1Now the apostles and the brethren who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those who were circumcised took issue with him, 3saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.”
Word of the Gentiles coming to faith spread like wildfire. The impact of the Gentiles’ conversion through Peter’s gospel preaching had enormous significance. This event is distinguished from the conversion of the Ethiopian official (Acts 8:25–40) under the influence of Philip’s ministry. That man was a Gentile, but most likely a proselyte, that is, he had converted to Judaism; notice he had been coming back from worshipping in Jerusalem and was studying the book of Isaiah (Acts 8:27–28). Cornelius, on the other hand, was a God-fearing Gentile but not a proselyte. God treats his conversion event more significantly than the conversion of a proselyte; it is so important that Luke records Peter’s retelling of the story to the apostles in Jerusalem.
God was using Peter, as an apostle, to open the door of the gospel to the Gentiles, as Jesus had assigned the Twelve to do: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven . . .” (Matt. 16:19, see Acts 1:8). Just as all the apostles were present at the first falling of the Holy Spirit on the Jews at Pentecost (Acts 2), and just as the apostles Peter and John were present when the Holy Spirit fell on the Samaritans (Acts 8), so also the apostle Peter, representing the Twelve, was present at the coming of the Spirit to the first non-Jewish converts.
Knowing that the idea of Gentile converts receiving the Spirit would be a stretch for the others who had not witnessed it, Peter reiterates the facts for them. Remember, it had taken divine intervention to prepare him for the truth that God now accepts Gentiles as Gentiles and does not require them to become Jews first.
Notice the concern raised in Jerusalem by “those who were circumcised.” Even though all “the apostles and brethren” were present for Peter’s report, Luke records that those who were circumcised were taking issue with Peter’s activities. Rather than rejoice in the salvation of Gentiles, they focused on legalistic matters. Luke uses the phrase “the circumcised” to refer to what theologians today call the “Judaizers,” people who were motivated by law rather than by grace. In their minds, Gentile converts to Christ must submit to circumcision and the Law of Moses. We will see legalizers throughout Acts and also church history, those who want to add legalistic requirements to the gospel of grace. But the gospel of Jesus Christ is about grace, not law.
Lord, I am saved by Christ alone, through grace alone. Praise God, for I could never do enough legalistic good works to earn or merit salvation.
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