READING THE BOOK OF ACTS: CHAPTER 10

  READING THE BOOK OF ACTS: CHAPTER 10

Wednesday, August 24, 2022

 CONTEXT FOR ACTS, CHAPTER 10

Jesus told the disciples they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and the ends of the earth in Acts, Chapter 1. Oddly, the disciples didn’t understand this meant the Holy Spirit would come upon Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles alike. After several years reaching Jews and proselytes in Jerusalem and Samaritans in Samaria, God calls Peter to bring the message to Gentiles. In upcoming chapters, we will see that Peter’s witness that Gentiles can be saved clears the way for Paul’s ministry to Gentiles in modern-day Turkey, Greece, and Italy. 

1) Verses 1-8, Cornelius Calls for Peter, MS. DEBBIE

1 There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment. 2 He was a devout man and feared God along with his whole household. He did many charitable deeds for the Jewish people and always prayed to God. 3 About three in the afternoon he distinctly saw in a vision an angel of God who came in and said to him, “Cornelius.” 4 Staring at him in awe, he said, “What is it, Lord?” The angel told him, “Your prayers and your acts of charity have ascended as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa and call for Simon, who is also named Peter. 6 He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, he called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, who was one of those who attended him. 8 After explaining everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

NOTATIONS:

The bringing of the gospel to the Gentiles, and the bringing of those who had been strangers and foreigners to be fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, were such a mystery to the apostles themselves, and such a surprise, that we need to observe all the circumstances of the beginning of this great work, this part of the mystery of godliness–Christ preached to the Gentiles. It is not unlikely that some Gentiles might before now have stepped into a synagogue of the Jews, and heard the gospel preached; but the gospel was never yet deliberately preached to the Gentiles, nor any of them baptized–Cornelius was the first.

This is an account given to us of Cornelius, who and what he was, who was the first-born of the Gentiles to Christ. We are told here that he was a great man and a good man–two characters that seldom meet, but here they did; and where they do meet, they put a shine upon each other. goodness makes greatness truly valuable, and greatness makes goodness much more serviceable.

Cornelius didn’t do the right things to get something from God. In verse 4 the angel told Cornelius that his prayers and acts of charity had ascended as a memorial offering before God. So, God was pleased with his actions. Cornelius didn't do those things to earn God's favor. He did the right things because he had a pure heart, and as Jesus promised, blessed are those with a pure heart for they will see God. God was pleased with his obedience. Cornelius was doing what he was told by the Holy Spirit to do. At a time when faith would have cost Cornelius not only his job but also his life, we find him giving his all for the One who gave him even more. God is just as pleased when we follow through and do as he commands us. 

The Acts 10 mission-focused story begins with prayer. Cornelius is in prayer when the angel visits.

SECTION QUESTIONS:

1. What was Cornelius' vision? (V4-5.)

2) Verses 9-23, Peter's Vision, MS. ELNORA

⁹ About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. ¹⁰ He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. ¹¹ He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. ¹² It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. ¹³ Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” ¹⁴ “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” ¹⁵ The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” ¹⁶ This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. 

¹⁷ While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. ¹⁸ They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there. ¹⁹ While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three^[a] men are looking for you. ²⁰ So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.” ²¹ Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?” ²² The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.” ²³ Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.

NOTATIONS:

SECTION QUESTIONS:

1. What was Peter's vision? (V.11-15)

2. What did the Spirit tell Peter? (V.19-20)

3) Verses 24-33, Peter at Cornelius' House, (Part 1) DESTINY

24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.” 27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”

30 Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”

NOTATIONS:

SECTION QUESTIONS:

1. When Cornelius fell at Peter's feet what did Peter tell him? (V.26 )

2. What did Peter learn from his vision? (V.28)

3. Why was Peter told to go to Cornelius' house? (V. 33)

4) Verses 34-48, Peter at Cornelius' House, (Part 2) JEANNIE

³⁴ Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism ³⁵ but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. ³⁶ You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. ³⁷ You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. 

³⁹ “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, ⁴⁰ but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. ⁴¹ He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴² He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 

⁴³ All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” ⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. ⁴⁵ The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. ⁴⁶ For they heard them speaking in tongues^[a] and praising God. Then Peter said, ⁴⁷ “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” ⁴⁸ So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

NOTATIONS:

Peter again affirms that God shows no partiality and that nationality does not dictate whether God is pleased with a person. He then shares the Gospel, saying the people know of the events of Jesus' ministry and that he was anointed with power. Peter talks of Jesus' death on the cross and His resurrection. He speaks of being chosen as a witness and commanded to testify that Jesus is appointed by God as judge of all people. Peter affirms that "all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in Jesus receives forgiveness of sins through his name.

While Peter is still speaking, the Holy Spirit indwells his Gentile audience. The Jesus followers who come with Peter were amazed at this. Similar to what happened on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Gentiles in this instance was evidenced, in part, by them speaking in tongues. Peter calls for the new believers to be baptized in water. Here, we see the baptism of the Holy Spirit happens BEFORE they were baptized in the name of Jesus.

This passage settles several theological issues for the young church. For the Jewish Jesus-followers, it reveals that God wants to save the Gentiles as well as the Jews. This will open the way for Paul's world-changing ministry which takes up most of the rest of the book of Acts. It also shows that although baptism and the laying on of hands is often associated with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, it is not necessary. Cornelius' friends and family receive the Holy Spirit before Peter even finishes the Gospel presentation. (Bibleref.com)

SECTION QUESTIONS:

4. Who was able to see Jesus after the resurrection? (V.41)

5. What was Jesus appointed as? (V.42)

6. Why were the followers who came with Peter astonished? (V.45)