"ACTS OF THE APOSTLES"
Chapter Ten
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
1) To study the conversion of Cornelius and his household, the first
Gentiles to obey the gospel
2) To note the need for religious and devout people to be saved, despite
their good works
3) To ascertain the purpose of the Holy Spirit falling upon the
Gentiles, based on the context
SUMMARY
Up to this time, the gospel had been preached only to Jews (also
Samaritans, who shared a Jewish ancestry). With the conversion of
Cornelius and his household, Gentiles were now granted repentance that
leads to eternal life. Because the Law of Moses for generations had
forbid socializing with Gentiles, it took a series of miraculous events
to help Jewish Christians realize that they should no longer consider
those of other nations as common or unclean.
We are told about Cornelius, a Roman soldier in Caesaria who was
extremely religious. His fervent prayers and charity to the poor,
though not saving him, were noticed by God. In a vision, an angel of
God instructed him to send men for Peter who would tell him what he
needed to do (1-8).
As Cornelius' men were on their way, Peter had a vision in which the
Lord told him to kill and eat unclean animals. When he refused, Peter
was told what God has cleansed no one should call common or unclean. As
Peter contemplated the vision, the Spirit told him that three men will
seek him with whom he should go without doubting. The men arrived and
informed Peter about Cornelius. The next day, Peter and some brethren
from Joppa accompanied them back to Caesaria (9-23).
When he arrived, Peter found a waiting audience in home of Cornelius.
Cornelius fell down and worshipped at Peter's feet, but was kindly
rebuked for doing so. Peter then explained how he has learned not to
call any man common or unclean, and Cornelius related his vision and
charge to send for Peter. Now that Peter was there, Cornelius along
with his family and friends were ready to hear the things Peter had been
commanded by God to say (24-33).
Perceiving that God was no respecter of persons, but now accepts people
from every nation who fear Him and works righteousness, Peter proclaimed
the gospel of Jesus Christ. He summarized the ministry of Jesus in
Judea, His crucifixion, and His resurrection from the dead, who was seen
by witnesses who ate and drank with Him. These same witnesses were
commanded by God to preach that Jesus was ordained to be the Judge of
the living and the dead. Also, the prophets bore witness that those who
believed in Him would receive remission of sins (34-43).
As Peter was speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon those who heard the
word. The Jewish brethren who had accompanied Peter were astonished,
because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles
as evidenced by their speaking in tongues. Peter saw the clear
implication of these events, that Gentiles could also be baptized (cf.
Mk 16:15-16; Ac 2:38; 8:12,35-38). Thus he commanded them to be
baptized in the name of the Lord (44-48).
OUTLINE
I. CORNELIUS SENDS FOR PETER (1-33)
A. CORNELIUS AND HIS VISION (1-8)
1. Cornelius introduced
a. A certain man in Caesarea, centurion of the Italian Regiment
b. A devout man who feared God with all his family
c. Who gave alms generously and prayed always
2. Cornelius' vision
a. About the ninth hour of the day he sees an angel of God
b. Who tells him his prayers and alms have come up for a
memorial before God
c. He is told to send for Peter, who is lodging with Simon the
tanner in Joppa
3. Cornelius' action
a. Calls for two of his servants and a devout soldier
b. Tells them what happened and sends them to Joppa
B. PETER AND HIS VISION (9-23)
1. Peter has a vision
a. The next day Peter goes to the housetop to pray, about the
sixth hour
b. Hungry, he falls into trance while food was being prepared
c. He sees a great sheet bound at the four corners
1) Descending down to the earth
2) With all kinds of animals, wild beasts, creeping things,
and birds
d. He is told to kill and eat
1) He protests that he is never eaten anything common or
unclean
2) He is told "What God has cleansed you must not call
common"
e. This was done three times, and then it was taken back into
heaven
2. Peter summoned to Caesarea
a. As he wondered what the vision meant, the men from Cornelius
arrive
b. The Spirit tells Peter to go with them, doubting nothing
c. Peter hears their story about Cornelius, and provides them
lodging
d. The next day Peter leaves with them, accompanied by some
brethren
C. PETER MEETS CORNELIUS (24-33)
1. Cornelius welcomes Peter
a. Waiting for Peter with family and close friends
b. Falling down at Peter's feet, he is told to stand up
2. Peter explains his presence
a. It was unlawful for a Jew to keep company with those of
another nation
b. But God has shown him not to call any man common or unclean
c. So he came without objection, and is ready to hear why they
sent for him
3. Cornelius recounts his vision
a. Which occurred four days previously, while he fasted and
prayed
b. When he was visited by a man in bright clothing and told to
send for Peter
c. So they are all present to hear whatever God has commanded
Peter to say
II. THE CONVERSION OF THE GENTILES (34-48)
A. PETER'S SERMON (34-43)
1. Introductory remarks
a. He sees that God shows no partiality
b. In every nation whoever fears God and works righteousness is
accepted by Him
2. The ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus
a. God sent Jesus, Lord of all, to the children of Israel,
preaching peace (as they know)
1) Beginning from Galilee after the baptism of John
2) Proclaiming throughout all Judea
b. God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and power
1) Who went about doing good
2) Healing all who were oppressed by the devil
3) Witnessed by Peter and those who came with him
c. God raised Jesus from the dead
1) Who was killed by hanging on the tree
2) Raised the third day, and shown openly to witnesses
chosen before by God
3) Who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead
3. Concluding remarks
a. Peter and others were commanded to testify that Jesus was
ordained to the Judge of the iving and the dead
b. All the prophets witness to Jesus, that through His name
whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins
B. THE HOLY SPIRIT FALLS ON THE GENTILES (44-48)
1. The Holy Spirit's action
a. He fell upon all those who heard the word
b. Those of the circumcision who believed were astonished
because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on
the Gentiles also
c. They heard them speak with tongues and magnify God
2. Peter's reaction
a. Questions whether anyone can forbid water baptism for those
who received the Spirit just like they have
b. Commands them to be baptized in the name of the Lord
c. Invited to stay a few days
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER
1) What are the main points of this chapter?
