Good News for the Nations
Notes
Transcript
Introduction (9:32-43)
Introduction (9:32-43)
Last week we looked at Saul’s conversion.
As I mentioned last week Saul’s conversion and the passage that we are looking at today are instrumental in moving the story forward in the book of Acts just from a literary point of view.
But much more than that Saul’s conversion and the passage that we are looking at today are massively significant events in the gospel going to the nations.
Paul is the Gentile Missionary of the early church
And in this passage that we look at today we see the beginning of the Gentile conversions as the gospel begins to go to the nations.
From a literary perspective Luke has prep work to do and that is what he is doing as he finishes up chapter 9.
Paul is dropped for now in the narrative and attention is turned back to Peter.
Before we go to the conversion of Cornelius we are prepared by Luke as we are reminded that Peter’s ministry is a continuation of the ministry of our Lord and Savior.
Notice with me beginning with v32
We have the healing of Aeneas and the raising of Tabitha
1. Both of these miracles followed the example of Jesus
Aeneas reminds us of that other paralytic who lived in Capernaum.
Remember?
But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”
Peter says, rise and make your bed
And of course the raising of Tabitha recalls the raising of Jairus’ dauhter
And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus’ feet, he implored him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.
As Jesus went, the people pressed around him.
While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.
Luke 8.
Peter was sent for just as Jesus was, Peter arrives and there is weeping over Dorcas’ death just as in the Jairus’ daughter, Peter put them all outside just as Jesus did,
Listen to what Jesus says
Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”
If Peter spoke Aramaic on this occasion then only one letter would have been different
Jesus would have said
Talitha koum
Peter
Tabitha koum
2. Both miracles were preformed by the power of Jesus
Notice what Peter says in v.34
while addressing dead Tabitha he got down on his knees and prayed v.40
3. Both miracles were signs of the salvation of Jesus and they pointed people to Jesus
v.35 they turned to the Lord, He is saves from every disease, physical disease and our spiritual disease
v.42 they believed in the Lord, He alone is the resurrection and the life, He gives physical and spiritual life
4. Jesus was glorified through Peter’s ministry
So for us, this is a reminder that the ministry of Jesus Christ is continuing through Peter, he is one of the Spirit filled apostles through whom the Lord is continuing to work
I. Preparing Cornelius and Peter (10:1-33)
I. Preparing Cornelius and Peter (10:1-33)
First in v 1-8 we see the Lord preparing Cornelius.
Here are some of the things said about Cornelius
devout man
feared God with all his household
gave alms generously to the people
prayed continually to God
He has ears to hear
He is seeking truth
He is seeking the Lord
Now the point that I want to make is this,
In all of these things Cornelius is giving evidence of the Lord at work in his heart
Listen to the Scriptures
as it is written:
“None is righteous, no, not one;
no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”
no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”
“Their throat is an open grave;
they use their tongues to deceive.”
“The venom of asps is under their lips.”
“Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
in their paths are ruin and misery,
and the way of peace they have not known.”
“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
Romans 3.
So we see that the Lord has been at work within Cornelius preparing him for the gospel.
But we also see in the text that the Lord prepares Peter to take the gospel to Cornelius
The Lord speaks to Cornelius in a vision as an angel of the Lord appears to him
The Lord is now speaking to Peter in a vision.
Brothers and sisters, let us be amazed to see the Lord’s work behind the scenes in getting the gospel to Cornelius, we need to understand that Cornelius was not saved until he heard the gospel and believed
The Lord is getting the gospel to Cornelius so that he might believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ.
We hear of miraculous stories from the mission field of visions, or of how the Lord speaks
Remember the story of the man who was riding a bike through a village and borrowed a white shirt so that his jacket would not get wet in the rain and he had to pull over because the rain go so hard and the closest house invites him in and he shares the gospel and they believe because the man of the house had a vision that a man in a white shirt was going to bring the way of life to them on that day.
We love to hear stories like that
But God does not always use unbelievers to draw them to Himself
Sometimes he draws people through a deep hunger of sorts, sometimes it is a burden because of their weight of sin.
The Lord can use many different ways to work and to prepare someone for the preaching of the gospel
Maybe you are here today and you are an unbeliever
Maybe you are hear and there is a restlessness, maybe you are here today and there is a weight because of your sin, maybe there is guilt because you know that you have not lived as you should
The Lord may be preparing your heart to find rest in Christ Jesus our Lord and we will talk more about this soon.
But again we see the Lord also preparing Peter to share the gospel with Cornelius.
9-16 Cornelius has a vision in which he is told to eat all kinds of meat without concerning himself with whether such foods are clean or unclean according to the Jewish dietary laws.
