ACTS 11
7 Outlines
Acts 11:1-18
PETER'S DEFENSE
In Acts 10 Peter, under God's direction, conducted the
first official witness of the church to the Gentiles. This caused quite a stir in the
PETER CRITICIZED - Vss. 1-3
The Jews would not eat a meal with Gentiles. Those believers in Christ who were still
zealous about the Law immediately found fault with Peter.
PETER'S COMMENTARY - Vss. 4-15
Peter tells what happened, explaining the call of God
to go, the presentation of the Gospel, and the work of the Holy Spirit on those
who believed the Gospel.
PETER'S CONCLUSION - Vss. 16-17
Peter concluded that the Gentiles were truly saved
needed to be baptized.
He also concluded that he should not stand in the way
of those who professed Christ.
PETER CONFIRMED - Vs. 18
There was great rejoicing at the
***************************************************************************
Acts 11:1-18
VICTORY OVER PREJUDICE
PUBLICATION OF THE NEWS
Vs. 1
Peter had ministered to the House of
Cornelius (a gentile). There was
salvation.
See chapter 10.
CONFRONTATION BY THE
CIRCUMCISION Vss, 2-3
EXPLANATION BY PETER
Vss. 4-17
VISION FROM GOD Vss. 4-10
VISIT FOR GOD Vss.11-14
VICTORY THROUGH GOD Vss. 15-17
JUBILATION AMONG CHRISTIANS
Vs. 18
***************************************************************************
Acts 11:19-26
BIRTH OF A CHURCH
CONVERSIONS IN
COMMISSION OF BARNABAS – Vs.
22
CHALLENGES TO GROW – Vss.
23, 25-26
Barnabas encouraged them all
to cling to the Lord.
Barnabas recruited Paul to
help teach the new converts.
CHARACTER OF THE LEADER –
Vs. 24
A Good Man
Full of the Holy Ghost and
Faith
***************************************************************************
Acts 11:19-30
JOY IN EVANGELISM
Evangelism is the communication of the Gospel of the
Lord Jesus Christ to those who need it. We also call it witnessing or sharing
our faith.
This text is where we find the story of a new church
founded in Antioch-Syria.
In it we find that there is joy in evangelism for
several reasons.
THE GOSPEL WAS EXPOUNDED – Vss. 19-20
Jesus had told his disciples to spread the Gospel.
Mark 16:15 - And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every
creature.
Back when Stephen, the first Christian martyr was
stoned to death, a persecution arose that caused
Christians to scatter. Acts 8:1-4
Vs. 19 – As Christians scattered they took the
Gospel with them sharing the Gospel. The Gospel is the Good News. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 1 John 5:11-12
As these refugees fled they shared the Gospel, going
as far as
As these Jewish Christians fled, they preached only to
other Jews.
The incident of Peter visiting a Centurion and
discovering that the Gospel was for the Gentile as well as the Jew did not
occur until after the Jewish Christians began to scatter.
Vs. 20 – Some of the Jewish Christians that
scattered were Hellenistic Jews, that is, they grew up outside of
Have you ever stopped to think why there is joy in
sharing the Gospel with others?
1. Our lives have
been changed by the Lord Jesus and we want others to experience that same
change.
2. The Lord
Jesus has given us the joys of peace with God, forgiveness of sin, eternal life
and the presence of God in our lives. We
want others to have those same joys.
3. We realize
that those without Jesus are condemned to an eternity in hell. It is a joy to
tell them that they need not do that if they trust Christ.
BELIEF WAS EXPRESSED – Vs. 21
Vs. 21 – The Christians shared their faith.
God was them. He enabled them
Many placed their faith in Christ.
Please note that when we witness with the right motive
and in reliance upon God that God is with us.
Acts 1:8
I am impressed with the story of another Bible
character in the Book of Acts. Her name
was
Acts 16:14
Anytime a person comes to faith in Christ there is
joy!
«
There is the joy of the person who has been saved,
when they realize that he or she has forgiveness of sin and eternal life.
«
There is the joy of the person who led the person to
faith in Christ.
«
There is the joy of friends, loved ones and hopefully
church people when they realize that they have a new brother of sister in
Christ.
«
And there is joy in Heaven.
Jesus told the story of a man who had 100 sheep.
One was lost, so the shepherd went out to find him.
Luke 15:5-7
PEOPLE WERE ENCOURAGED – Vss. 22-24
Vs. 22 –
So, when the news of what had happened in
They ended up sending a man named Barnabas.
Barnabas was also a Hellenistic Jew who had come to
Christ as his Savior.
Barnabas was actually a nick name given to him by the
Apostles. His name means “Son of
Consolation”, or “Son of comfort”, or “Son of Encouragement.”
Barnabas was Mr. Encouragement.
