Acts 10:1-16

I. Seven Themes

A. God the Father orchestrates (Acts 5:38-39)

B. Through Christ, who lives and rules

C. Through the empowering Spirit

D. Causing the word to multiply

E. Bringing salvation to all

F. Forming the church which

G. Witnesses to the ends of the earth

I. Bringing Salvation to All

A. All Flesh

B. Most Expected to the Least Expected

1. Jerusalemite

2. Judeans

3. Hellenists

4. Samaritans

5. God-Fearers

6. Pagans

7. Barbarians

C. Acts 10-11: God Fearers

D. Acts 27: Pagans

1. Seafaring Gentiles and Roman officers

Acts 27:1–3 “And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius. And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica. The next day we put in at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him leave to go to his friends and be cared for.”

Acts 27:11 “But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said.”

Acts 27:27 “When the fourteenth night had come, as we were being driven across the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land.”

Acts 27:37 “(We were in all 276 persons in the ship.)”

Acts 27:43–44 “But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.”

The Mission of the Triune God: A Theology of Acts To All Flesh

This prophetic portrait and the Gentile focus is further supported by Old Testament echoes. Paul becomes a new Jonah, but unlike Jonah, he does not run from the will of God but follows God’s plan to a foreign nation to preach the good news. The parallels between the story of Jonah and Paul are abundant, even though Jonah is a negative example, while Paul is a positive one:

1. Jonah sails to escape God’s call; Paul’s sails to fulfill God’s will.

2. Both Jonah and Paul head westward and encounter fierce storms.

3. In both stories, God uses the wind and waves to show his sovereignty.

4. Both Paul’s and Jonah’s vocations are clarified.

5. Jonah’s presence was the cause of the storm, while Paul’s presence was the reason for deliverance from the storm.

E. Acts 28: Barbarians

Barbarians in Malta

Acts 28:1–10 “After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold. When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god. Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. It happened that th…”

I. Introduction to Cornelius (Acts 10:1–2)

Acts 10:1–2 “At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.”

Cornelius’ Background:

A centurion in the Italian Regiment stationed in Caesarea.Described as devout, God-fearing, generous to the poor, and prayerful.

Cornelius’ Character:

Respected by the Jewish community for his devotion to God.

Luke 7:1–10 “After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard these things, he marveled a…”

II. Cornelius’ Vision (Acts 10:3–8)

Acts 10:3–8 “About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.”

The Angel’s Appearance:

Around 3 p.m., Cornelius sees a vision of an angel.The angel tells him that his prayers and acts of charity have come before God as a memorial offering.

The Angel’s Instructions:

Cornelius is told to send men to Joppa to bring back Simon Peter, who is staying with Simon the tanner by the sea.

Cornelius’ Obedience:

Cornelius immediately sends two servants and a devout soldier to Joppa.

III. Peter’s Vision (Acts 10:9–16)

Acts 10:9–16 “The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.”

Peter’s Prayer on the Roof:

Around noon the next day, Peter goes to pray on the roof of Simon the tanner’s house.While praying, he becomes hungry and falls into a trance.

The Vision of the Sheet:

Peter sees a large sheet being lowered from heaven, containing all kinds of animals, reptiles, and birds.A voice tells him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

Peter’s Objection:

Peter refuses, saying he has never eaten anything impure or unclean.

The Divine Response:

The voice responds, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”This happens three times, and then the sheet is taken back to heaven.