Two-Way Persuasion

Introduction:

We must remember that we have multiple things happening at once.

Peter confirms for Cornelius’s house the basic facts about God, Jesus, and the resurrection.

God convinced Peter of his impartiality.

Peter and the other disciples must understand God’s intention to include the Gentiles.

Luke has foreshadowed this when God spoke to Ananias about Saul.

Lk. 9:15

Luke wants to prepare the reader for what will soon occur outside of Jerusalem.

Jesus’ person transcends Jewish norms.

Indeed, in Jesus, we have new norms of organization.

Faith

Baptism

Apostolic instruction

This follows the pattern of what the Jewish and Hellenistic believers did earlier.

Peter’s Message Concludes

He commissioned them to preach and witness to all that God had designated him as judge of the living and dead.

Peter introduces a thought Paul will reiterate later in Athens in Acts 17.

This is all consistent with the message of the prophets.

Peter’s message is merely the communication of the authoritative prophetic message of salvation.

The Lord Persuades Peter

We already know Peter held a Jewish view of separation from Gentiles.

He has proclaimed the impartiality of God, but now this thinking must get extended to its logical conclusion.

Peter must learn something, and through him, the other brothers must learn the same lesson.

Luke’s goal, here, is less about the process of being saved and more about the communication of the message and the evidences for the equality of the non-Jews.

He also shows the equality of “process.”

So, during Peter’s speech, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those hearing “the word.”

Luke uses a different formulation from the Day of Pentecost.

The effect does not differ. They demonstrate the evidence of the Spirit in the same form as the first group.

They spoke in languages. Acts 10:46

They glorified God.

Notice the similarities between Acts 10:46 and Acts 2:12.

We should also consider the broader implications of “the gift of the Holy Spirit” below.

This evidence persuades Peter that these individuals should also receive baptism.

He is persuaded they can identify with Jesus as well.

This seems to move beyond the expectation of Jesus’ establishment of an earthly kingdom.

Peter Persuades the Apostles

After Peter remained with Cornelius for three days, presumably to teach them, he returned to Jerusalem.

There, the Apostles and others already received word that “the non-Jews received the word of God.”

They questioned Peter over entering the home of a non-Jew and eating with those in his home.

Peter then offers a defense to the group.

We have not seen such a defense.

He laid everything out in order (Luke mirrors his own introduction to the Gospel).

In Acts 11:12, he tells the larger group of those who accompanied him to Cornelius’ home.

They are vital sources for confirming events.

Acts 11:14 points to Cornelius receiving word from the Lord that Peter would speak “things” in which he and his house would be saved.

Peter draws the equivalence between them:

Acts 11:15

Acts 11:16: Jesus taught them what would happen to them.

Acts 11:17: Peter uses language of equality: “God gave to them the same gift.”

He cites this information to explain, apparently, why he insisted the non-Jews be baptized.

Through this recitation, his detractors became quiet.

They all concluded “God also gave to the non-Jews repentance for life.”