Turning The World Upside Down: Divine Prepartion Acts 9:32-10:23

I Peter’s Preparation Part 1: 9:32-43

A. Peter here sees Yahweh moving among His people (Jews) in Gentile settings. This is helping to soften Peter’s heart.

B For a Jew to stay at a tanner’s house (one who handled animal carcasses) would make them ceremonially unclean. The Lord was preparing Peter for what was going to happen next in his ministry. Yahweh prepares us in unique ways for the task ahead. We rarely see it for what it is at the time. We often deem these occurrences as weird, and unusual. That is because God’s way is not our way.

Isaiah 55:8–9 NASB95

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.

C. A breakdown in prejudice doesn’t happen overnight.

II. Cornelius’ Preparation: 10:1-8

A. Cornelius would have been a high ranking sergeant today (Sergeant- major). He wasn’t an officer and it shows that he was the everyman.

B. He was a “God-fearer”. Meaning he believed, followed dietary and most of the law. Only he wasn’t circumcised. He would be allowed to sit in the back of the synagogue, but still unclean. It could be that he hadn’t finished becoming a proselytite.

Hebrews 11:6 NASB95

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

C. Cornelius’ whole family followed Yahweh. So, this shows that he was a good family man, and led his family.

D. The fact that an angel would not preach the gospel but to send for Peter shows us that God doesn’t need us, but wants to use us.

E. Cornelius was immediately obedient to the Lord. His vision was at 3:00, so his servants got off to a late start, but arrived just in time! God wants us to act without delay.

III. Peter’s Preparation Part 2 vs. 9-23

A. Peter has a vision, but uses an oxymoron in answering Jesus. Not so, Lord. Peter is having trouble accepting something he couldn’t get his mind around. Jesus already cleansed food and thus Gentiles in the process.

Mark 7:17–19 NASB95

When he had left the crowd and entered the house, His disciples questioned Him about the parable. And He said to them, “Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?” (Thus He declared all foods clean.)

Matthew 15:15 NASB95

Peter said to Him, “Explain the parable to us.”

B. Peter is so hard headed, that it took him 3 times for the vision to get through. How many times does God have to repeat Himself with us?

C. The late starters get there right on time. (God appointments ex), and Peter is willing to go. These “ordinary” actions will have extraordinary results.