Acts 11
In chapter 10, Peter learns that God’s plan includes extending salvation and the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles. When other Jews hear about Peter’s experience with Cornelius, they contend with Peter. When God does something outside of our understanding or experience, we may wonder at it, we may question it, we may debate it or argue it, and some will reject it. After hearing Peter’s experience, they were silent, then they glorified God, saying, “God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”
Starting in verse 19, we learn that after Stephen’s martyrdom, Christians fled Jerusalem and the surrounding area into cities as far at Antioch. They preached Christ in these places and many people encountered truth and the Spirit of God and got saved. When the Christians in Jerusalem heard about the new believers, they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
Barnabas was said to be “a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.” After Barnabas arrived, more were added to the church in Antioch, and it was in Antioch that the Christ followers were first called Christians. Barnabas knew Saul was in Tarsus, his home town, so he went and brought Saul (Paul) to Antioch. The two men were there in Antioch, teaching for about a year.
We also see the church sending financial relief to Judea that they were experiencing because of famine. They sent the money through Saul and Barnabas.
Job 26-28
Chapter 26 ends the third dialogue with Job’s answer to Bildad about God’s strength and mankind’s weakness.
Chapter 27 begins Job’s final statement to his friends that will end in chapter 31. In chapter 27, Job maintains his innocence.
In chapter 28, Job talks about wisdom. In verse 28 it says, “Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom ,and to depart from evil is understanding.” The fear of the Lord is a deep reverence that surrenders to Him. God isn’t looking to control us or overpower us. God created us to know His love. There is a satisfaction, acceptance, and completeness in knowing God. There is a peace and joy in relationship with Him, a relationship where He is God. His is our life. He is our comfort. He is our everything!
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