Acts 11:2-3- And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him, saying, “You went into uncircumcised men and ate with them!”
What a wonderful way to start the New Year! My dearest family and friends, welcome to 2025!
Peter was an apostle to the Jews. He spent all of his time with the Jewish people, laughing, eating, praying, and teaching about the kingdom of God. But he is called to Cornelius’ house to share the gospel, and the Jews are upset about it.
And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him, saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!”
Acts 11:2-3 NKJV
Peter, however, was prepared to answer his brethren. He shared with them:
“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.
Acts 11:5 NKJV
Peter understood where his brethren were coming from. Until this experience happened to him, he felt the same way. But God, in His infinite wisdom, knew how to deal with them. As Peter was praying in Joppa, God placed him in a trance. He shared an assortment of uncleaned animals with Peter three times and told him to eat them. Peter was such a Jew, that he told the Lord, no! Three times the Lord told him, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” Three times! Looking back on the situation, I think I may have gotten it the first time, but Peter needed it three times!
At that very moment, three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent to me from Caesarea. Then the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing.
Acts 11:11-12 NKJV
Right about the time that Peter was in a trance, the three men came to Joppa. Two devout servants and a soldier from Cornelius’ house went to Joppa to get Peter. That was their mission. But had Peter not seen the trance, and not heard from the Spirit of God that he was to go with them, he wouldn’t have gone.
God certainly knows how to get our attention. But what are you to do when you don’t know what God is saying? After all, if God placed us in a trance every time He wanted something to get done, He’d see a whole lot better results!
I like how Peter started this whole conversation. I was praying!
Prayer is so important to the believer, yet we don’t pray like we should. We might pray if things get out of control, if our spouse decides to leave us, or even if we are in a bind. But that’s not why Peter was praying. Peter was praying because he found a power in prayer that changes things.
Peter was with the disciples when they requested from the Lord to teach them how to pray. Peter was with the Lord when He stood on the Mount of Transfiguration and Moses and Elijah appeared to Him. Peter was there when Jesus would steal away to pray.
And therefore, Peter saw the blind see, and the lame walk and the demon-possessed boy get healed. Peter saw Jesus walk on water and even walked on water himself. Peter saw deaf ears open and mute tongues speak. Peter saw the power of prayer at work. And so Peter did what he knew to do, he prayed!
As we go into this New Year, I encourage each of you to become pray-ers. People who spend time with God on a daily basis because they know that prayer changes things.
Peter also listened. He listened for the voice of God in his prayer time. He said,
Then the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing.
Acts 11:12 NKJV
God is a speaking spirit! He delights in sharing with His people the things that He has prepared for them. So, Peter hears three men are looking for him from Caesarea. They are Gentiles. And they are looking for him. But God has already spoken to him. Go, doubting nothing!
So Peter obeyed! One time I was praying to the Lord about a matter when He spoke to me. He said, “Why should I tell you what to do when you’re going to do your own thing?” I was shocked! I thought I was obedient to the Lord, and here He was calling me out for being disobedient! I fixed that thing and God has been merciful! But not Peter! Peter obeyed!
Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. 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, who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.’
Acts 11: 12b-14 NKJV
Peter prayed, listened to God, and obeyed Him. As a result, the Lord saved an entire family and filled them with His Holy Spirit! That sounds like Jesus to me!
So Peter was called on the carpet. He had to give a reason as to why he was eating and fellowshipping with the Gentiles. But he did, y’all! He gave them the best explanation that they could have gotten. And you know what,
When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”
Acts 11:18 NKJV
This year, start the year off right! Determine in your heart to be a person of prayer. Don’t wait until things get rough for you, pray now. Pray when you feel like it, pray when you don’t feel like it! Pray when you are going through, and pray when you have gone through! Pray! And then listen for God to speak to you and then obey Him! Wonderful Jesus!
Wonderful Jesus! 