Friday, August 22nd: In Acts 11, we witness the early church wrestling with a revolutionary idea: that the good news of Jesus is for everyone. After the dramatic events in Cornelius’s household (Acts 10), Peter returns to Jerusalem to face criticism—not for what he taught, but for who he sat with. The Jewish believers are shocked that Peter entered a Gentile’s home and ate with them. But Peter simply recounts what God did—how the Holy Spirit fell on them just as it had at Pentecost. He asks a crucial question: “Who was I to think I could oppose God?” (v. 17). The room falls silent, and the believers begin to praise God for extending grace beyond their boundaries. Meanwhile, in the city of Antioch, believers boldly share the gospel with Gentiles, and the church flourishes. It’s there that the followers of Jesus are first called “Christians,” marking a new identity for a diverse and unified community. Acts 11 is a powerful reminder that God’s family is bigger than we imagine, and we are called to embrace what He is building.
Email me your questions, comments, and suggestions. I'd love to hear from you! If y'all wanna talk more 'bout this, I'm all ears. Just give me a holler. You can also help by sending me your favorite trivia or dad joke(s) at spencerjd@thedailygrind.website Or respond below with comments, trivia or jokes.
