Everyone is Acceptable

Sunday, October 22, 2023

Introductory information

Acts 10 is the payoff to a story that has been building since Genesis 11 (nearly 2000 years prior to Acts 10)

God had promised to Abraham that He would bless all people groups through Abraham’s descendants (Genesis 12:1-3)

God had designated Israel as the nation that would be His mediators between Him and the other nations (Exodus 19:5-6)

Jesus claimed the throne over all humanity and sent His disciples to preach the Gospel everywhere (Matthew 28:18-20)

Jesus made a way of salvation that didn’t require someone to become Jewish (Romans 3:21-22)

So far in chapter 10...

Cornelius, an unclean Gentile and Roman commander, had been visited by an angel

His prayers has been heard by God, who had told him to go find Peter

Peter (staying in a town nearby) had just had a vision where God was asserting His authority to define what was “clean and unclean”

God was asserting His authority to decide what was fit to be in His presence

READ

Question to consider as we read:

What makes a person acceptable to God?

Acts 10:17–48 CSB

17 While Peter was deeply perplexed about what the vision he had seen might mean, right away the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions to Simon’s house, stood at the gate. 18 They called out, asking if Simon, who was also named Peter, was lodging there. 19 While Peter was thinking about the vision, the Spirit told him, “Three men are here looking for you. 20 Get up, go downstairs, and go with them with no doubts at all, because I have sent them.” 21 Then Peter went down to the men and said, “Here I am, the one you’re looking for. What is the reason you’re here?” 22 They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who has a good reputation with the whole Jewish nation, was divinely directed by a holy angel to call you to his house and to hear a message from you.” 23 Peter then invited them in and gave them lodging. The next day he got up and set out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went with him. 24 The following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up and said, “Stand up. I myself am also a man.” 27 While talking with him, he went in and found a large gathering of people. 28 Peter said to them, “You know it’s forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or visit a foreigner, but God has shown me that I must not call any person impure or unclean. 29 That’s why I came without any objection when I was sent for. So may I ask why you sent for me?” 30 Cornelius replied, “Four days ago at this hour, at three in the afternoon, I was praying in my house. Just then a man in dazzling clothing stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your acts of charity have been remembered in God’s sight. 32 Therefore send someone to Joppa and invite Simon here, who is also named Peter. He is lodging in Simon the tanner’s house by the sea.’ 33 So I immediately sent for you, and it was good of you to come. So now we are all in the presence of God to hear everything you have been commanded by the Lord.” 34 Peter began to speak: “Now I truly understand that God doesn’t show favoritism, 35 but in every nation the person who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 He sent the message to the Israelites, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. 37 You know the events that took place throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how he went about doing good and healing all who were under the tyranny of the devil, because God was with him. 39 We ourselves are witnesses of everything he did in both the Judean country and in Jerusalem, and yet they killed him by hanging him on a tree. 40 God raised up this man on the third day and caused him to be seen, 41 not by all the people, but by us whom God appointed as witnesses, 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 appointed by God to be the judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that through his name everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins.” 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were amazed because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and declaring the greatness of God. Then Peter responded, 47 “Can anyone withhold water and prevent these people from being baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 He commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days.

EXAMINE

What are some key points in this passage?

#1 | Peter realizes his vision was about the Gentiles

Peter now understands that God was talking about His power to define people, not only food (2)

Acts 10:28 Peter said to them, “You know it’s forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or visit a foreigner, but God has shown me that I must not call any person impure or unclean.”

Remember, being “unclean” meant that you were not fit to be in the presence of God

Therefore there was no way an “unclean person” could receive the Holy Spirit

#2 | Peter learns in real-time how God really sees people

No one is automatically accepted or rejected because of what they are

Acts 10:34 Peter began to speak: “Now I truly understand that God doesn’t show favoritism,”

This is a revolutionary idea for a Jew at the time

From their perspective, they were literally born into the unique people group that God had chosen as His special people

They thought Gentiles were unacceptable to God by default

God accepts people based on the attitude of their heart (3)

Acts 10:35 “...but in every nation the person who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.”