Peter is commanded to kill and consume diverse creatures, even those forbidden in .
While Peter does not understand the symbolism at work in this vision yet, these unclean animals symbolize God’s cleansing of the unclean Gentiles.
But Peter refuses to obey the command three times.
Food restrictions had long isolated the Jews from the Gentiles, but God was breaking down the wall.
To share good and drink at a table with others is a big deal. It is a declaration of friendship, and in that way it is like declaring a covenant.
As Christians we should be willing to eat with anyone, we are not better than anyone, all of us stand as sinners before a holy God and are in need of Savior.
When we feel like we are better than others and then we have forgotten the gospel.
We see the Lord’s precise timing, as Peter is pondering the vision the men sent by Cornelius arrive and ask for Peter.
Notice Peter, in v.23, invites these men, who are Gentiles, into the house to be his guests and then the next day he goes with them
II. Using Peter (10:34-11:18)
II. Using Peter (10:34-11:18)
Peter arrives and we see that Peter is beginning to understand what the Lord is teaching him.
v 33 Peter is invited to speak
v 34 Peter begins to speak
First, he denies that God shows partiality across ethnic lines
Second, he affirms that God welcomes people from every nations who fear him and come to Him. Here he teaches us that the Lord shows mercy to those who humble themselves before him.
Third, Peter stresses that Jesus, the sent One who preached peace is Lord of all v 36
Fourth, Peter assumes the crowd is aware of Jesus’s controversial earthly ministry (v 37-38), which included several elements. Peter mentions the descent of the Spirit at Jesus’ baptism, Jesus’s good deeds, Jesus’s healings and power over the devil, and God’s presence with Jesus.
Fifth, Peter centers his message on the cross, the resurrection, and the return of Jesus (39-42)
Finally, Peter mentions the prophets, but the sermon gets cut off before passages are quoted as the Spirit of God falls on the Gentiles in the middle of the sermon (43-44)
Notice some key elements that are fundamental to Biblical Christianity
Jesus, the Messiah, is Lord of all
Jesus was empowered by the Spirit to liberate the devil’s captives
Jesus died under the curse deserved by others
Jesus is to be proclaimed
Jesus was raised up to reign forever
Jesus will judge everyone
All of this is in accordance with the Scriptures, which promise forgiveness for everyone, from every people, who trust in Jesus’ name (that includes you here today)
Confirmation (v 44-48)
Confirmation (v 44-48)
Confirmation (v 44-48)
We see the Gentiles response to the message was one of acceptance.
What happens next is essentially the Gentile Pentecost, this is a verification that salvation has come to them also.
Here we have our Triune God at work opening a new chapter in the spread of salvation to the ends of the earth.
Gentiles are saved just like Jews; by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
Gal. 3.28-29
Notice the Lord uses Peter to open other eyes as well.
Peter arrives back to Jerusalem and what happens?
he is criticized (v 2)
Peter retells the story of how the Spirit fell upon the Gentiles
Then notice v 17
And what do these men do? v 18
They glorify God
III. Lesson’s Learned
III. Lesson’s Learned
What are some practical application points for us today as we consider this passage.
We see that Jesus overcomes disease, death, and discrimination.
Jesus came to bring eternal life, Jesus came to create one new humanity out of the two (Jew and Gentile). There is one new race in Christ Jesus, the Redeemed of God from every tribe and tongue.
2. Jesus welcomes all people groups
Those who were considered outsiders were welcomed by our Lord.
Brothers and sisters we need the Lord to cleanse us of our sinful attitudes toward others, especially those different than us.
Let me ask you, who are the unclean ones to you? Who are the ones that you look down upon?
Listen to this challange by Alexander Whyte
Let us wash our minds and our mouths of all racial slurs and ethnic put downs and be done with all alienating behaviors. And let’s be the good Samaritan for some ethnic outcast, and let’s be the Chrs
It would change your whole heart and life this very day if you would take Peter and Cornelius home with you and lay them both to heart. If you would take a four-cornered napkin when you go home, and a Sabbath pen and ink and write the names of the nations, and the churches, and the denominations, and the congregations, and the ministers, and the public men, and the private citizens, and the neighbors, and the fellow worshipers, all the people you dislike and despise, and do not and cannot and will not love. Heap all their names into your unclean napkin, and then look up and say, “Not so Lord, I neither can speak well, nor think well, nor hope well of these people. I cannot do it.
And pray to God give you grace to love them, to pray for them, and to show and share the Love of Christ with them.
May God give us grace.
III. Lessons Learned
III. Lessons Learned