THERE WAS A CERTAIN MAN IN CAESAREA CALLED CORNELIUS, A CENTURION OF WHAT WAS CALLED THE ITALIAN REGIMENT, 1. We are now introduced to a man who is not a Jew. All converts to this point have been Jews, either by birth or conversion. 2. Cornelius was a Roman soldier. He was a leader. 3. Centurion... [ Continue Reading ]
A DEVOUT _MAN_ AND ONE WHO FEARED GOD WITH ALL HIS HOUSEHOLD, WHO GAVE ALMS GENEROUSLY TO THE PEOPLE, AND PRAYED TO GOD ALWAYS. 1. We now meet the person - Cornelius. 1. DEVOUT - He was a sincere, godly man. 2. FEARED GOD - Not fear as in fear for our life. Fear is used here as "awe" and amazemen... [ Continue Reading ]
ABOUT THE NINTH HOUR OF THE DAY HE SAW CLEARLY IN A VISION AN ANGEL OF GOD COMING IN AND SAYING TO HIM, " CORNELIUS! " 1. The 9 th hour of the day, about 3 in the afternoon. 2. He saw clearly - not just some hazy figure or a mist. This was clear. 3. An angel (messenger) of God. This was direct me... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE OBSERVED HIM, HE WAS AFRAID, AND SAID, " WHAT IS IT, LORD? " SO HE SAID TO HIM, " YOUR PRAYERS AND YOUR ALMS HAVE COME UP FOR A MEMORIAL BEFORE GOD. 1. Cornelius realized that he was in the presence of deity. He was filled with amazement. 2. This passage has caused much discussion on t... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW SEND MEN TO JOPPA, AND SEND FOR SIMON WHOSE SURNAME IS PETER. 6 He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do. " 1. Cornelius is instructed to send messengers to Joppa. He is given instructions to locate Simon (Peter). 2. Why send for Peter?... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THE ANGEL WHO SPOKE TO HIM HAD DEPARTED, CORNELIUS CALLED TWO OF HIS HOUSEHOLD SERVANTS AND A DEVOUT SOLDIER FROM AMONG THOSE WHO WAITED ON HIM CONTINUALLY. 1. When the angel left - Cornelius did exactly as he was instructed. No hesitation. No wondering if this was real. No delay. 2. He s... [ Continue Reading ]
SO WHEN HE HAD EXPLAINED ALL _THESE_ THINGS TO THEM, HE SENT THEM TO JOPPA. 1. He explained the purpose of their trip. 2. He told them the information they needed and the message they were to deliver.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE NEXT DAY, AS THEY WENT ON THEIR JOURNEY AND DREW NEAR THE CITY, PETER WENT UP ON THE HOUSETOP TO PRAY, ABOUT THE SIXTH HOUR. 1. Meanwhile, in the city of Joppa - Peter knows nothing of what is about to transpire. 2. He just knows that it is an hour of prayer - the 6 th hour (noon) was one of t... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN HE BECAME VERY HUNGRY AND WANTED TO EAT; BUT WHILE THEY MADE READY, HE FELL INTO A TRANCE 1. It was lunch time and the meal was not ready yet. But, Peter was hungry. 2. He fell into a trance - Strong says, of this word, "a _displacement_ of the mind, that is, _bewilderment_, "ecstasy": be ama... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SAW HEAVEN OPENED AND AN OBJECT LIKE A GREAT SHEET BOUND AT THE FOUR CORNERS, DESCENDING TO HIM AND LET DOWN TO THE EARTH. 1. The sheet was described by Thayer as "household utensils, domestic gear; the tackle and armament of vessels, used specifically of sails and ropes." 2. Here is a great s... [ Continue Reading ]
IN IT WERE ALL KINDS OF FOUR-FOOTED ANIMALS OF THE EARTH, WILD BEASTS, CREEPING THINGS, AND BIRDS OF THE AIR. 1. All kinds of animals are in this sheet. 1. Wild animals - all kinds of savage, ferocious animals 2. Creeping things - used of snakes. 3. Birds - By implication, birds of prey, birds t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND A VOICE CAME TO HIM, " RISE, PETER; KILL AND EAT. " 1. Peter not only sees this image. He also hears a voice. 2. He is told to kill and eat. Peter is hungry. Here is food.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT PETER SAID, " NOT SO, LORD! FOR I HAVE NEVER EATEN ANYTHING COMMON OR UNCLEAN. " 1. Peter resists. Peter has obeyed the Law of Moses regarding diet. He has not eaten what the law declared to be unclean. 