The first thought that occurs is that He loves us, and wants to reward our good deeds as a father would reward his child for a good report card.
Romans 8:17b says, “...and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."
This is one primary reason, but there is another. When we obey the Lord, doing what He tells us to do, it often gets us in serious trouble. This is what is meant when we refer to suffering for the cause of Christ. The early disciples knew a great deal about suffering in the name of Christ.
Acts 5:41 says, "And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name."
Peter found out first-hand what suffering for Christ was all about, when the angel of the Lord appeared to him, and asked him to do something that every Jew had been taught not to do. Let us look at these verses and see:
I. PETER AND CRITICISM
The early church discovered something that many churches today have not discovered, and that is that you can not make everyone happy. Jesus went about doing good and He was criticized everywhere He went.
A. THE GOSPEL RECEIVED
Verse 1, "And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God."
In chapter 10, when God told Peter to give the gospel to the gentiles, and he went to the house of Cornelius and told them about Jesus, they accepted his message. That does not happen in all cases.
Illus: The American people are not very receptive any more. They have become gospel hardened from hearing it so much, they no longer really hear the message.
But, there are countries who have not heard the good news of how Christ came and died for their sins. When they hear the gospel, it brings joy and hope to their lives.
Illus: There are missionaries who feel that it is a waste of time to preach the gospel in America, because it has been preached so much, people are no longer moved by it. Yet you can preach that same gospel to the heathen people, and they will gather around you like starving people who are reaching to you for bread.
How thrilled the apostles and brethren must have been, when they heard, that the gentiles gladly received the gospel when they heard it.
B. THE GOSPEL REJECTED
Verses 2-3, "And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.”
Notice, these men in Jerusalem also should have been thrilled that the gospel of Jesus Christ was received, but they could not see what a tremendous door God had opened for His church, because they were so prejudiced. When Peter arrived in Jerusalem, they said, " Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them."
Peter knew when he went to Cornelious' house he was asking for trouble. If you remember, he said, in Acts 10:27- 28, " And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together. And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean."
Peter did what God told him to do, but he knew that it went against the Jewish laws, and many would be angry with him when they heard about it. Well, they heard, and when he entered Jerusalem they quickly let him know how they felt about him, a Jew, going in to a gentile's house and eating with them.
This was all they could see. They could not see that here were men that Christ had died for who were now saved.
Illus: This reminds me of the church that was known for their affluent membership. They had the best that society could offer in their church. They had pooled their wealth, and built a building that everyone marveled at. A man came in one morning and walked the aisle and gave his heart to the Lord. He became one of the most dedicated Christians in that church. He got so stirred for souls, that he went out one week and brought a family whose clothes were about worn out.
After the preacher was through preaching, he went through the ritual of giving an invitation. The poor family that was invited, had a little boy. He did not know much about church, but he wanted to be saved, so during the invitation he walked down and knelt at the front.
His clothes were worn and he had a hole in the knee of his pants, and the carpet felt good to his little dirty knees. But as soon as the service was over, the complaints began coming in.
No one was thrilled about the child coming to know Jesus as Savior. All they could see was the dirt on the carpet from the little boy's knees.
The Jews in our text were the same way. They should have been thrilled that God would save those gentiles, but instead they were much more concerned about Peter, a Jew, mixing with the gentiles.
lllus: Those Jews remind me of many in our churches today. They should not join a church, they should join the Ku Klux Klan, because they have so much hate in their hearts for people of other races, etc.. They say, “They have their churches...' I guess they think they will have their heaven, and we will have ours one day, and that they have their Savior, and we have ours.
There is only one Savior, and all who accept Him will one day go to the one heaven He has prepared for them. The gentiles did not reject the gospel, the Jews rejected it for them.
II. PETER AND CORRECTION
A. PETER REVIEWS
Verses 4-14 (read all)
Peter told them the whole story of how the angel of the Lord had appeared to him. He told of how the large sheet that was full of unclean animals was lowered from heaven, and how the angel of the Lord told him to eat.
He told of how he rebelled, telling the Lord that he had never eaten anything unlawful for a Jew to eat.
He told how this happened three times, and how immediately three men knocked at his door asking for him. While he was still wondering what the vision of animals in the sheet had been all about, God told him to go with the three men.
He told that he had gone. Peter told the people of Cornelius' household, Acts 10: 34, "... I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:" So Peter had preached the gospel to them, and they had received it.
B. PETER REFUTES
Verses 15-18, " And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.”
Peter refuted their arguments, by stating that the same thing happened to them that had happened to the Jews on the day of Pentecost.
1. Verse 15, “And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.”
2. Verse 16b, “ ... but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.”
When Peter was through with his response to their criticism, no rebuttal was made.
Verse 18, " When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. "
III. PLANTING A CHURCH
Notice, after the church “Glorified God", it was then that God began to plant churches. God would like to do great things with His church today, but until we get in the right condition, He cannot do them.
Illus: God's church is much like farming. A farmer can have the land, the equipment, and the wisdom, but all these are useless unless the farmer uses them to prepare the soil for the crop. He can forget about any harvest, if he will not properly prepare the soil.
The church wants the harvest, but we are not willing to get our spiritual 'soil' ready so God can use it.
But notice also, that after the church got beyond their racial prejudice problem, and fault finding problems, God used them to plant more churches:
A. AMONG THE HEBREWS
Verse 19, “Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.”
B. AMONG THE HEATHEN
Verses 20-21, “And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.”
IV. PLANNING A CHARGE
Notice verse 22a, " Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem:...”
These were exciting days for the church. Before this, the church had been under some great persecution, but how thrilling that the church came through all those persecutions, and the Bible says, “…and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. " V 21b
There is nothing more exciting for a church, than to be reaching souls for the Lord. A church like this should make plans to do even more for the Lord. This is exactly what the early church did. They knew that the Lord would continue to bless them, if they would find dedicated Christian men, who were burdened for the church, and place them in leadership.
They found a man like this to send to Antioch, where God had so richly blessed, the man they chose was Barnabas.
A. HE WAS SENT
Verse 22, “Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.”
B. HE WAS SENSIBLE
Verse 23, “Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.”
C. HE WAS SPIRITUAL
Verse 24, “For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.”
D. HE WAS SHARING
Verses 25-26, “Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”
Notice that Barnabas wanted to share this thrilling ministry with Saul ,who had not been saved that long.
God used him to bring about leading Paul into becoming one of the greatest gentile missionaries there ever has been. He was rejoicing in the Lord, and He thought about Saul, and went to Tarsus to find him.
He brought him back with him and shared the blessing of ministering to those hungry souls for a whole year. They discipled the Christians there so well, that they became so much like Christ, that they were given the name of "Christians" first in Antioch.
E. HE WAS SUCCESSFUL
Verses 27-30, “And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.”
Conclusion:
I. PETER AND CRITICISM
A. THE GOSPEL RECEIVED
B. THE GOSPEL REJECTED
II. PETER AND CORRECTION
A. PETER REVIEWS
B. PETER REFUTES
III. PLANTING A CHURCH
A. AMONG THE HEBREWS
B. AMONG THE HEATHENS
IV. PLANNING A CHARGE
A. HE WAS SENT
B. HE WAS SENSIBLE
C. HE WAS SPIRITUAL
D. HE WAS SHARING
E. HE WAS SUCCESSFUL
