In chapter 10 of Acts, Luke relates a long story about Peter going to Caesarea, to the home of a Roman centurion named Cornelius. Led there by God, Peter enters the house of Cornelius, eats with him and his household, teaches them about Jesus, and baptizes Cornelius and his whole household. This marks the first significant outreach to gentiles by the Jewish followers of Jesus.

Our sermon text, for today, comes from Acts, chapter 11, verses 1 through 18. Some of the circumcised believers, in Jerusalem, criticize Peter and expect him to explain his actions of reaching out to and baptizing gentiles.