Acts 11:1-18 (NRSV)
Read Acts 11:1-18 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 11Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. Verse 2So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, Verse 3saying, "Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?" Verse 4Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, Verse 5"I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. Verse 6As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. Verse 7I also heard a voice saying to me, 'Get up, Peter; kill and eat.' Verse 8But I replied, 'By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.' Verse 9But a second time the voice answered from heaven, 'What God has made clean, you must not call profane.' Verse 10This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. Verse 11At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. Verse 12The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. Verse 13He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, 'Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; Verse 14he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.' Verse 15And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. Verse 16And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' Verse 17If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?" Verse 18When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, "Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life."
Devotion
Welcome the stranger. It’s easy to think that we are welcoming. But what if we’re not as welcoming as we think?
God gives Peter a dream to get his attention and then directs him to the home of people who were “outsiders.” The dream reveals that God’s view of who should be part of the church was more inclusive than the apostles and believers in Judea had thought. Peter patiently explains to them his newly-expanded vision of God inviting the outsider into God’s family, even giving them the Holy Spirit as the apostles had been given at Pentecost.
Even in our complex and ever-changing world, God continually calls us to be open to new ways of thinking — yes, even about things we thought we understood, like who is welcomed into God’s family.
Prayer
Most Holy God, lift us out of the ruts in our lives that have become so familiar and comfortable. Inspire us, as you inspired Peter, to be open to your way of thinking as you continue to create and do new things. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.