A Powerful Gospel for All

Introduction

Our leaders tell us that we are divided

maybe we are, but it also seems as if our leaders tell us that we are to hate the ones that we are divided from

we cannot control those that disagree with us on political and social issues

we can control ourselves

how we interact with people

we we interact with issues of our day

because the answer for many is either to tear down others

another answer is to avoid them

Peter is going to be told to leave a place where great ministry is taking place and go to proclaim the gospel with a group of people that are not HIS people

Pray

God has a plan that is far greater for our ministry than we can imagine, and often it will take us outside our comfort zones and challenge our traditions.

Ministry Excitement

32 As Peter was traveling from place to place, he also came down to the saints who lived in Lydda.

33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years.

34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed,” and immediately he got up.

35 So all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated Dorcas). She was always doing good works and acts of charity.

37 About that time she became sick and died. After washing her, they placed her in a room upstairs.

38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him who urged him, “Don’t delay in coming with us.”

39 Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they led him to the room upstairs. And all the widows approached him, weeping and showing him the robes and clothes that Dorcas had made while she was with them.

40 Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down, prayed, and turning toward the body said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up.

41 He gave her his hand and helped her stand up. He called the saints and widows and presented her alive.

42 This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

43 Peter stayed for some time in Joppa with Simon, a leather tanner.

It is fun in ministry to see people healed and saved

Tell of Peter healing a man in Lydda

paralyzed for 8 years

acknowledges that Jesus is the one who heals him

for the purpose of the kingdom

people all over the area healed

such a big movement that the people in Joppa knew that Peter was there

Peter in Joppa

Tell about Peter going to the disciples in Joppa

the people loved Tabitha

the sent for Peter and had faith that he could heal her

laid her upstairs instead of placing her in a tomb

Peter did what he witnessed Jesus do

Jarius’ daughter died and Jesus told her to raise up

Peter tells everyone to leave, kneels and prays and tells Tabitha

In worldly eyes, this is the setup to a ministry that you would not dare stop

People healed, the physically dead back to life, people all over believing in Jesus

this seems like a primer that is about to explode and the church is going to grow

God does not do things in the world’s way

Isaiah says that his ways and thoughts are higher

and Peter is about to be moved to some place else

When we get comfortable, we do not want to move, it is fun easy

we might even wonder why God would dare move us out of that

but God is up to something bigger

God is not concerned about keeping us comfortable, but seeking and saving the lost

Peter stays at Simon the tanner’s house

Very interesting part of the story that might not get much coverage in the text

a silent tension where Peter is willing to ignore staying with a man who handles dead animals, but cannot imagine eating with gentiles

Ministry Stretching

1 There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment.

2 He was a devout man and feared God along with his whole household. He did many charitable deeds for the Jewish people and always prayed to God.

3 About three in the afternoon he distinctly saw in a vision an angel of God who came in and said to him, “Cornelius.”

4 Staring at him in awe, he said, “What is it, Lord?” The angel told him, “Your prayers and your acts of charity have ascended as a memorial offering before God.

5 Now send men to Joppa and call for Simon, who is also named Peter.

6 He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.”

7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, he called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, who was one of those who attended him.

8 After explaining everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

9 The next day, as they were traveling and nearing the city, Peter went up to pray on the roof about noon.

10 He became hungry and wanted to eat, but while they were preparing something, he fell into a trance.

11 He saw heaven opened and an object that resembled a large sheet coming down, being lowered by its four corners to the earth.

12 In it were all the four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, and the birds of the sky.

13 A voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.”

14 “No, Lord!” Peter said. “For I have never eaten anything impure and ritually unclean.”

15 Again, a second time, the voice said to him, “What God has made clean, do not call impure.”

16 This happened three times, and suddenly the object was taken up into heaven.

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.

