“who was I”
[Acts 11:1-18]
How do you accept criticism? How do you react when others criticize you? In the essay ‘Turning Criticism into Pearls’ by Pastor Young-min Pi (Gangnam Central Baptist Church), he says: ‘When a clam takes a breath on the sandy ocean floor, there are times when a grain of sand is mistakenly lodged inside its fragile flesh. When a rough and hard grain of sand is embedded, the clam releases its body fluid to alleviate the pain, constantly wrapping and rewrapping the grain of sand, enduring years of hardship. After overcoming many years of hardship, the sand inside the clam becomes a beautiful pearl, emitting a radiant spectrum of colors. However, not all the sand that enters the clam's body becomes a pearl. Many clams, unable to overcome the severe pain caused by the grain of sand, end up perishing. While living in this world, we cannot completely escape from being criticized. Winston Churchill, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, said, 'The only way to avoid criticism is to say nothing, do nothing, and be nothing.' Through criticism, we mature, and through criticism, we must enter into the history of God's righteous judgment and transform sand into pearls’ (Internet).
When I look at Acts 11:17, I see that when the apostle Peter went up to Jerusalem, he spoke to the circumcised believers (v. 2) who criticized him, saying, "So if God gave them the same gift he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?" In today's passage, I want to reflect on the circumcised believers and Peter under the title "who was I," and receive the lessons provided.
First, they were the circumcised believers who criticized.
Look at Acts 11:2-3: "So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him and said, 'You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.'" Assembled in the house of Cornelius, whom God welcomed, along with all the people present, Peter was testifying to them about the gospel of peace. After the incident where the Holy Spirit came upon all who heard the message, Peter went up to Jerusalem and met with church leaders and the general congregation. They had already heard the news that the Gentiles have also received the word of God. In their meeting, the circumcised believers criticized Peter. Their criticism centered around why Peter had eaten with uncircumcised men. Here, "circumcised believers" refers to Jewish believers in Jesus. These Jewish believers, who had faith in Jesus, believed mistakenly that one must first honor the Law of Moses and become an esteemed Jew before receiving the blessing of Christ (Park). Because of this, it was incomprehensible to them that Cornelius and all those gathered in his house had received the word of God without adhering to Moses' Law. They couldn't fathom how these Gentiles could receive the blessing of Christ without first becoming esteemed Jews. Therefore, they confronted Peter. In reality, the religious leaders, the Pharisees and scribes, had no legitimate grounds to criticize Peter. This was because Peter entering the house of an uncircumcised man and dining with him was not prohibited by the Law, but was based on Rabbinic tradition (Park). However, though it may have appeared that the circumcised believers were criticizing Peter for dining with Gentiles, in actuality, they were criticizing the shocking event of Gentiles receiving the word of God through the ministry of the Jewish apostle Peter.
Such criticism was also directed at Jesus. In Luke 15:1-2, when Jesus dined with tax collectors and sinners and the Pharisees and scribes, who were religious leaders, opposed him, it seemed outwardly like they were resenting Jesus for dining with tax collectors and sinners. However, in reality, they resented Jesus because of the salvific event for tax collectors and sinners that his fellowship represented. "Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, 'This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.'" In Luke 5:30, the Pharisees and teachers of the law saw Jesus dining with Levi, a tax collector, and many others at Levi's house, and they mocked Jesus' disciples, asking, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" From the perspective of the religious leaders, the Pharisees and scribes, they had no choice but to resent and criticize Jesus and his disciples. To them, it was inconceivable nonsense that Jesus would welcome "all tax collectors and sinners." The reason for this was that the Jewish religious leaders firmly believed that God's salvific work was limited to their chosen people, the Jews. However, there was a fact that they were completely unaware of. That fact was that God's work of salvation was not limited to Jerusalem (the Jews), but extended to Jerusalem, all of Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).
The lesson we should take from this is that we should not limit the work of God's salvation. We must heed the words of Jesus: "Jesus answered them, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance'" (Lk. 5:31-32).
Second, there is the explanatory Peter.
