Peter's testimony
Witness to the world: Book of Acts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 47:45
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From another view
From another view
The bible is full of descriptions from different view points and each may give additional details. Examples 1&2 kings/1&2 Chronicles, The Gospels, and tonight we are looking at the conversion of Cornelius from Peter’s view vs. Luke’s which we looked at last week (Act10:1-48)
(insert story) Tabby and I how we differ in telling stories, each has point’s of emphasis.
Word travels, especially when it is out of the ordinary, life altering things that have transpired. Word got back to Jerusalem of the conversion of Cornelius and issues arise. In our passage tonight we are looking at the conversion from the view point, of Peter and Peter making defence for his actions and the amazing work of God in the Gentiles.
There are four things I would like us to look at tonight, there will be some emphasis on 2 of them.
Peter is contended with (Act11:1-3)
Peter defends (Act11:4-17)
Response to defence offered (Act11:18)
Order and significance of the events
Peter is contended with
Peter is contended with
Do you wonder what words mean? Take for instance the word contend that we find in our passage before us. Look at the word, the context and some related scriptures to get the idea of the meaning.
1 Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
2 And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him, 3 saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!”
What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?
Question: What did the Apostles and brethren in Judea hear (v.1)?
They heard the word of God
Question: Who contended with Peter (v.2)?
Peter was contended with by the circumcised .
Question: why were they contending with Peter (v.3)?
They were contending with him for eating with the uncircumcised.
Question: So do you know what the word contend means?
Note other scriptures: Jude1:3, 1:9 regarding contend
3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
and then
9 Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
Question: How about now, what more can you learn about the word contend?
Contend (v): To express disapproval with something, someone has done. To criticize, to take issue with someone or something.
The former Jews who were now Christians were contending, stating without any doubt about what Paul had done. Notice that the contention is not about the word it is about what? (FOOD) . The Jewish Christians still had the mindset of the Jews which was adherence to the Jewish laws and the position of the Jewish people. They still looked at Gentiles different.
(Transition) You will notice as we see Peter defend his actions he really does not even address their contention but the things that were important. He offers up three pieces of evidence
The vision itself (Act11:5-11)
Witness of the Spirit (Act11:12-15, 17)
Witness of the Word (Act11:16)
Peter defends
Peter defends
Peter now offers up his version, his view of the events leading up to and the conversion of Cornelius. You will gain a little more information than the one in (Act10:1-48)
4 But Peter began speaking and proceeded to explain to them in orderly sequence, saying, 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object coming down like a great sheet lowered by four corners from the sky; and it came right down to me,
6 and when I had fixed my gaze on it and was observing it I saw the four-footed animals of the earth and the wild beasts and the crawling creatures and the birds of the air. 7 “I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’
8 “But I said, ‘By no means, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 “But a voice from heaven answered a second time, ‘What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.’
10 “This happened three times, and everything was drawn back up into the sky. 11 “And behold, at that moment three men appeared at the house in which we were staying, having been sent to me from Caesarea.
12 “The Spirit told me to go with them without misgivings. These six brethren also went with me and we entered the man’s house. 13 “And he reported to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and have Simon, who is also called Peter, brought here;
14 and he will speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ 15 “And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning.
16 “And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 “Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”
What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?
Remember this is Peter telling things as he sees them,so there is much similarity between Act10 and Act11:1-18. So may we briefly look at the overall passage and pull a few things out.
So, Peter is in Joppa after the conversion of the Samaritans, he is praying and he falls into a trance (v.5). God needed to get Peter out of Peter’s way to receive what God had to reveal to him.
Peter describes what he saw (Act11:4-8)
While praying in Joppa he falls into a trance and sees the sheet
On the sheet he sees the four-footed animals, wild beasts, creeping things and the birds of the air.
Peter tells what he heard (Act11:7, 9)
He hears a voice with instruction.
(Below not on the screen)
7 “I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’
Question: What is the instruction given to Peter (v.7)?
Peter is told to get up, kill and eat
9 “But a voice from heaven answered a second time, ‘What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.’
Question: look at (v.9) what is the instruction or information given now?
What God has cleansed, do not consider unholy.
(Transition) Note that in (v.10) we are told that the this was repeated to Peter three times. Do you think it was that Peter was hard of hearing? Was it because Peter was ignorant? Or do you think it was because of the importance, the significance just like when Peter was restored by the Lord on the beach? Right information at the right time calls for the right action to happen and that is what happens now.
Peter tells what he did (Act11:11-17)
At just the right time the men from Caesarea show up (v.11)
The Spirit tells Peter to go with the men (v.12), but wait I think there is more we need to get from (v.12)
12 Then the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house.
Question: how was Peter told to go (v.12)?
Peter was told by the Spirit and to go doubting nothing.
you can also see that he was accompanied by six brethren (in the Luke account we are told just some brethren went (Act10:23) so here we know the number that go with him.
There is a significance to that too, for things are confirmed by two or three witnesses so this is God going beyond to show what is about to be seen is true (remember Peter is responding to the circumcised so this does make a difference).
