Acts #10

Peter and Cornelius

Thank you guys, and thank you Kristi & Eloise for that wonderful music, but before we continue in our studies of the book of Acts tonight, please if you would:

“Join me in a word of prayer.”

I’ve entitled tonight’s message, “A time of peace and surprises”

Last week in our study of the book of Acts.......

Tonight we will pick up where we left of in chapter 9

We’ll start of tonight by reading the last 10 verses of chapter 9 together. 32-42

The early chapters of Acts show Peter as the primary leader of the church. He will soon fade from prominence as Saul (Paul) begins his ministry. The majority of chapter 9 made clear that Saul was chosen to go to the Gentiles. In chapter 10 we discover that God also called Peter to a ministry that included Gentiles, and that anyone who believes in Jesus can be included in His church. However, it didn’t quite sink in completely with Peter as we will see later in chapter 15, and also in the first 2 chapters of Paul’s letter to the Galatian churches.

As you remember, after Stephen’s death, persecution had broken out against all the believers in the new Hebrew church. Many left the city, but the apostles knew they had to stay in Jerusalem because they thought that all of Israel as a nation had to believe that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah before He would return and set up His kingdom here on earth. However, Saul’s conversion had attracted much attention and resulted in his departure for Tarsus. So the pressure was off of the other apostles, temporarily, and they enjoyed a break from all the persecution.

Peter took this opportunity to get out of the city and engage in some what of a traveling ministry. He was probably offering encouragement to the various churches that had formed from the believers who had fled Jerusalem. Among his travels throughout the near by area, he visited believers in Lydda (9:32), a town about twenty-five miles northwest of Jerusalem, on the highway from Jerusalem to Joppa, a town that was located on the coast. Notice verse 32. (“32 Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda.”) Lydda was a decent-sized village according to the historian Josephus.

In Lydda, Peter came across a man named Aeneas who had been paralyzed for eight years and was currently bedridden. We aren’t told of any preliminary conversation between the two. It appears that Peter simply declared Aeneas healed in the name of Jesus and told him to get up and walk, which Aeneas immediately did. Look at verse 34. (“34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose immediately.”).

In many of Jesus’ miracles, healing had been in response to a person’s declaration of faith. Yet faith is not the power that brought about miracles. Faith is rather the preparation for the miracle. What God can do to a person’s body, and especially to their spirit is the real miracle. There are instances in scripture, as in this one, where the person made no expression of faith prior to being healed. It appears that in certain cases, healing is what causes the faith. On this occasion, all those in Lydda and Sharon who heard about the healing of Aeneas turned to the Lord. Notice verse 35. (“35 So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.”).

Meanwhile, Peter was approached by two disciples from Joppa, urging him to go with them. Joppa was Judea’s main seaport, only about twelve miles away. A faithful believer there had just died. Her name was Tabitha (Aramaic) or Dorcas (Greek). I personally like the Aramaic pronunciation. Tabitha was a skilled seamstress who had a wonderful reputation for helping the poor and doing good, and many people were mourning her death as verses 36 and 39 tell us.

The Bible records three instances when Jesus raised someone from the dead, but none of the disciples had ever attempted a miracle of this magnitude. It is possible that the believers in Joppa had sent for Peter only for his consolation and prayer support during this difficult time, although it seems that they were expressing the faith that he could perform a great miracle.

Peter had been present when Jesus had raised Jairus’s daughter from the dead as Luke 8:51–56 tells us, and he followed much the same procedure here. He sent all the mourners out, then he kneeled down and told the Tabitha to get up. When she opened her eyes, he took her hand and helped her stand up. This miracle, like the healing of Aeneas, caused many people to believe in Jesus, because I’m sure Peter did them both in the name of Jesus. Scripture doesn’t tell us that, but I believe in my heart that was the case.

Peter then spent several days in Joppa, perhaps at the urging of the people there. He stayed in the home of Simon the tanner. Look at verse 43. (“43 So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with Simon, a tanner.”).

