Here’s how the study works: Read the chapter mentioned in the heading several times during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for a chapter creates the opportunity to reread it several times and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
v.18 "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance into life."
It is interesting that the Jews were so surprised. In the OT God often included Gentiles – Rahab, Ruth, Jonah going to Nineveh. However the real surprise to the Jews was that the Gentiles didn't have to become Jews in order to be saved. God accepted them as they were. Likewise he accepts us.
v.18 "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance into life."
It is interesting that the Jews were so surprised. In the OT God often included Gentiles – Rahab, Ruth, Jonah going to Nineveh. However the real surprise to the Jews was that the Gentiles didn't have to become Jews in order to be saved. God accepted them as they were. Likewise he accepts us.
v.2-3 "So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him and said, "You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them."
Peter was criticized by believers for doing what God told him to do!!
v.2-3 "So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him and said, "You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them."
Peter was criticized by believers for doing what God told him to do!!
v.23 When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.
Barnabus, it seems was a good encourager, but perhaps not the best preacher/teacher so he went and got Paul (v.25).
Barnabus was happy to delegate to Paul. Eventually Paul took the leading role and had the more prominent ministry. But that may not have happened without Barnabus.
v.23 When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.
Barnabus, it seems was a good encourager, but perhaps not the best preacher/teacher so he went and got Paul (v.25).
Barnabus was happy to delegate to Paul. Eventually Paul took the leading role and had the more prominent ministry. But that may not have happened without Barnabus.
v.20-21 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
When believing Jews began accepting Gentiles without them adhering to Judaism it was the start of a major rift between believing Jews and non-believing Jews. Interestingly it wasn’t their beliefs about Jesus that caused the separation between the two groups but rather the outworking of those beliefs, when believing Jews associated with those non-believing Jews considered, “unclean”.
v.20-21 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
When believing Jews began accepting Gentiles without them adhering to Judaism it was the start of a major rift between believing Jews and non-believing Jews. Interestingly it wasn’t their beliefs about Jesus that caused the separation between the two groups but rather the outworking of those beliefs, when believing Jews associated with those non-believing Jews considered, “unclean”.