Peter then speaks of what Cornelius told him about his own vision (Act11:13-14); there is a very significant difference now between the versions. We need to stop and unpack (v.14)!
14 who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.’
In the Luke account it says this
6 He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.”
(Note: in case it is brought up some versions, MSS do not have the 2nd sentence of (v.6). - just be prepared if asked
Question: what is the the significant difference between Act10:6 and Act11:14?
In Act10:6 it says what you must do
In Act11:14 it says it says words by which you will be saved.
Will discuss this a little more in a few minutes. but want to move on for a few minutes and will circle back to the salvation issue in a few.
Peter then tells how the Spirit fell upon the Gentiles while he was speaking, this is reminiscent of Pentecost (Act2:1-4) and the promise Jesus made (Act1:5) about the baptism of the Spirit
On Pentecost the Holy Spirit fell upon and there was proof that was seen and was heard
What Peter is seeing here is another example of what Jesus said, John baptizes with water, but You will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. ding, ding, ding, Peter knows the huge significance now and that it was not just for the Jews on Pentecost, not just for the apostles, not just for the 120, he is not going to miss this fact in his defence in just a minute
I think I better put verses up again.
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?”
Question: What does Peter acknowledge in (v.17)?
They received the same gift that they did on Pentecost.
(Transition): The same gift that came because of belief.Can you see the parallel between Act2 (Pentcost) and Act11 (gospel to the Gentiles?) Keeping in mind, Peter is making his defence, but not defending the food issue they contended with him about, but the salvation issue that there is no difference between Jewish believers and Gentile believers. And that leads to the result
Results to testimony
Results to testimony
Peter was very diligent in painting the picture of the outpouring of the Spirit and the salvation of the Gentiles. And there were results that came from the evidence provided.
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.”
Question: What were the results of the testimony (v.18)?
They heard, they became silent, they glorified God.
Then came the acknowledgement of the salvation, through repentance for the Gentiles too.
(Transition) - So, Peters account silenced the objectors, it demonstrated that God is not partial and that the gospel is for all people. Now, this issue will come up again (Act15) but for now, it is silenced, but still there is more we can get from the testimony of Peter.
Order and significance of events
Order and significance of events
There have been questions over the years on this passage on two different areas, when was Cornelius saved and what about the Holy Spirit “falling” upon them. May we look at these things and you can draw conclusions from scripture.
I am going to bring in aspects of chapter 10 and chapter 11:1-18. I will give you some blanks along the way.
Peter states in his explanation that it is from the beginning (Act11:4)
Cornelius was told that Peter would tell him what he must do (Act10:6) words in which to be saved by (Act11:14)
So, now we know that he had to hear words, so no different from any other conversion starting with Act2, where words pierced the heart and lead to conversion.
Cornelius, close friends and relatives (Act10:24) heard the words, but were not saved until they followed the command and they were baptized in the name of the Lord (Act10:48) -you can look at Act8:12-13, Mk16:16 too
(Transition) - So, what about the Holy Spirit prior to baptism, what’s up with that? Let the scripture speak and take away confusion that many have raised because of it.
Some believe because the Holy Spirit fell prior to baptism, that there was salvation prior to baptism and baptism was not necessary.
Order matters and may we consider this.
Question: Looking at Act2:2-4 were the people saved at this time?
Let me give you the passage to look.
2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
If they were already saved why would did Peter preach? Why were hearts pierced? Why was a command to repent and be baptized given? - - - - remember words had to be used for faith comes by hearing, hearing the gospel, hearing words.
So, like Pentecost the Holy Spirit came upon prior to salvation and there was proof (heard and seen) in Act2:2-4 and Act11:15).
(Transition) The Holy Spirit fell prior to the preaching, so why did the Holy Spirit fall upon them? Let me pose a question and then I will explain.
Question: Who was the audience on Pentecost? Who was with Peter in Ceserea?
On Pentecost it was Jews, some were believers, others were not, but it was a Jewish audience who was confused, amazed, marveled (Act2:6-7).
In Cesarea, peter was accompanied by 6 men from Jerusalem who had gone to Lydda and to Joppa. They were previous Jews who like Peter were still adhering to the law as well as to grace. They too were astonished (Act10:45).
(Transition) coming back to our passage tonight, Peter is in Jerusalem was asked about why did he eat with the Gentiles, and Peter explains plainly about how salvation came to the Gentiles too and those who had questioned him were silenced.
Purpose Holy Spirit fell prior to conversion was to show the Jewish brethren that
God was no respecter of persons (Act10:34-35)
Gentiles were saved the same way the Jews were (Act15:9, 11, 2:38, 10:48, 11:18)
(Transition/summary) - Peter was accused of breaking the law by socializing with the gentiles and sharing the word with them too. But Peter responded about the truth of the matter, the gospel is for everyone who believes.
There is no difference in salvation found in Act2 and Act10-11, The Holy Spirit fell prior to salvation for specific reason! It was for the Jews, for they needed to come to a point to realize the gift of the Holy Spirit, the indwelling was available to all who believe, repent and are baptized according to the two passages under consideration.
(When was Cornelius saved picture inserted here)
how about you, when and how were you saved?
(prayer) (Exit)