Of course, when there are new converts to Christ
around, it always helps to have encouraging people around. When a person truly becomes a Christian, the
old devil likes to attack and make the person miserable. A new Christian needs someone to encourage
Him when things are going badly or just so he knows that what he has done is a
right decision.
Vs. 23 – Guess who was the first person that
got encouraged when Barnabas arrived at
IT WAS BARNABAS HIMSELF
He was glad.
«
He was probably encouraged because the reports that
had come to the
«
He was probably encouraged because so many gentiles,
those who would have had little or no exposure to the true and living God, were
now believers.
«
He was probably encouraged because there were more
people going to Heaven.
«
He was probably encouraged because someone had the
concern and compassion to share the Gospel with those who had never heard the
Gospel.
Not only was Barnabas encouraged but he encouraged the
new believers.
He exhorted or urged them to stick with it.
He exhorted them to cleave to the Lord.
There are many things that a new believer in Christ
needs to learn. One of them is faithfulness.
The more a new Christian learns to be faithful to the
Lord and to following His word, the more he or she will grow. John 8:31-32
Encouraging Christians both old and new is the job of
every other Christian. We should make it
a point to encourage all Christians in their walk with God. Hebrews 3:12-13,
Hebrews 10:24-25
So how can you and I become good encouragers?
The answer is found right here in Verse 24.
We should follow the example of Barnabas!
Acts 11:24 - For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much
people was added unto the Lord.
Barnabas was a good man.
Barnabas was not a sinless man, but he was a man who
been changed through his own faith in Christ.
A good man is a man who has a heart for God and for
the things of God.
Jesus told the story of the sower
and the different types of soil. The
different soils are different people.
Listen to what says about the word sown into a good heart. Luke 8:15
A good man has an honest and good heart that hears the
Word of God and keeps it or obeys it!
Barnabas was also full of the Holy Spirit.
That means he was under the control of the Holy
Spirit.
That means he would have produced the fruit of the
Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23
You can’t be more encouraging than a person who shows the
fruit of the spirit.
Barnabas was also full of faith.
Barnabas trusted God.
Barnabas relied on God.
Barnabas would have the positive attitude that faith
gives.
THE SAINTS WERE EDIFIED – Vss. 25-26
Vss. 25-26 – Encouragement was needed, but Barnabas
realized that teaching was also needed.
New Christians need to be taught.
There is joy when new Christians start to learn, and
grow and mature in the things of Christ.
There is an interesting point found here.
Barnabas went and got Paul. Paul had been saved but was back home,
waiting for God to open up the door of ministry that was promised to him. And
that was a ministry to the Gentiles.
Barnabas realized that Paul had teaching gifts that
perhaps he didn’t have.
Barnabas was a gifted encourager, Paul a gifted
teacher.
The two working together would make a great team.
Remember that no church is to be a “one man show”.
No pastor has all the Spiritual gifts.
And remember also that just as new Christians need to
be taught, so do older Christians. That
means you and I never outgrown our need to learn as Christians. Philippians
3:130-14
THE MINISTRY WAS EXTENDED – Vss. 27-30
Vss. 27-30 –
These new believers were mostly gentiles.
The church in
However when a prophet named Agabus
announced a famine, the church in
These new Christians did not isolate themselves from
other Christians. They extended themselves to other Christians.
One of the signs of a true conversion is when a new
Christian cares about and responds to the needs of others. 1 John 3:16-18
THE GOSPEL WAS EXPOUNDED – Vss. 19-20
BELIEF WAS EXPRESSED – Vs. 21
PEOPLE WERE ENCOURAGED – Vss. 22-24
THE SAINTS WERE EDIFIED – Vss. 25-26
THE MINISTRY WAS EXTENDED – Vss. 27-30, 13:1-4
There are several things that bring joy to Evangelism.
But it all begins with evangelism.
We must reach out.
***************************************************************************
Acts 11:19-26
WHAT A GUY!
We can learn from all
the characters found in the Bible. One special
man that was greatly used of God was Barnabas. We could call Barnabas "Mr.
Encouragement" (Acts 4:36-37). Let us learn from his story.
INTRODUCTION - Vss.
19-21 - As a result of the persecution that had resulted from Stephen's
Martyrdom, many Gentiles, especially in
AVAILABILITY OF BARNABAS
- Vs. 22
The leaders at the
church in
ACTIVITY OF BARNABAS -
Vss. 23, 25-26
He was able to recognize
the grace of God. Vs. 23
He encouraged the new
believers. Vs. 23
He recruited Saul (Paul)
to help teach the new believers. Vss. 25-26
ATTRIBUTES OF BARNABAS -
Vs. 24
A Good Man
Full of the Holy Ghost
Full of Faith
The end result of
Barnabas' ministry was that even more people were saved.
