Acts Chapter Ten

 Act 10:1  But a certain man, Cornelius by name, was in Caesarea, a centurion of a cohort being called Italian, 

Act 10:2  one devout and fearing God, with all his house, both doing many alms to the people and praying continually to God. 

Act 10:3  About the ninth hour of the day, he saw plainly in a vision an angel of God coming to him, and saying to him, Cornelius! 

Act 10:4  And he was staring at him, and becoming terrified he said, What is it, Lord? And he said to him, Your prayers and your alms went up for a memorial before God. 

Act 10:5  And now send men to Joppa and call for Simon who is surnamed Peter. 

Act 10:6  This one is lodged with one Simon, a tanner, whose house by the sea. He will tell you what you must do. 

Act 10:7  And when the angel speaking to Cornelius went away, calling two of his servants and a devout soldier of those continually waiting on him, 

Act 10:8  and having explained all things to them, he sent them to Joppa. 

Act 10:9  And on the morrow, these passing along on the road, and drawing near to the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray about the sixth hour. 

Act 10:10  And he became hungry and wished to taste food. But as they were preparing, an ecstasy fell on him. 

Act 10:11  And he saw the heaven being opened and a certain vessel like a great sheet coming down on him, being bound by four corners, and let down onto the earth; 

Act 10:12  in which were all the four-footed animals of the earth, and the wild beasts, and the creeping things, and the birds of the heaven. 

Act 10:13  And a voice came to him, Rise up, Peter, slay and eat. 

Act 10:14  But Peter said, Not at all, Lord, because I never did eat anything common or unclean. 

Act 10:15  And again a voice came to him a second time, What things God made clean, you do not make common. 

Act 10:16  And this happened three times, and the vessel was taken up into the heaven again. 

Act 10:17  And as Peter was doubting within himself what the vision which he saw might be, even behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius stood on the porch asking about the house of Simon. 

Act 10:18  And calling out, they inquired if Simon being surnamed Peter is lodged here. 

Act 10:19  And as Peter pondered concerning the vision, the Spirit said to him, Behold, three men are seeking you. 

Act 10:20  But rising up, go down and go with them, not discriminating, because I have sent them. 

Act 10:21  And going down to the men, the ones sent from Cornelius to him, Peter said, Behold, I am the one whom you seek. What is the cause for which you are here? 

Act 10:22  And they said, Cornelius, a centurion, a just man and one fearing God, and being testified to by all the nation of the Jews, was divinely warned by a holy angel to call you to his house and to hear words from you. 

Act 10:23  Then calling them in, he lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went out with them. And some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 

Act 10:24  And on the morrow they entered Caesarea. And Cornelius was awaiting them, having called together his relatives and his intimate friends. 

Act 10:25  And as Peter was coming in, meeting him, Cornelius fell at his feet and worshiped. 

Act 10:26  But Peter lifted him up, saying, Stand up! I myself am also a man. 

Act 10:27  And talking with him, he went in and found many having come together. 

Act 10:28  And he said to them, You know how unlawful it is for a man, a Jew, to unite with or to come near to one of another race. Yet God showed to me not to call a man common or unclean. 

Act 10:29  Therefore, I also came without complaint, being summoned. Then I ask for what reason did you send for me? 

Act 10:30  And Cornelius said, From the fourth day until this hour I have been fasting, and the ninth hour I was praying in my house. And, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing. 

Act 10:31  And he said, Cornelius, your prayer was heard and your alms were remembered before God. 

Act 10:32  Therefore, send to Joppa and call for Simon who is surnamed Peter; this one is lodged in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. Having come, he will speak to you. 

Act 10:33  Then at once I sent to you, and you did well to come. Now then, we are all present before God to hear all the things having been commanded you by God. 

Act 10:34  And opening his mouth, Peter said, Truly I see that God is not a respecter of faces, 

Act 10:35  but in every nation the one fearing Him and working righteousness is acceptable to Him. 

Act 10:36  The Word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ, this One is Lord of all. 

Act 10:37  You know the thing that happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed, 

Act 10:38  Jesus the One from Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good, and healing all those having been oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him. 

Act 10:39  And we are witnesses of all things which He did, both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem. They did away with Him, hanging Him on a tree. 

Act 10:40  God raised up this One the third day and gave to Him to become visible; 

Act 10:41  not to all the people, but to witnesses, the ones having been before hand-picked by God, to us who ate and drank with Him after His rising again from the dead. 

Act 10:42  And He commanded us to proclaim to the people and to witness solemnly that it is He who has been marked out by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. 

