Acts 11 The power of the Holy Spirit is for today, everyday

Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her Daily Journal.

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Acts 11:1-30
Peter Explains His Actions
1Soon the news reached the apostles and other believers F52 in Judea that the Gentiles had received the word of God. 2But when Peter arrived back in Jerusalem, some of the Jewish believers F53 criticized him. 3"You entered the home of Gentiles F54 and even ate with them!" they said.
4Then Peter told them exactly what had happened. 5"One day in Joppa," he said, "while I was praying, I went into a trance and saw a vision. Something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners from the sky. And it came right down to me. 6When I looked inside the sheet, I saw all sorts of small animals, wild animals, reptiles, and birds that we are not allowed to eat. 7And I heard a voice say, 'Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.'
8"'Never, Lord,' I replied. 'I have never eaten anything forbidden by our Jewish laws. F55 '
9"But the voice from heaven came again, 'If God says something is acceptable, don't say it isn't.' F56
10"This happened three times before the sheet and all it contained was pulled back up to heaven. 11Just then three men who had been sent from Caesarea arrived at the house where I was staying. 12The Holy Spirit told me to go with them and not to worry about their being Gentiles. These six brothers here accompanied me, and we soon arrived at the home of the man who had sent for us. 13He told us how an angel had appeared to him in his home and had told him, 'Send messengers to Joppa to find Simon Peter. 14He will tell you how you and all your household will be saved!'
15"Well, I began telling them the Good News, but just as I was getting started, the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as he fell on us at the beginning. 16Then I thought of the Lord's words when he said, 'John baptized with F57 water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' 17And since God gave these Gentiles the same gift he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to argue?"
18When the others heard this, all their objections were answered and they began praising God. They said, "God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of turning from sin and receiving eternal life."
The Church in Antioch of Syria
19Meanwhile, the believers who had fled from Jerusalem during the persecution after Stephen's death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria. They preached the Good News, but only to Jews. 20However, some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to Gentiles F58 about the Lord Jesus. 21The power of the Lord was upon them, and large numbers of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord.
22When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23When he arrived and saw this proof of God's favor, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord. 24Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And large numbers of people were brought to the Lord.
25Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to find Saul. 26When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching great numbers of people. (It was there at Antioch that the believers F59 were first called Christians.)
27During this time, some prophets traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28One of them named Agabus stood up in one of the meetings to predict by the Spirit that a great famine was coming upon the entire Roman world. (This was fulfilled during the reign of Claudius.) 29So the believers in Antioch decided to send relief to the brothers and sisters F60 in Judea, everyone giving as much as they could. 30This they did, entrusting their gifts to Barnabas and Saul to take to the elders of the church in Jerusalem.
FOOTNOTES:F52: Greek brothers. F53: Greek those of the circumcision. F54: Greek of uncircumcised men. F55: Greek anything common or unclean. F56: Greek `What God calls clean you must not call unclean.' F57: Or in; also in 11:16b. F58: Greek the Greeks; other manuscripts read the Hellenists. F59: Greek disciples; also in 11:29. F60: Greek the brothers.


Copyright Statement: Holy Bible, The New Living Translation


~Lena’s Journalin’ ~
the Gentiles had received the word of God
while I was praying, I went into a trance and saw a vision
'If God says something is acceptable, don't say it isn't.'
The Holy Spirit told me to go with them and not to worry
He will tell you how you and all your household will be saved!'
the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as he fell on us at the beginning.
John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'
all their objections were answered
God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of turning from sin and receiving eternal life
So other of the believers began preaching to Gentiles about the Lord Jesus.
The power of the Lord was upon them, and large numbers of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord.
They saw this proof of God's favor

How is one’s household to be saved? 1st thing would probably be that you yourself would be saved. Then God would ask of you to intercede for and go to your family members.
When one receives the word, hears the word and does the word he will see visions, hear the voice of God’s spirit, receive power, favor, have objections answered.
The power of the Holy Spirit in men is essential, essential to spirit led living. There’s no way one can walk as Jesus walked, in the power and with the presence of God’s spirit, unless that very presence and power is alive and active inside of the believer. Why were these men called Christ- like –ones? Christ-ians? They were unhesitant to be filled with His glorious spirit. There are churches nowadays that say we don’t need Him. That’s like saying we don’t need God! That’s like saying we can do all things through me who strengthens me. Where’s the dependence upon God’s spirit? Where’s the overflowing fountain of Christ’s love? Where are the signs and wonders which are to help those who do not yet believe? They are available to those who invite, welcome, and embrace the powerful flow of the Holy Spirit which is Divinely offered to each man. Whoever wills can, be Christ-like. You don’t HAVE to, but don’t we want to?
Free-will, can both welcome and prevent God. Wow!
Holy Spirit we welcome your presence in our lives today. Use us Lord in Your hands, Do what you wish today. Minister to those we meet who need to see Christ today. Let them be amazed when they see you at work in human form again, of those who have the power of God that they can also have, to live this life here through and through and go all the way with You! Amen.

Daily Meditation/Recital/Question
Isaiah 58:12 (New Living Translation)
12 Your children will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as the people who rebuild their walls and cities.