If you would open, please, to Acts chapter 11. Acts chapter 11. And we're going to return now to our series here in the book of Acts. And let me just remind you, Acts chapter 10, the previous chapter, we have this account of Peter being sent by God to the household of a Roman centurion by the name of Cornelius. And Peter was given a divine mission to bring the gospel to a group of Gentiles so that they could be saved and added to the church. And really everything happened exactly as God had designed. Peter went, he entered the home of a Gentile, he preached the gospel there, and everyone present accepted the gospel message. They were saved. They were filled with the Spirit and they were baptized in the name of Jesus. And the question we're going to consider today is this, how will the members of the early church, especially in Jerusalem, who were all Jews by upbringing, who had converted to Christianity and accepted the gospel themselves, how will they respond to the news that some Gentiles had accepted the gospel message. That's what we're going to consider today. Follow along now. I'm going to read all the way down to verse 18, chapter 11, beginning at verse 1. And the apostles and brethren that were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, saying, Thou wentest into men uncircumcised, and did eat with them. But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning and expounded it by order unto them, saying, I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, a certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners, and it came even to me. Upon the witch, when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered and saw four-footed beasts of the earth and wild beasts and creeping things and fowls of the air. And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter, slay and eat. But I said, Not so, Lord, for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. And this was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven. And behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me. And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover, these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house. And he showed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, send men to Joppa and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter, who shall tell thee words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. For as much 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? When they heard these things, they held their peace and glorified God saying, then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. Let's pray. Our Father, we pray as we consider this passage today, we review with Peter what had transpired, and we look at this from the perspective of these converted Jews. Help us to see ourselves in this story and to realize the application that you have for us today. In Jesus' name, amen. Well, when I was in the corporate world, I had to travel on business to India several times. And you're probably familiar with India and the fact that it historically had a caste system. It was kind of a social hierarchy of these castes from high to low. When someone was born into an upper caste, they would not marry someone of a lower caste. They would not even associate with them. And there was a lowest of the low, and this was called the untouchables. In India, it's called the Dalit. It's actually not even a caste itself, it's below the lowest caste. These are the broken people, the scattered people, the untouchables. And although the caste system is officially disallowed under the Indian Constitution, those attitudes and those practices still persist, and I even observed them as I visited there. The reality is that we all tend to be blind to our own prejudices. Even here in America, Even in Baptist churches, even deep down in the heart of a self-professing born-again Christian, we tend to carry forward the prejudices of our own upbringing, our own surroundings, our own social network. In the secret caste system of our own heart, we tend to accept those who are most like us, And we tend to reject, avoid, or even downright hate those who are most different from us. We may not even realize it, that we are thinking of and treating certain people as untouchables. You see, in the mind of the first century Jewish person, Gentiles were the untouchables. A Jewish person was forbidden to socialize with Gentiles, to dine with Gentiles, to abide in the same house with a Gentile, to form close association with Gentiles in terms of business or leisure. They were to keep their distance from these untouchables, from the Gentiles. And these social boundaries and attitudes were deeply ingrained. It's what the rabbis taught. It's what every Jewish family practiced. But with respect to the church, God has different plans. For you see, God does not limit the gospel to certain castes or certain sociostrata. No, indeed, for God has designed that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the gospel for all. All are invited to come by faith and accept Christ as their Savior. Romans 1.16, Paul says, Romans 10.11, for the scripture says, What a blessed word. Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed, for there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord is over all, is rich unto all them that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Galatians 3.27 says, for as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ, there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female, for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. He goes on to say, and if ye are Christ, if ye be Christ, then are ye Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise. In other words, you are completely included in God's program of redemption. There is no place for division in the Christian church. There's no place for a caste system. There is no place for some of us to treat others as less than us. And so the lesson is very clear. We are to fully accept all those whom God brings to salvation. And that's exactly what these first century Jews were struggling with. to accept the fact that the Gentiles were to