Studies in Book of Acts Chapter 10:1-8

Apostle Ronald C Hill Sr.January 4-7, 2012

A. This chapter opens in the city of Caesarea. This city was located about thirty miles north of Joppa.

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Caesarea

Caesarea

Joppa

B. Cornelius is now the character of focus. He was a Roman military officer. He was a Centurion. A Centurion had the

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B. command over about one hundred men. He was attached to the Italian Regiment.

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C. In Chapter 10 we find the beginning of one of the great turning points of history. God is about to place His focus on winning Gentiles to Christ.

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D. Most theologians would say Cornelius was the first Gentile that became a part of the Body of Christ. However, I do not believe the Bible would support that position.

1. The Bible in Acts 8:26-38 records the encounter Philip had with the Ethiopian eunuch who was a Black man and a Gentile. This black man was the first Gentile that accepted Christ as savior according to the scriptures.   

Acts 8:26-38

Acts 8:26-38

27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the

Acts 8:26-38

27 charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,

Acts 8:26-38

28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.

Acts 8:26-38

29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

Acts 8:26-38

30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

Acts 8:26-38

31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

Acts 8:26-38

32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:

Acts 8:26-38

33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

Acts 8:26-38

34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?

Acts 8:26-38

35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

Acts 8:26-38

36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

Acts 8:26-38

37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Acts 8:26-38

38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 

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E. In Acts Chapter 10 we are faced with two great questions. The first question is was Cornelius saved before Peter came to his

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E. house; if we say Cornelius was not saved as some people do; the next question is does God hear a sinners prayers?

1. Whether he was a saved man is open to question. Those who say he was saved refer to verse 2.   

Acts 10:1

1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort,

Acts 10:2

2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.

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F. In verse 2 we are told several key things about Cornelius.

1. He was a devout man. Devout meaning he was pious, dedicated and serious in his search for God.

2. He feared (reverenced) God and he taught his family to fear God too.

3. He was generous in his giving to the impoverished Jewish people.  

4. He had a committed and consistent prayer life.

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G. Those who say he was saved refer to Acts 10:2 and

Acts 10:35

But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

1. Those who say Cornelius was not saved point to Acts 11:14 where the angel is quoted as promising him that Peter would tell him words whereby he might be saved,

Acts 11:14

Who shall tell thee words, where by thou and all thy house shall be saved.

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H. . If Peter was to give Cornelius the only message that could save him which no doubt was the Gospel is a strong indication

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H. that he was not saved before Peter came to his house.

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I. Being devout does not save a man. Unsaved men are said to be devout but they were only dutiful to their religion. The Bible in Acts 2:5 says

Acts 2:5

And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews devout men, out of every nation under heaven.  

1. They were devout men but they did not know God.

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J. Having fear and reverence for God will not cause a man to be saved. The bible in James 2:19 says

James 2:19

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well; the devils also believer, and tremble.

1. Does giving prove a man is saved:

1 Cor. 13:3

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

2. Does praying prove a man is saved:

St. Matt 6:5

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the

St. Matt 6:5

corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

St. Luke 18:9-14

9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

St. Luke 18:9-14

10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

St. Luke 18:9-14

11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

St. Luke 18:9-14

12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

St. Luke 18:9-14

13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

St. Luke 18:9-14 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. 

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K. No matter how committed and dedicated a man might be to religious practices he cannot be saved without hearing and believing the Gospel.

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L One may ask about people who never had a chance to hear the Gospel; will they be lost? I personally believe God knows the heart of every man and I believe God

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L knows those who would have accepted Christ had they been given the opportunity to do so. I further believe God will provide a way for them to be saved.  

Acts 10:3

About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.”

Acts 10:4

And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.

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M We note although Cornelius had not accepted Christ as savior at this point, God had heard his prayer. This proves

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M God will under some circumstances hear and answer a sinners prayer.  

1. The nobleman was a sinner but God heard his prayer.

St. John 4:49-53

49 The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.

St. John 4:49-53

50 Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.

St. John 4:49-53

51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth.

St. John 4:49-53

52 Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.

St. John 4:49-53

53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.

2. God also responded to a sinful woman.

St. Luke 7:36-50

36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.

