Acts, Chapter 10

1
Lesson 18

• Acts, Chapter 10

2
Time Frame (Acts 10)

• The Conversion of Cornelius, Chap. 10
• A reference back to Lesson 3 reveals that we have
  placed the conversion of Paul to approximately 34
  AD
• After Pauls conversion, he spent several years
  in Arabia and Damascus. In 943, Peter spent
  many days in Joppa. In 1220-24, we read of
  Herods death in A.D. 44
• Time of Cornelius Conv. (A.D. 40?)

3
Caesarea was at this time the usual residence of
the Roman governor of Judea, and consequently a
garrison of troops was regularly found there.
Caesarea
Joppa
4
Gods Message to Cornelius(1-8)

• Information about Cornelius (1-2)
• A Centurion of the Italian regiment (100 men)
• A devout believer, generous and prayerful
• Regardless, He was lost! (cf. Matt. 721)
• An angel of God appears in a vision (3-6)
• God was pleased with Cornelius devotion
• God instructed Cornelius to send for Peter in
  Joppa, to come and to preach to him.
• He will tell you what you must do
• Cornelius Obeyed God (7-8)

5
Gods Message to Peter (9-16)

• Peter fell into a trance (9-16)
• He had gone onto the roof to pray
• His hunger was used by God to teach an important
  principle regarding the Gentiles
• The vision A sheet, containing all types of
  unclean animals (according to the law).
• The command to eat resisted by Peter
• What God has cleansed you must not call common
• Done 3 times to establish its significance

6
Peter Summoned to Caesarea (17-23) 1

• Cornelius heeded the angels instructions (cf.
  vs. 8)
• He sent 3 men to Joppa to get Peter
• Peter was wondering about the significance of the
  vision (vs. 17)
• At this time, the three men came to Simons house
• The Spirit informed Peter that these three men
  had been sent by Him (vs. 19-20)
• Peter heeded the Spirit and addressed the men

7
Peter Summoned to Caesarea (17-23) 2

• Notice how many times we have verification of
  Gods involvement in Cornelius conversion
• Cornelius vision Peters vision Peters
  conversation with the Holy Spirit Holy Spirit
  Baptism upon the Gentiles
• This underscores that the Gentiles had been
  received by God (cf. 1118)
• Peter left for Joppa with the men (vs. 22-23)

8
Peter Meets Cornelius (24-33) 1

• Cornelius had invited his relatives and close
  friends to come and meet with Peter (24)
• A wonderful example for us
• Cornelius made the mistake of worshipping Peter
  (25-26)
• Honest mistake, but shows his ignorance
• We are only vessels (cf. 1 Corinthians 35-7)

9
1 Corinthians 35-7

• Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but
  ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord
  gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered,
  but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he
  who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but
  God who gives the increase.

10
Peter Meets Cornelius (24-33) 1

• Cornelius had invited his relatives and close
  friends to come and meet with Peter (24)
• A wonderful example for us
• Cornelius made the mistake of worshipping Peter
  (25-26)
• Honest mistake, but shows his ignorance
• We are only vessels (cf. 1 Corinthians 35-7)
• Peter recognized the significance of the vision
  he had (28-29)

11
Peter Meets Cornelius (24-33) 2

• Peters Question - For what reason have you sent
  for me? (29)
• Note He had already been told by Cornelius
  servants (22)
• Cornelius Answer - We are all present before
  God, to hear all the things commanded you by God
  (33)
• Note (33) You have done well to come
• This was Gods will!

12
Peters Sermon (34-43) 1

• God Shows No Partiality (34)
• Some accepted in every nation cf. Gal. 328
  Col. 38-11
• Terms of acceptance Fear God Work
  righteousness (35)
• The message of the gospel (36-43)
• Christ is Lord (36)
• Note Gospel was well known, as it was preached
  throughout Judea (37)
• Jesus life went about doing good (38)

13
Peters Sermon (34-43) 2

• The message of the gospel (cont.) (36-43)
• Miracles proof that God was with Jesus (38)
• The apostles (Peter) were eyewitnesses to the
  miracles Jesus performed (39)
• Jews killed Jesus (crucifixion) (39)
• Jesus resurrected from the dead (40) (Raised up
  by God, more proof that Jesus is the Messiah)
• Apostles witnesses of resurrection (41)

14
Peters Sermon (34-43) 3

• The message of the gospel (cont.) (36-43)
• Apostles given the command to preach (42)
• Message Christ is the Messiah (as such, the
  Judge of the living and the dead). (42)
• Jesus is the subject of Messianic prophecy (43)
• Faith in Jesus brings salvation (43)
• Note Same message as all of the other examples
  of conversion The Gospel!

15
The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles (vs. 44-48)
1

• In the midst of Peters Sermon, the Holy Spirit
  came (vs. 44)
• Fell upon all those who heard the word
• Most probably, this refers to the Gentiles in
  Cornelius household (vs. 47, 1115 purpose of
  the Holy Spirits testimony)
• Response of the Jews (vs. 45)
• Astonished! Heard the evidence

16
The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles (vs. 44-48)
2

• Peters Response (vs. 47-48)
• Gentiles were worthy of receiving baptism (as the
  Spirits testimony revealed). Note This is
  strong evidence that Baptism is to become a
  member of the kingdom! (cf. 1118)
• Cornelius Household baptized (vs. 48)
• Baptism in the name of Jesus is for the salvation
  from sins (cf. Mark 1616 Acts 238)