Many bible scholars claim that the conversion of the Samaritans by the preaching of Philip was the beginning of Gentiles being brought into the church. I disagree, because the Samaritans had the same beliefs as the Jews. They believed in God and also believed the coming of a Messiah to save the world, with the only exception being their place of worship. The Jews felt one had to worship at the temple in Jerusalem, while the Samaritans felt like the location for worship was irrelevant as long as you worshiped God. They worshiped on the mountain adjacent to Jacobs well. The conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch was a sign God was turning to the Gentiles they say, but again I disagree. The Ethiopian Eunuch could have very well been a Jew in charge of the Ethiopian treasury. Seems very logical to me, Scripture frankly doesn’t tell us. We really have to be careful reading things into scripture that just aren’t there. That can really be dangerous doctrinally speaking. It’s so important that we hold to the truth in sound doctrine. We don’t need to hear someones opinion, unless he makes it “crystal clear” that what he says is his opinion and not what the bible says, or even what the Bible doesn’t say. I could chase that rabbit from here to Hong Kong. But I’m not. “Moving on” But now a noteworthy Gentile does come into the picture—a centurion named Cornelius.

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We do know that Cornelius was a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. Notice verse 1 in chapter 10. (“1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,”). The Roman army was comprised of legions (about six thousand men) divided into ten regiments. Centurions were responsible for commanding anywhere from one hundred to six hundred soldiers within a regiment.

All biblical references to Roman centurions are mostly positive. Cornelius is described as being a devout and God-fearing man who prayed and gave to people in need. Notice verse 2. (“2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.”). The phrase God-fearer was a technical term that described someone who had essentially converted to Judaism except for one significant and essential step: “circumcision”. Understandably, many adult men were reluctant to take this final step of conversion to the Jewish faith especially a Roman soldier. But otherwise, it appears Cornelius sought to worship the one true God, and accepted the monotheism and ethical standards of the Jews, and attended synagogue services. Who knows, he could of been a full proselyte, the Bible simply doesn’t tell us. So in my opinion, Cornelius wasn’t the first real pagon Gentile offered salvation and to become a believer in Jesus. Notice I said in my opinion. I believe Sergius Paulus, a proconsul on Cyprus, was the first true Gentile convert to Christianity, as we will see in chapter 13 of our study.

As Cornelius was praying at 3:00 p.m., one of the traditional times for Jewish prayer, an angel came to him in a vision, called him by name, and told him to send men to Joppa and bring back Peter in verses 3–6. As a centurion, Cornelius was accustomed to receiving and following orders, so he immediately dispatched two servants and a soldier to do just that.

It’s difficult to overstate the significance of what is happening here, as God is beginning to extend an invitation of salvation to the Gentiles. God had a unique purpose in choosing to bless the Jews. They were to be an example and a blessing to all the other nations of the earth. Old Testament scriptures had pointed to a day when all nations would be included in the kingdom of God. The fact is that Israel knew this, and they also knew that all the other nations had to be blessed through them. They were God’s chosen people, a people of favoritism, but they became filled with racial pride and hatred toward others. They came to despise Gentiles to the point of calling them dogs. The traditions they developed over the centuries served to distance them from the Gentiles. Now, by bringing Peter and Cornelius together, God is setting up the beginning to unite these two vastly different groups, without the Gentiles having to go through Israel for salvation. This was never prophesied in the Old Testament. This is the revelation of the mystery that’s talked about in Romans 16:25–26. Lets read it (“25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began 26 but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith—”). I can’t wait for us to someday study about the revelation of the mystery that was only given to the apostle Paul. It will open up your eyes to really understand the gospel of the grace of God.

As Cornelius’s men were making their way to the home of Simon the tanner to find Peter, the apostle was having a divine encounter of his own. At noon on the day after Cornelius had his vision, Peter was on the rooftop praying, waiting for lunch to be prepared. His hunger must have played a role in the vision he received as verses 9 and 10 tell us.

He saw a large sheet lowered from heaven that contained all kinds of animals, reptiles, and birds. Many, if not all, were not “clean” as defined in the Law of Moses. I know there had to be a pig in there, yet a voice called Peter by name and told him to kill and eat as verse 13 tells us.

Peter’s refusal to comply was emphatic. His hard-line stance was reminiscent of two previous occasions: once when Jesus had tried to tell the apostles of His impending death (Matthew 16:21–22) and again when Jesus tried to wash Peter’s feet (John 13:6–8). It seems that Peter was still in the habit of trying to tell the Lord how things should be done in the kingdom. Even after a second and third command, Peter held fast. Then the sheet disappeared back into heaven. Notice verses 15 and 16. (“15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” 16 This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.”)

Peter hardly had time to make sense of the vision before Cornelius’s messengers arrived and called out for him. Before he could even answer, the Holy Spirit told him to accommodate them because they had been sent by the Spirit. Peter was likely beginning to see the connection between his vision that had challenged the distinction between clean and unclean foods and the timely arrival of the Gentile (unclean) visitors. So he went downstairs and introduced himself. The three men explained why they were there, and Peter invited them in as his guests.