2. He was not about to change now.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND A VOICE _SPOKE_ TO HIM AGAIN THE SECOND TIME, " WHAT GOD HAS CLEANSED YOU MUST NOT CALL COMMON. " 1. The command came again. 2. When God cleanses something - it is not unclean. 3. The Greek word here (koinos) is use in three ways among Greeks. COMMON - not of any special value; UNCLEAN - Cert... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS WAS DONE THREE TIMES. AND THE OBJECT WAS TAKEN UP INTO HEAVEN AGAIN. 1. And a third time Peter is confronted with these "unclean" foods and told he is permitted to eat them. 2. As Paul Harvey would say, "Now the rest of the story." 1. The message is not about clean or unclean meats. 2. The... [ Continue Reading ]
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. 1. Peter is now trying to figure out what all this meant. There must be some message here. There must b... [ Continue Reading ]
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. 1. Now things are going to clear up. Peter is told that there are some men seeking him. 2. Peter still does no... [ Continue Reading ]
ARISE THEREFORE, GO DOWN AND GO WITH THEM, DOUBTING NOTHING; FOR I HAVE SENT THEM. " 1. Peter is to go with them - Where? Where they need him to go, he is to follow. 2. Doubting nothing - This is the hard part. I could follow, but I am sure my mind would be filled with doubts about these strangers... [ Continue Reading ]
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? " 22 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 INS... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN HE INVITED THEM IN AND LODGED _THEM._ ON THE NEXT DAY PETER WENT AWAY WITH THEM, AND SOME BRETHREN FROM JOPPA ACCOMPANIED HIM. 1. Perhaps Peter is still not sure about all this. Is there some doubt? 2. Peter takes some men from Joppa with him. He wants witnesses to whatever is about to happen... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE FOLLOWING DAY THEY ENTERED CAESAREA. NOW CORNELIUS WAS WAITING FOR THEM, AND HAD CALLED TOGETHER HIS RELATIVES AND CLOSE FRIENDS. 1. This group arrives in Caesarea. 2. Cornelius is waiting for them. 3. Not just Cornelius. He has a house full of friends, associates, relatives, co-workers,... [ Continue Reading ]
AS PETER WAS COMING IN, CORNELIUS MET HIM AND FELL DOWN AT HIS FEET AND WORSHIPED _HIM._ 1. Cornelius, either thinking Peter was an angel of God, or just thinking that he was a person to be worshiped, fell down and begin to worship Peter. 2. Jesus was clear in John 4:24 that we are to worship God,... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT PETER LIFTED HIM UP, SAYING, " STAND UP; I MYSELF AM ALSO A MAN. " 1. Peter stood him up. 2. Peter is just a man. He is not someone to be worshiped. 3. 2,000 years later, there are many who are still worshiping Peter, creating statues of him, kissing the feet of these icons, and seeking favor... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AS HE TALKED WITH HIM, HE WENT IN AND FOUND MANY WHO HAD COME TOGETHER. 1. Peter found a house full of people. Not just a family gathering. 2. Many had come. For what purpose? Why were they here? What were they wanting from Peter?... [ Continue Reading ]
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. 1. Alb ert Barnes discusses this matter. "This was not explicitly enjoined by Moses, but it seemed to be im... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE I CAME WITHOUT OBJECTION AS SOON AS I WAS SENT FOR. I ASK, THEN, FOR WHAT REASON HAVE YOU SENT FOR ME? " 1. Peter came without objection. There may have been some hesitation. He may have had some doubts. 2. He was still trying to make a connection between the vision and his trip.... [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN PETER OPENED _HIS_ MOUTH AND SAID: " IN TRUTH I PERCEIVE THAT GOD SHOWS NO PARTIALITY. