Persecution of the church in the book of acts chapter 11

Acts 11 commentary commentary critical and explanatory. Antioch in syria now becomes the center of activity in the book. How persecution purifies the church and spreads the gospel. It is always tempting to want to read our own belief systems back into early church history. What todays church needs to learn from the book of acts. Acts 11 bible study detailed questions, answers and guide for an indepth, versebyverse bible study of acts chapter 11 in plain english that everyone can understand. Ludlow whereas the gospel of luke focuses on the life and ministry of jesus christ, the acts of the apostles builds upon what jesus did and taught see acts 1. In the previous chapter peter opened the door of the church to the gentiles when god sent him to the house of cornelius, a roman centurion. The gospel goes to gentiles, part 2 acts 11 the gentile challenge.

Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when stephen was killed traveled as far as phoenicia, cyprus and. The conversion of cornelius is a milestone in the church s history. The testimony of acts is not so much that persecution causes church growth but that church. And on that day a great persecution arose against the church in jerusalem. The death of james and the deliverance of peter are surely meant to be understood in conjunction with the surrounding context. Persecution of christians in the new testament wikipedia. The care the church of christ took to have young converts confirmed in the truths they had received, and built up on their most holy faith, acts 11. Chronological outline of the persecution in the book of acts.

Pastors and church leaders especially need to revisit the book, immerse themselves in it, and not leave until it produces some radical changes in their thinking and practice. In our study today we will see how that real and severe persecution finally came upon the church at large in jerusalem, and we will see also how that god used that persecution for good. It was indispensably necessary that a foundation should be laid. Acts chapter 11 starts with peter going back to jerusalem after he preached the gospel to a gentile centurion named cornelius. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout judea and samaria. How peter convinced jerusalem church members who had been prejudiced against uncircumcised gentiles becomes a model for us as we seek to sort through claims to gods working which challenge our biases. At first, the scattered believers ministered only to the. The book of acts is a key historical record of what the early church believed and practiced. Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in jerusalem. It is to be expected as a result of following christ 2ti 3.

But doing that will do damage to a true study of acts. In one chapter acts 12 james the apostle is put to death by herod and peter is miraculously rescued from herods prison and certain death. In the church at antioch there were prophets and teachers. Up until now in the book of acts all the ministry has taken place in jerusalem. Acts chapter 11 explained discover the 66 books of the bible. Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. To confirm this missionary purpose of the persecution, look at acts 11. Rather than being by design, the first missionary work was the byproduct of the persecution. The church at antioch was founded by fugitives from sauls persecution at jerusalem. Net bible now those who had been scattered because of the persecution that took place over stephen went.

During this time, the jews were regarded as a favored people and many thought that salvation was only meant for them. This conflicting reaction led to the persecution of the. Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over stephen traveled as far. David guzik commentary on acts 11 describes a controversy arising in jerusalem. There are no guarantees that a believer will escape, or any one church. Bruce thought the apostles felt their duty remained in jerusalem in spite of persecution acts, 1623. In support of this view would be the evidence we have from 1 and 2 corinthians and acts 11 where we find paul taking up a collection from the gentile churches to present to the church in jerusalem. Since stephens sermon was a statement of judgment against the leadership of israel for their resistance to the holy spirit. Welcome to ivy baptist church s bible study on demand before beginning this study, please take an opportunity to download the worksheet for this bible study. Following peters healing of the lame man, and his second gospel sermon. There are no guarantees that a believer will escape, or any one church will survive see e.

This persecution is directly related to the death of stephen in chapter 7. Religious leaders in jerusalem became greatly disturbed ac 4. Background the acts of the apostles the book of acts acts provides an eyewitness account of the early beginnings of the church and gives an accurate record of the birth and growth of the christian church. What did the christians scattered by the persecution do next. If we fail to learn about what real christianity is from the book of acts, we will just keep on playing church, pleasing men, and displeasing god. While many people believed, with believers numbering 5000 ac 4. Some of the jewish christians in jerusalem were not pleased that gentiles were being brought into the church without being circumcised. Timeline of the book of acts from the bible generation word. Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about stephen travelled as far as phenice, and cyprus, and antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the jews only. The death of james and the deliverance of peter acts. A study of peter as a model for servant leadership kevin leahy this article examines peter as a model for leadership, based on his words and actions in the gospel of john, the book of acts, and the epistle of 1 peter. So whether the church may have awakened to her calling eventually without persecution, the fact is that god used persecution to move his people into the mission he had given them. As we move forward with the acts studies, i want to reemphasize something of importance.

Soon this was to change as greeks heard and obeyed the gospel. There are no simplistic explanations of suffering and persecution in acts. As a result, the other apostles were not pleased with peters actions. And saul was there, giving approval to stephens death. Interpretation through the exegesis of acts 1 and 2. Scott newton said amen here is a brief outline of some of what the bible says about persecution.

An introduction to the new testament by richard heard chapter 14. Many times in our walk with the lord, when circumstances are not going the way we think they should go, we ask the lord to take these bad circumstances. Paul remembered that barnabas helped him win acceptance when he first visited the church in jerusalem after his conversion acts 9. The book of acts sunday school lesson series january 2, 2011 by kelly henderson take your students on a journey through the book of acts where they will learn lessons from the early church after jesus ascended to heaven and believers received the gift of the holy spirit. Let us find out as we study how the church of antioch began and grew from acts 11. The beautiful, amazing, powerful, weak, dysfunctional church a chapter by chapter bible study of the book of acts 11 e what did the crowd of people see. Why were so many jews from so many different places all in jerusalem at the same time. The persecution of christians in the new testament is an important part of the early christian narrative which depicts the early church as being persecuted for their heterodox beliefs by a jewish establishment in what was then the roman province of judea the new testament, especially the gospel of john c. We know too little of the history of the christian church for the first century of its existence to enable us to reconstruct the details of its growth with any completeness. Already persecution was making the church truly a missionary church. Luke the physician writes in the book of acts that there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of judea and samaria, except the apostles acts 8. However, it doesnt settle the troubling issues of the proper relationship of jews to gentiles within the body of believers. Persecution was an instrument that god used to help make this happen. Acts of the apostles 11, new living translation nlt.

Chapterbychapter bible studies acts kathleendalton. Acts 11 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary provides notes on all 66 books of the bible, and contain more than 7,000 pages of material. Study of the book of acts chapter 4 ivy baptist church. The jews were so selfcentered that they believed they were the only ones god offered salvation to. The gospel comes to antioch so then, those who were scattered because of the persecution. In this portion of scripture we will see several challenging lessons for christian service.