him, And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?”  (Acts 11:16-17)

I love this!  Peter is essentially saying, “Hey, your issue is with God, not me!  I’m only doing what Jesus said and what Jesus did.  If you don’t like it, then take it up with Him!”

Jeff Frazier