Peter, Cornelius, and Us
Acts 10:1 - 11:18
June 23, 2002
Intro:
A. [illustration]
One New Year’s day in the Tournament of Roses parade, a beautiful float suddenly sputtered and quit.
It was out of gas.
The whole parade was held up until someone could get a can of gas.
The amusing thing was that this float represented the Standard Oil Company.
With its vast oil resources, its truck was out of gas.
Often, Christians neglect their spiritual maintenance and find themselves out of gas.
B. Of course the gas that the Christian needs to keep our spiritual life running is the HS.
1. Today we come to the 10th & 11th chapters of the book of Acts where we see salvation coming to the Gentiles.
2. There we will learn more about the HS and how it is the gas that keeps us going.
3. First we will look at Peter’s story and then what we can take from it…
I. Peter’s Story
A. Cornelius and the angel
Acts 10:1-8, 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.
1. Cornelius was a Roman soldier living in Caesarea.
2. Cornelius was a gentile.
3. He was in charge of a "century" or 100 soldiers.
4. There would have been 6 "centuries" plus 150 horsemen in a regime or band.
5. Cornelius and his family were devout, God-fearing people.
6. Cornelius gave generously to those in need.
7. Cornelius prayed regularly to God.
8. One day at around three in the afternoon, Cornelius had a vision.
9. In the vision, Cornelius saw an angel who told him that his prayers and gifts to the poor had been noticed by God.
10. In 11:14, we find out that the angel had told Cornelius during this vision that Peter would bring a message through which he and his household would be saved.
11. So Cornelius was a Gentile who was praying for the salvation of he and his family and God had heard those prayers and was gong to answer them.
12. That is a significant prayer considering that Gentiles had never been offered salvation up to this point.
13. Cornelius is praying to God for the salvation of his gentile family, which was unheard of at the time.
14. But God heard his prayers and sent an angel to tell Cornelius that his prayers were about to be answered.
15. So Cornelius sent some men to Joppa to get Peter.
B. Peter, Jesus, and the HS
Acts 10:9-23, About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, 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 of the earth and birds of the air. 13 Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat." 14 "Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean." 15 The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." 16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. 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. 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?" 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 have you 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.
1. Now the scene switches from Caesarea to Joppa.
2. Now the scene switches from three o’clock one day to noon the next day.
3. Now the scene switches from Cornelius in his house to Peter in Simon-the-tanner’s house.
4. Peter was up on Simon’s roof praying.
5. Peter got hungry and sent for some food.
6. While he was waiting for the food, he fell into a trance.
7. In the trance, Peter saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven.
8. This sheet contained all kinds of birds and animals.
9. There were certain animals that God had given His people for food that they referred to as "clean" and there were certain animals that God had forbidden His people to eat that they called "unclean."
10. This sheet contained both clean and unclean animals.
11. As Peter watched this, Christ told him to kill and eat.
12. But Peter refused to eat anything that the Scripture said not to eat.
13. He probably thought he was being tested to see if he would do something that the Scripture said was wrong.
14. But Christ said to Peter, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."
15. Christ was telling Peter that some things were about to change.
16. Christ was telling Peter that certain distinctions were going to be done away with.
17. Christ was telling Peter that what He told him to do was not wrong.
18. This happened three times and the sheet went back up to heaven.
19. While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men from Cornelius arrived at Simon-the-tanner’s house downstairs from where Peter was up on the roof.
20. While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the HS spoke to him.
21. The HS told Peter that the men were downstairs and that he should not hesitate to go down to them because the Spirit had sent them.
22. Peter went downstairs and the three men told him about the angel that had appeared to Cornelius and had told him to send for Peter to see what he had to say to Cornelius.
C. Peter, Cornelius, and the HS
Acts 10:23-48, The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went along. 24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered the house, 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 Talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28 He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?" 30 Cornelius answered: "Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31 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." 34 Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached-- 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and 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. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and 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 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, 47 "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
1. The day after Peter’s vision, Peter took some believers with him and they and the three set out from Joppa to Caesarea.
2. The next day, Peter and the others arrived at Cornelius’ house.
3. Cornelius had anticipated Peter’s arrival and had assembled his relatives and close friends.
4. When Peter entered Cornelius’ house, Cornelius bowed to Peter.
5. Now Cornelius, being a Roman Centurion would have been accustomed to people bowing to him and he to whom people bowed in reverence was bowing towards the man of God.