St. Luke 7:36-50

37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,

St. Luke 7:36-50

38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head,

St. Luke 7:36-50

38 and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

St. Luke 7:36-50

39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would

St. Luke 7:36-50

39 have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

St. Luke 7:36-50

40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.

St. Luke 7:36-50

41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.

St. Luke 7:36-50

42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

St. Luke 7:36-50

43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

St. Luke 7:36-50

44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water

St. Luke 7:36-50

44 for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

St. Luke 7:36-50

45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

St. Luke 7:36-50

46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

St. Luke 7:36-50

47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

St. Luke 7:36-50

48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

St. Luke 7:36-50

48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

St. Luke 7:36-50

49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?

St. Luke 7:36-50

50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace

Studies in ActsIn my view Cornelius is an

example of a man who lived up to the light, which God gave him. As he walked in all he knew to do God honored him by revealing to

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him the true light of the Gospel. God also gave him the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

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N An angel appears telling Cornelius to send for Peter at Joppa. There are three factors necessary for the salvation of a sinner.

1. The sprit of God must be involved.

St. John 16:8  

8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

2. The word of God must be heard.

Romans 10:17 

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

3. There has to be someone to preach the gospel.

Romans 10:14

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they

Romans 10:14

14 have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

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O Cornelius sends two of his devout soldiers to fetch Peter. Peter was unaware of all that was going with Cornelius. He was waiting for

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O dinner at Simon’s house when God began to prepare him to go to a Gentile’s house.

Studies in ActsNote: Sometimes there is a

time process involved when God is leading us to step into something we would not otherwise do without His leading.

Studies in ActsGod’s timing is always perfect. God can and will synchronize the events of the lives of His people. The word synchronize is an

Studies in Actsinteresting word. It means to cause to occur or operate with exact coincidence in time or rate; to cause, to occur or operate at the same

Studies in Actstime as something else. God is the great synchronizer.

Acts 10:5

5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter.

Acts 10:6

6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

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P The angel tells Cornelius what to do in order to hear the Gospel. God could have used Angels to preach the Gospel but that privilege is given to man only.

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Q The Lord knew exactly where Peter was and he told Cornelius where to find him. God always knows where his people are.  

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R Cornelius had gotten the attention of God and He is now getting ready to use Peter, the man of God, to tell him what he needed to do.   

Studies in ActsIf you truly want to know

God He will always provide a way for you to learn of Him. When the student is ready to learn the teacher will appear.

 

Acts 10:77 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;

Acts 10:88 And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

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a.We note that Cornelius sends two of his trusted household servants and a military attaché who was also a God fearing man.

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b. When you are attempting to accomplish something that is very important don’t depend on people who in the past have proven to be unfaithful  

Proverbs 25:19  

19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

LIFE LESSONS #1 IF WE DESIRE TO

KNOW MORE ABOUT GOD AND TO EXPEIRENCE MORE OF HIS GLORY THE FIST STEP IS TO WALK IN THE TRUTH YOU ALREADY KNOW. 

LIFE LESSONS #2. DON’T ALLOW

PRECONCEIVED RELIGIOUS IDEALS TO PREVENT YOU FROM HEARING THE VOICE OF GOD. 

LIFE LESSONS #3 REMEMBER GOD

WILL SYNCHORNIZE THE TIMING OF YOUR LIFE. JUST CONTINUE TO SEEK TO OBEY HIS WRITTEN WORD AND

LIFE LESSONS #3 YOU WILL MAKE

CONTACT WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE CHOSEN TO BE YOUR BRIDGE TO YOUR NEXT MIRACLE.

LIFE LESSONS #4 IN THE SAME WAY

THE JEWS AT FIRST DIDN’T BELIEVE THE GENTILES WOULD NOT BE ACCEPTED BY GOD; THERE ARE SOME

LIFE LESSONS #4 PEOPLE WHO MAY

SEEK TO COUNT YOU OUT BUT NEVER FORGET IF GOD HAS MADE CHOICE OF YOU NO ONE WILL BE ABLE

LIFE LESSONS #4 TO KEEP YOU AWAY

FROM WHAT GOD HAS FOR YOU. 

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