Studies in Book of Acts

Chapter 10:9-48Apostle Ronald C Hill Sr.

January 11-14, 2012

A. Cornelius was among a group known as “God Fearers” who was so prevalent in the first century. These were Gentiles who were not prepared to enter into the Jewish community

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A. as proselytes but were attracted to the morality and ethical standards of the monotheistic Jewish religion.

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B. Cornelius attended the synagogue services and he was greatly knowledgeable in the practices of the Jewish religion. Hence, Cornelius gave much alms and prayed to God always.

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C. One day Cornelius had a vision of an angel of God coming to him with a vital message. At first he was afraid, but then was assured that God had looked upon his alms giving and prayers

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C. with favor. Cornelius was given instructions as to what he was to do. He was told to send men to Joppa and have them call for and invite Peter to come to Caesarea.

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1. The city of Caesarea was a major seaport city of New Testament Palestine. It was located some distance up the coast from Joppa.  

Acts 9:4040 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

Acts 9:41

41  And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

Acts 9:42

42 And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

Acts 9:43

43 And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.

D. After Peter had been used by God to raise Tabitha from the dead God led Peter to remain in Joppa with Simon “The Tamer”. God knew Peter’s next assignment would be near by.

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E.

Peter’s Vision

 

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Acts 10:9

9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray

Acts 10:10

10  And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance.

1. While staying at the home of Simon “The Tamer” in Joppa, Peter went up to the housetop to pray at mid-day. Houses at that time typically had flat roofs, enabling a person to escape the heat and for people to have some privacy and quiet time.

2. Peter was praying and he was also hungry. In effect Peter was praying and fasting just before he received the vision from God.  

3. God had to give Peter a vision because he was preparing Peter to overcome the prejudice spirit Peter and all the Jew had against the Gentiles. During that period of time the Jews referred to the

3. Gentiles as dogs, and considered them to be unclean, and would have little to do with them. No Orthodox Jew would enter the house of Gentile, much less sit down at his table to eat.  

Acts 10:11-16

11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth.

Acts 10:12

12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air.

Acts 10:13

13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”

Acts 10:14

14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”

Acts 10:15

15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God Has made clean, do not call common.”

Acts 10:16

16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven. 

F. Both Cornelius and Simon Peter had a vision paving the way for their meeting. Peter’s vision came the day after that of Cornelius.

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1. While praying and waiting for lunch to be prepared, Peter fell into a trance. In this trance Peter saw the heaven open and a vessel descending unto him that appeared to be a great sheet knit at the four corners.

2. This huge sheet was being lowered from heaven, and inside were all manner of four-footed beasts and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

3. The Jews had strict regulations about what could be eaten, and Peter had never eaten what a Jew considered an unclean animal.

4. After God had shown Peter the vision three times he convinced Peter that no human being should be considered clean or unclean. Peter then came to recognize that Jesus Christ had died for all people.

Acts 10:17

17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made

Acts 10:17

17 enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,

Acts 10:18

18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.

Acts 10:19

19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee

G. God had timed the arrival of the men sent by Cornelius to coincide with the ending of the vision He had given Peter.  

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Acts 10:20

20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

H. God informed Peter that three men were seeking for him and that he was to accompany them without any doubt about its legality. God also made it

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H. clear that it was He that had sent the men. God made it impossible for Peter to fail to follow His instructions.

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Acts 10:21

21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?

Acts 10:22

22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an

Acts 10:22

22 holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.

I. Directed by the Holy Spirit, Peter went down from the housetop to greet them. Peter acknowledged that he was the man they were seeking. He then asked the three men the purpose for their seeking him.

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1. The servants of Cornelius paid high tribute to their master as a just man, one who fear God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews. They said he had been instructed by a holy angel to send for

1. Peter to come to his house; and that he would hear words from Peter.  

Acts 10:23

23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

Acts 10:24

24 And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and he had called together his kinsmen and near friends.

J. The fact that Peter invited the Gentiles to be guest in the home of a Jew is a clear indication that he had gotten victory over any discrimination he had against Gentiles.  

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1. The following day Peter took some of the brethren from Joppa with him and they went to the home of Cornelius.

2. When Peter and the group arrived at Caesarea Cornelius was waiting and expecting them. He also demonstrated his love for his relatives and intimate friends by inviting them into his home. He was expecting to receive a

2. blessing from God and he wanted the people he loved to be blessed also.

What a great ingathering of souls would take place if every person in the church would bring their relatives and friends to the house of the Lord.

Acts 10:25

25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.

Acts 10:26

26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. 

