October 10, 2026 - Acts 11

To the Jews in Jerusalem, who so insisted on physical circumcision as a requirement for being right with God, Peter recounted the story of his encounter with Cornelius and the lessons God had taught him.  The story has a good conclusion:  “When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, ‘Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life’” (11:18).  But things are about to turn ugly but ugly with, how do we sometimes put it, a silver lining.  Since the stoning of Stephen, persecution had broken out against the church, and the Christians were scattered all over the place.  Facing imprisonment, torture, even death, everywhere they went, they preached the gospel.  And the outcome?  Well, we’ve seen it throughout the early chapters of Acts and we see it again, here:  “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life” (11:18) & “A great number who believed turned to the Lord” (11:21) & “A great many people were added to the Lord” (11:24).  Furthermore, “For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people” (11:26).  Are you catching this?  Opposed by the Jewish leaders and persecuted, the believers told the gospel and . . . “to the Gentiles” . . . “a great number” . . . “a great many people” . . . “a great many people.”  We can become discouraged as the world opposes Christ and his church but he has always built it, and he will continue to do so until he returns.  Let man do what he will, God will do what he will!

Lord, when at Thy command,

The word of life we sow,

Watered by Thy almighty hand,

The seed shall surely grow:

The virtue of Thy grace

A large increase shall give,

And multiply the faithful race

Who to Thy glory live.

Now then the ceaseless shower

Of Gospel blessings send,

And let the soul-converting power

Thy ministers attend;

On multitudes confer

The heart-renewing love,

And by the joy of grace prepare

For fuller joys above.   –Charles Wesley (1838)