May 21, 2023 - Acts 10:17-48

Introduction:

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17 Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate.

18 And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.

God’s timing is always perfect.

19 While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you.

20 Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”

The Phrase, “Doubting Nothing,” means “making no distinctions.” God was telling Peter to no longer make any distinctions between the Jews and the Gentiles. - Wiersbee

21 Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?”

22 And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.”

When God invites you to do something, His timing is when? - NOW.

23 Then he invited them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren (6 of them, see Acts 11:12) from Joppa accompanied him.

Acts 11:12 Then the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house.”

Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary Commentary

Peter took three times the official number of witnesses required by law (Deut. 19:15 One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established.”) in case he was called into question for entering a Gentile house.

24 And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends.

25 As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.

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

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

It’s amazing to see how God was working here. God was speaking to Cornelius and Cornelius was responding. God was doing something great here and God was inviting Peter to be a part of it.

28 Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

29 Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?”

It’s exciting to see that when God spoke to Peter and revealed to him in that trance, Peter listened and obeyed right away. Remember when God invites you to do something with Him, He is wanting you to respond right away.

30 So 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, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God.

32 Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.’

33 So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”

Cornelius told his story. Cornelius believed in God but that's not good enough, one must believe on jesus and repent of their sins and this is what he was about to do.

34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.

35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.

36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all—

37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:

38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by 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 killed by hanging on a tree.

40 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly,

41 not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.

42 And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.

43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”

Believe in Him, this Him here is who Peter was just talking about, Him is Jesus and what He did on the cross so we could be saved.

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.

As Peter spoke, the people there believed in Jesus and were aligning their thoughts with God, they were recognizing they were sinners in need of Jesus and they were believing in Him, thus the HS came upon them.

45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.

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

47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”

48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

They wanted to follow in believers baptism, they were ready to follow God in this next step of their newfound walk in Christ.

Remember the six Jewish men who came with Peter, they didn’t see Peters vision. But they saw the result of it, they saw the proof. Listen to what Wiersbe said about these past few verses:

The Bible Exposition Commentary (Chapter Ten: Peter’s Miracle Ministry (Acts 9:32–10:48))

The Holy Spirit was giving witness to the six Jews who were present that these Gentiles were truly born again. After all, these men had not seen the vision with Peter and come to understand that the Gentiles were now on an equal footing with the Jews. This does not suggest that every new believer gives evidence of salvation by speaking in tongues, though every true believer will certainly use his or her tongue to glorify God (Rom. 10:9–10). This was an event parallel to Pentecost: the same Spirit who had come on the Jewish believers had now come on the Gentiles (Acts 11:15–17; 15:7–9). No wonder the men were astonished!

At this point, Peter stayed in Caesarea and helped to ground the new believers in the truth of the Word. Peter went where God sent him and made disciples, he taught the Gentiles. Then he baptized them and taught them God’s Word. This was an illustration of Peter fulfilling the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”

The same commission applies to the church today. Are we fulfilling it as we should?

Challenge:

Saved:

Unsaved: Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”

Closing Song: My Jesus I Love Thee