Why did some at the Jerusalem Church, known as “they that were of circumcision”, criticize Peter for being with Cornelius? (11:1-3; 10:1-22) Was their contention based on prejudice against the gentiles, false doctrine or ignorance? How did Peter respond to this criticism? What was the result? What were the three characteristics of the church at Antioch? (11:12-15) What impact did this church have? (11:21-26) Compare and contrast FBC to the Antiochian church. What are your observations? How can real change occur in a culture, a country, a community or within ourselves?

2. “Everything continues in a
state of rest unless it is
compelled to change by
forces impressed upon it.”
Isaac Newton, First Law of Motion.

3. The U.S. standard railroad gauge is 4’ 8½”.

4. The U.S. standard railroad gauge is 4’ 8½”.
Why such an odd number? Because that's the way they
built them in England, and American railroads were built
by British expatriates.

5. Why did the English adopt that particular gauge?

6. Why did the English adopt that particular gauge?
Because the people who built the pre-railroad tramways
used that gauge.

7. They in turn were locked into that gauge because the
people who built tramways used the same standards and
tools, they had used for building wagons, which were set
on a gauge of 4’ 8½”.

8. They in turn were locked into that gauge because the
people who built tramways used the same standards and
tools, they had used for building wagons, which were set
on a gauge of 4’ 8½”.
"Why were wagons built to that scale? Because with any
other size, the wheels did not match the old wheel ruts
on the roads.

9. So who built these old rutted roads?

10. So who built these old rutted roads?
The first long-distance highways in Europe were built by
Imperial Rome for the benefit of their legions. The roads
have been in use ever since. The ruts were first made by
Roman war chariots. 4’ 8½” was the width a chariot needed
to be to accommodate the rear ends of two war horses.

11. There’s more. . .

12. There’s more. . .
When we see a Space Shuttle
sitting on its launch pad, there
are two big booster rockets
attached to the sides of the
main fuel tank. These are
solid rocket boosters, or SRBs.
The SRBs are made by Thiokol
at their factory in Utah. The engineers who designed the
SRBs might have preferred to make them a bit fatter, but
the SRBs had to be shipped by train from the factory to
the launch site.

13. The railroad line from the factory had to run through a
tunnel in the mountains.
The SRBs had to fit through
that tunnel. The tunnel is
slightly wider than the railroad
track, and the railroad track is
4’ 8½”.

14. The railroad line from the factory had to run through a
tunnel in the mountains.
The SRBs had to fit through
that tunnel. The tunnel is
slightly wider than the railroad
track, and the railroad track is
4’ 8½”.
So, the major design feature of what is arguably the
world’s most advanced transportation system was
determined over two thousand years ago by the width of
two horses’ behinds!

15. Jeremiah 13:23
“Can the Ethiopian change his skin or
the leopard its spots? Then may you
also do good who are accustomed to
do evil.”

16. Rachel wrote: “Last night
our church had a night of
worship, it was was so
powerful, from start to
finish! During the altar call
Jude accepted Jesus into her
heart!!
I know now this was a divine
appointment set by God.”

17. Rachel wrote: “Last night
our church had a night of
worship, it was was so
powerful, from start to
finish! During the altar call
Jude accepted Jesus into her
heart!!
I know now this was a divine
appointment set by God.”
“It’s not always the words of a message, it’s
seeking His presence that changes lives!”

18. But you shall receive power when the
Holy Spirit has come upon you; and
you shall be witnesses to Me in
Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

19. Now those who were scattered after
the persecution that arose over
Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia,
Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the
word to no one but the Jews only. 20
But some of them were men from
Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they
had come to Antioch, spoke to the
Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus.

20. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with
them, and a great number believed
and turned to the Lord.

22. Acts 1:15 120

23. Acts 1:15 120
Acts 2:41 3,000

24. Acts 1:15 120
Acts 2:41 3,000
Acts 4:4 5,000 men only

25. Acts 1:15 120
Acts 2:41 3,000
Acts 4:4 5,000 men only
Acts 5:14 “increasingly added
to the Lord”

26. Accepted Gentile Believers
(11:1-18)

27. Accepted Gentile Believers
(11:1-18)
Encouraged Gentile Believers
(11:19-26)

28. Accepted Gentile Believers
(11:1-18)
Encouraged Gentile Believers
(11:19-26)
Received Aid from Gentile Believers
(11:27-30)

29. Galatians 3:26–28
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in
Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were
baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither
slave nor free, there is neither male nor
female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

30. Galatians 3:26–28
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in
Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were
baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither
slave nor free, there is neither male nor
female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

31. Acts 11:1–18 Now the apostles and brethren
who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had
also received the word of God. 2 And when Peter
came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision
contended with him, 3 saying, “You went in to
uncircumcised men and ate with them!”
At first criticized!

32. Acts 11:1–18 Now the apostles and brethren
who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had
also received the word of God. 2 And when Peter
came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision
contended with him, 3 saying, “You went in to
uncircumcised men and ate with them!”
At first criticized!

