There’s a famous experiment from the 1960s called the “blue eyes/brown eyes exercise.” After the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., educator Jane Elliott wanted to help her third-grade class understand the arbitrary nature of discrimination. She divided her all-white classroom into two groups based on eye color but didn’t tell them the purpose behind the experiment. She said that people with blue eyes were smarter and more civilized than brown-eyed people, and gave the blue-eyed students special privileges. The second day, the roles were reversed. On both days, the behavior of the “superior” group of students soured toward their “inferior” classmates. It’s amazing how quickly humans will form our identities around something arbitrary—how fast we embrace the idea of our own superiority.
The early church was not immune to these sins. In Acts 11, we see that while Jewish men and women who had become Christians loved Jesus, they still emphasized their identity as primarily Jews. Meanwhile, the Holy Spirit led the apostles to other cities—cities like Antioch, which was full of people who were devoted to their Greek culture and heritage. As more and more Jewish people and more and more non-Jewish people became Christians, the two groups were bound to collide. Concerned that their identity and culture would be watered down, lost, or changed, the Jewish believers began creating litmus tests for new believers, focusing on certain Jewish rites like circumcision and clean eating. You can be a Christian, they said. But first, you have to be Jewish.
With love and gentleness, in today’s reading Peter explains how he came to understand that this was a culturally limited view of what God was doing in the world. He tells them how the Holy Spirit showed him, step by step, that God’s grace is for everyone. New believers do not first have to become Jewish to be followers of Jesus.
Miracles abound in this passage: Peter’s dream, the visitation he had by Conelius, the vast number of people who came to believe in the Lord. But the greatest miracle of all, in my view, was the beautiful response that occurred in the hearts of both Jewish Christians and the non-Jewish Christians in Antioch. The world would have them as enemies. But rather than double-down on their tribal differences, they were called to embrace one another fully.
After hearing Peter’s explanation, Jewish Christians didn’t double down on their beliefs. They became silent, and then “glorified God” (Acts 11:18) Christians in Antioch, when told of the financial and material distress of fellow believers, didn’t sit back idly and let them suffer. They didn’t say “not my people, not my problem.” They moved to action, sending money and food to their Christian brothers and sisters in Judea.
The Lord loves us all, and calls us to love one another without reservation. Praise be to God!
I am proud to be a Christian, or a “Jesus Person.” To be a part of “the party of Jesus” is a wonderful thing.
You are right.. God does love us all! We have to let go of our superiority and pride.. or else it will be the downfall of us all.
What spoke to me today was the last little section in 1 Peter 4: 16-19.
It says “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.”
Ever since I started to really get into God’s word, and have a more closer relationship with Him, my complete mindset on suffering has been changed. I now think of sufferings as one saint has called them: “But the kiss of Jesus.” I find it to be a beautiful thing, because in the midst of our sufferings is an opportunity, a chance, to cling onto Jesus as tight as we can, and never let go. I now see every problem, or challenges I face as a chance to cling to Jesus… and I hope that all of you would too!
Have a great night!
Kathy A – Your whole comment resonates with me today, and you said perfectly what my heart has been feeling throughout this study of Acts! My church studied this book in depth (we spent over a year in it) about two years ago, but it feels so fresh and new and exciting to be reading it again. This is my first ever study with She Reads Truth, and it has been soooooo good. I’ve been in God’s word every single day for the first time in years, and I can feel the difference in all areas of my life. So thankful for this community! I’m also excited to begin the Advent study soon.
I pray I would love those around me, especially those in the body of Christ, the way God has called me to.
And I typed too fast… uPdate not uOdate! Thanks for praying, sisters!
UODATE… young friend was reported as missing and has been located. I have no more details than that. My friend/her mom just messaged me that she is so tired. I can’t imagine how she must feel.
Dear Traci, please don’t give up. God wants Tanner well. I hope you will watch this testimony of a little girl and the exhausting journey they went through ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbfgxDwMoJk&ab_channel=AndrewWommack) and I hope you can find strength on this journey to see your son completely whole. I also highly recommend the teaching series “God wants you well” from this ministry. It corrected a lot of wrong thinking for me in the area of healing, and I started seeing miracles when I aligned my understanding with the goodness of God in healing. Jesus healed the paralyzed man at Bethesda pool, who suffered 38 years of being crippled. I pray what God did for that man, He will do it to Tanner. Please DON’t DON’T quit ok. Much love and hugs to you.
Claire’s devotion leaves me saying WOW!!! and AMEN!!!. We Christians have so many different denominations that it’s ridiculous. And each denomination might have it’s own set of governing regulations. Why can’t we worship God, Christ and the Holy Spirit the way it was in the beginning of Christianity, the way God showed Peter it needed to be. I feel Claire said it all when she said, “The Lord loves us all, and calls us to love one another without reservation. Praise be to God!”
Sisters have a glorious, bless and wonderful day. Let’s spread the Good News — the GREAT NEWS!!!