The invitation was certainly a step in the right direction. For one thing, Peter had been waiting for lunch, and probably shared it with his three visitors. In addition, it was too late to begin the thirty-mile trip from Joppa back to Caesarea, so the three men needed somewhere to stay for the night. Most Jews wouldn’t consider allowing Gentiles under their roofs, much less overnight. God was beginning to break down some of the divisive barriers at this point.

The next day Cornelius’s three messengers led the way back to Caesarea, along with Peter and six believers from Joppa. The distance took more than a day to travel, so the group arrived four days after Cornelius had his vision. Notice verse 30. (“30 So Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,”).

Cornelius must have felt strongly that Peter would respond because he had gathered a large group of friends and relatives. As Peter entered, Cornelius met him at the door and fell at his feet in an act of worship. But Peter quickly made him get up, assuring him that they were both equals as verses 25 and 26 tell us.

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Peter walked right into Cornelius’s home (10:27), breaking down old taboos and setting an example both for the Gentiles there and the Jewish believers he had brought with him. By this time it was clear that he had come to understand his vision as a sign that the Gentiles were no longer to be considered unclean (10:28–29).

Cornelius succinctly explained the reason he had sent for Peter, and that he had brought together a group to listen to what God had commanded Peter to say (10:30–33). It is apparent that both Peter and Cornelius were not acting on their own instincts, but following what God had instructed them to do.

Peter began to speak to the crowd about Jesus’ life and ministry, His death, and His resurrection. He emphasized the divine plan behind the events that had played out during Jesus’ time on earth. Peter could offer not only the facts about Jesus, but also his personal verification as an eyewitness—both before and after Jesus’ crucifixion (10:39, 41). And Peter’s message provided the totality of the gospel. He concluded with an image of Jesus as the one appointed as God’s judge of humanity, yet made it clear that forgiveness and salvation are available for anyone who believes in Him (10:42–43).

In Luke’s summary of Peter’s sermon (10:34–43) we see the very heart of the gospel message. Theologians call this the kerygma, a Greek word that means “preaching” and represents the essential witness and affirmation of the New Testament preachers concerning the gospel of our Lord. The kerygma was the core message of the grace of God revealed in Jesus Christ.

Peter was still speaking when the truth of his words was confirmed by the arrival of the Holy Spirit on all who were listening. The Jewish believers were amazed to see Gentiles speaking in tongues and praising God—which demonstrated Peter’s wisdom in bringing them to be witnesses (10:44–46).

The next step for those expressing faith in Jesus was baptism. Philip had baptized the Ethiopian eunuch in the solitude of the desert, and the Ethiopian may have been a Jewish proselyte. This would be the first time Gentiles were baptized to be included in the church along with Jewish believers. But apparently there was no objection, because Peter saw to their baptisms right away (10:47–48).

This was a memorable moment in the history of the church. The promise of the prophets centuries before was coming true. God’s love, mercy, and grace were reaching everyone—not just the Hebrew nation. But it would take a while for the truth and significance of this event to sink in.

Conclusion:

Invitation:

As Kristi and Eloise are getting us ready to sing our last hymn tonight, and as we’re considering all the things we’ve learned together, about the beginning of the church in the book of Acts, and if you have never honored God by asking Him to save you from what we all deserve, which is spiritual death, this would be the perfect time to do just that. God has made that so easy for us to do. The Bible says that anyone, and I do mean anyone, who calls on the name of the Lord Jesus “SHALL BE SAVED”. It doesn’t matter what your past may look like. The Lord just cares about your future. And He wants everyone to spend that future with Him in heaven, forever. Don’t wait another second. If you have any doubt at all about your eternal security, or what’s going to happen to you when you die physically, I beg you to get it settled right now. Don’t wait another second. Get it taken care of right this minute, right here,----- just quietly, ----- with your eyes closed, ----- with your heads bowed, ----- and with your heart’s toward God, ----- just pray a little prayer like this......just pray......Lord, thank you that you love me. I am a sinner, in need of a savior. I believe Jesus died on the cross for my sins and for the sins of the whole world. I also believe that after three days He was raised from the dead by Your power, so that I also may live in newness of life. Save me Lord, so I may live the rest of my life for You.----- The Bible says if you prayed a simple little prayer like this “you will be saved”.

Please, as we’re singing our last hymn tonight, and if you still need too, just pray that little prayer I mentioned as we sing. And God will save you !! Lets sing together.