Acts 10 & 11: The Message of Salvation

The message of salvation and God's kingdom work is not restricted by race, language or nationality but is for every person in every condition in every place.

HERE IN ACTS 10 WE SEE A LESSON OF THE TRANSFORMATION AND SAVING OF ONE MAN AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF AN APOSTLE CONCERNING THE TRUE PURPOSE OF THE GOSPEL.

THIS STORY PROVIDES US THE LESSON AS TO THE WILL OF GOD FOR HIS TRUTH TO BE SPREAD FAR BEYOND THE JEWISH PEOPLE.

EVEN FROM THE EARLY CHURCH DAYS, THIS CHAPTER HAS BEEN CALLED THE PENTECOST OF THE GENTILES.

ACTS 10:1-8

THIS STORY IS A STRONG & IMPORTANT MOMENT IN THE BOOK OF ACTS.

FOR THE FIRST TIME WE SEE THE GOSPEL GOING OUT TO A GENTILE HOUSEHOLD.

AND WE ARE TOLD THAT THIS SENDING WAS AT THE DIRECTION OF THE LORD'S ANGEL AS A RESULT OF GOD ANSWERING THE PRAYERS OF A SEEKING HEART.

THIS MAN CORNELIUS WAS A GENTILE SOLDIER, A ROMAN CENTURION.

MOST OFFICERS OF THE ROMAN ARMY WERE HARDENED VETERANS OF BATTLE AND WERE IN WORSHIP OF THE ROMAN FALSE GODS AS WELL AS CEASAR.

THIS MAN WAS DIFFERENT.

CORNELIUS IS A GODLY MAN. HE IS DEVOUT. HE KNOWS THERE IS ONE GOD AND HE IS SEEKING GOD IN PRAYER.

HE IS A GENEROUS MAN RECOGNIZING THAT TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS REQUIRED, AS HE GIVES ALMS FOR THOSE IN NEED.

HIS PRAYER LIFE WAS CONSTANT.

HE WAS A MAN TO BE ADMIRED.

BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS REVEALING A VERY IMPORTANT FACT FOR US IN THIS STORY.

EVEN THOUGH HE WAS A RELIGIOUS, DEVOUT, SINCERE, EARNEST, AND PRAYERFUL MAN, HE WAS NOT SAVED.

HE WAS MANY GOOD THINGS BUT HE WAS NOT BORN AGAIN.

THIS MESSAGE TEACHES US TO BE AWARE THAT MANY PEOPLE IN OUR OWN TIME SAY THAT ALL YOU NEED TO ENTER HEAVEN IS TO OBEY THE COMMANDMENTS, AND LIVE RIGHT.

THIS IS NOT SO.

JESUS HIMSELF SO TAUGHT IN HIS EVENING CONVERSATION WITH NICODEMUS.

NOTICE THE IMPORTANT FACT IN THIS STORY THAT WHEN THE ANGEL CAME TO CORNELIUS HIS REPLY WAS “... WHAT IS IT LORD?”

HIS REPLY REMINDS US OF THE FIRST REPLY SAUL GAVE ON THE DAMASCUS ROAD, “... WHO ARE THOU LORD?”

NOTICE ALSO THAT IN BOTH CASES, THE LORD GAVE SIMILAR REPLIES. HE TOLD SAUL TO GO ONWARD TO DAMASCUS AND TO AWAIT THE ARRIVAL OF GOD'S MAN.

HE TOLD CORNELIUS TO SEND FOR GOD'S MAN, PETER, AND TO WAIT FOR HIS ARRIVAL.

WE SHOULD ALSO REMEMBER THAT HERE IS THE PROOF OF THE GREAT TEACHING IN HEBREWS 11:6 WHICH TELLS US THAT ALL WHO WISH TO DRAW CLOSER TO THE LORD MUST DO TWO THINGS:

1.THEY MUST BELIEVE THAT HE IS.

2. THEY MUST BELIEVE THAT HE IS A REWARDER OF THEM THAT DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM.

CORNELIUS DID BOTH.

WE MUST ALSO CAREFULLY NOTE THAT THE ANGEL DID NOT PREACH THE GOSPEL TO CORNELIUS. ANGELS DO NOT PREACH.

THEY ARE MESSENGERS WHO DO GOD'S WILL ON EARTH.

THE ANGEL LED CORNELIUS TO THE MAN WHO WOULD PREACH THE GOSPEL. HE TOLD HIM TO SEND MEN TO JOPPA TO FETCH A MAN NAMED PETER WHO WAS STAYING WITH A MAN NAMED SIMON, A TANNER OF HIDES.

SO HERE WAS A DEVOUT MAN SEEKING GOD, PRAYING CONSTANTLY AND NEEDING SOMEONE TO SHOW HIM THE WAY.

ON THE OTHER END OF THIS STORY WAS GOD'S MAN WHO COULD SHOW HIM THE WAY AND BRING HIM TO THE GRACE OF GOD UNDER WHICH ALL WHO ARE CALLED ARE SAVED.

