In President Theodore Roosevelt’s 1910 speech, “Citizenship in a Republic,” he gave this quote regarding the man in the arena. “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena… If he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”
In Acts 11, the apostle Peter found himself having to defend his actions. “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’” (vv. 2–3). Fortunately, after Peter explained the vision he had received from the Lord granting to Gentiles the gift of the Holy Spirit “they had no further objections.” They said, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life” (v. 18).
As the gospel spread through Peter’s witnessing, the Holy Spirit was using others who had fled Jerusalem due to persecution. Believers traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch telling the message of Jesus. Yet some were only sharing the message with fellow Jews (v. 19).
However, believers from Cyprus and Cyrene went to Antioch and began sharing the good news with Greeks. Verse 21 states, “The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.” Barnabas, a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, recruited Paul. Together they met with the church at Antioch and taught a great number of people (Jews and Gentiles). Interestingly enough, “The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch” (v. 26).
Go Deeper
Are you in the arena or in the stands? Are you a participant or a spectator? How is God calling you to spread the good news?
Pray with Us
Lord, there is no greater honor than to serve You. Whether we are in a season of calm or a season of chaos, please give us the strength to persevere for You.
Who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?Acts 11:17
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