***************************************************************************
Acts 11:19-30
CHURCH PLANTING!
Church planting took
place in
EXPLANATION - The Gospel
is preached and believed. - Vss. 19-21
EXHORTATION - New
believers are encouraged. - Vss. 22-24
EDUCATION - New
believers are instructed. - Vss. 25-26
EXTENSION - New
believers reach out to help other Christians. - Vss. 27-30
**************************************************************************
ACTS 11:24 etc.
A GOOD MAN
I want us to consider what it means to be a good man or a good woman
according to the Scriptures.
A GOOD MAN IS FILLED - Acts 11:24
For he
was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was
added unto the Lord.
In the early church, Barnabas was Mr.
Encouragement.
We meet him
first in Acts 4:36-37
It was Barnabas who helped Paul get
established in the church at
When Gentiles started to get saved, it was
Barnabas, Mr. Encouragement that was sent to investigate.
Acts 11:19-23
It was also Barnabas, realizing that these
new Christians needed a teacher, who recruited Paul into a teaching ministry.
Acts 11:25-26
It was also Barnabas who went with Paul on
the first missionary journey, and it was Barnabas who helped rehabilitate Mark,
after Mark's initial failure in ministry.
Barnabas was indeed a good man, and in Acts
11:24, we see two things that helped make him a good man. Barnabas was a good man because, first of
all, He was filled with the Holy Ghost.
The Holy Ghost was promised by the Lord
Jesus. John 14:16-18, John 16:12-14
The Holy Spirit lives inside of every
Christian. Romans 8:9
When Barnabas was filled with the Spirit,
he was simply doing what God wants every Christian to do. God wants every Christian to be under the
influence of the Spirit. See Ephesians 5:18-21 and Galatians 5:22-23
A person who is filled with the Holy Spirit
can not help being a good man or woman.
May I recommend to you that to be filled
with the Spirit you should:
1.
Confess your sin
2.
Submit to God's will
3.
Ask to be filled
And being filled with the Spirit is a
continual process.
Barnabas was filled with the Spirit and He
was a good man.
Barnabas was also filled with faith.
Hebrews 3:12-13, 11:1-2, 6, 12:1-2
A GOOD MAN FOLLOWS - Psalm 37:23
The
steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth
in his way.
How we spend our time is of the utmost
importance. Psalm 90:12, Ephesians 5:15-17
A GOOD MAN IS FAITHFUL - Micah 6:8
He
hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth
the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk
humbly with thy God?
From the beginning God has wanted the
things mentioned in this verse to be true of his followers. These are good things that make a good man or
woman. They don't save a person, only
faith in Christ does that. But these
things found in a believer will please God.
And notice each one of these things is not something to be done
sporadically, but continually and consistently over a lifetime.
·
DO JUSTLY
The believer should do whatever is right.
If it's in business or work, a believer
should have ethics that all his business dealings are above board.
If it's in the neighborhood, a believer
should have the reputation of doing what's right, even if it hurts financially.
If it's in the home, Mom or Dad should have
the reputation with their kids of doing what is right. In fact it is better for a parent to change
his or her mind, rather than not do what is right.
·
LOVE MERCY
Some of the toughest people in the world
can show mercy once in awhile. And some
can show mercy in a grudging sort of way.
However we are to love mercy. And to love mercy means that we want to show
kindness to people who may or may not deserve it.
In Psalm 136 there is a phrase referring to
God is repeated in every verse, and his
mercy endureth forever. If this is the character
of our God, let us endeavor to show mercy to people whenever we can.
·
WALK HUMBLY WITH GOD
There are many great men in the Bible, but
two that stick out in my mind are Enoch and Noah. They had something in common.
They walked with God.
To me, walking humbly with God means that I
know that I need God's guidance.
Walking humbly with God means that I know
that I need God's help.
Walking humbly with God means that I know
that I need God's fellowship.
A GOOD MAN IS FRUITFUL - Luke 6:45
A good
man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good;
and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which
is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
The words that come out a person's mouth are fruit of sorts.
It can be good fruit or bad.
A good person has good words proceeding out his mouth. Proverbs 10:19,
15:1-2, 25:11-12, Ephesians 4:29
What comes out of the mouth is an indication of what is in the
heart. So if we are going to have
fruitful coming out of the mouth we must watch the heart!
Proverbs 4:23 - Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out
of it are the issues of life.
The good news is as I keep my heart under the control of the Holy Spirit
what is coming out of lips will be fruitful.
A GOOD MAN IS FILLED - Acts 11:24
A GOOD MAN FOLLOWS - Psalm 37:23
A GOOD MAN IS FAITHFUL - Micah 6:8
A GOOD MAN IS FRUITFUL - Luke 6:45