Acts 10:24-33
Did you grow up isolated from or associating with other ethnic groups? How much contact do you have with people from other ethnic groups today?
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Acts 10:23b-48 (ESV) The next day he rose and went away with
them, and some of the brothers
from Joppa accompanied
him. 24And on the following
day they entered
Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called
together his relatives
and close friends. 25When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and
worshiped him. 26But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” 27And as he talked with him, he went
in and found many
persons gathered. 28And he said to them,
“You yourselves know how unlawful
it is for a Jew to
associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should
not call any person common
or unclean. 29So when I was sent for,
I came without objection.
I ask then why you sent for me.” 30And Cornelius said, “Four
days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and
behold, a man
stood before me in bright clothing 31and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard
and your alms have
been remembered before God. 32Send therefore to Joppa
and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging
in the house of Simon, a tanner, by
the sea.’ 33So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come.
Now therefore we are
all here in the presence of God
to hear all
that you have been commanded
by the Lord.” Gentiles
Hear the Good News 34So Peter opened his mouth and said:
“Truly I understand that God
shows no
partiality, 35but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable
to him. 36As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 37you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the
baptism that John proclaimed: 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the
Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing
good and healing
all who were oppressed by the devil,
for God was with
him. 39And we are witnesses of all that
he did both in the country
of the Jews and
in Jerusalem. They
put him to death by hanging him on
a tree, 40but God raised him on the third day and
made him to
appear, 41not to all the people but to us who had been
chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and
drank with him after he rose from the
dead. 42And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43To him all the prophets
bear witness
that everyone who
believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” The
Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles 44While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all
who heard the word. 45And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of
the Holy Spirit was
poured out even on the Gentiles. 46For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and
extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47“Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have
received the Holy Spirit just
as we have?” 48And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to
remain for some days.
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- God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- Given Peter's experience in verses 10:9-23 and what you know of Cornelius, how do you think each man was feeling as they greeted one another?
- Jews regarded even people like Cornelius as pagans, unless they fully submitted to Jewish practices (see Acts 11:3). Hence, what would verse 28 have meant to Cornelius? Why is the story of Cornelius so important in Acts 10:28, 34-35, 43?
- When Peter observed Cornelius’ manner and heard his account of the angel’s message, what did Peter realize?
- In what sense does God “not show favoritism” (10:34)? From this story, what kinds of things don’t influence God to love a person? Why is God not showing favoritism important?
- Peter said God was willing to accept all those “who fear him and do what is right” (10:35). Did this mean that Cornelius’ good deeds had earned him salvation? Why or why not, in light of the whole context of the story (especially 10:22, 33, 43-48)?
- So why did this message, about the mission of Jesus to Israel, have the effect it did on Cornelius and his family and friends?
- What is the main point in Peter's sermon? How does that compare with his sermons in Acts 2:26-39 and 3:17-23? From these sermons, what do you see as central to the gospel message?
- How did Peter’s speech to the Gentile household differ from what he said to Jewish audiences? What key points did he make in this instance (10:36-43)?
- How did Cornelius show that he feared God and did what was right? Since Cornelius did this why did he need Jesus?
- How is 10:34-43 a model for a way you can explain the gospel to people you encounter?
- What unprecedented thing happened in the middle of Peter’s speech (10:44-46)? What did it signify? Why were Peter’s fellow Jewish believers astonished?
- Why is Acts 10 called “The Gentile Pentecost”? In light of the astonished reaction of the Jews in Acts 10:45, what did it mean that the Gentiles could speak in tongues? What foreign language was Cornelius and his friends speaking? How does this reinforce Peter's private vision in Acts 10:9-23?
- Why did there need to be such an event involving Gentiles? For the Gentiles? For the Jews?
- What was the essence of Peter’s message that day?
- How closely did his sermon resemble the one he preached in Acts 2?
- Why was it necessary to baptize the Gentiles in addition to their experience in 10:44-46?
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
- When God blesses someone else, do you celebrate or complain?
- Using this story, how would you respond to the question: "Can people who have never heard the Gospel be saved? If your answer is "yes," why then did God send Peter to preach (Acts 11:14)? If it is "no," how do you explain Acts 10:34-35?
- Consider the makeup of your church (ethnically, socially, politically, age wise etc.) Are there some people who would just assume that your church is not for them? Are there some forms or practices you could change to remove those barriers? How would you feel about making those changes?
- You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
Series: Immeasurably
More “Revival & Revolution in Acts”
It sometimes takes something big and extraordinary to get our attention.
In the book of Acts, we see God establish and unleash the Church, and change
the world forever! With just a handful of eyewitnesses and a powerful story,
God did more than anyone could’ve imagined. And He still does today. It’s time
to open your eyes and see God do immeasurably more than you can ask or imagine.
Title: “Breaking the Divide” (Acts 10:23-48)
Bookmark: Click Here
Opening
Thoughts: As part of His restoration work
in this world, God wants to use us to break down social and ethnic barriers so
everyone can be drawn into fellowship with Him.
v Prayer:
God,
help us dare to imagine what you can do, and give us the faith to see when you
do it.
o
Challenge us to
imagine what God is doing and be aware of it.
v We should be more welcoming and including.
o
David Fitch says,
“The world is a divided, antagonistic
place. Disjuncture and rupture are not merely by-products of our partisan and
blinded social and political engagement; they are the fuel on which they run.
The church all too often fumbles over itself playing culture’s game by culture’s
rules and for culture’s ends.”
v “Us” vs. “Them”
o
“Position” vs. “Posture”
===============================================================
Text: Acts 10:23-48
Peter’s Vision
9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”
14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.
22 The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.” 23 Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.
Peter at Cornelius’s House
The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along. 24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”
27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”
30 Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”
34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
===============================================================
Summarize the main story: Describe the
events of the story in your own words.
v Review and
retell the story.
Reflections for applications:
v Cornelius
o
Roman Centurion
o
“God-fearer”
o
Gentile
v Peter is seeing “us vs. them” begin to merge into “WE”
v Acts 11:17 So
if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could
stand in God’s way?”
o
Who are we to stand
in the way of God?
o
This wasn’t an
announcement, this was an enlistment!
§ In Christ, us
vs. them becomes WE
·
Galatians 3:26-28 So in Christ Jesus you are all
children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were
baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile,
neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all
one in Christ Jesus.
Challenge to say this prayer
throughout the series: “God, help
us dare to imagine what you can do, and give us the faith to see when you do
it.”
==============================
Digging Questions:
·
How will you
respond to God’s “Revival”? What transformative move needs to be made?
·
What do
these biblical texts tell you about God and His nature?
·
What is
God calling us (me and you individually) to do?
Take Away Challenges
·
What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this passage?
How will you apply it to your life this week?
·
Whom do you know who needs to hear this?
·
What is
God bringing to your attention in this discussion? What beliefs, thoughts or
actions need to be addressed or changed?
Hashtags #Story #God #Spirit #Cornelius
Sunday sermon link
https://youtu.be/4-0egW00smo
Kevin’s Blog Link to more resources: Click
here for Kevin’s Blog Notes
Comments and resources with
some more resources:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+10%3A23-48&version=NIV
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