Atos 11

Atos 11

Vernon McGee - There was doubt and division. We need to understand that to the Jews the action of Simon Peter was a terrible thing. In fact, if we could have talked to Simon Peter a month before this, he also would have said it was a terrible thing to do. Actually, Peter gives them an apology. He makes it clear that he didn’t want to do it at all, but that the Spirit of God was in the whole episode. But Peter began speaking and proceeded to explain to them in orderly sequence, saying - The verb began (archo) signifies not just to start speaking but in context signifies that Peter began at the beginning and gave a full story regarding the Gentiles and how their reception of the Gospel paralleled the Jewish reception on Pentecost. Explain (1620)(ektithemi from ek = out + tithemi = to place) means literally to place outside. It was used in this literal sense to describe newborn babies left out to die from exposure. BDAG = "withdraw support or protection from, expose, abandon" (Acts 7:21+). It is used figuratively in Acts 11:4 meaning to set forth, to provide additional information, a deliberate and detailed narrative, "to convey information by careful elaboration" (BDAG) and thus to explain (also used this way in the only other NT uses - Acts 18:26+, Acts 28:23+). Utley on orderly sequence - It has the connotation of explaining something in a logical, temporal, or sequential order. This fits Luke’s research method (cf. Luke 1:1–4), personality, and professional training (physician). In orderly sequence (NET = "point by point")(2517)(kathexes from katá = according to + hexḗs = following) means in order, one after the other, successively; in an orderly fashion; successively, consecutively in connected order. Kathexes stresses orderly arrangement and sequence. It indicates one thing following after another in order. The word does not occur in the Septuagint. This is the same word Luke used at the beginning of his Gospel writing that "it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus." (Luke 1:3) Only Luke uses kathexes in the NT (no uses in Septuagint) - Lk. 1:3; Lk. 8:1; Acts 3:24; Acts 11:4; Acts 18:23 Acts 11:5 "I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object coming down like a great sheet lowered by four corners from the sky; and it came right down to me, KJV Acts 11:5 I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me: in a trance I saw a vision Acts 22:17; 2 Corinthians 12:1-3 and it came right down to me Jeremiah 1:11-14; Ezekiel 2:9; Amos 7:4-7; 8:2 PETER BEGINS BY EMPHASIZING THE SUPERNATURAL ASPECT Peter is not boasting but factually stating that he was a man of prayer. This was a good place to begin with these leglistic Jews. The fact that he had been praying would indicate to them that he was not entering into this venture with a spirit of self-will, but was entering on his knees --a good place for everything we do to begin! Do you begin your day on your knees with the open Word, your heart open to the Spirit and your will ready to surrender to what you hear from God? Note well, that you are not under law, but under grace. There is nothing "holy" per se about kneeling. It is not the posture of your body, but the posture of your heart that really matters! In our digital age everyone is into "Face Time," and that is all this is -- "Face Time" with our Father in Heaven. I wonder how many spend more time face timing men rather than face timing God? Just a thought. In Peter's defense in Acts 11:5-18, he reiterates the events that occurred in Acts 10, thus these notes will not significantly repeat comments that were made in that chapter. To summarize, Peter defended himself with 3 pieces of evidence: (1 ) The vision from God (Acts 11:5-11); (2) The witness of the Spirit (Acts 11:12-15, 17) and (3) the witness of the Word (Acts 11:16) (Modified from Wiersbe). I was in the city of Joppa (Acts 10:5+) praying - See commentary on Acts 10:9 On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. (Acts 10:9) So here Peter does not mention the fact that he was on the housetop at the sixth hour. Praying (4336)(proseuchomai) like a good Jew would do, which would certainly be agreeable to his hearers. And in a trance I saw a vision - See commentary on Acts 10:10 = But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance. (Acts 10:10) Peter does not repeat how he became hungry while they were cooking the meal below. Trance (1611)(ekstasis [English - ecstasy] from existemi = "be out of one's sense") "strictly being put out of place; hence (1) as an abnormal state of mind distraction, terror, amazement (Mk 5.42); (2) as a partially suspended consciousness ecstasy, trance (Acts 10.10)." (Friberg) An object coming down like a great sheet (othone) lowered by four corners from the sky; and it came right down to me - See commentary on Acts 10:11 "and he saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground." (Acts 10:11) In Acts 10:11 the great sheet is lowered to the ground, but here Peter says it came down to him. So Peter does make sure to repeat the fact that this was like a great sheet. John MacArthur interprets this great sheet as a "type" of or picture of the Church (composed of Jews and Gentiles, "clean" and "unclean" so to speak). In the context, that certainly seems to be a reasonable interpretation. Guzik agrees adding that "There is a sense in which the sheet represents the church, having both “kosher” (Jews) and “unkosher” (Gentiles) on it, with no distinction or dividing line between the two (Ephesians 2:11–18)." Acts 11:6 and when I had fixed my gaze on it and was observing it I saw the four-footed animals of the earth and the wild beasts and the crawling creatures and the birds of the air. KJV Acts 11:6 Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. had fixed my gaze on it Acts 3:4; Luke 4:20 And when I had fixed my gaze on it - See commentary on Acts 10:11 which uses the verb theoreo instead of atenizo as in this passage. and he saw (theoreo) the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, (Acts 10:11) Robertson on fixed my gaze - This personal touch Peter adds from his own experience. See on Luke 4:20; Acts 3:4, 12 for this striking verb atenizō, to stretch the eyes towards. I had fixed my gaze (816)(atenizo from from atenes = strained, intent which in turn is from a = intensifies + teino = to stretch, to extend or to strain all of which help to paint a picture of the meaning of atenizo) means to look intently, to fix one's gaze on something, to stare at something, to gaze earnestly, to look straight at something, to fasten one's eyes upon. Luke used the same verb in Acts 1:10+ to describe the apostles watching Jesus ascend and continuing to strain hard to see Him as long as possible. Even after He had been lost from sight, they kept on looking. All of Luke's uses of atenizo - Lk. 4:20; Lk. 22:56; Acts 1:10; Acts 3:4; Acts 3:12; Acts 6:15; Acts 7:55; Acts 10:4; Acts 11:6; Acts 13:9; Acts 14:9; Acts 23:1 Acts 3:4+ But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him (Man lame from birth Acts 3:2) and said, “Look at us!” Acts 3:12+ But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? Acts 6:15+ (Jewish opposition to Stephen) And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel. Acts 7:55+ (Stephen) But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; And was observing it (not used in Acts 10:11)(imperfect tense)(2657)(katanoeo from kata = down [kata can be used to intensify the meaning] + noéo = to perceive or think) means literally to put the mind down on something and so to observe or consider carefully and attentively. It means to fix one’s eyes or mind upon and to perceive clearly. Katanoeo means to look carefully, cautiously, observantly. The idea is to think about something very carefully or consider closely which denotes the action of one's mind apprehending certain facts about a thing so as to give one the proper and decisive thought about the thing considered.