What Peter Knew and What He Did!

by Ken Thomas

The apostle Peter had grown up under the Jewish concept that he, as a Jew, could not lawfully associate socially with people of other nationalities ( Acts 10:28). He had seen a vision from God that was designed to prepare him to teach about Jesus to a Gentile soldier named Cornelius ( Acts 10:10-16), and after giving overnight lodging to Cornelius' messengers, he went into the Gentile's house. His conclusion that God accepted righteous people of all nations; He did not play favorites ( Acts 10:34-35). When confronted in Jerusalem by Jewish Christians for visiting and eating with Gentiles, he boldly defended his actions and convinced his accusers that he had done the right thing ( Acts 11:1-18). (Even on the day of Pentecost, he had preached that the promise of God was for those "afar off' as well as for the Jews ( Acts 2:39).
In Galatians we learn that the brethren who tried to bind Circumcision on Gentile Christians had disturbed the Galatian churches. Paul relates a disturbing incident in Galatians 2:11- 21. Peter had freely eaten with Gentile brethren until a group of Judaizers came around. Fearing their reaction to his Gentile friends, Peter hypocritically quit associating with the Gentiles. His influence led even Barnabas to forsake his encouraging ways (see Acts 4:36-37; Acts 9:27; Acts 11:22-26, etc.) as numerous Christians followed Peter's bad example.

Why? Did Peter not know better? His problem was peer pressure, not knowledge. Paul rebuked Peter for his sin openly, because he loved him. Proverbs 27:5,6: "Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend."

November 1, 1992

Related Articles:

Agape Love -Jan 03, 1999
The Fishermen -Oct 26, 1997
Your Accent -Mar 06, 1996
Peter -Apr 09, 1995
Peter -Sep 04, 1994

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What Peter Knew and What He Did! by Ken Thomas The apostle Peter had grown up under the Jewish concept that he, as a Jew, could not lawfully associate socially with people of other nationalities ( Acts 10:28). He had seen a vision from God that was designed to prepare him to teach about Jesus to a Gentile soldier named Cornelius ( Acts 10:10-16), and after giving overnight lodging to Cornelius' messengers, he went into the Gentile's house. His conclusion that God accepted righteous people of all nations; He did not play favorites ( Acts 10:34-35). When confronted in Jerusalem by Jewish Christians for visiting and eating with Gentiles, he boldly defended his actions and convinced his accusers that he had done the right thing ( Acts 11:1-18). (Even on the day of Pentecost, he had preached that the promise of God was for those "afar off' as well as for the Jews ( Acts 2:39). In Galatians we learn that the brethren who tried to bind Circumcision on Gentile Christians had disturbed the Galatian churches. Paul relates a disturbing incident in Galatians 2:11- 21. Peter had freely eaten with Gentile brethren until a group of Judaizers came around. Fearing their reaction to his Gentile friends, Peter hypocritically quit associating with the Gentiles. His influence led even Barnabas to forsake his encouraging ways (see Acts 4:36-37; Acts 9:27; Acts 11:22-26, etc.) as numerous Christians followed Peter's bad example. Why? Did Peter not know better? His problem was peer pressure, not knowledge. Paul rebuked Peter for his sin openly, because he loved him. Proverbs 27:5,6: "Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend." November 1, 1992 Related Articles: Agape Love -Jan 03, 1999 The Fishermen -Oct 26, 1997 Your Accent -Mar 06, 1996 Peter -Apr 09, 1995 Peter -Sep 04, 1994 Print this Article Discuss this Article Back to the Sermon Page	Mt. Juliet Church of Christ 1940 N. Mt. Juliet Road P.O.Box 248 Mt.Juliet, TN 37122-0248 (615)758-2274 Fax:615-754-2351 Email Worship Services: Sunday Early Worship: 8AM Sunday Bible Study: 9:15AM Sunday Late Worship: 10:15AM Night Worship: 6PM Wednesday Bible Study: 7PM