33. Who, most likely, were the critics?

34. Acts 6:7 Then the word of God spread, and the
number of the disciples multiplied greatly in
Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were
obedient to the faith.
Who, most likely, were the critics?

35. Acts 21:20 And when they heard it, they glorified
the Lord. And they said to him, “You see, brother,
how many myriads of Jews there are who have
believed, and they are all zealous for the law;
Who, most likely, were the critics?

36. 4 But Peter explained it to them in order from the
beginning, saying:
Peter’s Defense
Acts 11:1–18

37. 4 But Peter explained it to them in order from the
beginning, saying:
Peter’s Defense
Acts 11:1–18
The vision from God (11:5–11)
5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a
trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a
great sheet, let down from heaven by four
corners; and it came to me.

38. Peter’s Defense
Acts 11:1–18
The vision from God (11:5–11)
11 At that very moment, three men stood before
the house where I was, having been sent to me
from Caesarea.

39. 12 Then the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting
nothing. Moreover these six brethren accompanied
me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 And he told
us how he had seen an angel standing in his house,
who said to him, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for
Simon whose surname is Peter, 14 who will tell you
words by which you and all your household will be
saved.’
Peter’s Defense
Acts 11:1–18
The Witness of the Spirit (11:12–15,17)

40. 15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell
upon them, as upon us at the beginning.
17 If therefore God gave them the same gift as He
gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus
Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?”
Peter’s Defense
Acts 11:1–18
The Witness of the Spirit (11:12–15,17)

41. Peter’s Defense
Acts 11:1–18
The Witness of the Word (11:16)
16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how
He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but
you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

42. The Critic’s Response

43. Acts 11:18 When they heard these things, they
became silent; and they glorified God, saying,
“Then God has also granted to the Gentiles
repentance to life.”
The Critic’s Response

44. Acts 11:18 When they heard these things, they
became silent; and they glorified God, saying,
“Then God has also granted to the Gentiles
repentance to life.”
The Critic’s Response

45. Acts 14:26–28 From there they sailed to
Antioch, where they had been commended to
the grace of God for the work which they had
completed. 27 Now when they had come and
gathered the church together, they reported all
that God had done with them, and that He had
opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 So
they stayed there a long time with the disciples.

46. Acts 14:26–28 From there they sailed to
Antioch, where they had been commended to
the grace of God for the work which they had
completed. 27 Now when they had come and
gathered the church together, they reported all
that God had done with them, and that He had
opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 So
they stayed there a long time with the disciples.

47. 19 Now those who were scattered after the
persecution that arose over Stephen traveled
as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch,
preaching
the word to
no one but
the Jews
only.

48. 19 Now those who were scattered after the
persecution that arose over Stephen traveled
as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch,
preaching
the word to
no one but
the Jews
only.

49. 19 Now those who were scattered after the
persecution that arose over Stephen traveled
as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch,
preaching
the word to
no one but
the Jews
only.

50. 20 But some of them were men from Cyprus
and Cyrene, who, when they had come to
Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the
Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was
with them, and a great number believed and
turned to the Lord.

51. 20 But some of them were men from Cyprus
and Cyrene, who, when they had come to
Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the
Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was
with them, and a great number believed and
turned to the Lord.

52. 20 But some of them were men from Cyprus
and Cyrene, who, when they had come to
Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the
Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was
with them, and a great number believed and
turned to the Lord.

53. 22 Then news of these things came to the ears
of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out
Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. 23 When he
came and had seen the grace of God, he was
glad, and encouraged them all that with
purpose of heart they should continue with
the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, full of the
Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many
people were added to the Lord.

54. 22 Then news of these things came to the ears
of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out
Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. 23 When he
came and had seen the grace of God, he was
glad, and encouraged them all that with
purpose of heart they should continue with
the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, full of the
Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many
people were added to the Lord.

55. 22 Then news of these things came to the ears
of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out
Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. 23 When he
came and had seen the grace of God, he was
glad, and encouraged them all that with
purpose of heart they should continue with
the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, full of the
Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many
people were added to the Lord.

56. 25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek
Saul. 26 And when he had found him, he
brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a
whole year they
assembled with the
church and taught
a great many
people. And the
disciples were first
called Christians in
Antioch.

57. 27 And in these days prophets came from
Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 Then one of them,
named Agabus, stood up and showed by the
Spirit that there was going to be a great
famine throughout all the world, which also
happened in the days of Claudius Caesar.

58. 27 And in these days prophets came from
Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 Then one of them,
named Agabus, stood up and showed by the
Spirit that there was going to be a great
famine throughout all the world, which also
happened in the days of Claudius Caesar.

59. 29 Then the disciples, each according to his
ability, determined to send relief to the
brethren dwelling in Judea. 30 This they also
did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of
Barnabas and Saul.

60. Accepted Gentile Believers
Encouraged Gentile Believers
Received Aid from Gentile Believers

61. Accepted Gentile Believers
Encouraged Gentile Believers
Received Aid from Gentile Believers
True change occurs when:
motivated by love,
directed by truth and
energized by the Holy Spirit!

62. 941-729-6600
941-981-5387
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