Acts 10

INTRODUCTION: Have you ever had a crazy dream?

Part 1:

Acts 10:1–8 “1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 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. 5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 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, 8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.”

Cornelius - a god fearing roman soldier and good man saw a vision...But did not know God yet, yet an angel says send word to Joppa and ask for Peter.

You might be ….

Which btw, this is a great example of what is happening in the Middle East, people are seeing visions and dreams, but they also must believe in Jesus.

Two things struck me about this: Number one, why didn’t the angel simply tell him the Gospel? Because that is our job.

Part 2:

Peter now staying in Joppa, no idea that has gone on goes and takes a nap on the rooftop waiting for food to be ready.

Sees a vision: a bunch of animals in a sheep dropping from the sky. and the Lord tells him to to eat and kill it.

Which is why we can eat bacon: and all God’s people said: AMEN!

(Maybe? nature of OT law). While he is thinking, what in the world was that about, the men show up and he hears from the Spirit, go with them. When he gets there Cornelus, a powerful man falls down at Peter’s feet and worships, Peter tells him to stand up and then says I know from God that God has made all things clean.

Conenlius says, we are all here in the presense of God to hear you speak.

Part 3:

Acts 10:34–35 “34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.”

Shows no partiality - It doesn’t matter if you a woman or man, black or white, old or young. Your histoy…Anyone can come!

nation- ethnos, ethnicity.

fears him and does what is right - Those who fear, is ultimately another way to say, those who believe in him.

If you believe in him - you will want to do what is right.

Acts 10:36–43 “36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.””

Jesus Christ - He is Lord of all, all means all.

God appointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit - Not that he was not God earlier, but it was this moment his ministry was starting.

Acts 10:44–45 “44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles.”

Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word -

Gentiles - a guiding verse for the book of Acts is Acts 1:8 “8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”” Jerusalem and Judea - that was the Jewish people. They received the Holy Spirit in Acts 2. Samaria - Samiritans, that happened in Acts 8,

To the end of the earth - that was the Gentiles, happened in Acts 10. Indicating that the Holy Spirit is now for everyone. As they received the Holy Spirit as they obeyed.

Acts 10:46–48 “46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.”

The Holy Spirit is the sign of believers, not the external, but fruits of it.

CONCLUSION: Ceasera/Ceaserea philippi