Who Was I That I Could Stand In God’s Way?

Acts 11:17

“If God therefore gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”

Peter returned to Jerusalem and told the apostles and Gentiles what had happened. Notice the complaint was not that Peter had preached to the Gentiles, but that he had eaten with them. Eating with someone is a sign of acceptance and fellowship. Peter now clearly understood the vision of all the animals in the sheet and how God had worked in his life. He explained that vision to the others and the clear direction of the Spirit to visit the Gentiles. The Holy Spirit falling upon the Gentiles at the time of salvation just as he did with the Jews at the beginning of the church (Acts 2) was a clear sign of equality. Believing Gentiles would have the same standing before God as believing Jews.

When the apostles and brethren heard Peter’s explanation “they quieted down, and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.” They began to understand that their mission was to the whole world.

Neither Peter nor the rest of the apostles anticipated that God was going to act in the way He did. I’m impressed that when they recognized this fact, they accepted it readily. We need to be careful to act the same way. God does not always act the way we anticipate. When we see His leading, as Peter did, we need to step out in faith, realizing that He is preparing the way for us.
I don’t know what opportunities God may put in your path or how He may reveal them to you. I pray that you will be sensitive to God’s leading and respond to it in a way that pleases Him.