Text: Acts 10
Title: How far will God go to reach people?
Subject: How did God overcome barriers to reach the gentiles?
Complement: by extraordinary means – including the “conversion” of Peter!
Big idea: How far will God go to share the gospel?
Story - Joe Rogan podcast (Largest audience globally)
He hosts The Joe Rogan Experience, a podcast in which he discusses current events, comedy, politics, aliens, religion, philosophy, science, martial arts, and hobbies with celebrity guests. His podcast is one of the most influential and most watched podcasts in the world.
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Wes Huff = apologist … got an invitation.
**Talks about authenticity of the bible – and the resurrection of Jesus
Brought along copies of ancient scrolls of the NT – Gospel of John and matthew…
** Is this God??? ... finding a way to get the gospel out? (…a fascinating opportunity to reach the unreached with the gospel!)
I want to ask you a question ... What kind of people do you avoid?
Every one of us knows someone like that… we may tend to avoid or ignore people who…
…When we avoid people …we say to them, “you’re not important to me”
One of the ways we justify our attitude toward these people is by sticking a label on them. Once the label is on, our mind is made up. Case closed.
In the NT era Jews had a big label on all non-Jews – “unclean”!
Read passage... Acts 10:1-8
1. Situation – Cornelius Knows About God – But Doesn’t Know The Gospel.
God reaches out to Cornelius in a vision...
Acts 10 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment.2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.
3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.
**Caesarea – capital of the Roman province of Judea
CAESAREA – strategic city (Capital of the province)
• Herod built a port facility and a new city!
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• The harbor was an engineering achievement
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• The southern breakwater - built of huge stones in a semicircle of 2,000’
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• northern breakwater is 900 feet long.
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• Great statues of Augustus and Roma were erected at the entrance.
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• An inner harbor appears to have been dug into the land where mooring berths and vaulted warehouses were constructed.
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• Historian Josephus describes construction of the harbor and city in detail.
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• The city was Hellenistic in design and style and named Caesarea for Caesar.
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• On a platform near the harbor Herod built a temple for Caesar
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Caesarea became the capital AD 6 - of Judea and official home of the Government
** Meet Cornelius - A centurion in the Roman Regiment.
Army Officer …300-600 soldiers are under his authority.
**Key detail - Cornelius is a “gentile” !!!
**Though Cornelius is a high-ranking Army man - he is also a devout man of faith.
He wasn’t pleased or impressed by the paganism of the roman empire
The stereo-type soldier he is not!
• Cornelius accepted monotheism – and was able to see through the empty paganism of his day.
• He seems to have accepted the ethics of Judaism – generosity/ kindness to the poor
**We also know he is a man of prayer...
He has a strong spiritual interest – he’s a Seeker of God...
*** perhaps there Is A Cornelius In Your Neighborhood/workplace...
An Angel appears to him!!! Verse 3!!
“Cornelius”! ...Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been “received” by God!!!
** Send men to Joppa and ask for a man named Peter! (5-6)
**Why??
*** God wants to give Cornelius more revelation… and he has other plans too – which will become apparent soon.
If you seek him – God will move heaven and earth to reach you!
** What does this tell us about God?
He is a merciful and loving God – wanting to reach you too!!!
Complication – Peter – who spent 3 years with Jesus – and who has the “keys of the kingdom” – a key leader in the church – who gives the first sermon - on the day of Pentecost…
This same Peter -- has much to learn about the scope of God’s love and the implications of the great commission!!!
Peter has "people blindness"
… (verse 9) Now the narrative shifts to Peter in Joppa... (50 kms south along the coast)
There in the house of Simon the Tanner - Peter also has a vision.
We pick up the story in verse 9.
9 About noon the following day as they (Cornelius’ messengers) were on their journey and approaching the city (of Joppa), Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”
(do you get hungry when you pray??? – your in good company!!!
(Hunters must love this story!!!)
14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
(this is jewish Peter talking – Jewish food laws are a big deal)
15 The voice spoke to him a second time,
***(Deeper voice...) “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
16 This happened three times (!), and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.
**( I think that means it's very important...)
** Have you ever said to the Lord – “Surely not Lord!”
(don’t answer!!)
17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. 18 They called out, ...asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.
(“Peter – are you here”?)
19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit (!) said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. 20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.” 21 Peter went down and said to the men,
…“I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?”
Notice quickly...V. 17 - Peter Is Wondering About The Meaning Of The Vision...
V. 19 – Peter “Was Still Thinking About The Vision...”
Now... the HS speaks to him... “3 men are looking for you... go with them – I have sent them.”
(this is not a vision – this is more like a command!)
What’s happening here?
What’s the point of this vision?
You see... Peter, (a key leader of the church !) ... still Doesn’t Grasp The Global Reach Of The Gospel... ...he has a prejudice - a religious & cultural barrier.
He’s still stuck on the jews only – in spite of the gt commission…
John Stott:
“It is difficult for us to grasp the impassable gulf which yawned in those days between the Jews and the Gentiles...
… They Became filled with racial pride and hatred, they despised gentiles as dogs and developed traditions which kept them apart.