be included in God's plan of redemption. They were to be included in salvation. They were to be included in the Christian church. This morning, what I'd like to do is kind of walk through this passage and see how Peter and those to whom he was speaking ultimately came to this conclusion. They came to the right conclusion, but they had to work their way there. First of all, we see that Peter was called to give an account for his actions in verses 1 through 3. The report got back to the believers in Jerusalem, kind of that's the mother church, that's kind of where it all began. The word got back to them that Gentiles in Caesarea had responded with saving faith. to Peter's preaching. Peter went there and he proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ, and they responded in faith. It was amazing news. Startling news, really. Could it be that the Gentiles also could become born-again Christians? Could it be that the Gentiles also were to be included in the Christian church? And what we see here is that some were not at all thrilled with this prospect. Verse two mentions those who were of the circumcision. These were Jewish converts to Christianity who still clung firmly to their old ways, to the Jewish laws and customs and traditions that they had grown up on. Now, according to the Jewish law, Jewish practice, in order for a Gentile to be converted to Judaism, that Gentile had to be circumcised. And so when these Gentiles got saved and they were Christians now, converted Jews, they were kind of carrying forward that same thinking into the Christian church. It was a mistake on their part. They assumed that a Gentile would have to conform to the old covenant practice of circumcision in order to be accepted into the Christian church. It was a mistake. And verse two says here that they contended with Peter. They took issue with him. The tense of the verb indicates this is a pattern of opposition and disputation with Peter. I mean, it was creating a ruckus. For you see, the people had a real problem with Peter and what he had done, because Peter had broken this longstanding tradition that Jews were not to associate with Gentiles. Jews were to be separate from the Gentiles. They were not to enter into a Gentile home. They were not to eat with a Gentile. And Peter had done both. And this really upset them. So they confronted him, took him to task, called him to account for his actions. And what's interesting here is Peter doesn't directly respond to those accusations, to the issues that were raised by his inquisitors. Instead, he proceeds to recount the whole story, starting at the beginning and kind of going in chronological order. And he does so from his own personal perspective. Did you notice that? He's telling us his story as it appeared to him, you know, as the events unfolded from his perspective. Now he summarizes a little bit, he leaves out some of the detail that we have in chapter 10, but he also adds a little bit. He adds a little bit of his own personal perspective, how he was feeling, what he was thinking along the way, and some additional details that he throws in for us. And as Peter recounts the story, it becomes apparent to those who are listening, and it becomes apparent to us, that God is the central figure and chief protagonist of the story. This is all about what God was doing. And I want us to see that as we go through this. He starts with the divine vision that he saw, verses 4 through 10. He says, basically, I was in Joppa minding my own business one day. I was praying and I fell into a trance and I saw this vision. And here the sheet comes down from heaven. It's the most unusual vision. As the sheet opened, I saw inside all these animals, and these were animals that were unclean according to the Mosaic law. Animals that a Jewish person was never to eat. And so this was an interesting vision that he saw. And he rehearses his conversation with God. God says to him, arise, kill, and eat. And Peter talks back to God. He says, not so, Lord. You know, it's amazing God didn't strike him dead right in that instant. What patience God has with us, what grace. He helps us through our own mental roadblocks and teaches us important lessons like He did Peter. So Peter could not overcome a lifetime of this Jewish training in the Old Testament law, and he actually said no to God three times. And he adds, I've never eaten any unclean animal. I want you to notice carefully in verse nine, God's response to this. What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. And what we come to understand is this statement is not just about those animals. It's actually about the Gentiles. That's the big lesson. For you see, we are to fully accept all those whom God brings to salvation. So Peter started with the divine vision. He goes on to the divine commission. We see this in verses 11 and 12. Look again at those. And behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me, and the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover, these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house. Who bade him go? Who bade him go? The Spirit bade him go. This is God working. This is all about what God is doing. The Holy Spirit bade him to go without hesitation. This was a divine commission. God was sending Peter to go with these men and go to Caesarea. God told him to go, so he went. And Peter includes here kind of a new detail that we didn't have in the previous chapter, and that is that there were at least six men who accompanied him from Joppa to Caesarea and are now standing there right by his side in Jerusalem as he's recounting all of these things. They're there to give confirmation of what he's saying. Yes, this really did happen exactly the way Peter is saying it happened. So we have the divine commission. And then we have the divine preparation. We see this in verses 13 and 14. Peter comes to the part of the story where they enter into the household there of Cornelius. And notice again how the focus is on what God is doing. For you see, God had prepared Cornelius. He sent an angel to him, told him what he was to do. Told him to send for Peter and when Peter comes