Acts 10
Notes
Transcript
Handout
What are some things we learn about Cornelius?
He is a centurion.
He is a devout man.
He fears God.
He gives alms to people.
He prays.
Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 10
Italian Cohort This group may have been an auxiliary Roman force in Palestine consisting of Italian volunteers rather than local mercenaries or draftees.
Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 10
10:2 devout and fearing God This is Luke’s designation for Gentiles (non-Jewish people) who worshiped the God of Israel (e.g., vv. 22; 13:26; 18:7). Cornelius was not Jewish and may not have been a full convert—in the sense of abiding by Jewish food practices and circumcision (compare vv. 28–29, 45)—but he was a worshiper of Yahweh.
gave much alms to the people—that is, the Jewish people, on the same principle as another centurion before him (
What happens to Cornelius when he is praying?
He has a vision.
What did the angel tell Cornelius to do?
Send men to Joppa and find Simon Peter.
Who does Cornelius send to find Peter?
Two servants and a godly soldier.
The usage of the word devout implies that the soldier also worshipped and believed in Yahweh.
When the bible describes that a person is devout it is much more than just believing in God. It is also describing one who has forsaken the Roman idolatry and superstitions. The bible goes even further to tell us that he was one who feared God.
Notice that God gives specific instructions on where and what to do. God made the direction clear.
When Peter goes to pray what happens?
He has a vision.
What happens in the vision?
A vessel full of unclean food came from heaven.
Did Peter eat the food in the vessel?
No.
I heard one preacher say his favorite bible verse was Acts 10:13 - kill it and grill it.
Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 10
10:14 common and unclean Some of the creatures the Lord tells Peter to eat would have been forbidden for a Jew to eat, and others would have been acceptable.
Peter’s strong reaction against God’s command likely stemmed from the fact that he would have considered even the otherwise clean animals to be contaminated by being mingled with the unclean, on the basis of OT law (see
Cornelius meeting Peter as he approached is a mark of the highest respect. This was the welcome reserved for someone of high nobility or rank.
This is further emphasized by Cornelius’ worship of Peter.
This was not worship in the sense of divine worship but rather a gesture of eastern respect and reverence toward someone of great honor.
Peter does correct Cornelius on this though and tells him that he is mortal and that type of response should only be reserved for God.
Now back to the vision Peter had because here is where it becomes important to understanding all that is about to happen.
Does the vision represent that Gentiles are now accepted in the family of God or that the Mosiac diet is no longer a requirement to be ceremonially clean?
Yes.
What was one of the major distinctions between the Jews and the Gentiles?
Diet.
The vision addresses both dimensions, the dietary issue serves a deeper theological purpose. God commanded Peter to eat food considered unclean under Jewish law, and when Peter refused, God responded by declaring what he had made clean should not be called profane.[1] This was genuinely about food—the abolishment of dietary laws[1]—but the vision’s real significance extends beyond Peter’s plate.
The food laws had historically distinguished Israel as holy from gentiles as impure; by removing these restrictions, gentiles themselves were no longer considered impure by extension.[1] Peter’s vision prepared him to recognize that categories of uncleanness were about to change in other important ways—gentiles had been considered ritually unclean.[2] The narrative itself confirms this interpretation: the circumcision group questioned Peter’s table fellowship with gentiles rather than their baptism, indicating that issues of table fellowship and acceptance of gentiles were closely related.[3]
Critically, Peter did not actually eat the meat. Though hungry, Peter was not tempted and refused emphatically, stating he had never eaten anything impure or unclean.[4] The vision’s repetition three times emphasized its importance without requiring Peter to consume the food. For Peter, the heart of the matter was that there are no unclean people—God accepts the gentiles.[3] The dietary prohibition functioned as a symbolic gateway to understanding that ethnic and ritual boundaries no longer separated God’s people. This abrogation of Levitical dietary laws made an even greater point: there was no partiality with God toward Jews against gentiles under the new covenant.[4]
[1] Philip du Toit, “Does the New Testament Support Messianic Judaism?,” Conspectus (2016), 22:89.
[2] John H. Walton and Kim E. Walton, The Bible Story Handbook: A Resource for Teaching 175 Stories from the Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2010), 399.
[3] John B. Polhill, Acts, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 26:266–267.
[4] Gordon J. Keddie, You Are My Witnesses: The Message of the Acts of the Apostles, Welwyn Commentary Series (Darlington, England: Evangelical Press, 2000), 128.
What does Peter tell Cornelius in Acts 10:28-29
28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?
After Cornelius tells the story of the vision to Peter, what does he say in verse 33?
33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
We are all here to hear all and ready to hear God’s word.
What is the first thing that Peter says?
God is no respecter of persons.
The phrase ‘Of a truth I perceive’ literally means ‘I have it now demonstrated before mine eyes’.
Something that Peter failed to understand before or yet was not able to comprehend it but now is able to fully comprehend.
Notice what Peter says next in the next verse:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
So far in the book of Acts we have seen the gospel preached and recieved of the Jews, Samaritans, and now the Gentiles.
Remember who did God use to be the one who would be present when the Holy Spirit would be given to each of these groups?
Peter.
Peter now preaches the gospel to Cornelius and all that are there.
I love the message that Peter preaches here.
look at verses 39-43.
39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: 40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; 41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. 43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
What happened in Acts 10:45?
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
The Holy Spirit was given to the Gentiles.
Now I know some of you may be thinking: Well they already believed and worshipped Yahweh, so why did they not have the Holy Spirit at the moment of belief?
Again, Acts is a transitional book and is the exception not the rule. Here we are seeing how God is establishing the church in the New Testament and He is using Peter as His instrument in which He pours out the Holy Spirit on each people group to fulfill the Great Commission in Acts 1:8.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
What does Peter do after the Holy Spirit is poured out?
Baptizes them.
Again we see the pattern here, baptism following immediately after. The intent here is to show the pattern or steps of obedience.