- Cornelius sends for Peter (1-33)
- The conversion of the Gentiles (34-48)
2) What position did Cornelius hold? (1)
- Centurion of the Italian Regiment
3) List the qualities that characterized Cornelius (2)
- A devout man who feared God with all his household
- Who gave alms generously to the people and prayed to God always
4) What did the angel of God say to him about his prayers and alms?
(3-4)
- They have come up for a memorial before God
5) Why was he told to send for Peter? (5-6)
- Peter would tell him what he must do (KJV) (i.e., to be saved, cf.
Ac 11:14)
6) What happened the next day as Peter was praying? (10)
- He fell into a trance
7) What did he see? (11-12)
- Heaven opening and a great sheet descending, filled with all kinds
of animals, insects and birds
8) What did a voice tell Peter to do? How did Peter respond? (13-14)
- "Rise, Peter; kill and eat."
- "Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean."
9) What was Peter then told? (15)
- "What God has cleansed you must not call common."
10) How many times was this repeated? (16)
- Three times
11) When the men from Cornelius arrived, what did the Spirit say to
Peter? (19-20)
- "Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I
have sent them."
12) What did the messengers tell Peter regarding Cornelius? (22)
- He was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon Peter and hear
words from him
13) When Peter went with the messengers from Cornelius, who accompanied
him? (23)
- Some brethren
14) When Peter arrived, who did Cornelius have waiting for him? (24)
- His relatives and close friends
15) When Cornelius met Peter, what did he do? How did Peter respond?
(25-26)
- Cornelius fell down at Peter's feet and worshiped
- Peter lifted him up, telling him that he also was a man
16) What did Peter say had been unlawful for a Jewish man? (28)
- To keep company with or go to one of another nation
17) What did Peter say God had shown him? (28)
- Not to call any man common or unclean
18) After recounting his vision to Peter, what did Cornelius tell him?
(30-33)
- "We are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded
you by God."
19) What two things did these circumstances lead Peter to conclude?
(34-35)
- That God shows no partiality
- In every nation whoever fears God and works righteousness is
accepted by Him
20) What does Peter say about the preaching of Jesus? (36-37)
- That God sent Him from Galilee to proclaim peace throughout all
Judea
21) What does Peter say about the miracles of Jesus? (38)
- That God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and power to do good
22) What does Peter claim for himself and others to be in regards to
such things? (39)
- Witnesses of all that Jesus did in the land of the Jews and in
Jerusalem
23) What did the Jews do to Jesus? (40)
- They killed Him by hanging Him on a tree
24) What did God do? (41)
- Raised Jesus on the third day
25) To whom did Jesus appear after His resurrection? (41)
- To witnesses chosen before God
- To those who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead
26) What did Jesus command His witnesses? (42)
- To preach and testify that Jesus was ordained by God to be Judge of
the living and the dead
27) What did the prophets bear witness to regarding Jesus? (43)
- That through His name, whoever believes in Jesus will receive
remission of sins
28) While Peter was still speaking, what happened? (44)
- The Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word
29) Who was astonished by this? Why? (45)
- Those of the circumcision who believed, who had accompanied Peter
- Because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the
Gentiles also
30) How was the outpouring of the Spirit manifested? (46)
- They spoke with tongues and magnified God
31) What was Peter's conclusion from this sequence of events? (47)
- "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who
have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"
32) What did Peter command the Gentiles? (48)
- To be baptized in the name of the Lord
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Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2009
