Peter Preaches the Gospel to Gentiles Acts 10:34-48

God Does Not Show Partiality To Nations

The context of Peter’s words are quite significant from his perspective as well as to all people. Peter is a Jew and believes and has always believed that Israel is the favored nation of God. He believed that he was a privileged person because he was a Jew. He also saw other nationalities as inferior to his. So much so that he would not associate with any other nationality. He saw them as unclean and not worthy to have any blessing if God. For this reason God had to intervene with Peter.

The words that he says in verse 34 show his change. Acts 10:34

Acts 10:34 (NASB95)

Opening his mouth, Peter said: I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality,

He says “I certainly understand now” indicates that the way he believed prior to his rooftop encounter with God was much different.

I find it interesting that the Israel had this attitude towards other nationalities. The reason God chose the nation of Israel was to be the lighthouse to all the world of what a relationship with God looked like. Israel perverted God’s plan and saw their chosenness as a means of pride rather than a means of blessing.

God did not choose Israel because they were special. He chose them based on a promise that he made to Abraham. The promise made to Abraham was that the Messiah would be his descendant. Gen.22:15-18

Genesis 22:15–18 (NASB95)

Then the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven, and said, “By Myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son, indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies. “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”

God would bless all nations by sending Jesus through the lineage of Abraham. As a matter of fact we see that God destroyed a whole generation of Israelites who worshipped other gods. 1 Cor. 10:1-5

1 Corinthians 10:1–5 (NASB95)

For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness.

Though God had chosen Israel and delivered them from Egyptian captivity, He was not well pleased with them because of their idolatry and they laid low in the wilderness. This means they died in the desert.

God favors people fear Him and does what is right according to Him. His blessings are reserved for those who love and fear Him. We see this in the case of Cornelius. He was a God fearing man that loved the Lord. Acts 10:2

Acts 10:2 NASB95

a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually.

Application

Folks we do not serve an American god. We should not believe that God favors us because we are Americans. Many people have this belief and they justify the belief based on the superior material blessings America has. I personally believe that the material blessings we have serve as a barrier to our relationship with God. What I mean by this s that when we have everything we want materially, we really don’t have a need for God. That us the mindset of many. This is why is so hard for people to receive the gospel because they don’t see a need for God in their life. They see no benefit, but only restrictions. God does not show partiality to any nation.

I would like to one step further and say that the church should not have an attitude of superiority. Just as God called the nation of Israel to be the lighthouse to the world, He has called the church to be the lighthouse to the world by commissioning us to make disciples. This begins with sharing the gospel.

Unfortunately, Some churches see themselves as holier than thou and take the same stance on sinners that Israel took on the Gentiles. They hated them and would not even associate with them. Folks we should not hate the people that Jesus died for. We should have the same love that Jesus had for them. I am not saying that we approve or promote sinful behavior, but on the same hand we should not look down on sinners. We need to share love in truth! We need to take the gospel to them. Luke 5:29-32

Luke 5:29–32 (NASB95)

And Levi gave a big reception for Him in his house; and there was a great crowd of tax collectors and other people who were reclining at the table with them. The Pharisees and their scribes began grumbling at His disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered and said to them, “It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

Our mission should be to lead sinners o repentance and faith in Jesus Christ! The way we do this is by sharing the gospel!

Peter Shares The Gospel

Peter shares the gospel with the Gentiles with three points: Jesus Life and mission, Jesus death on a cross, and Jesus resurrection.

Jesus Life and Mission

Acts 10:38 NASB95

“You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

The first thing that we see is that Jesus was annointed by the Holy Spirit to do the work of the Father. Luke 3:21-22

Luke 3:21–22 (NASB95)

Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”

As Jesus began his public ministry, he started with baptism. At His baptism we see that the Holy Spirit descended upon Him like a dove.

Jesus then went about in the power of the Holy Spirit to perform the miracles of God that would prove that He is the Son of God. He came to deliver people from the oppression and bondage of Satan. 1 John 3:8

1 John 3:8 NASB95

the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.

This was Jesus mission! How did he accomplish it?

Jesus Death On A Cross

Jesus died on a cross as a sacrifice for all sin. He died a substitutionary death to satisfy the wrath of God against our sin. Rom. 5:6-11

Romans 5:6–11 (NASB95)

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

The death on the cross is the highest expression of love that God has for sinners. Paul reminds us that we would not be willing to die for just anyone much less an enemy. God sent His only Son Jesus to die for us so that we can be reconciled unto Him. It is in this reconciliation that we can have a relationship with the Father. That we can live in peace with God.

It is only what Jesus has done for us that we have salvation. It is only what Jesus has done on the cross that makes us acceptable to God. It is only what Jesus did on the cross that we can have forgiveness of our sin. It is only what Jesus did on the cross that gives us eternal life in heaven.

Jesus Resurrection

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the single most important event in all of time! The resurrection of Jesus Christ proves that He is the Son of God. John 10:17-18

John 10:17–18 (NASB95)

“For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. “No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”

Who says this? Can we say that we have the authority to lay our lives down and then call them back to life. Only God can do this!

Jesus proved it by crawling on a cross and dying a death that we deserved, but resurrecting on the third day! He finished the purpose of God by dying on the cross for our sins. John 19: 30

John 19:30 NASB95

Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

He fulfilled the will of God by resurrecting from the dead! John 17:22-24

John 17:22–24 (NASB95)

“The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

Jesus resurrection brings us into unity with God!

Response to the Gospel

As Peter was sharing the gospel, the Holy Spirit came and filled the people. They began to speak in the tongues that the Israelites that cam with Peter were able to hear in their language. The Israelites were astonished that the Holy Spirit fell upon the Gentiles. Peter then called for the Gentiles to be baptised.

Application

This is a beautiful illustration of what happens when we share the gospel. When we share the gospel it opens the door for the Holy Spirit to fall upon the person that we are sharing. They will have to do something with the Holy Spirit. They will do one of three things. They will reject Him, Ponder Him, or receive Him. For those who receive Him they can be baptized. For those that reject Him, we continue to pray for them and share the gospel again with them. For those who ponder we pray that the Holy Spirit lead them to salvation.

Our responsibility is not to save people, but to share the gospel with them. The Holy Spirit will do the rest of the work!