Acts.6

Gospel to the Gentiles

Bible Passage: Acts 1:8; Acts 9:32-12:24, Acts 9:32-43, Acts 10:1-33, Acts 10:34-43, Acts 11:1-18, Acts 11:19-26, 10:35, 11:14

The Mission

Matthew 28:19–20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”

Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.””

The Great Commission is very clear in that Jesus said to go to all nations, to the ends of the earth. The darkest parts of the earth is where the light is needed.

Yet, despite a clear command, the Gentiles were ‘icky’. The story of Cornelius demonstrates God’s desire for Gentile admission to the church and His expectation of the church to initiate it.

Acts 10:35 “But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.”

1. Powerful Compassion at Work

Acts 9:32-43 - Peter’s ministry in Lydda and Joppa

In Lydda

Acts 9:33–34 “There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed. 34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose immediately.”

Aeneas (a Greek name) healed of palsy

In Joppa

Acts 9:40 “But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.”

Tabitha - a Aramaic name (Dorcas was the Greek translation) who died. (Acts 9:13 in Jerusalem and here Acts 9:41 believers in Joppa were known as saints. First use in church)

Peter is venturing out into Judea to proclaim the good news and is given a powerful opportunity to demonstrate his gifts as an apostle (healing and r. This notoriety brings Peter a delegation from the north.

2. God's Divine Appointments

Acts 10:1-33 Two Visions

Cornelius’ - Acts 10:1-8; Acts 10:4–5 “And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter.”

An unsaved man’s prayers and piety heard and answered.

Peter’s - Acts 10:9-16; Acts 10:15 “And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.”

God can and does change the rules. In order to save the world we need to do things we may not enjoy. We get legalistic in declaring what God should and shouldn’t allow. Cross-cultural missions can be weird. Different cultures, different habits, different norms, sometimes outside our comfort zones.

The two visions meet Acts 10:24-33; Acts 10:32–33 “Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.’ 33 So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.””

3. Gospel for Everyone - Acts 10:34-43

Acts 10:34 “Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.”

Acts 10:35 “But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.”

The word “accepted” means their righteous acts were not salvic, but could and did incite God to act and reveal His good news to them. Think missions, sending Word of God, Radio.

Acts 10:43 “To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.””

Saved by Hearing Words - Acts 10:44-48

Acts 10:44 “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.”

In the middle of the message Cornelius and those who listened got saved. They believed what they heard as soon a Peter said, “Whoever believes in Him” they believed. They were saved, and as proof of their salvation, without further adieu, received the Holy Spirit as evidence.

4. Defending Divine Grace

Acts 11:1-18 Peter’s defense of Gentile Salvations.

It’s not by works, but

Acts 11:14 “who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.’”

Peter comes to Joppa to talk to Cornelius and his house. The works Cornelius did wouldn’t save him, but it did open God’s heart to send Peter. And when Peter came he spoke words by which you will be saved.

Acts 10:32–33 “Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.’ 33 So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.””

Acts 11:15–18 “And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?” 18 When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.””

Jonah didn’t want the Ninevites to receive forgiveness for their wickedness. He went to Joppa and got on a ship to Tarshish. He had to learn grace the hard way. Peter met with, ate with, and preached to the gentiles. and rejoiced when they got saved. He was just starting to understand the gospel of grace.

5. Championing Unity in Christ - The Non Hyphenated Church

Acts 11:19-26; Acts 11:25–26 “Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. 26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”

In Antioch, believers were first called Christians, representing unity in Christ above ethnic identities. We are called to be a community defined not by our differences, but by our shared identity in Jesus, dedicated to His mission, carrying His name.

Think of the heavenly reunion of the saints. There will be no clicks, divisions, denominations. Just blood bought believers. The one new man - εἷς καινός ἄνθρωπος eis kainos anthropos (Eph 2:15).