29 March - Acts 11

Today we’re reading Acts 11 together. Here are a few thoughts:

1. The chapter opens with Peter being criticized by the other apostles for going into the house and eating with a Gentile (non-Jew). They weren’t trying to be mean it’s just that they thought God was exclusive and only should be shared with other Jews.
2. Then Peter told them everything that happened and how the Gentiles had received the Holy Spirit just as they all had; which was God’s “proof” of people who had chosen to follow him. After this all the apostles agreed and celebrated that God was now showing them he wanted a relationship with everyone.
3. Then another group of people believed in Jesus in a place called Antioch and the apostles sent a man named Barnabas there to teach these people. After being there for a while Barnabas went to find Saul and bring him back to Antioch and help him teach the people there.
4. We also learn that it’s in Antioch that followers of Jesus are first called Christians.
5. Also, somehow one of the disciples was told by God that there would be a famine in the land and so they all divided food up so no one would go hungry. 

It’s interesting that the apostles criticized Peter for the exact things the religious leaders criticized Jesus for. You would think that after spending years learning from Jesus they wouldn’t make the same mistakes. However, it just shows you how ingrained it was into their culture. They had been taught for so long that God only wanted to be their God but the truth is God wants a relationship with everyone. It was kind of neat to read a little church history today too. Now when someone asks you where was the first place someone was called a Christian, you can say Antioch! Ok, that will probably never happen but it’s cool to know anyway. Here’s an interesting fact; when the word “Christian” was first used it was a derogatory term. It meant “little Christ.” Since the religious leaders thought Jesus was a fool and mocked him calling someone a “little Christ” was mean. The word Christian was like a racial slur used back then to mock the early followers of Jesus. But the early followers of Jesus accepted it as their label because they were really trying to be a “little Christ.” Interesting huh?

What does reading about how God made sure everyone heard about Jesus make you feel? Does it make you want to make sure everyone you know gets a chance to hear about his love today too? How about how the term “Christian” was first used?