The sermon for last Thursday night was based upon the verses found in the Book of Acts 11:1-18. The point that I focused upon was the 'witness' of this new way of being Jewish. This new way of being Jewish that wasn't just for the Jews. Peter sees the sheet descend three times and then three men show up to the door... and then six brothers go with Peter. What's up with the numbers three and six?
Well, according to Jewish Law, one witness isn't adequate, two is okay... three is great... twice three (or six) is pretty much as they say a "lead pipe cinch". To hear more take a listen to the video on YouTube linked below.
Have a very blessed week and remember as always to...
Be a blessing to someone today!
In Christ,
Roy
Acts 11:1-18 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Peter’s Report to the Church at Jerusalem
11 Now the apostles and the believers[a] who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers[b] criticized him, 3 saying, “Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?” 4 Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. 6 As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. 7 I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’ 8 But I replied, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 But a second time the voice answered from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, you must not call profane.’ 10 This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. 11 At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. 12 The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us.[c] These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; 14 he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.’ 15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?” 18 When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, “Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.”
Footnotes:
a) Acts 11:1 Gk brothers
b) Acts 11:2 Gk lacks believers
c) Acts 11:12 Or not to hesitate
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