K. In these two verses we are allowed to witness the humility of both Cornelius and Peter. When Peter arrived the centurion who was a captain leader over

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K. an Italian Regiment humbled himself and fell down at the feet of Peter. 

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1. Cornelius was willing to honor the man that was representing God. Although no one should bow down to another man but I do believe it is of God for the people of God to show respect for the leaders God has placed over them.

2. Peter revealed his humility by forbidding the Centurion to kneel before him. The apostle refused such worship, protesting that he was only a man himself.

It would be fitting if the leaders of God’s people today would stop allowing God’s people to worship them instead of God.

 

Acts 10:27

27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.

Acts 10:28

28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath

Acts 10:28

28 shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

Acts 10:29

29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?

L. Finding a crowd assembled inside the house, Peter explained that as a Jew he would not ordinarily have come into a Gentile house like this one. Peter then shared that God had revealed

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L. to him that he should no longer think of the Gentiles as being unclean or untouchable. Then he asked for the reason they had sent for him.  

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Acts 10:30

30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

Acts 10:31

31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

Acts 10:32

32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.

Acts 10:33

33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.

M. In answer to the apostle’s question Cornelius described the vision he had seen four days before. He said “Four days ago I was fasting and praying before the Lord”. He saw a man standing before

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M. him. The angel said his prayers and giving, was known by God. The angel also instructed him to send for Peter. He said “I at once sent for you and that now we are

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M. here to listen to all that you have been instructed by the Lord to say”.  

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M. here to listen to all that you have been instructed by the Lord to say”.  

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Ironically, both Peter and Cornelius were fasting and praying before they received their vision.

 

Acts 10:34

34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

Acts 10:35

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

N. Peter prefaced his message with a frank admission. That up to that point he had believed that God’s favor was limited to the nation of Israel. Now he realized that God did not

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N. respect a man’s person because of nationality but was interested in an honest, contrite heart, whether in a Jew or a Gentile.

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1. The animosity toward Gentiles and the believability that Gentiles could even be saved, doesn’t appear at all to enter into Peter’s speech. What was once impossible is now possible. What was

1. once unacceptable is now, by  the grace of God, acceptable. Peter understood clearly that Gentiles may actually be saved in the same way that Jews have been save.

Acts 10:36

36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

O Peter now informed his hearers that although the gospel message was sent to the Jews first, yet Jesus Christ is Lord of all Gentiles as well as Jews. Peter at this point expresses that fact that they

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O had already heard the word that had been proclaimed throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee. Peter states that this message started after the baptism that was preached by John.

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Acts 10:38

38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

P Peter now states that the ministry of the Lord Jesus was not only approved by God, the Father and God the Holy Spirit, but was accompanied by signs of doing good and healing all that were harassed and

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P oppressed by the power of the devil for God was with Him.

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Acts 10:39

39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

Acts 10:40

40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;

Acts 10:41

41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.

Q The disciples were witnesses to the powerful ministry of Jesus and a witness to His death on the cross. They were also witnesses of His resurrection from the dead. Peter stated

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Q that God had raised Jesus from the dead to be plainly seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by those whom He had designated beforehand.

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1. Peter confirmed in more detail that the apostles knew Jesus was raised from the dead by informing them that they ate and drank with Him after He was raised from the dead.  

Acts 10:42

42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

R After the resurrection, the Lord commissioned the apostles to proclaim Him as Judge of the living and the dead. This means, of course, that as son of man He will judge Jews and Gentiles alike.

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St. John 5:22

22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

Acts 10:43

43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

S . Peter does not linger on a note of judgment. Instead he introduces a grand statement of evangelical truth. He explained how the judgment of God could be avoided. He says all the Old Testament

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S . prophets had taught, whoever believes in the name of the messiah will receive remission (forgiveness) of their sins through Christ.

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Acts 10:44

44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

T . The Holy Ghost was poured out on the Gentiles while Peter was still preaching the word of God. They were all baptized in the Holy Ghost and began to speak with tongues and to give God the praise.

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Acts 10:45

45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 10:46

46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

U . The believers from among the circumcised Jews who came with Peter was surprised and amazed because the free gift of the Holy Spirit had been given to the Gentiles.

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1. They were convinced they were filled with the Holy Spirit because they heard them speaking in tongues.

Acts 10:47

47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

Acts 10:48

48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. 

V . Peter recognized that as they have received the outward manifestation of the spirit of God in their hearts, it is also necessary for them to show the world that they have identified with the death, burial,

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V . and resurrection of the Lord Jesus by being baptized in water.

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1. It does not appear that Peter baptized these new converts in water himself.  

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