Literally anyone who turns to the Lord and submits to Him can be saved - there is no such thing as a person who cannot be saved

#3 | Full Gentile-inclusion in the church - one people of God

Cornelius’ house receives the Holy Spirit in the exact same way the Apostles did

Acts 10:44–45 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were amazed because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.

By replicating the same events of Acts 2 in Cornelius’ house, God’s message is clear: there is no distinction between Jews and Gentiles in the family of God

Romans 10:12 … there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord of all richly blesses all who call on him.

Seeing how firmly God has declared His acceptance of the Gentiles, Peter immediately baptizes all of them (1)

Acts 10:47 “Can anyone withhold water and prevent these people from being baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”

Baptism is significant - it is a outward sign of an inward truth: full acceptance into the Body of Christ

On this day the Gentiles were fully received into the church as equal heirs in the Kingdom of God

Consider the letters of Paul, later explaining these beautiful truths...

Ephesians 3:5–8 This was not made known to people in other generations as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: 6 The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and partners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 7 I was made a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of his power. 8 This grace was given to me—the least of all the saints—to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of Christ,

Titus 2:11–14 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14 He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works.

Like a lost child being adopted into a loving home and receiving the family’s name - it is a joyful thing to belong to Jesus

APPLY

Focused, Open-Ended Questions

What stands out to you in this story?

What thoughts and emotions does the story stir up in you?

How do you relate to Peter or Cornelius in this story?

What needs to change in the way you approach people?

Where we want to land...

[Refer back to the NOTE TO TEACHER and the goal of this lesson]

REFLECT

Prayer Point

Ask the Lord to soften our hearts, so that we may...

hear His voice correcting and renewing our perspective

be people move to reconcile all people to Jesus

Devotional Question

To Peter and the Jews, the Gentiles were outsiders. Who do you treat like an outsider or “beyond saving"? How is God challenging your perspective on people?

FOOTNOTES

By Old Testament standards, Cornelius was separated from membership in the people of God. His salvation, reception of the Holy Spirit, and baptism shook the foundations of Jewish self-understanding. In the Cornelius account, God acts in a decisive way to abolish food laws so that Israel may undertake a Gentile mission. Peter’s comments in Acts 10:28–29, 34–43 show the theological significance of the Cornelius event. According to Peter, Cornelius was aware that it was unlawful for a Jewish man to associate with an uncircumcised Gentile because of the potential for uncleanness (Acts 11:3, Sanders, “Jewish Association,” 170–88). Peter came to Cornelius because God had taught him not to call any person common or unclean (Acts 10:28). Peter interprets the vision of Acts 10:9–16 in terms of people. The removal of dietary restrictions would imply a freedom to associate with Gentiles and therefore prepare the way for a legitimate Gentile mission. David L. Woodall, “Cornelius,” ed. John D. Barry et al., The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).

The biblical categories of “clean” and “unclean” relate to ritual purity and describe the condition of something relative to its suitability for being in God’s presence. Being unclean disqualifies the person or thing from sharing God’s presence. Being clean means that one is able to enter God’s presence. This sense of readiness to be in God’s presence was extended to include moral purity, as well as physical or ritual purity. Benjamin J. Snyder, “Clean and Unclean,” ed. Douglas Mangum et al., Lexham Theological Wordbook, Lexham Bible Reference Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).

The Old Testament purity system is reflected in the New Testament, especially in the Gospels, Acts and Hebrews. However, as Jesus’ death and resurrection changed things significantly through the new covenant, the requirements of ritual purity were fulfilled and moral purity became the sole focus. A major shift in the NT’s conception of purity is the breakdown of the “wall of the partition” (Eph 2:14) prohibiting social contact among Jews and Gentiles and bringing an end to the Jewish dietary restrictions on unclean animals (Acts 10:9–16). Benjamin J. Snyder, “Clean and Unclean,” ed. Douglas Mangum et al., Lexham Theological Wordbook, Lexham Bible Reference Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).