to listen to what he has to say. To welcome Peter. And so as Peter recounts here, we entered into the house and he showed us how he had seen an angel in his house which stood and said unto him, send men to Joppa and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter, who shall tell thee words. Oh, what words? The glorious message of the gospel. He will tell thee words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved." It's a divine preparation. And when we consider that in chapter 10, we realize that God prepares the way for us to share the gospel with someone. You know, He prepares that heart. He prepares that life. You know, He prepares the way for the gospel to be received by that person. And so as we go about our business of sharing the gospel, being witnesses for Christ, let us keep in mind that God is the one who's preparing the way ahead of us, preparing that person to hear the gospel. So we have the divine vision, the divine commission, the divine preparation, and finally we get to the divine gift. We see this in verses 15 and 16. Peter recalls that as he was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the message of the gospel. And it was very dramatic what took place here. I'd like us to go back and actually reread in chapter 10 when this first happened and see what it says. Chapter 10 in verse 43. And as he's speaking, he's saying to him, he's talking about Jesus, to him, give all the prophets witness that through his name, whosoever, note that word again, whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word, and they of the circumcision which believed were astonished. Those were those six men, plus maybe. as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost." That word, whosoever, there in verse 43, makes all the difference, because that whosoever refers not just to Jews, but to Gentiles. Most of us are Gentiles. It includes us. Whosoever believes in Jesus has the guilt of their sin washed away, and they receive the Holy Spirit. And because of that whosoever, we are to fully accept all those whom God calls to salvation. What we see here is that every major advance in the spread of the gospel, there was this dramatic outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It started at Pentecost. That was the first time when the Spirit came. It was the promise that Jesus had given to his disciples. He said, wait for this promise for the Spirit to come. And he came to Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. That was the first time. And so when we come back to Acts chapter 11 and verse 15, Peter's recounting the Holy Ghost falling upon these Gentiles in Caesarea, and he adds this very important comment, as on us at the beginning. He's pointing back to the day of Pentecost. So we have the outpouring of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost. The Spirit was poured out again in Samaria when the Samaritans, the first group of Samaritans, heard the gospel and believed. And then the third time, in Caesarea, a group of Gentiles believe, and the Holy Spirit is poured out upon them. Do you see what God is doing? He is confirming that the gospel is supposed to spread like this from the Jewish people, to the Samaritans, to the Gentiles, to all the nations of the world. And it's at this point that Peter recalls a statement that Jesus made. This is recorded in chapter 11 here in verse 16. Peter says, then remembered I the word of the Lord. How that he said, John indeed baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. When did the Lord say that? Do you recall? Well, let's go back to Acts chapter one. This is where we began our series here in the book of Acts. And this is when Jesus, the resurrected Jesus, is with His disciples just before His ascension to heaven. Acts chapter 1 verse 4, And being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith He, ye have heard of me. What's this promise all about? For John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. Yes, John baptized, and this is John the Baptist baptized with water, but the Lord Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit. And those who believe on the Lord Jesus therefore receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." That's what Peter says here as he's recounting all this. He's saying God gave them this gift, the gift of the Holy Spirit. Romans chapter 8 verse 9 informs us that if anyone does not have the Spirit, he doesn't belong to Christ. And if you logically turn that around, what logicians call a contrapositive, if you belong to Jesus, you have the Spirit. If you belong to Jesus, you have the gift of the Spirit. You have the indwelling Holy Spirit within you. Everyone, Jew, Samaritan, Gentile. Anyone who believes in Christ receives Him as their Savior. If they are in Christ, they have the Holy Spirit in them. So we come to the end of the account here, having seen how God worked in this whole situation. It was all about what God was doing. So Peter kind of comes to the conclusion of the matter, and he defers to God's will. Verse 17. For as much then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, what was I, who was I, that I could withstand God?" Peter understood that God was the one who gave the gift of the Holy Spirit. Indeed, God was at work to bring this whole thing about. It was all God's doing. And Peter says here, these Gentiles have received the like gift. He uses a very strong word here that means equal. They had received an equal gift. The gift was equal to the gift that the Jewish believers had received. There was no distinction in the quality or the quantity of this gift. The very same Holy Spirit had been poured out upon them in equal measure. as he had been upon those Jews back on the day of Pentecost. You see, there's no first or second or third class Christian in the church of Christ. No, indeed, there are just Christians. We are all equal in Christ, having received the equal, the same gift of the Holy Spirit. John Wesley once dreamed that he was at the gates of hell. He knocked and asked, are there any Roman Catholics here? And the answer came back, yes, many. Any Church of England