No Orthodox Jew would ever enter the home of a Gentile - even a god fearer or invite such a person into his home. Stott p. 185
*** ”This was the entrenched prejudice which had to be overcome before gentiles could be admitted into the Christian community on equal terms with Jews and before the church could become a truly multiracial, multicultural society.” (Stott)
... Jesus has given Peter the keys of the kingdom and we have already watched him use these keys effectively opening the kingdom to Jews on the day of Pentecost and then to Samaritans soon afterwards (ch 8) .... Now he is to use the keys again to open the kingdom to Gentiles; by evangelizing and baptizing Cornelius - the first Gentile convert. P. 184 (“The Spirit the church and the world.”)
***But Peter... you should understand all this by now!
• Remember the great commission?
• Remember Acts 1:8 ?
o “ you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the very ends of the earth...” Jesus had told them this... furthermore the great commission states “go and makes disciples of all nations...”
…Story continues –
22 The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.” 23 Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.
The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along. 24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea.
…**Joppa is 62 kms south of Caesarea along the coast.
Scene - the home of Cornelius… (Commander of hundred’s of men…)
…Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered the house, (that’s huge)
Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence.26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.” 27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28 He (Peter) said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. *** “But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean!!!
(it seems Peter might have figured out the meaning of the vision...)
29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”
30 Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. (Jewish habit) Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.” !!!
WOW!!!
Look at what God has done!
*** This passage is not only about the conversion of Cornelius – but the conversion of Peter (...to the idea that the gospel is also for gentiles!)
Q. … we too need to be converted to the mission of the gospel – tell…share…
Resolution: Peter shares the gospel!!!
… Indeed...God Goes To Extraordinary Measures To Reach Cornelius – and to reach Peter – to tear down cultural and religious barriers.
…look at the actual meeting itself – right in the home of this Roman officer! – v. 24-27.
several believers from Joppa travel with Peter to Caesarea - ... 62 kms = 9-10 hours?
There is now “a large gathering of people” – brought together by Cornelius!
***I love v 33: “…now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.
… What an opportunity! It's time to preach, Peter!
Peter’s Sermon:
His introduction –
“...I now realize how true it is that God does not show favouritism – but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.
Wow – such great news – the gospel is for everyone
Please note – if goodness was good enough Cornelius was in – but no – he needed to hear the gospel of our lord Jesus Christ!
**Peter’s Gospel Sermon: V 34-43
34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the
(1) good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how
(2) God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and
(3) how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. 39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem.
(4) They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but
(5) God raised him from the dead on the third day and
(6) caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.42
(7) He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that
(8) he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that
(9) everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
It's just about time for the altar call!
… thenThe Holy Spirit falls!!! (44)
What!!! – the gentiles too!!! (Other tongues)!!!
Here’s Cornelius – and his family…some dear friends… and they start speaking in another language!!!
This is proof positive – for any skeptics – that indeed the gospel is for the gentiles too!!!
See v 45 “they were amazed that the gift of the holy spirit had been poured out on the gentiles too!!!
…its undeniable – its just like the day of Pentecost!!!
Peter says - its time for water baptisms (47)… can anyone object?
***Notice v 45 “the circumcised believers were astonished that the gift of the HS had been poured out - even on the gentiles!
Application…implications…
(1) ***Notice, Cornelius is a “good person”! (exemplary)
• So, why all these extraordinary means to reach him with the gospel?
• He was a God-fearer.
• He cared for the poor.
***But he needed to hear the gospel! *** ...like you and me!
Cornelius is the first gentile convert!
... Peter played a key role in liberating the gospel from it's Jewish clothing and opening the kingdom of God to the Gentiles. J. Stott p. 181.
(2) Peter has his eyes opened to the gentiles!!!
Do we need to have our eyes opened too?
(3) here is a great witnessing template (Peters sermon)
It took 4 miracles before Peter’s racial and religious prejudice was overcome!
1. First, came the vision of the sheet/animals – v. 4-10.
2. Second, the divine command to accompany 3 men who had come from Caesarea; v 11-12
a. “the spirit told him”
3. The third miracle was the angel visiting Cornelius
4. Fourth, “the Holy Spirit was poured out (tongues)! v.15-17
Application – We too can be bridge builders and barrier breakers...
1. This Passage Speaks To The *Missional Calling* Of The Church.
Lost people need to be reached!
**Good people – like Cornelius – need to be reached!
Remember at the beginning we talked about “comfort zones”
• Think immigrants!
• Think we Canadians
• 3000 international students at university
What “comfort zone” do we need to break out of?
• Evangelism and gospel witness – “that’s just not me”!
• Do we – like Peter – need to be converted to reaching people beyond our comfort zone?
• ... do we need to be converted to the concept of evangelism?
• Do we need to be converted to praying for lost people?
• Building bridges – it's in our vision statement!!!
• Let’s get serious about this calling!
2. This Narrative Also Speaks To The Gift Of The HS – Power For Witness!
o Let’s face it... if God was so assertive with us as he was with Peter—
o Wow!
o What might happen?
o Now the good news is we believe in the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit!
3. This passage Speaks To Non-Christian Religions
- Contra Pluralism.
Also “Good People” Are Not Good Enough!
Cornelius was a remarkable man – a morally upright man –
Exemplary!
But he wasn't saved – until he heard and received the good news!
4. This passage Speaks To The saving Power Of The Gospel!
• And that God Is Our Judge!
Big idea: How far will God go to reach people - how far will we go?
