Cornelius Calls for Peter

HOOK

DO NOT FORGET TO UNMUTE

It’s the 9th day of November — Monday — a week after elections

Previously right here at “The Message”, we covered chapter 9 and from it we saw Saul’s conversion on his way to Damascus— he had a plan, but God’s plan prevailed— Jesus told him to get up and go, and he will be told what to do— he was blind, but then after 3 days he was able to see

After learning about the plot to kill him— he escaped to Jerusalem— and while preaching fearlessly about Christ in Jerusalem, the Hellenistic Jews also tried to kill Paul that’s why they brought him to Caesarea and to sail off to Tarsus where he was born— after that, the church enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthen

Peter traveled around the country— when he went to visit the Lord’s people in Lydda— he found and healed a paralyzed man— from the nearby city of Joppa he raised Tabitha [Greek name Dorcas] from the dead— after all these, Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner [works with animal skins] named Simon

Picking it up from where we left off will take us to chapter 10— and the first story that we will from it is when Cornelius called for Peter— Open your Bible to ACTS 10:1-8— once you get there, type, “let’s begin with chapter 10”

When reading in advance, whenever you’re studying God’s Word— look for words that defines that CHARACTER of God, COMMANDS to obey, PROMISES to claim, good EXAMPLES to follow and bad examples to avoid, ENCOURAGEMENTS & CHALLENGES to keep you going, reasons to be THANK GOD for, PRAYERS to pray

READ ACTS 10:1-8

BOOK

Acts 10:1–8 NIV

1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” 4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

WHAT: An angel appeared to Cornelius in a vision [supernatural experience]

WHERE: Caesarea— north of Joppa and northwest of Jerusalem— SHOW MAP

WHEN: Still during the early church— after Paul was sent back to Tarsus

WHO: Cornelius— a centurion [Roman Officer]. First gentile Christian mentioned in the book of Acts— before his conversion, he was known to the Jews as a generous person who feared God and prayed continually

WHY: He was told to send for Peter who was at that time was in Joppa

LOOK

YOUR PRAYERS AND GIFTS TO THE POOR HAVE COME UP AS A MEMORIAL OFFERING BEFORE GOD

Memorial offering— in other words, offering remembered by God— in the OT it was written [PROVERBS 19:17]

Jesus also said something about giving to the poor— MATTHEW 25:40, HEBREWS 6:10

SEND MEN TO JOPPA TO BRING BACK A MAN NAMED SIMON

Who is also called Peter— remember, he was staying with a Tanner named also named Simon who’s house is by the sea— because of the nature of his profession, he cannot live among the people in the city— a tanner works with dead animal’s skins— and it stinks!

CORNELIUS CALLED TWO OF HIS SERVANTS AND A DEVOUT SOLDIER

So there was three of them— it was said they were devout— it implies that the solider also worshiped God

Cornelius told them everything that had happened and sent them on their way to Joppa

What resonated to me here was the words of the angel to Cornelius— that his prayers and gifts to the poor became memorial offering before God— whatever we do for others, God gives us credit for that, and he remembers

This also reminded me of Paul’s instructions to Christian household in Colosse— COLOSSIANS 3:23

Let me rephrase that in simple and easily remembered sentences

TOOK

WHATEVER I DO, I DO IT WHOLEHEARTEDLY FOR THE LORD

GOD WILL NOT FORGET THE LOVE AND WORK I HAVE SHOWN TO HELP OTHERS

SING

Pastor Manny— Everlasting God