Where is your comfort zone in ministry or where is out of bounds

is there a part of the church you refuse to serve in

Irony of God calling somebody out of Joppa to a people they do not like

Jonah was in Joppa when God told him to go to Nineveh

we know how that story goes

did not work well for Jonah… Eventually goes, and throws a fit when the people are forgiven by God

Peter’s actual name, Simon bar Jonah (Simon son of Jonah)

now in Joppa vision from the Lord to kill and eat,

Acts 10:14 “14 “No, Lord!” Peter said. “For I have never eaten anything impure and ritually unclean.””

he cannot imagine God telling him to do something like this

but he is going to be stretched in a way that he cannot imagine

men coming to him to take him to the Gentiles

Peter is obedient

has the men stay with them at the tanners house

this is a big deal, gentiles staying in the house of a Jew, even if it is an unclean place

Peter goes to Cornelius

Cornelius

devout man who prayed to God

meaning - in Jewish world at the time it meant they worshipped God, but did not follow through with circumcision or dietary laws the Jews followed

did not know who God was, he worshipped Peter

Needed to be saved

was so excited about what was going to happen he invited all his family and friends to come and hear

Peter and other disciples witness the Holy Spirit come down on the Gentiles

like the day of pentecost with the disciples in acts 2

Acts 10:45 (CSB)

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.

amazed = to stand aside, step back

it was undeniable that God had saved those witnessing

Ministry Conflict

1 The apostles and the brothers and sisters who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.

2 When Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him,

3 saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.”

4 Peter began to explain to them step by step,

5 “I was in the town of Joppa praying, and I saw, in a trance, an object that resembled a large sheet coming down, being lowered by its four corners from heaven, and it came to me.

6 When I looked closely and considered it, I saw the four-footed animals of the earth, the wild beasts, the reptiles, and the birds of the sky.

7 I also heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’

8 “ ‘No, Lord!’ I said. ‘For nothing impure or ritually unclean has ever entered my mouth.’

9 But a voice answered from heaven a second time, ‘What God has made clean, you must not call impure.’

10 “Now this happened three times, and everything was drawn up again into heaven.

11 At that very moment, three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea arrived at the house where we were.

12 The Spirit told me to accompany them with no doubts at all. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we went into the man’s house.

13 He reported to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa, and call for Simon, who is also named Peter.

14 He will speak a message to you by which you and all your household will be saved.’

15 “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came down on them, just as on us at the beginning.

16 I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

17 If, then, God gave them the same gift that he also gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, how could I possibly hinder God?”

18 When they heard this they became silent. And they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has given repentance resulting in life even to the Gentiles.”

Sometimes in our excitement, we might end up saving the wrong people

I say this tongue and cheek (Arkansas church interview)

I wonder if Peter was excited to get back to Jerusalem and talk to everyone about what had happened

It was not that the Gentiles were saved,

Acts 11:3 “3 saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.””

What kind of priorities is this

nothing about the Holy Spirit coming down

nothing about them believing in the Lord Jesus for salvation

you ate with those people

but I am wondering if we are any different

our typical lipmas test for new converts is if the people saved are like us

the reason they need salvation in the first place is because they are like us

sinful and in need of a savior

too many of us are like westboro baptist church without the boldness to hold a sign

this will be an on going battle throughout the NT

Paul calls them Judaizers

those who believe Jesus was the messiah, but you have to obey the law to be saved

they do not believe or understand the law of imputation

Do we question the salvation and beliefs because of who they are attempting to reach

The angels rejoice when a lost soul is saved, we look at with a sideways glance - we will see

Peter’s response

testimony of his vision in Joppa

the Holy Spirit coming down on the people while he proclaimed the gospel

remembering the words of Jesus in Acts 1:5

“5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days.””

The answer to this for us is not to try harder, not see race, gender belief

it is to allow God to examine our hearts

reveal any wickedness in us and for us to repent

then obediently take the gospel to where God tells us to go

Psalm 139:23–24 (CSB)

23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns.

24 See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.

Exalting Jesus in Acts Reflect and Discuss

Reflect and Discuss

1. Why do you think Luke recorded these two miracle stories in Acts 9:32–42?

2. What do these two miracle stories teach about Christ and the kingdom?

3. Why is the story of Cornelius’s conversion so important?

4. If Cornelius was so pious, then why did he need the gospel?

5. How does the story of Cornelius’s conversion speak to the sin of partiality?

6. Why is table fellowship important in the Bible? How should we apply the principle?

7. How does this passage highlight the nature and importance of gospel hospitality?

8. How did God “convert” Peter to the implications of Christianity?

9. How does the story in Acts 10:1–11:18 advance the message of the book of Acts?

10. Pray for opportunities to welcome outsiders into your home, into your life, and into the kingdom this week.