The Gentile Pentecost

Holy Spirit Living Breath of God, Getty

Psalm 119:1 NIV

1 Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord.

Psalm 119:41–48 NIV

41 May your unfailing love come to me, Lord, your salvation, according to your promise; 42 then I can answer anyone who taunts me, for I trust in your word. 43 Never take your word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws. 44 I will always obey your law, for ever and ever. 45 I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts. 46 I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame, 47 for I delight in your commands because I love them. 48 I reach out for your commands, which I love, that I may meditate on your decrees.

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The Gentile Pentecost

I wish to start with a life story shared in Chuck Colson’s “The Body.” It is the story of a Russian girl named Irina. I am going to read just a short selection and will be skipping some parts, but I think you will get the idea I wish you to hear.

Read selections from pages 76-79.

If God had come just for the Jews, where would Irina be today? Irina does not just represent people in communist worlds, but she represents anyone living without knowing God. There is an enemy of humanity that is determined to destroy us with lies and deception. Is is not men behind the power hungry governments of our world, but it is Satan. But, God has provided a path for salvation and He wants this news spread to all peoples.

Last week, Peter had a vision of a sheet with unclean foods coming down to him and then lifted back to heaven. This happened three times, and as he pondered what it could mean, God speaks and says there are three Gentiles at the door looking for him. Peter is to go with them. This is where we come into today’s passage.

Acts 10:24–48 NIV

24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.” 27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?” 30 Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.” 34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. 39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

The Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God!

The Gentile Pentecost

Ten years have passed since Pentecost. The good news has begun to spread. Paul has now converted and has spent time with the disciples learning. God is preparing Paul to be a missionary to the Gentiles, but Peter is the one God has prepared to open that door.

This is not just the event of a Gentile coming to Christ. This is a major epoch. The door is about to be opened wide for all Gentile nations. Even Peter does not seem to fully understand the significance of this moment, at least not yet.

Now let us jump into this important moment. And we see...

A. Rising Anticipation, v 24

If an angel came to you and told you to send for someone, wouldn’t you have a feeling something big is about to take place? Can you imagine how excited Cornelius was? He had served a God he knew very little about, much like Irina in my beginning account. He is then visited by an angel that tells him to send for a man named Peter in Joppa which is 30 miles away, approximately a two day journey. There is no doubt in his mind that Peter will come. So, Cornelius invites all his friends and family to be able to witness this moment with him and hear what this man has to say. By the time Peter arrives, they are all assembled and waiting for him.

When Peter arrives, Cornelius falls before him thinking he is someone to be revered, however, Peter knows he is not what is special. It is his message that is special. He, like the angel, is just a messenger for God.

Things would have felt a bit awkward at first. Peter and his companions are Jews. The Jews have been very vocal about not associating with Gentiles and refer to them as unclean. Peter is probably expecting to just visit with this man and his family, but has they enter the house, Peter finds a lot of people gathered. As Peter takes in the crowd, he knows that to begin, he needs to...

B. Set the room at ease, vv 27-29

Peter knew that he had to relieve the tension in order for the people to receive what he has to say. They need to know that Peter accepts them on equal ground with himself. So, Peter quickly comes straight to the point of a matter that could cause a stumbling block to his message.

Acts 10:28–29 NIV

28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”

This is an important fact we all need to understand. If we present ourselves as better than others, they will quickly tune us out. But when we come to them on equal terms and are open and honest with them, they are far more likely to hear what we have to say.

Peter humbles himself. First, to Cornelius by declaring he is just a man like any other man. Then to this crowd by declaring that even though the Jews have never associated with the Gentiles, Peter willingly comes to them on equal terms. Their admiration for Peter in that moment of honesty would bring down their defenses and prepare their hearts.

C. Cornelius makes known their need, vv 30-33

I am sure Peter had a fair idea that he was there to share the gospel. However, it is difficult to know where to start without some context of what has brought this meeting about. Cornelius answers Peter’s question with a quick rundown of what has occurred that has led to this gathering.

Cornelius is gracious and thankful for Peter’s willingness to come. I can only imagine that this warmed Peter’s heart. He must have looked across that room at those expectant faces that are not really sure what the message is that he comes to share. In that moment, Peter finds himself in...

D. Another humbling moment, vv 34-35

Here we get another peak of the Peter we saw last week. A man who is still progressing in his own understanding of God’s message.

Acts 10:34–35 NIV

34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.

In this moment, Peter is a great example of a man living Micah 6:8.

Micah 6:8 NIV

8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

With each new understanding, Peter dies a little more to self and becomes closer to the God he serves.

Then, Peter has...

E. The privilege of sharing the Goodnews!, vv 36-43

These Gentiles were aware of some of the details that had taken place. These Peter quickly recaps, but then he goes on to give personal witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Peter’s message is also a message of salvation by faith in Christ, not by works.

Peter never got tired of sharing this Goodnews! He had transformed his life and the evidence of the transformation is standing and sitting before him. He is among a roomful of Gentiles sharing this Goodnews. There was a time he would have never have dreamed of such a thing. I suspect as he shared with these people, his own thoughts were on how much he had changed and how much he had seen over such a short time.

However, he was barely getting started when it happened!

F. Pentecost comes to the Gentiles, vv 44-46

Acts 10:44–46 NIV

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said,

There were many times the apostles prayed for people to be sanctified, but this is the only time that it happened much as it did on Pentecost. The reason is because this was a second Pentecost. The first Pentecost was of the Jews, but now Pentecost has been poured out on the Gentiles.

Note the astonishment of the Jews that came with Peter. They had not understood that this pouring out of the Spirit was for all peoples. They thought it was a Jewish rite. Now, they see and will come to understand that God was meant for all peoples.

We all were created by the same God! We are all saved by the same God for the same purpose. It is not for us to pick and choose who we feel deserves it, or who we think is worthy of it. God intends it for any person that will listen and receive it!

It is important that this is the only other time that tongues is affiliated with this act of sanctification. This identifies this as a second Pentecost, but it does not mean that others are any less sanctified. The tongues in these moments allow for further communication as they are surrounded by other cultures.

Peter takes them one step further.

G. Peter sees they are baptized, vv 47-48

This is so important and I will tell you why. Scripture demonstrates for us that both baptism and sanctification are important. In Acts 8, the believers in Samaria had been baptized but Peter and John saw to it they were also baptized. This time, Peter sees they are sanctified, but he makes it apparent that they still need baptized. Some will tell you these are essentially the same action, but they are not. In Baptism we are publicly making a statement that we desire to enter into Christ’s death so that we may live a new life in Christ. We are often sanctified in a more private place, but it is a relinquishing of all our actions to God’s leadership. We surrender our body and soul to the Holy Spirit.

Conclusion

The stage is now set for Paul’s ministry. He will take a further step in ministry to the Gentiles. Because of the faithfulness of these men, the Goodnews has come to us. There is to be no more division between peoples or cultures. We are made one through the Goodnews.

John 3:16 NIV

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

1 Corinthians 12:13 NIV

13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

Galatians 3:27 NIV

27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Our nation says it is working hard to bring unity, but the more they try, the more division they create. The only true way to bring unity, is to become one in Christ. The lost are welcome to enter our doors, but they need to understand that we will not change to accept their lifestyles. Unity is found in one lifestyle. The lifestyle of the Holy Spirit where one Spirit controls us all from within.

I pray, this is the lifestyle you are living! If not, it is only a prayer away.

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