Acts 11 · Grade 5

A Church for Jews and Gentiles

Name Date

Read and Think

News spread that Gentiles had received the word of God, and some of the circumcision party contended with Peter for eating with uncircumcised men. Peter did not argue in general terms; he explained in order what happened: the sheet let down three times, the voice, the three men from Caesarea, and the Spirit's command to go without discriminating. The six brothers who went with him were witnesses.

The decisive point was God's action. As Peter began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on the Gentiles, as on the apostles at the beginning, and Peter remembered Jesus' word about being baptized in the Holy Spirit (Acts 11:16). If God gave them the same gift, who was Peter to withstand God? The critics held their peace and glorified God for granting the Gentiles repentance to life (Acts 11:18).

Meanwhile those scattered after Stephen reached Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. At first they spoke only to Jews, but men from Cyprus and Cyrene told the Greeks the good news of the Lord Jesus. The hand of the Lord was with them. Barnabas, sent from Jerusalem, saw the grace of God and was glad; he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. He sought out Saul in Tarsus, and they taught a great crowd for a whole year.

The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch (Acts 11:26). When Agabus signified by the Spirit a great famine over all the world, which happened in the days of Claudius, the disciples determined, each according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers in Judea, and sent it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

Show What You Know

How did Peter answer his critics?
Which word of Jesus did Peter remember?
Who first told the Greeks in Antioch the good news?
To whom was the relief sent?

Crossword

Across

When ____ had come up to Jerusalem.
And we entered into the man’s ____.

Down

The disciples were first called Christians in ____.
The hand of the ____ was with them.
But you will be baptized in the Holy ____.

Think About It

Peter answered criticism by telling what God had done. How might telling your story help when others question your faith?
The church in Antioch was a mix of people that once kept apart. What could help your church welcome people of every background?

Memory Verse

“For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and many people were added to the Lord.”

Acts 11:24 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for the lesson of First Called Christians. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

What does repentance to life mean?
How did the church at Antioch show love for believers far away?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?