God Welcomes the Nations — Acts 11:1–18
Oct 22, 2026 7
What does it mean that God welcomes the nations? Gentiles were people who weren’t part of Israel, people among the nations who didn’t know the true and living God. In Acts 11, Peter explains how God welcomed them through the good news about Jesus.
Acts 11:17–18
[17] If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” [18] When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.” (ESV)
When Peter returns to Jerusalem, some believers criticise him. He had gone into the home of Gentiles and eaten with them (Acts 11:1–3). For these Jewish believers, this was a serious boundary to cross.
Peter explains what happened, step by step. God had given him a vision and told him not to call common what he had made clean (Acts 11:4–10). Then the Spirit sent him to Cornelius’s home. As Peter spoke about Jesus, the Holy Spirit came upon the Gentiles, just as he had come upon the Jewish believers at the beginning (Acts 11:11–16).
Peter’s question is simple: if God gave them the same gift he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to stand in God’s way? The believers in Jerusalem hear Peter’s account and glorify God. They recognise that God has granted the Gentiles repentance that leads to life.
God welcomes the nations. The church doesn’t decide who can receive the good news. God calls people to turn to Jesus, gives them his Spirit, and welcomes them into his people.
The old Jew and Gentile boundary may feel distant to us. But we still meet people who seem very different from us, or far from Jesus. We are called to welcome those whom God welcomes, and to share the good news with them.
[Watch this week’s video devotion with Dave Miers]
The Good News is…
God has opened the way to life with him through Jesus. The cross of Jesus calls both Jews and Gentiles to come home to God. Everyone who turns to Christ and trusts in his good news is welcomed into his family. So let’s make room for others to hear about Jesus, trusting God to grant repentance that leads to life.
Like and share so others can see Jesus clearly.
Further reading: Acts 11:1–18
Reflection
Who might God be inviting you to welcome or speak with about Jesus?
Rev. Dave Miers
President, Good News Unlimited