Summer Devotional:
​No Other Name - A Devotional on the Book of Acts

Day 22 – June 28th, 2021
Read Acts 11:1-18

Helpful Background
In chapter 10 of the book of Acts, Peter has an amazing experience. In a vision, Peter saw a sheet coming down from heaven. It must have looked something like a table cloth because upon that sheet were all types of foods that Peter’s Jewish dietary laws forbid him from eating. Then a voice from heaven encouraged Peter to take from these forbidden foods and eat.

Perhaps thinking it was a test, Peter refused to violate the dietary laws of the Old Testament. And then God explained that he was doing something brand new - those people that had been thought to be excluded from the people of God (the Gentiles) were not only to be included, but even invited to join the people of God.
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Being Gentiles ourselves, this event probably doesn’t mean much to us. But we need to remember, this was brand new for the early Church, never before had they been forced to consider what to do with Gentiles who wanted to follow Jesus.

Down through the centuries, the Church has often been forced to deal with “new” things. In Acts chapter 11, we see the secret for handling “new” things; handle them with prayer and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Questions - Is there something “new” that God wants to do in your life; is He calling you to serve in some new capacity, is He calling you to go on a mission trip, is He calling you to support those who are going?  Listen to the Holy Spirit, for following him you will never go wrong.
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Grab your journal or use the notes section on your phone.
Respond to the Scripture reading with your thoughts, questions, and/or prayer response to today’s Bible verses.​

For more background information & study questions on the Book of Acts, check out Brian Ralston's handouts here.