6. But Peter told him to stand up because he was only a man and not God.
a. Cornelius had enough sense to know that Peter was deserving of respect.
b. He may have gone a little far with bowing down to hi, but he to whom people were required to bow knew that if an angel of God told him to see Peter—then Peter WAS someone to be respected.
7. Peter reminded the crowd gathered there that it was unlawful for him being a Jew to associate with Gentiles or visit with them.
8. But Peter was sure that God had sent him.
9. Peter asked Cornelius why he had sent for Peter.
10. Cornelius told him about the vision he had seen and that the angel had told him to send for Peter and listen to what he had to say.
11. Cornelius had prayed for salvation and the angel told him to send for Peter and listen to what he had to say.
12. Peter began preaching some of the basics of the gospel from John-the-Baptist to The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.
13. Peter told them that the Scriptures teach that whoever believes in Christ receives forgiveness of sins through Christ’s name.
14. And as Peter was still speaking, the HS came on all who were there.
15. The believers who had come with Peter from Joppa were astonished that the HS had been poured out even on the Gentiles, for Gentiles had never received this before.
16. The people in Cornelius’ household were speaking in tongues and praising God.
17. Then Peter asked the believers from Joppa if any of them would have a problem baptizing Cornelius’ household seeing as God had already given them the HS.
18. Gentiles had never been baptized before, but how could they refuse, seeing what God had already done?
19. It was clear that this was of God!
20. So the other believers baptized Cornelius’ household.
D. Peter and the critical brothers
Acts 11:1-8, The apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him 3 and said, "You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them." 4 Peter began and explained everything to them precisely as it had happened: 5 "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. 6 I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds of the air. 7 Then I heard a voice telling me, ’Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’ 8 "I replied, ’Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’
1. As you can imagine, word traveled quickly.
2. And believe it or not, many of the believers questioned what Peter had done.
3. Peter did something that had never been done, and believe it or not, he got criticized for it.
4. So they called Peter to a meeting in Jerusalem.
5. Peter had baptized a classification of people who had never been baptized before.
6. So Peter went through and rehearsed the whole story from the angel, to Jesus and the vision, to the HS, to the speaking in tongues.
7. Peter told the critical brothers in Jerusalem that when the people of Cornelius’ household started speaking in tongues, he remembered what Christ had told them, "John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the HS."
8. And I love Peter’s response to the critical brothers: "So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?"
9. What could the critical brothers say to that?
10. The critical brothers couldn’t say anything, so they stopped criticizing and held their peace.
11. The critical brothers praised God.
12. The critical brothers said, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life."
II. Our Story
A. God, His Word, & us
Acts 10:15, The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."
1. Hebrews 1:1-4, In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
2. Now there is no question that in our story today, Jesus spoke to Peter.
3. There is no question that Jesus said something contrary to what God had said before.
4. There is no question that Jesus was literally saying that things previously considered as unclean food (even though they are that way in the OT) are no longer unclean.
5. There is no question that Jesus and the Spirit were telling Peter that the Gentiles are now going to have the ability to be saved.
6. There is no question that Jesus was telling Peter some things were going to be different.
7. There is no question that Jesus was telling Peter that some things were going to change (even God’s Word).
8. But now listen to what Hebrews is telling us.
9. Hebrews is telling us that in the past God spoke to the forefathers through the prophets.
10. Hebrews is telling us that in the past God spoke in various ways and at various times.
11. But Hebrews is telling us that even though that’s the way God spoke in the past, in these last days, He has spoken to us through His Son.
12. Hebrews is telling us that Jesus is the final word.
13. Ray Stedman has written a commentary on Hebrews that he calls, "What More Can God Say?"
B. God’s leading and us.
Acts 10:14-15, "Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean." 15 The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."
1. Peter was pretty hesitant to do what Jesus had told him to do.
2. Peter was may have thought that this was a test to see if he would be true to God’s Word.
3. Peter may have thought that Satan was doing this to him similarly to what he had done to Jesus.
4. But we have seen already that God was changing some things.
5. We have also seen already that God has spoken through His Son.
6. Now we know that God will no longer change things like this.
7. It is clear that God cannot say anything more than what Jesus has said.
8. God has given the final Word in His Son Jesus.
9. Now does that mean that God no longer speaks to us today?
10. Does that mean that Jesus no longer speaks to us today?
11. Does that mean that the HS no longer speaks to us today?
12. No! God does speak to us still today.
13. But what this means is that Jesus and the HS will not tell us something today that is contrary to God’s Word.
14. Jesus and the HS will tell us things today about how to live our lives and what kinds of things we need to be doing, but the HS will never tell us something that is contrary to the Words of Christ.