Act 10:43  To this One all the Prophets witness, so that through His name everyone believing into Him will receive remission of sins. 

Act 10:44  As Peter was yet speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those hearing the Word. 

Act 10:45  And the faithful of the circumcision were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on the nations also. 

Act 10:46  For they heard them speaking in languages and magnifying God. Then Peter answered, 

Act 10:47  Can anyone forbid the water that these not be baptized, who the Holy Spirit received, even as we also? 

Act 10:48  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to remain some days. 

GOOD NEWS FOR GENTILES

Read the following scriptures and be ready to discuss the importance of the proofs of fulfilled prophecy.

Genesis 12:3 - I will bless those who bless you and curse the one despising you. And in you all families of the earth shall be blessed.  

Isaiah 42 - Isa 42:6  I, Jehovah, have called You in righteousness, and will hold Your hand, and will keep You, and give You for a covenant of the people, for a Light of the nations;
Isa 42:7  to open blind eyes, to lead out the prisoner from the prison; those who sit in darkness from the prison.

Isaiah 46:6 - ? (N/A) Isa 45:5  I am Jehovah, and there is none else; there is no God except Me. I will clothe you, though you do not know Me, 

Jeremiah 16:20-21 Jer 16:20  Can a man make gods to himself? But they are not gods! Jer 16:21  And, behold, I will make them know; this time I will cause them to know My hand and My might; and they shall know that My name is Jehovah.

The are many more messianic-specific prophecies dealing with the advent of Jesus. There are many other verses where God is telling His people things that have both immediate meaning as well as futuristic implications.

Verses 1-8: Cornelius, a Roman soldier love God and does good works. God's angel tells Cornelius to go get Peter from Joppa. Cornelius sends some men to fetch him.

1. Describe Cornelius and his household. He was devout and God-fearing, similar for his household. They were charitable and prayed to God continually. This family was living a God-centered life. It is exemplary considering they are Gentiles.

Fear: G5399 φοβέω phobeō fob-eh'-o From G5401; to frighten, that is, (passively) to be alarmed; by analogy to be in awe of, that is, revere: - be (+ sore) afraid, fear (exceedingly), reverence.

Verses 9-16: Peter has a vision while he is hungry. A platform descends form heaven with every animal, he is told to eat. He refuses since many of the animals are "unclean." He is told that God has made them clean and he is not to make them "common." 

2. Explain the symbolism in the vision. The food presented to Peter triggered a specific reaction built into his psyche. It was unclean and unfit for consumption. He is being told that God is the one who is now making these things clean. You simply cannot argue with that. 
Of course the food animals represent Gentiles. Similarly, the trigger of seeing a Gentile "unclean" needs to be rethought. 
It is a MAJOR cultural change.

Verses 17-23: Peter is wondering what the vision meant. At that moment, the men from Cornelius' house come inquiring of Peter. The Spirit tells Peter to go with them without "discrimination." He leaves with them and a few other bothers go with them.

3. Why was Peter instructed to “doubt nothing” in verse 20? (or not discriminate)
doubt- G1252 διακρίνω diakrinō dee-ak-ree'-no From G1223 and G2919; to separate thoroughly, that is, (literally and reflexively) to withdraw from, or (by implication) oppose; figuratively to discriminate
This is the follow up to the vision. This is what God had cleansed. These were Gentiles. Peter was told to stop discriminating against Gentiles. This is an extraordinary event. It changes hundreds of years of cultural thought/belief.

4. What is the significance of verse 23? These Gentiles lodge with them and then they travel together. God is smashing cultural bigotry.

Verses 24-33: Peter and Cornelius both relate their stories as to how this meeting was to happen. They all agree that this is the work of God.

5. How does verse 29 demonstrate Peter’s faith? He came to the house of Cornelius. The vision he had was made clear to him, so he simply obeyed God. "Without complaint" reveals the level of trust he has in God's instruction.

Verses 34-43: Peter realizes that God is no respecter of persons. He proceeds to teach Jesus as the son of God, who was resurrected from the dead.

6. What conclusion has Peter come to in verses 34 & 35? Peter realizes that God intends for the Gentile to be included in the Christian ministry. The promise to Abraham has been fulfilled.

7. How does Peter qualify himself? (41) As a witness.

Verses 44-48 As Peter is teaching, the Holy Spirit falls on the listeners, Peter orders them baptized.

8. Describe the mood and feelings of those at this meeting. They ask the apostles to stay on. It is apparent that there is a feeling of trust and brotherhood.

Additional: In this case, the Holy Spirit “fell” onto the listeners of the word. There is no indication of “laying on of hands.”