The Church's Foundation: Peter Steps Up in Faith - Lesson 10

Turning Point, Controversy, and Expansion

A watershed moment for the church occurred at the home of a Gentile Roman Centurian named Cornelius. Upon hearing the Gentiles had believed the word of God, some Jewish believers in Jerusalem confronted Peter for having been in a Gentile home and eating with them. Peter related the story, and all objections were settled with this group. A division in the church over this issue would grow into a major problem in years to follow. At the scattering of the believers from Jerusalem, a church was established in Antioch with a great number of people including Gentiles of the Greek culture and custom. Barnabus and Saul began to minister together in Antioch where the disciples were first called Christians.