15. Jesus in the written Word is THE Final Authority.
16. We therefore need to remain sensitive to the leading of the HS in our lives today, but we also must know the written Word to know whether or not what we are being told is really coming from the HS.
17. Because Satan is very good at getting things so close to the Word of God that we might think that he is the one telling us the truth.
18. We must constantly be studying and praying that we will be able to discern the difference between the HS and the devil when they whisper in our ears.
19. But when we determine that what we hear is in fact the HS, we should not hesitate to do what God has asked us to do.
20. Peter said that after he saw the vision, he thought about what it meant.
21. The Spirit told him about the three men downstairs and that he should not hesitate to go with them.
22. And Peter said, "So I when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection."
23. When we know that God is speaking to us, we must not hesitate in going where the Spirit is leading—even if it is somewhere we’ve never been before, like Peter.
C. Unbelievers and us
Acts 10:28, He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.
1. Did you notice how long this story was?
2. Did you notice how long the story of the Day of Pentecost was?
3. 41 verses on the day of Pentecost and 66 verses here.
4. 41 verses on salvation coming to the Jews and 66 verses on salvation coming to gentiles.
5. Luke is clearly placing a great deal of importance on salvation coming to Gentiles.
6. God was saying that ANY man could now be saved.
7. God was saying that from then on ANY man or woman could be saved.
8. God was saying that from then on, it didn’t matter if they were born into the right family.
9. God was saying that from then on, it didn’t matter what kind of life they had been living.
10. God was saying that from then on ANYONE could be saved.
a. It doesn’t matter what nationality they are and it doesn’t matter what they’ve done wrong.
b. Sexually immoral people can be saved.
c. Idolaters can be saved.
d. Adulterers can be saved.
e. Prostitutes can be saved.
f. Homosexuals can be saved.
g. Thieves can be saved.
h. Drunkards can be saved.
i. Slanders can be saved.
j. ANYONE can be saved!
k. They don’t have to be good, upright, moral, church-going people to receive salvation!
l. God’s gift of salvation is free to anyone!
m. God’s grace is free to everyone!
n. Praise God that ANYONE can be saved!
11. But look at verses 34-35, Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.
a. If God extends salvation to everyone freely, what did Peter mean when he said God accepts everyone who does what is right?
b. This is how God (and everyone else) knows whether our salvation is real—isn’t it?
c. When we do what is right, we demonstrate that we fear God—don’t we?
d. A man can freely receive the love of his wife and say that he loves his wife in return, but if he spends a lot of time and money on other women, does he love his wife?
e. Someone may say, that grace is different—but IS it?
f. Yes, God is offering something far greater than just love.
g. Yes, God is offering something that we can never earn.
h. But if we say that we accept His grace and use that grace as an excuse to sin, do we really love God?
i. If a person says, "Well God loves me just as I am, therefore I’m ok the way I am."—does that person love God; is that person saved?
j. If a person says, "Well you may get upset with me because I said something bad about you behind your back, it doesn’t matter what you think because God loves me just the way I am—is that person saved?
k. If a person uses God’s grace as an excuse for their behavior, is that person saved?
l. Do you see that if we are saved, we will want to become more and more like Christ?
m. Do you see that if we are saved, we will grow up into Christ and become more and more like Him?
n. Do you see that if we are saved, He will discipline us as a child to get us to grow up and mature in our faith?
o. Do you see that James was really right when he said that faith without works is dead?
p. Do you see that James was right when he said that dead faith can’t save us?
q. Do you see that Peter was really right when he said that God accepts everyone who fears Him and does what is right?
12. Do you see what God is telling us?
a. God is first telling us that ANYONE and EVERYONE are prospects of receiving God’s grace?
b. Second God is telling us that we who are saved need to continue to grow and mature in our faith and not use grace as an excuse for our bad behavior.
D. The HS and us
Acts 11:15-17, "As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ’John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?"