men? Yes, many. Any Presbyterians here? Yes, many. And then he dared to ask, any Wesleyans here? Yes, many. Disappointed and dismayed, especially at the last reply, Wesley turned his steps upward and found himself at the gates of paradise in his dream. Here again, he repeated the questions, any Wesleyans here? No. Whom do you have here then, he asked in astonishment. We do not know of any here which you have named. The only name of which we know anything here is Christian. That's really true. In heaven, there are only Christians, and that's what we are here on earth as well. There's not to be any strata, any caste system in the church. We are all on the same level in Christ. We are all one in Christ. So Peter deferred to God. He said, who was I that I could stand in God's way? This was God's doing. And in making this statement, it fully resolves the tension that was created earlier when Peter talked back to God and he said, not so, Lord. Now he's saying, yes, Lord. Yes, Lord. Who am I to question you? And what we see as we come to verse 18, is that the church there in Jerusalem also embraced God's will concerning this matter. Look at verse 18. When they heard these things, they held their peace and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. No one in the Mother Church at Jerusalem could argue with Peter's reasoning here. I mean, they just all became silent at the reality of what had happened. They had nothing to say. I mean, clearly this whole thing was God's doing. God had prepared Peter to spread the gospel to the Gentiles, and God had prepared the Gentiles to receive the gospel. be saved. Who were they to stand in God's way? Who were they to stand in the way of the progress of the gospel? Who were they to question God's will? So these Jewish traditionalists, as I'll refer to them, responded correctly. They gave glory to God. When they realized what God was doing, to bring the gospel to the Gentiles and to include them in His plan of redemption, include them in the Christian church, they gave glory to God. What a great God we have. What a merciful and gracious God that His grace extends not just to the Jewish people, but to the Gentiles, to the whole world, whosoever will may come. They came to the right conclusion that God had granted repentance unto eternal life to the Gentiles. It's just simply another way of saying the Gentiles also were granted salvation. It was the same salvation that the Jewish believers had received, and they received it in the same way, by grace through faith. They believed in the Word of God, they believed the gospel message, they put their faith in what Jesus did in dying on the cross to pay for their sins, and they were gloriously saved and filled with the Holy Spirit and baptized in the name of Christ. And what we see here is that, alas, they were welcomed into the church. Yes, the Gentiles could also be saved. And yes, the Gentiles could become full members of the church. As I look at this passage, I think the applications are very, very clear. First of all, the application for anyone who's listening to this message today, who has yet to put their faith in Jesus Christ to save them, the message is clear for you. you are included. The gospel invitation extends to you and to everyone. God will accept you into His kingdom if you will accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord, without exception. And of course, this involves admitting that you're a sinner in need of a Savior and putting your faith in what Jesus did to die on the cross for you. So if you accept Jesus, God accepts you and welcomes you into his family and into the New Testament church. And I think the application for every believer and every member of our church is also abundantly clear in this passage. We are to fully accept all those whom God calls to salvation. We must embrace them with open arms, be fully accepting of them, and treat no one as a second-class Christian. So whoever God brings to repentance, we accept. Whether that person be from a Jewish background or be a Gentile, a man, a woman, a boy, a girl, no matter their race, their age, or nationality, or background, we will accept them as God accepts them. and having accepted them once they put their faith in Christ and welcoming them into the church, we don't just leave them as they are. We help them. We come alongside. We encourage them. We disciple them. We help them to grow in their faith and to become the person that God wants them to be, to become more Christ-like. So the question is, to make this very personal, how accepting are you? How accepting are you? Would you accept someone who gets saved who has tattoos all over their body and piercings? Would you accept someone who gets saved who is wearing tattered jeans and a smelly T-shirt? Would you accept someone saved out of a rough background of drugs or crime or gangs? Would you be loving to a new Christian who's still working on cleaning up their language? Would you accept a believer who speaks with an accent or has a different skin color than your own? Folks, there are no second-class Christians. We are to accept all those whom God calls to salvation, all of them. And they should sense that from us, that we accept them, that we welcome them as equals in Christ. And we love them, even when they have obvious areas that they need to clean up, you know, areas that they need to be sanctified in. We still love them and we help them. So how accepting are you? Our Father, we thank you for this passage, how it reveals to us not only the struggle that these first century Jewish converts had in accepting Gentile believers into the church, but how it speaks to us today, right where we live, and causes us to evaluate just how accepting we are when someone very different than us is saved. O Lord, I pray that you'll help us to be accepting of all who come to Christ, to welcome them into the church with open arms, to embrace them in your love, to help them grow in their sanctification, and to have them have our support and our love and our kindness and encouragement. I pray that you'll help us all to accept all those whom you call to salvation. In Jesus' name, amen.