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. 1. Now it is Peter's turn to explain why he is present, among Gentiles. 2. Peter now has the vision figured out. 1. It... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WORD WHICH _GOD_ SENT TO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, PREACHING PEACE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST-HE IS LORD OF ALL- 1. God sent a message to Israel. God sent Jesus Christ to them. 2. But not to them alone. Jesus is Lord of All.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WORD YOU KNOW, WHICH WAS PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT ALL JUDEA, AND BEGAN FROM GALILEE AFTER THE BAPTISM WHICH JOHN PREACHED: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WE ARE WITNESSES OF ALL THINGS WHICH HE DID BOTH IN THE LAND OF THE JEWS AND IN JERUSALEM, WHOM THEY KILLED BY HANGING ON A TREE. 1. Peter now brings in himself. Peter did not just read about these things. He was a witness. 2. Read 2 Peter 1:16-21. These are not fictitious stories. They are no... [ Continue Reading ]
HIM GOD RAISED UP ON THE THIRD DAY, AND SHOWED HIM OPENLY, 1. Here is the "heart" of the Gospel message. He died. He was buried. He was raised the third day. 2. Paul calls this the "gospel" in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. 3. Jesus was raised - not in secret or to just a few. He was open. He was seen by... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT TO ALL THE PEOPLE, BUT TO WITNESSES CHOSEN BEFORE BY GOD, _EVEN_ TO US WHO ATE AND DRANK WITH HIM AFTER HE AROSE FROM THE DEAD. 1. Jesus was not out in public to all men. However, God wanted to make sure there were enough who saw Him, talked with Him, ate with Him, drank with Him. 2. The resur... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE COMMANDED US TO PREACH TO THE PEOPLE, AND TO TESTIFY THAT IT IS HE WHO WAS ORDAINED BY GOD _TO BE_ JUDGE OF THE LIVING AND THE DEAD. 1. Peter now brings in the "Great Commission" given before the ascension of Jesus. 2. Peter was commanded to preach the gospel to "every creature under heaven... [ Continue Reading ]
TO HIM ALL THE PROPHETS WITNESS THAT, THROUGH HIS NAME, WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL RECEIVE REMISSION OF SINS. " 1. Now salvation is introduced. When Christ is preached, remission of sins is offered. 2. Those who believe and obey the commands of Jesus will receive the forgiveness of their sins.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHILE PETER WAS STILL SPEAKING THESE WORDS, THE HOLY SPIRIT FELL UPON ALL THOSE WHO HEARD THE WORD. 1. We now come to a section of this chapter that requires careful attention. Some false doctrines have come from a misunderstanding of what happened here. 2. There are some who believe Cornelius was... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOSE OF THE CIRCUMCISION WHO BELIEVED WERE ASTONISHED, AS MANY AS CAME WITH PETER, BECAUSE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT HAD BEEN POURED OUT ON THE GENTILES ALSO. 1. It is clear that the Holy Spirit fell on those who were listening to Peter. The gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Gent... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THEY HEARD THEM SPEAK WITH TONGUES AND MAGNIFY GOD. THEN PETER ANSWERED, 47 " Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we _have?_ " 1. All who were with Peter from Joppa saw what was happening. 2. Peter turns to his fellow Jews and a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE COMMANDED THEM TO BE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD. THEN THEY ASKED HIM TO STAY A FEW DAYS. 1. So - Peter commanded them to be baptized. 2. Yes, baptism is a command. Cornelius knew that the command was from God. 3. It is clear that they obeyed and were baptized. Acts 11:1 shows that th... [ Continue Reading ]