Peter’s Testimony
Then Peter told them exactly what had happened. “I was in the town of Joppa,” he said, “and while I was praying, I went into a trance and saw a vision. Something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners from the sky. And it came right down to me. When I looked inside the sheet, I saw all sorts of small animals, wild animals, reptiles, and birds. And I heard a voice say, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.’ “‘No, Lord,’ I replied. ‘I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure or unclean. ‘ “But the voice from heaven spoke again: ‘Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.’ This happened three times before the sheet and all it contained was pulled back up to heaven. Just then three men who had been sent from Caesarea arrived at the house where we were staying. The Holy Spirit told me to go with them and not to worry that they were Gentiles. These six brothers here accompanied me, and we soon entered the home of the man who had sent for us. He told us how an angel had appeared to him in his home and had told him, ‘Send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He will tell you how you and everyone in your household can be saved!’ “As I began to speak,” Peter continued, “the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as He fell on us at the beginning. Then I thought of the Lord’s words when He said, ‘John baptised with water, but you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.‘ And since God gave these Gentiles the same gift He gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to stand in God’s way?” [NLT]Acts 11:4-17
I have already pointed out the various elements included in this story that the witnesses have added to strengthen their case that these events were orchestrated by God but now I will focus on examining the addition points Peter adds in his defence presented to the Circumcision Group:
- Just then three men from Caesarea arrived
- at the house where we were staying.
- The Holy Spirit told me to go with them – not to worry that they were Gentiles.
- These six brothers here accompanied me – we entered the home of the man who had sent for us.
- He told us how an angel had appeared to him in his home
- and told him – send messengers to Joppa
- summon a man named Simon Peter – he will tell you how you and everyone in your household can be saved!
- As I began to speak – the Holy Spirit fell on them,
- just as He fell on us at the beginning.
- Then I thought of the Lord’s words – John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
- since God gave these Gentiles the same gift He gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ
- who was I to stand in God’s way?”
- Just then three men from Caesarea arrived
- at the house where we were staying.
At the very moment the sheet is whisked up for the third and final time the voice from heaven spoke again: ‘Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.’ Now you have to admit the timing of that is pretty spectacular. Imagine the impact on Peter when that happened. You would have to come to the conclusion that God was being the events that were happening. That is exactly the point that Peter is making for the circumcision party. We already know the things that had to happen for these three men to reach him. God had made it clear to them where Peter was and in what house he was to be found. Not only that but they arrive on cue, at the perfect moment to fit in with God’s words to Peter. Peter must have felt the universe was revolving with him in mind at that point. Wouldn’t you?
The Holy Spirit told me to go with them – not to worry that they were Gentiles.
Then Peter tells them the Holy Spirit told him to go with them and to not worry that they were Gentiles. Notice the voice from heaven has been changed to the Holy Spirit. The source of his instructions have been made specifically and firmly linked with the Triune God. The Holy Spirit tells him something which effectively cancels out centuries of Jewish tradition and cultural practice. To bring about this reversal of cultures norms God had to do some pretty spectacular things. That is why Peter is listing the order of events and linked them very firmly to God Himself. What lies at the heart of the message to him and that which he has relayed to others are the words from the Holy Spirit.
Let’s examine what the Holy Spirit said in verse twelve.
- (ABP+) [said And to me the spirit] to come together with them, [nothing examining].
- (AMP) And the [Holy] Spirit instructed me to accompany them without [the least] hesitation or misgivings or discrimination.
- (ASV) And the Spirit bade me go with them, making no distinction.
- (BBE) And the Spirit gave me orders to go with them, doubting nothing.
- (CEV) The Holy Spirit told me to go with them and not to worry.
- (EMTV) And the Spirit said to me to go with them, without wavering.
- (ERV) The Spirit told me to go with them without wondering if it was all right.
- (ESV) And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction.
- (GNB) The Spirit told me to go with them without hesitation.
- (GW) The Spirit told me to go with them without any hesitation.
- (ISV) The Spirit told me to go with them and not to treat them differently.
- (JUB) And the Spirit bade me go with them, doubting nothing.
- (KJV) And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting.
- (LEB) And the Spirit told me to accompany them, not hesitating at all.
- (LITV) And the Spirit said to me to go with them, not discriminating.
- (MKJV) And the Spirit told me to go with them, not discriminating.
- (MSG) The Spirit told me to go with them, no questions asked.
- (Murdock) And the Spirit said to me: Go with them, without hesitation.
- (NAS77) “And the Spirit told me to go with them without misgivings.
- (NASB) “The Spirit told me to go with them without misgivings.
- (NLT) The Holy Spirit told me to go with them and not to worry that they were Gentiles.
- (RV) And the Spirit bade me go with them, making no distinction.
- (TLV) The Ruach told me to go with them without hesitating.
- (WEB) The Spirit told me to go with them, without discriminating.
- (WEBA) The Spirit told me to go with them, without discriminating.
- (Webster) And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting.
- (YLT) and the Spirit said to me to go with them, nothing doubting,
I am going to leave it at this point. I know it will frustrate some of you. You want me to go on and give you the punchline. Take time now to think about what the Holy Spirit said and I will analyse the statement in the next Gem.
Slow and methodical is more productive than rushed and unprepared.
Ian Vail
Perfect timing works best on the back of careful preparation.
Ian Vail
Prepare for the worst, expect the best, and take what comes.
Robert E. Speer
If winning isn’t important, why do they keep score?
Rick Godwin
Through the years people could always identify with our loss. But they could never imagine the way we would experience gain.
Steve Saint (Son of murdered missionary Nate Saint)
Winning often comes in unexpected ways.
Ian Vail