Acts 11:18

"And when they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then to the Gentiles also hath God granted repentance unto life"They held their peace" "They ceased to object"(TCNT). "They quieted down" (Ber). "Glorified God" "Gave honor to God" (Gspd). "They accepted it not murmuring, as men who were forced to its acceptance, but joyfully, as men who were glad to be relieved from. conviction which had caused them anxiety" (McGarvey p. 221). "Their criticism ceased; their worship began" (Bruce p. 236).

Notice how good and honest hearts respond to the truth once they hear it. Christians simply want to do God's will, they have no private, cherished or pet views that they are determined to hold on to at all cost. They glorified God even when such truths ran counter to their preconceived ideas. "God granted repentance unto life" Not in the sense that God miraculously enabled them to repent, but that God opened up the door of opportunity, so that the repentant Gentile could find salvation.

CHRISTIANITY COMES TO ANTIOCH"A new and important portion of the history of the church begins with these words. The conversion of Cornelius opens up to the Gospel preachers the exciting possibilities of converting the whole Gentile world to Christ. From this point on, Acts is concerned with the efforts made to convert the Gentiles (Jews are also included). Luke is picking up another thread of the story which began at Acts 8:1, Acts 8:1. In some earlier Chapter s he has shown Philip going down to Samaria, Saul to Damascus, Peter to Joppa and Caesarea, and now we shall see the disciples going to Antioch" (Reese p. 413).