Look at Acts 11:4 - "Peter began and explained everything to them." When Peter visited Cornelius to convey the message of salvation (v. 14) and shared how the Holy Spirit came upon them (v. 15), he subsequently explained the events in sequence to the circumcised Jewish Christians who criticized him. This explanation began with Peter praying and receiving a vision while staying at the tanner Simon's house in Joppa (vv. 5-10). Then, messengers sent by Cornelius arrived and sought Peter (v. 11). At that moment, the Holy Spirit instructed Peter not to hesitate, but to go with them (v. 12). Peter recounted how he went to Cornelius' house, where he was invited in accordance with the angel's instructions, as reported by Cornelius (vv. 13-14). Finally, Peter shared the incident where the Holy Spirit came upon the Gentiles while he was proclaiming the gospel of peace in Cornelius' house (vv. 15-16). Afterward, Peter stated: "So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?" (v. 17). He had simply obeyed God's command, and all that had transpired with the Gentile Cornelius—receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus for salvation—was a work of God. Therefore, how could Peter stand in the way of God's salvific work?
We should not be obstacles but rather conduits in the salvific work that takes place under the sovereignty of God. In the Gospel hymn "Channel of Blessing," there are these lyrics: "Break Thou the bread of life, dear Lord, to me,/ As Thou didst break the loaves beside the sea;/ Beyond the sacred page I seek Thee, Lord;/ My spirit pants for Thee, O Living Word." These words reflect the longing for spiritual nourishment from the living Word of God, akin to the breaking of bread beside the sea. The hymn conveys the yearning to go beyond the literal words of Scripture and to seek a living encounter with God. It recognizes that the Word of God is not confined to the pages of the Bible but is alive and active in our lives. The hymn goes on to express the desire for God to reveal Himself through the Scriptures: "Bless Thou the truth, dear Lord, to me, to me,/ As Thou didst bless the bread by Galilee;/ Then shall all bondage cease, all fetters fall;/ And I shall find my peace, my All in all." This reflects the hope that through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, the truths of Scripture will come alive and bring freedom and peace. The hymn ultimately acknowledges that Jesus is the ultimate source of spiritual sustenance: "Thou art the bread of life, O Lord, to me,/ Thy holy Word the truth that saveth me;/ Give me to eat and live with Thee above;/ Teach me to love Thy truth, for Thou art love." It recognizes Jesus as the source of spiritual nourishment, with His Word being the truth that brings salvation. The hymn concludes with a prayer to abide in Jesus and to be taught to love His truth, recognizing that He is love itself.
The third and the last group is the circumcision believers who give glory to God.
Look at Acts 11:18 – “When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, ‘So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.’” The circumcision believers, who believed in Jesus after hearing Peter's explanation, could no longer criticize. The reason is that they had conviction in their hearts after hearing Peter's explanation. That conviction was the assurance that God had granted repentance leading to life even to the Gentiles. Therefore, the circumcision believers gave glory to God.
How amazing is this? The circumcised believers who once criticized and opposed Peter, upon hearing his explanation, now glorify God. How astonishing is this work of God? Not only did God make Peter realize that the salvation work of God was not only for the Jews but also for the Gentiles, but He also made the Jewish Christian believers in the Jerusalem church, who could be considered the mother church, understand through Peter's explanation that God had granted repentance leading to life even to the Gentiles. I believe this is truly significant in God's strategy for the salvation of the Gentiles. The reason being, even though Peter preached the gospel to Cornelius and all those gathered in his house in Caesarea, and they received the same Holy Spirit as Peter and other Jewish Christian believers, if the Jerusalem church, which can be called the mother church in terms of missionary strategy, did not acknowledge it, there would have been a delay in the Gentile mission strategy. However, God, through the apostle Peter, made it known to Cornelius and all those gathered in his house that the gospel was for them as well. This revelation not only silenced the opposition of the Jewish Christian believers in the Jerusalem church but also led them to acknowledge God's salvation work towards the Gentiles. Therefore, they gave glory to God.
Who are we to speak of the salvation work that God plans and carries out? We have nothing to say. No, we should have nothing to say. It is the sovereign work of God's salvation, and who are we to hinder God? We can never block God, and we should not even attempt to. We are merely instruments in the hands of God. If God chooses to use us in advancing His sovereign plan of salvation, then we must simply humbly obey. If God says He will use you and me to fulfill His sovereign plan of salvation, what can we say? We must humbly acknowledge God's work of salvation even if it is through us. And we must witness the glory of God and give glory to Him.
In our lives, we cannot fathom why such immense grace of salvation is bestowed upon us,
James Kim
(Praying that we all, as soldiers of the Lord who silently participate in the work of God's salvation even amidst criticism and opposition, may be established)