TITLE: Sharing the Light

Outline:

Peter’s Witness to a Gentile God-Fearer (10:1-11:18)

a. Peter’s witness to Cornelius (10:34-43)

1) God shows no partiality (10:34)

2) Jesus’s preaching comes from God (10:36)

3) God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit (10:38)

4) God raised Jesus from the dead (10:40)

5) The apostles are witnesses (10:41)

6) God appointed Jesus as Judge (10:42)

Introduction

One of the elements of Apologetics in this sermon is providing evidence to the faith. I chose the speech from Peter to the Gentiles There are many speeches in the Book of Acts and this particular speech/apologetics was very interesting to me for many reasons beyond apologetics.

In the Books of Acts, Chapter 10

I have always appreciated Peter’s transparency. He entered the household of a Gentile, which is similar to entering into another culture or another mind set. Peter has a gentile audience in front of him and they represent a multi cultural or pluralistic audience. Meaning that there are probably various non-Christian cultures with multiple non-Christian viewpoints and are from different parts of the world.

The traditions of the people of Israel extended to welcoming strangers into their homes and to socialize freely with Gentiles, so long as they did not compromise their moral standards.

Peter acknowledged that his coming to Caesarea violated the sensibilities of his fellow Jews, but, that it was in fact, and act of obedience to God (Acts. 10:28).

I want to ask you a question: What would happen if a man were to come to you and say to you, I have been a pagan, but I’ve heard about Christianity and I would like to know the truth concerning Christianity?

Would you come to my house and would you share the truth?

I’ll tell you what I would do if you’ll come. I’ll get all of my family, and I will gather my friends.

If you will come to my house and tell me what it’s all about.

Tell me why I should be a believer like you.

Peter begins now, as he’s received into this house, to share with this Roman army officer and friends the gospel of Jesus Christ. We start in Verse 34.

Acts 10:34–36 (ESV)

So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),

Peter has learned that those who were not acceptable to him are in fact acceptable to God. He is not to use his former prejudice as a stick to drive others away from God. Let us continue with verse 37.

Acts 10:37–41 (ESV)

you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

Peter preaches the same message that he preached to the Jews in Jerusalem (Acts. 2:23) except he presents a more detailed picture of Jesus’ ministry, death, and resurrection. Peter now begins to apply apologetics and defend the witness to this crowd by direct evidence of this gospel. Using direct evidence we saw His virtuous life. We were witnesses of it.

He changed water into wine. How do I know? Peter says, I drank some of it.

He walked on the water. How do I know? I saw him walk on the water.

Not only did He walk on the water; I did.

He raised Jairias’ daughter from the grave. I saw him heal the sick.

We were there with him on the Mount of Transfiguration. He was transfigured before our very face.

We heard with our ears Almighty God speak out of the heavens, and say, “This is my beloved Son.” We were eyewitnesses of His virtuous life.

We concluded with verses 42 and 43.

Acts 10:42–43 (ESV)

And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Here is the second part of the apologetics landscape in this pericope…the prophetic witness of the scriptures. First, Peter used the personal witness of the saints, but he backs that up, because how is Cornelius going to know that this is not really just Peter’s own auto-suggestion and wishful thinking? Well, Peter gives a second line of evidence. Not only the personal witness of the saints, but the prophetic witness of the Scriptures.

And all of the prophets not some of them, all of the prophets speak in unanimity with no contradiction, and they all say that Jesus Christ is Lord!

The prophet Isaiah prophesied the Lord Jesus, His bleeding, bruised, broken body, the stripes laid upon His back. Isaiah prophesied it all.

Isaiah prophesied that when He was buried He would be buried in a rich man’s tomb.

Isaiah prophesied that He would be crucified between thieves. (Isa. 53 [ESV]).

Conclusion

Let’s talk about evidence. How do we know—how do we know—who Jesus is? Did Peter prove his case?

Evidence and logic in apologetics helps us get a clearer message of the gospel to different cultures. The evidence her is by personal knowledge and scriptural knowledge.

For example; How do we know where Jesus the Messiah would be born? It is through the Scriptures that we find the evidence. In this case, I direct you to Micah 5:2.

There is the prophetic witness of the Scriptures. The more I study the Bible, the more I find hidden beauty, not hidden flaws

The more I see, the more I see there is yet to see. The more I’m convinced it’s the Word of God. And the hero of the Bible is Jesus.

To Him give all the prophets witness. My brothers and sisters, the more I walk with Him, the more the Holy Spirit of God whispers to my heart, He is the one. He is the one.

The ministry of Jesus affects the whole world, leading all people to one of two destinies: judgment (Acts 10:42) or forgiveness of sin (Acts 10:43).