Acts 10:17-43 - Cornelius's Family

Open With Reading the Text

Introduction

Thank Aidan, Braden, and Ross

Briefly highlight what God has done for you in this time off:

Rest on vacation with family.

Baptize my sister in law - who has become a little sister to me.

Go to the NAMB Assessment in Georgia

We have received the “green light” from NAMB to receive funding

Part 1: The Events Leading Up to the Sermon (Verses 17-33)

Verses 17-23 - Peter meets the messengers

God reveals why the vision was given (v.17-20)

Note on Verse 18: When the Roman soldiers show up they could have, as Roman officials, walked right in but they were aware of the Jewish laws and called out to Peter from the outside.

Peter responds faithfully to God’s command (v.21-23)

Note on Verse 22: We know of stories of Jewish teachers talking to Gentiles, strict Jews would not enter a Gentile’s house or allow a Gentile in theirs. Therefore, it is quite significant that Peter would invite the men in and agree to go with them to the house of Cornelius.

Verses 24-29 - Peter Arrives - Cornelius tries to Worship Peter

Peter arrives and Cornelius tries to worship him (v.24-26)

Everywhere in Scripture where a true follower of God is worshipped, they always stop that person from worshipping them!

Revelation 19:10 ESV

10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

The only person who does not do this is Christ!

Matthew 14:33 ESV

33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Peter explains why he agreed to come (v.27-29)

God has decreed that there is no more “clean or unclean”

Verse 30-33 - Cornelius Tells his story

They are all their to hear what God has told them!

They are eager and ready!

Part 2: Gentiles Hear The Good News (Verses 34-43)

If you want to learn how to share Christ and the gospel, study passages like this one for they are wonderful examples about how the Apostles shared Christ.

Verse 34-35: God Shows No Partiality

There is nothing we can do to win God’s partiality

Deuteronomy 10:17 (ESV)

17 For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.

There is no work you can do, amount of money you can give, you cannot go to church enough, or even pray enough.

God’s love and grace is not won or bought but rather given freely to all those who believe!

Romans 1:16 ESV

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Jews and Gentiles are all saved the same way as well!

Romans 3:29–30 ESV

29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.

Christ broke down the wall dividing Jews and Gentiles

Ephesians 2:13–18 ESV

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

God does not discriminate color of skin, nationality, or ethnicity

He has people all over the world from every tribe nation and tongue

Verse 36-39a: The Active Obedience of Christ

Verse 36 - The Message of the Kingdom of God began in Israel

Israel was the place where the word of God was first given and was therefore then used as a vessel to go forth to the nations.

The Good News of Peace

Peace with God

Romans 5:1 ESV

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

We were once enemies but we have been reconciled by the blood of the cross

Man in his sinful state is literally at war with God! Eph 2 tells us that we are servants of Satan. The first chance we had to physically kill God we took our chance and did it by killing Christ.

However, God used our sinfulness to fulfill his divine purpose in that we would be saved through Christ’s death.

Christ brings peace to the earth through the conquest of the gospel that defeats sin!

He is Lord of All - Not Just the Jews But the Gentiles also

Title: “Lord” is also used to show that He is God

Notice: “He is Lord of all” - there is nothing that is not under his dominion - including you.

Psalm 2:6–8 ESV

6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” 7 I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.

Psalm 110:1–2 ESV

1 The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” 2 The Lord sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies!

Verse 37-39a

Christ’s Baptism

Christ was baptized because it was proper for him to do - to fulfill all the things that we were called to do.

His baptism was also a public moment in which God decreed from the heavens and authenticated that Christ was his Son!

Verse 38-39a:

Christ did a lot of good things, but the best thing he did for us was fulfill the law where we could not.

The apostles were witnesses to this good.

Verse 39b: The Passive Obedience of Christ

“They put him to death by hanging him on a tree”

Christ died at the hands of sinful men according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God (Acts 2:23)

God planned and used Christ’s death to be the way by which sin would be payed for.

Galatians 3:13–14 ESV

13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

Christ became a curse for us.

He stood in our place taking upon the entirety of God’s wrath upon His shoulders.

Verses 40-41: The Resurrection

Christ then rose from the dead three days after his death

1 Cor 15 teaches that he appeared to over 500 witnesses

Verses 42: The Command to Witness because of His Return

The disciples were commanded to be witnesses of this gospel, and that Christ would return.

Who can you share Christ with or invite to church this week?

Verse 43: The Response to the Gospel

Respond in faith

Steps of Gospel Sharing According to Acts 10.

We separated from God because of sin (v.36 - good news of peace implies separation)

Christ came and lived a perfect life doing many good things (v.36-39a)

Christ died for our sins (v.39b)

Christ Rose Again three days later and was seen by many people (v.40-41)

Christ will come again to judge the living and the dead (v.42)

The proper response to this news is belief (v.43)

Application

God shows no partiality (v.34-35)

We are obligated to witness to and serve our community for the sake of the gospel (v.42)

Who can you serve and share Christ with this week?