11:1
News of what had happened spread throughout the region of Judea. Even though they didn’t have social media in those days, news could still spread, though no doubt a little more slowly than today. The essence of the news was that the Gentiles had received the word of God. We need to appreciate the enormity of this. If you look at the Old Testament, for the most part the Gentiles are considered the “opposition”, the “enemy”. In Ephesians Paul speaks of the wall of enmity between Jews and Gentiles being torn down in Christ (Eph 2:14), and in the Old Testament there are numerous prophecies speaking of the Gentiles coming to faith.
11:2,3
We now see some of the depth of that enmity. Those of the “circumcision party” criticised Peter, in particular for meeting with Gentiles and eating with them. Now these were believers, so we have a clear example of people who believe still having lots of the sinful nature still alive and well. We all need to be aware of this. Just as the Pharisees did when Jesus healed someone on the Sabbath, those of the circumcision party focused not on the key event (ie God sending His Holy Spirit on the Gentiles, in fulfilment of the Scriptures), but on a side issue. Indeed, on a man-made law.
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