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Acts 11 Bible study: Repentance to life

Those of the circumcision "contended" with Peter (11:2), and the Spirit had told him to go "without discriminating" (11:12): in the Greek, the same verb. And Barnabas, "Son of Encouragement" (4:36), "exhorted them all" (11:23): Strong's gives the noun of his name as from that verb.

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“When they heard these things, they held their peace and glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life!””
Acts 11:18 · World English Bible

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“Acts 11:26 says the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”

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What's really going on

Contended, and without discriminating

In the text

"Now the apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God." (11:1). Then, "When Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision contended with him, saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!”" (11:2-3) (tap contended). Peter answers by telling what happened, and in his telling he says, "The Spirit told me to go with them without discriminating." (11:12). Here is what almost everyone misses: in the Greek, the verb behind contended in 11:2 is the verb behind without discriminating in 11:12. It is also the verb in the Spirit's words to Peter in Acts 10, "go with them, doubting nothing" (10:20). The WEB gives the one verb three ways, and these notes add nothing to what each verse says.

Honest questions

Questions people ask about Acts 11

That was a taste

The rest of Acts 11 is waiting in Favor

  • Repentance to life
  • Son of Encouragement
  • "Christians"
  • Told again, in order
  • "I remembered the word of the Lord"
  • Questions asked elsewhere
  • 16 questions as you read
  • 9 more Greek words
  • A short check at the end
  • Your notes, saved as you go
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The Greek word behind it

Χριστιανόςchristianossay khris-tee-an-OS

Strong's: "a Christian, i.e. follower of Christ", and it gives the word as "from G5547", the word behind Christ. Thayer: "a Christian, a follower of Christ". "The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch." (11:26). The New Testament has the word three times (counted in RP2018): here, in Agrippa's words to Paul, "With a little persuasion are you trying to make me a Christian?" (26:28), and in "But if one of you suffers for being a Christian, let him not be ashamed" (1 Peter 4:16).

For your group

Acts 11 Bible study questions

  1. 1When others questioned him, Peter "explained to them in order" what had happened (11:4). How do you usually respond when someone questions your faith?
  2. 2Barnabas "had seen the grace of God, was glad" (11:23). Where have you seen the grace of God in someone else lately?
  3. 3"The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch" (11:26). What do you hope people see in you when they hear that you follow Jesus?

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Questions

What is Favor?

Favor is a Bible study app that explains every chapter as you read: the Hebrew and Greek behind the words, the details most readers miss, and how each part of the Bible leads to Jesus. Read on your own, or start a Bible study with friends, family or your church.

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Last reviewed October 7, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Hebrew and Greek words are checked against the original-language texts and public-domain lexicons. What we believe · Favor home