Hopefully you know the story about Cornelius (Acts 10) receiving the Holy Ghost. He was the first
non-Jew that received it, making it evident that the promise of the Holy Ghost was for the Gentiles, as well as the Jews. Peter was there when it happened.

Something that major is never going to go unnoticed. Chapter 11:1 tells us that the brethren (other believers) heard that the Gentiles received the Holy Ghost, and that Peter had been in their house, and ate with them. Chapter 11 gives us the details of Peter’s defense.

As with a legal case there were three major things that took place.

1) The accusation (11:1-3)
The response on the part of Jewish Christians was mixed. The expression circumcised believers used (also used in 10:45) evidently describes Christians who still held to the Law of Moses (cf. 15:5; 21:20; Gal 2:12).

The accusation lodged against Peter was that he went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them. The primary problem was not his preaching to Gentiles but his eating with them. This gives even greater significance to Peter’s vision (Acts 10:9-16). Eating with someone was a mark of acceptance and fellowship. This problem could have caused a serious break in the church.

1 Cor 5:11
But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

2) The Defense (11:4-17)
Peter saw that a potentially dangerous situation was possible, but that it could be avoided.

Acts 11:4
But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning…

Peter recounted to the circumcised believers in Jerusalem briefly what had occurred, including his vision, his response to it, and the trip to Cornelius’ house. In recounting what happened next, Peter made an important identification of the day of Pentecost with the Lord’s prediction of Spirit baptism. The Church Age, then, began on the day of Pentecost. Peter’s defense did not rest on what he himself did, but on what God did. God had made no distinction between Jew and Gentile, so how could Peter?

Acts 11:17
Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?

Peter didn’t start explaining why He did what he did, and start an argument; he showed them that it was what God did, not what he did. If you manufacture it, you will pay for it, if God manufactures it, He will pay for it.

ALWAYS DO IT GODS WAY – That way if things go south, and you end up having to defend yourself you can know that you did what you were supposed to do, and if your accusers have a problem with it, they can take it up with Him!

Acts 5 gives us another example of doing it God’s way. The disciples were on trial for preaching the Gospel. When the priests sought to kill them, a wise man named Gamaliel brought up a very good point.

Acts 5:38-39
And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: 39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

3) The acquittal (11:18)
With Peter the saints recognized that the conversion of Gentiles was initiated by God and that they should not stand in His way. This response had two ensuing and significant results. First, it preserved the unity of the body of Christ, the church. Second, it drove a huge wedge between Church-Age believers and temple-worshipers in Jerusalem. Notice how a potentially large argument and church split was avoided, in a very professional manner.

Peter was wise in how he handled the situation. Would we have done the same thing? Or would we have flew off the handle as soon as we heard we were being a accused? Would we have taken time to potentially explain everything without taking sides? Would we have realized that God’s Will is better than our will even if we don’t understand it?

We should model our lives on the patience that Peter displayed. There is a reason Jesus gave him the keys to the Kingdom, after all.