CHAPTER 10

1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:
6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

Actually, there are two themes to this single-chapter story. First, there is the theme that God is working behind the scenes at all times to help those who desire to know Him fully.
Second, there is the them that ANYONE and EVERYONE is accepted before God when they genuinely desire to be saved.

Cornelius was a man born into polytheism, yet exhibited the desire to know ONE God.
He was evidently an important man, for he was captain over 100 men.

Luke here describes him as a "devout man, and one that feared God with all his house."
In other words, he had learned of God through the Jewish faith, and "prayed to God alway(s)."
Certainly, he was "devout" because he involved his entire family in the worship of God.
He also practiced praying at the appropriate times according to the Jewish faith, for it says here he was praying "about the ninth hour."
The ninth hour coincided with the evening sacrifice (3pm) (See Acts 3:1)

As Cornelius prayed (probably in a very private setting), an extraordinary thing happened.
An "angel of God" (angel being messenger), appeared to him!

Here is a Gentile, practicing faith in ONE God, solely on the basis of his belief.
And, God sent a specific messenger to him!
Truthfully, God DOES "govern in the affairs of men"!! (Benjamin Franklin)

When a person is truly seeking God, he WILL RECEIVE guidance to the appropriate manner of repentance and salvation!!

Would YOU be surprised, if while you were praying someone showed up to give you specific directions about the very thing for which you were praying?

Cornelius received specific instructions to send someone to fetch Peter.
Peter was presently residing in the house of Simon ("a tanner") in Joppa, South of Caesarea.

Angelic messengers may certainly appear to those truthfully seeking God.
But, God also sends "messengers" from His church to those genuinely seeking Him!

7 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;
8 And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

Without hesitation, Cornelius sent men to bring Peter!

Once, I was asked to visit with a man who had never committed himself to Jesus.
I asked the person who gave me the name if HE had been to visit the man.
He said, "No, I'm afraid of him. But I have prayed for him."
I agreed to go, if that person would continue to pray.

Three days later, I knocked on the door of the person who's name had been given to me.
When he came to the door, (he was one BIG fella) I said, "Hi! My name is Bruce McGee. I'm the pastor at ...."
He opened the door wide, and said, "WOW! Come in preacher! I've been WANTING to talk to someone about Jesus!"

YES!
God DOES "govern in the affairs of men!!"
When God does something like the example above, I call it a "Divine appointment!"

Within 15 minutes that man was on his knees begging Christ's forgiveness and surrendering his life to Jesus!

9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:
10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

While Cornelius' men were on their way, God was preparing Peter.
At the normal noon prayer time, Peter went to the "rooftop" to pray.
Probably, the reason he went there was to be alone.

The words "fell into a trance" indicate that Peter's focus was entirely upon the Lord, and
that every thing else around him was blocked out.
God had a special message for Peter, and He wanted Peter's FULL attention!

IN the "trance," Peter had a vision.
The vision was of a "sheet", which was "knit" (or roped) at all four corners.
This sheet descended toward Peter, and as it descended he could see all kinds of animals, insects and fowls.
Accompanying the descending sheet, there was a "voice" which said, "Rise, Peter; kill, and eat."

Now Peter was a devout Jew and had a very strict dietary code according to the Old Testament.
Oviously, what Peter saw on the sheet were animals, insects and fowls stated as UNCLEAN in the Old Testament. (Leviticus 11 generally describes things which God allowed to be eaten, things which were NOT allowed.)

When Peter answered that he had never eaten any of those things, he was determining NOT to eat of them now!
However, the "voice" said, "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common."
This procedure happened THREE times.
Probably because Peter said "no" three times!

Three seems to be a significant number for Peter.
He denied the Lord 3 times. (Matthew 26:34)
And, our Lord caused him to avow love for the Lord three times. (John 21:15-17)

Peter LEARNED after those two instances, and you can be assured he was going to REMEMBER this instance with the "sheet."

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 inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,
18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.
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?
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 holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.
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.

Peter was musing about the vision he had seen when Cornelius' men came to the house.
The Spirit of God spoke to Peter, and tole him he was to go with the men.
Peter went downstairs to visit with them, and a very weird thing happened!

He called those men INTO Simon's house, and LODGED them overnight!!
You might ask, "Why was that weird?"

Peter was staying with Simon, who was also a Jew.
Jews did NOT allow Gentiles in their homes, and certainly did not keep them overnight!!

So, why did they do it now?
Because God SAID SO!!

Not only that, but when they left on the journey to Cornelius' home, some other "brethren from Joppa accompanied him!"
SOMETHING in the Kingdom of God was about to happen, and they wanted to be a PART of it!

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

Notice it took TWO DAYS of traveling to reach Cornelius' home.
And, when they arrived, Cornelius had his whole family and some friends gathered.
They BELIEVED what the angel had said to Cornelius, and were WAITING for Peter to come!

Cornelius had told them, and they had believed him!

