Acts 11:1 The apostles and the brothers and sisters who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. Acts 11:2 When Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, Acts 11:3 saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” Acts 11:4 Peter began to explain to them step by step, Acts 11:5 “I was in the town of Joppa praying, and I saw, in a trance, an object that resembled a large sheet coming down, being lowered by its four corners from heaven, and it came to me. Acts 11:6 When I looked closely and considered it, I saw the four-footed animals of the earth, the wild beasts, the reptiles, and the birds of the sky. Acts 11:7 I also heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’ Acts 11:8 “‘No, Lord! ’ I said. ‘For nothing impure or ritually unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ Acts 11:9 But a voice answered from heaven a second time, ‘What God has made clean, you must not call impure.’ Acts 11:10 “Now this happened three times, and everything was drawn up again into heaven. Acts 11:11 At that very moment… Does God still speak to us as He prepares us for what He has called us to do? Psalms 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path. If we don’t spend time in his God’s Word, what are we missing out on? Acts 11:11 …three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea arrived at the house where we were. Acts 11:12 The Spirit told me to accompany them with no doubts at all. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we went into the man’s house. Acts 11:13 He reported to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa, and call for Simon, who is also named Peter. Acts 11:14 He will speak a message to you by which you and all your household will be saved.’ Acts 11:15 “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came down on them, just as on us at the beginning. Acts 11:16 I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ Acts 11:17 If, then, God gave them the same gift that he also gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, how could I possibly hinder God?” Acts 11:18 When they heard this they became silent. And they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has given repentance resulting in life even to the Gentiles.” Am I critical or excited when God is at work? Acts 11:19 Now those who had been scattered as a result of the persecution that started because of Stephen made their way as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. Acts 11:20 But there were some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus. Acts 11:21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. It’s not IF you go but AS you go. Acts 11:22 News about them reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to travel as far as Antioch. Acts 11:23 When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged all of them to remain true to the Lord with devoted hearts, Acts 11:24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And large numbers of people were added to the Lord. People willing to build cultural bridges. People willing to encourage and be patient with new believers in their faith. People willing to bring out the best in others. Acts 11:25 Then he went to Tarsus to search for Saul, Acts 11:26 and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch. Have I been personally transformed by the message of Jesus? Do I encourage or am I critical of God’s work around me? Where is God calling me to go with the message of Jesus?