Acts 11 bible study

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The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 11:19-12:19 Church Growth 11.19. Now those who had been scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message to no one but Jews.

Some of the believers who were scattered because of Saul's persecution after the death of Stephen (see 8:1,4) went as far as Phoenicia on the Mediterranean coast and to the island of Cyprus and also Antioch 300 miles north of Jerusalem. God's purpose in allowing the persecution was to push the believers out of Jerusalem into the uttermost parts of the world. This was the beginning of it; they did not go to hide away or to keep secret the fact that they were followers of Jesus Christ they went to preached the gospel but only to the Jews.

11.20. But there were some men from Cyprus and Cyrene among them who came to Antioch and began to speak to the Greeks too, proclaiming the good news of the Lord Jesus.

However, there were those among them who had been born in Cyprus and Cyrene who were Greek speaking Jews and when they reach Antioch they went to their own to give them the good news.

11.21. The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.

The presence of the Lord was with them in great power and many believed and received Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.

11.22 - 23. A report about them came to the attention of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with devoted hearts, As news of this reach the church in Jerusalem they sent Barnabas to investigate. On finding that what was happening was genuine conversions he rejoiced in the Lord and in keeping with his nature and meaning of his name he encouraged them to continue and remain steadfast in the faith (Heb. 10: 23).

11.24. because he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and a significant number of people were brought to the Lord.

Here we see that Barnabas still had a good testimony he was a good man in a spiritual and moral sense that benefited others. Still full of the Holy Spirit and faith (Eph. 5: 18 Amp. N.T. "ever be filled and spurred on with the Holy Spirit�) and so many others were added to the Lord.

11.25 - 26. Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught a significant number of people.

Now it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.

The work became too much for Barnabas so he seeks out Saul (Paul) to come and help him with the work and they remained there for a year teaching and building up in the faith the believers. It was the unbeliever's those who mocked who called followers of Jesus Christ "Christians" they did so to insult and give offence like some call us "Bible bashers" today.

Are we continuing steadfastly in the faith, growing in grace, keeping our testimony, encouraging others, preaching the gospel?

A Prophetic Word 11.27. At that time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.

The term prophet here refers to the office of the prophet as one of the ministry gifts of Christ (Eph. 4: 11) and not to the gift of prophecy which is given by the Holy Spirit. The prophet predicted about specific future events.

11.28. One of them, named Agabus, got up and predicted by the Spirit that a severe famine was about to come over the whole inhabited world. (This took place during the reign of Claudius.)

One of them named Agabus stood forth and showed by the Spirit (John 16: 13) that there would be a great famine throughout the world. The test of a prophet of God is that their prophetic word comes to pass (Deut.

18: 21 - 22). This prophecy was fulfilled in the year AD 46 when Claudius Caesar was Roman emperor. Note: Claudius Caesar succeeded Caligula, ad 41; and after a reign of upwards of 13 years, he was poisoned by his wife Agrippina, and succeeded by Nero.

11.29 - 30. So the disciples, each in accordance with his financial ability, decided to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. They did so, sending their financial aid to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

The churches believed and responded to the prophetic word and prepared to provide for those who would be the most affected the Christians in Judea. They took up an offering and sent it by Barnabas and Saul to the elders in Jerusalem (Rom. 12: 13). There were many such offerings taken up and distributed according to the needs after this (Rom. 15: 26; 1 Cor. 16: 1).

A challenge to give is an opportunity sent from God to us, whether prophetically given or as the need is brought before us. How do we respond to it? (2 Cor. 9: 6 - 8).

Peter delivered in answer to church prayer 12.1 - 4. About that time King Herod laid hands on some from the church to harm them. He had James, the brother of John, executed with a sword. When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too. (This took place during the feast of Unleavened Bread.) When he had seized him, he put him in prison, handing him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him. Herod planned to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.

Herod was the first of many ruling monarchs to persecute true believers. He commences by killing James the brother of John the first of the twelve disciples to be martyred. He proceeds to do the same to Peter because he saw that by doing so he found favour with the Jews. However, because it was the preparation days for the Passover he put him in prison guarded by 16 soldiers (this was to make certain Peter didn't escape again see Acts 5: 19, 22) intending to have him executed after.

12.5. So Peter was kept in prison, but those in the church were earnestly praying to God for him.

This delay was God's opportunity given to the church to pray on Peter's behalf and they rose to the challenge.

They immediately joined together and made constant prayer on his behalf that is they did not cease day or night but continued for a number of days up until the time they saw Peter (V16).

12.6 - 9. On that very night before Herod was going to bring him out for trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the prison cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, "Get up quickly!" And the chains fell off Peter's wrists. The angel said to him, "Fasten your belt and put on your sandals." Peter did so. Then the angel said to him, "Put on your cloak and follow me." Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening through the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.

The night before Herod was due to execute Peter the Lord answered the prayer of His people. Peter did not seem to be worried at all for he was sleeping soundly although chained between two soldiers. He did not stir when the angel entered or when the glory of the Lord filled the prison so the angel had to strike him on the side to wake him up (1 Pet. 5: 7). Immediately the angel commands him to arise the chains that were binding him fell off without disturbing the soldiers! Peter did not hurry but took time to put his sandals and top garment on. All this was unreal to Peter he could not believe his eyes and thought he was having a vision.

12.10 -11. After they had passed the first and second guards, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went outside and walked down one narrow street, when at once the angel left him. When Peter came to himself, he said, "Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from everything the Jewish people were expecting to happen."

He was led by the angel past two guard posts and through the city gate which automatically opened by Divine power without the soldiers seeing him! As soon as he was safe out in the street the angel left him and it was then that Peter realized that it was no vision but for real the Lord had delivered him (Ps. 34: 7; 2 Cor. 1: 10).

12.12 - 15. When Peter realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many people had gathered together and were praying. When he knocked at the door of the outer gate, a slave girl named Rhoda answered. When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she did not open the gate, but ran back in and told them that Peter was standing at the gate. But they said to her, "You've lost your mind!" But she kept insisting that it was Peter, and they kept saying, "It is his angel!"

Mary's house would seem to have be where the disciples usually met for prayer for Peter makes straight for it.

On knocking the door is opened by the servant girl Rhoda who became so excited at seeing him that she forgot to let him in! On reporting to the disciples who were praying for Peter that he was standing at the door they did not believe that their own prayers had been answered! They thought it was his guardian angel (Math. 18: 10).

12.16 - 17. Now Peter continued knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were greatly astonished. He motioned to them with his hand to be quiet and then related how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, "Tell James and the brothers these things," and then he left and went to another place.

However, Peter continued to knock until they answered the door themselves and they were amazed to see him. After telling them how the Lord had brought him out of prison he tells them to let James the Lord's brother know and went to another place in case Herod came searching for him.

12.18 - 19. At daybreak there was great consternation among the soldiers over what had become of Peter.

Then Herod had searched for him and did not find him, he questioned the guards and commanded that they be led away to execution. Then Herod went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.

Which he did on finding out from the soldiers that Peter had completely disappeared but he could not find him so he had the soldiers put to death instead. When one member of the body of Christ suffered the church suffered with him wrestling in earnest unceasing prayer until it brought the deliverance. © Derek Williams & Mathew Bartlett 2015. Bible Studies Online UK www.biblestudiesonline.org.uk You may copy, print or distribute our studies freely in any form, just so long as you make no charges. Sign up today for our FREE monthly Bible study magazine “Living Word” Scriptures taken from the NET Bible www.bible.org