Would you wait 5 days on a "word" from God?

25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.

Cornelius had feared the angel, and when he saw Peter he fell down and "worshipped him."
But Peter assured Cornelius he was only a man, and pulled Cornelius up.

Then, another weird thing happened!
Peter went INTO this Gentile's house!!

And when he went in, he was surprised to see so many people waiting for him!

Listen, WHEREVER God tells you to go -- GO!
And, don't be surprised if He assembles many "witnesses" to watch and hear you!

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

The "law" Peter spoke of does not appear explicitly in Old Testament law.

When the Israelites were about to enter Canaan (The Promised Land), Moses did give law about those people.
(See Deuteronomy 7:1-6) However, the leaders of the Jewish people had perverted that law to include ALL peoples other than themselves.
As Jesus said, it was "tradition" - not law. (See Mark 7:8-13)

Now, God had "shewed" Peter that when God called something "clean," Peter was not to call that something "unclean!"

We should learn a lesson here!
Prejudicial attitudes have NO PLACE in the kingdom of God!!
He who promotes prejudice subverts the "law" of God, and clings to man's "traditions!!"

When we learn a "truth" from God, we should be like Peter and CLING to that truth!

So, now Peter only wants to know "WHY" they sent for Him.
(It had not yet been revealed to him.)

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

Cornelius explained the vision he had received.
Then, he told Peter he had gathered his family and friends to "hear" what God had "commanded" Peter.

Peter did not understand WHY he was called to Cornelius' home!
Cornelius did not understand WHY he had been told to call Peter!

But they both OBEYED the command of God!!

We do not have to understand all God has in store for us to be obedient to His truths!

34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

THAT'S the reason Cornelius was told to call Peter!
THAT'S the reason Peter was called to Cornelius' home!!

It was for THEM to understand, and for ALL AFTER THEM to understand that,
"God is NO RESPECTOR of persons!!"

WHOSOEVER calls upon Jesus in repentance and surrender may be SAVED!! (Rom. 10:13)
WHOSOEVER "believes on" (clings to Christ) may be SAVED!! (John 3:16)

No matter WHO you are, no matter WHAT you've done - you can be forgiven and saved!!
PRAISE GOD!!
The message of the Gospel of Christ is for EVERYONE!!

One other thing I might point out about God being "no respector of persons."
No matter WHO you are, in social standing, you still must come to Christ in "repentance" and "surrender!"
There is NO OTHER WAY!

36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
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.
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:
40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
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.

YES!
Jesus is "Lord of ALL!!" (vs 36 above)
He is MASTER of ALL mankind!
And, He is ETERNAL JUDGE of all mankind!!

It was "published" throughout all the land!
Jesus did "good," "healed," "cast out demons," and "raised the dead!" He did all that because God was IN Him!
He is the GOD-MAN, God incarnate!
(See Colossians 2:9)

Not only that, but (vss 40-41 above) Jesus arose from the grave with an ethereal body!
That was a body unlimited by physical restrictions!
(See John 20:19-26)

Jesus could walk through closed doors, but He could also cook and eat fish!
(See John 21:6-14)

Having now exhibited this new and different body, Jesus claimed the authority to "command" His disciples.
(See Matthew 28:18-20)

This testimony included the fact that eternal salvation is ONLY through Christ, and that HE, and He ALONE,
will be the "Judge" of both the living and the dead!
(See also Romans 14:10 and 2Corinthians 5:10)

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

The Old Testament is filled with the testimony that God Himself would come to be the Savior of mankind, and
that forgiveness would come through Him.
See for instance:
Isa 9:6; 12:2; 43:3; 43:11; 52:7; 53:5-6; 59:20;
Jer 31:34;
Dan 9:24;
Hos 13:4;
Mic 7:18, etc.;
and Zech 13:1

Those testimonies came to fulfillment in the Angel's announcement to the shepherds in Luke 2:11.
The angel said, "..unto you is born this day in the city of David a SAVIOR (the One bringing salvation), which is CHRIST (prophesied Messiah) the LORD (Greek: kurios), meaning MASTER, SUPREME AUTHORITY!

44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
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.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

The Holy Ghost came upon these Gentiles!
And the evidence was that they were able to speak in other known languages!
(See the discussion on Acts 2:2-5)

Peter immediately recognized this God-given ability, for he had been present when it happened to the Jewish believers at Pentecost.
Therefore, Peter commanded that these Gentiles be baptized "in the name of the Lord."
(See the discussion on "BAPTIZE" in Matthew 28:16-20)

One thing, most people do not consider here: the NEED of the new believers!

The new believers immediately realized they needed MORE understanding because they were indeed filled with the Holy Ghost!
Therefore, they asked that Peter REMAIN with them for awhile!

New believers, having been saved and sealed in God's Holy Spirit IMMEDIATELY realize the need for more understanding about:
prayer, Bible study, fellowship with other Christians, and church ministry.

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.
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