GOD'S PLAN WAS UNFOLDING AND WAS A MARVEL TO BEHOLD.

THERE WAS A NEED, AND GOD MET THE NEED.

THERE WAS A NEED FOR CHANGE IN CORNELIUS AND GOD WAS MEETING THAT NEED.

BUT GOD ALSO SAW A NEED FOR CHANGE IN PETER HIMSELF AND WAS ARRANGING THAT CHANGE AS WELL, BEFORE HE WOULD ALLOW PETER TO GO TO CORNELIUS.

ACTS 10:9-17

AS PETER IN JOPPA PRAYED THE NEXT DAY UP ON THE ROOF OF THE HOUSE OF SIMON, HE REALIZED HE WAS HUNGRY, BUT AS FOOD WAS BEING PREPARED, HE FELL INTO A TRANCE.

GOD SENT A VISION UNTO THE APOSTLE TO TEACH PETER THAT HE HIMSELF NEEDED CHANGE AS WELL.

PETER HAD GROWN UP UNDER THE PHARISEES AND THE LAW WHICH DICTATED THE VERY STRONG LESSON AS TO WHAT WAS CONSIDERED CLEAN AND UNCLEAN FOR FOOD.

WHILE THIS PART OF THE LAW WAS INDEED GIVEN BY GOD THROUGH MOSES, THE JEWS HAD ON THIS MATTER, AND OTHER MATTERS, EXPANDED THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF THE LAW, AND HAD COME TO CONSIDER THEMSELVES BETTER THAN ALL OTHER PEOPLE.

THEY LOOKED DOWN ON THE SAMARITANS AS WELL AS ALL GENTILES.

THEY TOOK THIS SUPERIOR ATTITUDE SO FAR AS TO FEEL OTHER PEOPLE WERE LESS PURE THAN THE JEWS, AND EVEN CONSIDERED THEM AS DOGS.

TODAY, WE WOULD SAY THEY HAD DEVELOPED A “HOLIER THAN THOU” ATTITUDE. (MY GRANDMOTHER HAD A SAYING THAT THEIR NOSE WAS SO FAR UP, THEY MIGHT DROWN IN RAIN).

IN TERMS OF OTHER NON-JEWISH PEOPLE AND CUSTOMS, PETER WAS A BIGOT.

IN THOSE DAYS IF A GENTILE MIGHT BRUSH AGAINST THEM ON THE STEET THEY HURRIED HOME TO WASH.

NOW GOD, UNDERSTANDING WELL THE STATE OF PETER'S HEART, DECIDED THAT THE TIME HAD COME FOR CHANGE.

HE SENDS A VISION OF A LARGE SHEET COMING FROM HEAVEN DOWNWARD WITH MANY ANIMALS, REPTILES, AND BIRDS OF THE EARTH.

HE SPOKE DIRECTLY TO PETER TELLING HIM TO RISE, KILL, AND EAT.

NOTICE IN VERSE 14 THAT PETER ACTUALLY SAYS. “NOT SO, LORD”.

THESE WERE THE WORST WORDS THAT PETER COULD HAVE POSSIBLY SAID.

WHEN GOD IS SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO US, WE ARE NOT TO TELL HIM THAT HIS WORDS ARE NOT SO.

BY THESE WORDS PETER WAS SAYING THAT THE LORD'S WORDS WERE INCORRECT.

WHILE WE KNOW THAT PETER WAS QUICK WITH A WORD OR ACTION, BEING AN IMPETUOUS MAN THROUGHOUT SCRIPTURE, DO WE SEE A REFLECTION OF OURSELVES IN HIM HERE?

HERE IS THE SAME INCONSISTENCY WE SEE AGAIN & AGAIN WITHIN OURSELVES.

HOW OFTEN DO WE SAY, MANY TIMES WITHOUT THE WORDS THEMSELVES, THAT WE KNOW BEST, AND WE ARE IN CONTROL?

PETER WAS DWELLING IN HIS LEGALISTIC SELF, TAUGHT BY SELF EMPOWERED PHARISEES.

HE TOLD GOD HE HAD NEVER EATEN ANYTHING COMMON OR UNCLEAN.

GOD STRONGLY CORRECTS PETER AND TELLS HIM NOT TO CALL COMMON ANYTHING GOD HAS CLEANSED.

GOD SHOWS PETER THE VISION THREE TIMES AND THEN TOOK THE SHEET BACK INTO HEAVEN.

AT THIS EXACT MOMENT THE MEN SENT FROM CORNELIUS ARRIVED AT THE GATE TO THE HOUSE IN JOPPA SEEKING PETER.

GOD'S THREEFOLD VISION TO PETER WAS TO SHOW HIM THAT THIS SPIRIT OF BIGOTRY AND PREJUDICE WAS UNACCEPTABLE TO THE LORD, AS IT IS CONTRARY TO THE SPIRIT OF THE FINAL COMMANDMENT GIVEN BY JESUS.

