Monday Night Life Acts 10 Part 2

Background Information

Back in Acts 9:43 , Peter stayed at the house of Simon, the tanner. Remember according to Jewish law someone who touched dead bodies whether a person or animal was considered unclean. So for Peter to stay there Peter has got to conclude accepting Christ has to make a person clean, otherwise I don’t believe Peter would have stayed there.

But Peter has not crossed the bridge that if the Gentiles receive Christ than they will be clean. Remember there has been 4,000 years of a wall of separation between the Jews and the Gentiles.

So Peter goes to the roof top to pray at the 6th hour and we are told that he goes into a trance and sees a sheet come down from heaven with all kinds of four-footed animals and he hears a voice Rise, kill and eat. But Peter answers, I cannot because I have never eaten anytime common or unclean. And a voice spoke back to him, “What God has cleansed, you must not call common.” And this vision occurred three times.

And we said what make some animals unclean is that God said they are unclean. What made them clean now is that God said they are clean. Now cross the bridge: what made a Gentile unclean in the past is that God said they were unclean; what will make them clean now is that God says they are clean.

Now this vision occured to Peter three times and we are not told exactly why. I believe it was to reinforce to Peter that the triune God all three person were saying that the Gentiles are clean because we say so. Or it could be that Peter had the three keys and each instance were representing the Jews, Samaritans and Gentiles.

Remember for Peter the biggest hurdle of these people groups is the Gentiles. Peter always saw them far off.

Ephesians 2:11-13 (NIV) 11  Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)-- 12  remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

And whose fault was that? I believe that it was Israel’s fault.

Genesis 12:1-3 (NIV) 1  The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. 2  "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3  I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."

Isaiah 42:6 (NIV) 6  "I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles,

Isaiah 49:6 (NIV) 6  he says: "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."

And Israel could not get the obedience thing down so that the Gentiles would want to know about their God, and so God had to put that wall of separation because he still had to fulfill the promise to Abraham, so he had to keep the blood line protected so Christ would be a seed of Abraham. And the church is engrafted into Israel and we tell everyone about Christ so that prophesy is being fulfilled.

Body

17 Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate.

Now Peter did not understand what this vision is about. He is still thinking about it. And now those three men from Cornelius, the Roman centurion. And just so you know when you were in the Roman military you were there for 26 years.

Notice God’s timing. Peter has just experienced the vision. The three men are at the Gate. His timing is perfect.

18 And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there. 19 While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you.20 Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”

And he is still puzzled about the vision. The holy Spirit tells Peter come off the roof top and go with them and don’t anything because I sent them.

Acts 10:21–22 NKJV

Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?” And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.”

Cornelius is described four ways: the centurion, a just man, a god-fearer, and has a good reputation among the Jews. The Jews were not a religion but a nation. Their religion was Judaism.

The New King James Version Chapter 10

23 Then he invited them in and lodged them.

On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

He invited them in and lodged them. Two things instructed about that. This is not Peter’s house and he inviting them to stay and these three men are probably gentiles. But God said don’t doubt. It is a little late in the day and they will get a start in the morning.

And some other Jewish brethen go with the men and Peter. Six to be exact. Acts 11:12 (NKJV)

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. This is important because now he is going to have other Jewish Christian witnesses there.

Acts 10:24 NKJV

And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends.

Cornelius knows that God is going to do something spectacular. He saw an angel who spoke to him. He sent out 3 men to fetch Peter as the angel told him. and so he invites his family and friends. When God is doing something in your life so should be telling family and friends.

The New King James Version Chapter 10

25 As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together

It is interesting that Cornelius fell down and worship him. This is were the Catholic Church gets the idea that Peter was the first pope. But Peter did not allow the man to worship him and tells Cornelius to stand up. The Catholic popes receive worship and admiration. But Peter had nothing to do with that.

The New King James Version Chapter 10

Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 29 Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?”

Unlawful- in the law given to Moses, it says nothing about that. It is the Pharisee laws that you could not go to one of another nation. Peter now has it. He knows what that sheet and all those animals represent. So, he comes without objection and he asked why have you sent me.

The New King James Version Chapter 10

30 So Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.’ 33 So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”

So, we know that the entourage arrived at 3 pm. so Cornelius says that i sent to you because you have something to say to me. The ball is in your court.