Atos 11

Atos 11

Lenski - The point is that simply to go in and then—still worse—to eat was wrong, to say nothing of baptizing such men and receiving them into the church. This circumcision party appealed to the Mosaic regulations which were clear in regard to circumcision and kosher foods. Already these regulations, they claimed, condemned Peter’s proceeding as being totally wrong. This contention was perfectly correct—if, indeed, the Mosaic regulations were still in force; then the only way into the church was through the synagogue. (An Interpretation of the Acts of the Apostles) Peter could certainly understand their criticism for recall his declaration in the home of Cornelius "And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean." (Acts 10:28+) Comment - Peter was not saying this was an Old Testament (Mosaic) prohibition, because there was none. He was saying it was "unlawful" according to the Jewish traditions which made it virtually impossible to associate with a Gentile without becoming ritually unclean in the eyes of other Jews! It was a cultural barrier that could only be penetrated and broken down by God as we see in Acts 10-11. Uncircumcised (203) (akrobustia from ákron = the extreme + búo = cover) means uncircumcised (the foreskin not cut off) or uncircumcision and thus referred to the prepuce or foreskin. Akrobustia in this context was mean to convey their sense of scorn, contempt and derision of the Gentiles. Paul uses this word later explaining how the Jews and had come to glory in external circumcision and completely miss the more important internal circumcision (see Ro 2:25, 26, 27+, et al) Related Resource: Excursus on Circumcision Bruce Barton - Suspending Judgment - When Peter brought the news of Cornelius’s conversion back to Jerusalem, the believers were shocked that Peter had eaten with Gentiles. After they heard the whole story, however, they praised God (11:18). Their reactions demonstrate how to handle dis-agreements with other Christians. Before judging the behavior of fellow believers, it is important to hear them out. The Holy Spirit may have something important to teach us through them. (Life Application Commentary) Acts 11:4 But Peter began speaking and proceeded to explain to them in orderly sequence, saying, KJV Acts 11:4 But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying, Acts 14:27; Joshua 22:21-31; Proverbs 15:1; Luke 1:3 PETER'S ORDERLY EXPLANATION Peter begins his discourse on God's will for His church and that will is to have a worldwide mission focus, not an ethnocentric Jewish focus. J