HE DIRECTED HIS GOSPEL TO GO OUTSIDE ISRAEL, MEANING THAT IT MUST GO TO THE GENTILES.

WE SAW LAST CHAPTER THAT HE HAD FURTHER DIRECTED A MAN TO BE HIS CHOSEN VESSEL TO DO JUST THAT.

BUT NOW, THE SPIRIT HIMSELF TELLS PETER THAT MEN ARE AT THE GATE FOR HIM AND HE SHOULD HAVE NO DOUBTS, AND HE SHOULD GO WITH THEM, FOR THE SPIRIT HIMSELF SENT THEM.

SO NOW PETER TAKES CERTAIN MEN WHO ARE WITH HIM IN JOPPA AND TAKES THE JOURNEY TO THE HOME OF CORNELIUS.

WHEN HE ARRIVES, CORNELIUS TRIES TO WORSHIP PETER, BUT PETER CORRECTS HIM, REMINDING HIM THAT HE HIMSELF IS A MAN, NOT TO BE WORSHIPPED.

NOW PETER WITNESSES TO CORNELIUS AND TO ALL HIS PEOPLE THE HISTORY OF THE WORK OF JESUS ON EARTH AND OF HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS AND HIS RISING AND SHOWING HIMSELF ALIVE OPENLY.

PETER CLOSES BY HIS STRONG ALTAR CALL IN VERSE 43 TEACHING THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHALL HAVE REMISSION OF SINS.

PETER GIVES THIS CALL AFTER HAVING REVEALED IN VERSE 34 THAT HE NOW KNOWS GOD IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS, AND THOSE IN EVERY NATION WHO FEARS GOD AND WORKS RIGHTEOUSNESS IS ACCEPTED.

NOW THE BARRIERS PUT UP BEFORE BY THE JEWS ARE CRUMBLING THROUGH GOD'S WILL AND VISION.

ALL THOSE WHO WERE JEWS (THE CIRCUMSION) WERE THEN ASTONISHED AS TO WHAT HAPPENED NEXT.

THE HOLY GHOST WAS GIVEN BY GOD, POURED OUT UPON THIS HOUSEHOLD OF NEW BELIEVERS, JUST AS IT HAD BEEN GIVEN BEFORE AT PENTECOST.

THESE NEW CONVERTS SPOKE IN TONGUES, AND MAGNIFIED GOD.

PETER HIMSELF IS TRULY CHANGED IN SPIRIT AND REALIZES THE SPIRIT IS FOR ALL WHO TRULY SEEK IT.

HE SEES THE SPIRIT WAS GIVEN TO THESE JUST AS IT WAS GIVEN TO HIMSELF AND OTHERS ON PENTECOST DAY.

PETER NOW COMMANDS THEM TO BE BAPTIZED.

SALVATION HAS ARRIVED.

GOD'S PLAN UNFOLDS EXACTLY AS JESUS HAS COMMANDED.

PETER NEXT RETURNED TO JERUSALEM AND THE WORK AT THE HOUSE OF CORNELIUS HAD ALREADY COME TO BE KNOWN AND HE IS CHALLENGED AS TO THE FACT THAT PETER DID GO AND EAT WITH GENTILES.

THIS ISSUE RISES AGAIN AT ANTIOCH WHEN PAUL CONTENDS WITH PETER OVER EATING WITH GENTILES (GAL 2).

HE TELLS THE WHOLE STORY AND IN VERSE 11:17 CLOSES THE STORY BY SAYING THAT HE HAD BEEN GIVEN THE VISION AS TO THE WILL OF GOD, AND WHO WAS HE TO WITHSTAND GOD?

VERSE 18 SHOWS THE MATTER IS SETTLED AS TO CORNELIUS AND THE NEW GENTILE BELIEVERS AS THESE WHO WERE CONTENDING WITH PETER HELD THEIR PEACE AND GLORIFIED GOD BY ACCEPTING HIS WILL ON THE GENTILES.

THE JERUSALEM COUNCIL OF THE APOSTLES WILL LATER SETTLE THIS MATTER FOR THE EARLY CHURCH BY RULING THAT GENTILES SHOULD OBEY GOD'S MORAL LAW, BUT NOT BE FORCED TO ACCEPT CEREMONIAL LAW OR CIRCUMCISION.

WE TODAY NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO FEEL THAT WE ARE SUPERIOR EITHER IN CUSTOM OR FAITH TO ANY OTHER PEOPLES.

WE SHOULD REMEMBER THE TEACHING OF JESUS IN MARK 7 THAT HELPS US UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS THE HEART THAT DEFILES, NOT THE DIET.

PAUL REPEATED THIS SAME TEACHING IN ROMANS 14:17 WHEN HE TEACHES THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT MEAT AND DRINK BUT JOY IN THE HOLY GHOST.

OUR STRONG LESSON TODAY IS THAT SALVATION IS OF FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE AS LORD ALONE.