November 4 A READ ACTS 10–12
Propagation of the Church
OVERVIEW
Through an angel to the Gentile army officer Cornelius, and a vision to the apostle Peter, God brings about a historic moment in the spread of the gospel to the Gentiles. God sends a thrice-repeated vision to Peter to break down centuries of deep-seated prejudice between Jew and Gentile, setting the stage for the third and most expansive phase of the gospel advance—this time to the most remote corners of the known world.
MY DAILY WALK
Using a dictionary (or better yet, a medical dictionary), look up the following words: spleen, pancreas, kidney, pituitary gland, hypothalamus.
What do they all have in common? Here are two suggestions:
1. They are hidden from view.
2. They are essential to the proper functioning of the body.
It’s easy to be aware of the visible parts of an organism—whether it’s a human body or the body of Christ. But just as vital—and perhaps more so—are those parts you never see and seldom think about.
A diabetic may look perfectly healthy at a casual glance. But deep within his or her body a single organ has ceased to make its essential contribution, and as a result the entire body suffers. In the church at Antioch, Barnabas and Saul taught (11:26), but countless others exercised the gifts of giving, helps, and mercy to undergird the ministry of the apostles (11:29; 12:5). One without the other would have left the church anemic and ineffective. Have you discovered the role God wants you to play in your local church? If not, your minister or church leader would be delighted to help you find it . . . and fulfill it.
WE FIND IT EASIER TO GO TO CHURCH THAN TO BE THE CHURCH.
INSIGHT
The Third Time’s a Charm | Acts 10:16
For Peter, almost every major lesson had to be repeated three times before he got the message (10:16). Three times he denied the Lord (Matthew 26:69-75); three times he was commanded by Christ to feed God’s flock (John 21:15-17); and three times the sheet rose and fell before Peter understood the significance of it.
INSIGHT
From Peter to Paul | Acts 15:7
To this point in Acts, Peter has been the dominant figure. That changes after chapter 12 as Luke’s focus shifts to Paul. In fact, Peter’s name is only mentioned twice after this chapter—in Acts 15:7, 14.
Cornelius Calls for Peter
1In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer* named Cornelius, who was a captain of the Italian Regiment. 2He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God. 3One afternoon about three o’clock, he had a vision in which he saw an angel of God coming toward him. “Cornelius!” the angel said.
4Cornelius stared at him in terror. “What is it, sir?” he asked the angel.
And the angel replied, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering! 5Now send some men to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. 6He is staying with Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.”
7As soon as the angel was gone, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, one of his personal attendants. 8He told them what had happened and sent them off to Joppa.
Peter Visits Cornelius
9The next day as Cornelius’s messengers were nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon, 10and he was hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. 12In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. 13Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.”
14“No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.*”
15But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” 16The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven.
17Peter was very perplexed. What could the vision mean? Just then the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house. Standing outside the gate, 18they asked if a man named Simon Peter was staying there.
19Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Three men have come looking for you. 20Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don’t worry, for I have sent them.”
21So Peter went down and said, “I’m the man you are looking for. Why have you come?”
22They said, “We were sent by Cornelius, a Roman officer. He is a devout and God-fearing man, well respected by all the Jews. A holy angel instructed him to summon you to his house so that he can hear your message.” 23So Peter invited the men to stay for the night. The next day he went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa.
24They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25As Peter entered his home, Cornelius fell at his feet and worshiped him. 26But Peter pulled him up and said, “Stand up! I’m a human being just like you!” 27So they talked together and went inside, where many others were assembled.
28Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean. 29So I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. Now tell me why you sent for me.”
30Cornelius replied, “Four days ago I was praying in my house about this same time, three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, a man in dazzling clothes was standing in front of me. 31He told me, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been noticed by God! 32Now send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.’ 33So I sent for you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here, waiting before God to hear the message the Lord has given you.”
The Gentiles Hear the Good News
34Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. 35In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. 36This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism. 38And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
39“And we apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a cross,* 40but God raised him to life on the third day. Then God allowed him to appear, 41not to the general public,* but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. 43He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.”
The Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit
44Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. 45The Jewish believers* who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. 46For they heard them speaking in other tongues* and praising God.
Then Peter asked, 47“Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” 48So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days.