Dr. June encouraged the church to really pay attention to what happens to the disciples in the Book of Acts and consider where we are going in this end time scenario. The persecution we will go through will not be like theirs, but will be against our image. If you look at what's happened in the past six (6) years with transhumanism, you will see how they've attacked the IMAGE OF THE HUMANS - THE IMAGE OF GOD. I believe that will be our persecution in the future. We must be ready to suffer our image for the cause of Christ. The apostles lost their image through slander, etc. God was with them through it all. Now, we have social media and the public's town square is online.
Acts 11 records a major turning point in early church history: Peter defends preaching the gospel to non-Jewish people (Gentiles) before the church in Jerusalem, and the gospel spreads to Antioch, where believers are first called "Christians".
Peter Defends His Work with Gentiles (Verses 1–18)
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Verses 1–3: The news spreads across Judea that Gentiles accepted God's word. When Peter arrives in Jerusalem, the "circumcision party" criticizes him for visiting and eating with uncircumcised men.
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Verses 4–10: Peter calmly retells the story in order. He shares his vision in Joppa of a large sheet coming down from heaven filled with various animals, and the voice telling him not to call common what God has made clean.
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Verses 11–14: Peter explains that three men from Caesarea arrived right then, the Spirit told him to go with them without doubt, and six Jewish brothers accompanied him to Cornelius's house.
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Verses 15–18: As Peter began speaking, the Holy Spirit fell on the Gentiles just like at Pentecost. Peter remembered Jesus' words about baptizing with the Holy Spirit. His critics calm down and praise God for granting repentance to the Gentiles too.
The Church Grows in Antioch (Verses 19–26)
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Verses 19–21: Believers scattered by the persecution surrounding Stephen travel as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. While they initially speak only to Jews, some men from Cyprus and Cyrene begin preaching to the Greeks, and a great number believe.
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Verses 22–24: The Jerusalem church hears the news and sends Barnabas to Antioch. Seeing God's grace, he rejoices and encourages everyone to remain true to the Lord. Luke notes Barnabas is a good man, full of faith and the Holy Spirit.
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Verses 25–26: Barnabas goes to Tarsus to find Saul (Paul) and brings him back to Antioch. They teach a large crowd for a whole year, and the disciples are first called "Christians" in Antioch.
Relief Sent to Judea (Verses 27–30)
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Verses 27–28: Prophets travel from Jerusalem to Antioch, and one named Agabus stands up through the Spirit to predict a severe global famine, which happens during the reign of Claudius Caesar.
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Verses 29–30: The disciples in Antioch decide to send financial help to the believers in Judea, each giving as they are able. They send this relief to the elders via Barnabas and Saul