1. Peter said that the baptism of the HS was first given to the Jews on the day of Pentecost, now it had been extended to Gentiles.
2. I remind you that Cornelius’ household received the HS and then they were baptized.
3. The receiving, in-dwelling, baptism, filling of the HS (whatever you want to call it) is something that happens at different times in different people.
4. The Scripture is clear that it is possible to be saved and not have the HS.
5. 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly--mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?
a. Notice that Paul called them "Brothers," therefore they were saved.
b. BUT, Paul said he could not address them as spiritual.
c. They were saved but Paul could not address them as spiritual.
d. Paul says they weren’t spiritual, they were worldly—mere infants in Christ.
e. They were saved and Paul called them worldly.
f. Paul said they were infants in Christ.
g. The Bible calls immature Christians who do not have the Spirit, "worldly."
h. The sad thing is that there are too many Christians who have been going to church for too long and are still worldly—mere infants in Christ.
i. Clearly throughout the NT, the Scriptures tells us to grow up in Christ.
j. The Scriptures tell us to mature in our faith.
k. And in order to move forward with our faith we have to be baptized in the HS and become Spiritual Christians.
l. Some people are baptized in the HS when they are baptized in water.
m. Some people (like Cornelius’ household) are baptized in the HS before they are baptized in water.
n. Some people are baptized (or filled) with the HS sometime later.
o. But the important truth is that in order to be considered spiritual and not worldly Christians we need the in-filling of the HS.
6. This story is telling us that the baptism of the HS is for all who believe.
Conclusion:
A. [illustration]
Bob Munford tells of a certain Italian harbor that can be reached only by sailing up a narrow channel between dangerous rocks and shoals.
Over the years, many ships have wrecked, and navigation is hazardous.
To guide the ships safely into port, three lights have been mounted in the harbor on three huge poles.
When the three lights are perfectly lined up and seen as one, the ship can safely proceed up the narrow channel.
If the pilot sees two or three lights, he knows he’s off course and in danger.
Mumford goes on to say that God has also provided three beacons to guide us.
The same rules of navigation apply – the three lights must be lined up before it is safe for us to proceed.
The three harbor lights of guidance are 1. The Word of God (objective standard) 2. The Holy Spirit (subjective witness) 3. Circumstances (divine providence)
Together, notes Mumford, they assure us that the directions we’ve received are from God and will lead us safely along His way.
B. [illustration]
On Tuesday morning September 11, 2001, Dawn Robinson followed her usual morning routine while getting ready for work.
This consisted of her morning quiet time where she prayed for God’s leadership throughout the day.
Shortly after arriving at work in New York City she made her way to her office in the south tower of the World Trade Center.
At 8:45 a.m., she heard a loud boom and looking out her window saw smoke from the north tower.
A voice came over the intercom and informed everyone that no one was in danger and stay where they were.
Dawn says that immediately she felt a compelling urge to get out of the building.
Then she said she had a very intense felling of clostra phobia.
So she immediately began making her way to the stairs.
Dawn then says that 75% of the people she came in contact with were following the advice from the intercom system and were going back to their offices to continue working.
Never-the-less, Dawn continued making her way down the emergency stair wells.
When she made it to the 42nd floor at 9:03 a.m., Flight 175 a Boeing 767 hit the south tower, slamming into the area of the building where Dawn’s office was located.
God put an urging in Dawn’s heart.
What if she would have brushed it off?
What if on Tuesday morning Dawn had skipped her quiet time, or didn’t pray for God’s leadership on that day?
C. Let me ask you some questions today…
1. First of all, are you saved?
a. If you are not, won’t you come right now and give yourself to him and be untied with Him in water baptism?
b. If you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, you shall be saved just as Cornelius’ household was.
c. You come right now and you shall be saved.
2. Second, are you a worldly Christian or a Spiritual Christian?
a. Paul said the believers in Corinth were still worldly because they had not yet been filled with the HS.
b. Do you need to be filled with the HS today like the people of Cornelius’ household?
c. You come right now and let’s pray for you to receive the HS.
3. Third, if you are a spirit-filled Christian, are you following the Spirit’s leading in your life right now like Peter.
a. Are you lining up the three lights in your daily life?
b. Are you lining up the Scriptures, the Spirit’s leading, and the circumstances in your life correctly?
c. Won’t you come and start praying that God will help you do that?
