" BEING A WORLD CHRISTIAN "
" MEN OF MISSIONS "
" THE CALL TO THE GENTILES "
TEXT ACTS 10: 9-16
INTRODUCTION:
I think the Apostle Peter is one of the most colorful apostles in the band of apostles. He was a strong willed man, one that I believe, wants to do things his way, and the Lord had to humble Peter before He could really use him.
Peter had just came through Lydia where the Bible records that the Lord used Peter there to heal Aeneas, who was sick of the palsy for eight long years. The Bible also records that after Aeneas was healed that all of Lydda turned to the Lord.
Now the bible says that the city of Joppa was near by to Lydda, at Joppa there was a disciple there named Tabitha, ( which being interpreted is called Dorcas ). Dorcas was sick and the bible says that she died.
Peter not being very far away the disciples sent and called for him to come with all speed to Joppa. When he arrived he found that Dorcas had already died and the widows were weeping and they all began to show Peter the things that Dorcas had made them.
The bible says that Peter put them all out of the room and knelt down and began to pray, the bible does not record his prayer but it just say " ....and turning him to the body said, Tabitha arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter she sat up."
Throughout all of Joppa the bible says that many believed on the Lord. Peter tarried there many days, and while he was there he received a call from the Lord to go to Caesarea.
1.) CORNELIUS THE CENTURION:
Cornelius was a centurion, ( a captain ) of the band called the Italian band. There was something different about Cornelius that made him stand out from many others, that difference was that he feared God, the bible says with all his house. That means that he loved the Lord, and was trying to live for him, even though he didn’t know what to do.
He was praying one day and all of a sudden the bible says in verse three, " He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming to him, and saying Cornelius."
When he looked up and saw that God had sent an angel to speak to him, the bible says that he was afraid. No doubt, when he saw the angel he fail down as a dead man for fear. The angel began to speak and tell him that God has heard his prayers and alms and for a memorial they had come up before Him.
Cornelius was praying for something, but he had no ideal what. He knew that there must be a better way, and I believe that he was searching for it. God told him to send to Joppa and call for one called Peter, He told him that he was staying with Simon the tanner, and that Simon’s house was by the sea side.
Cornelius, knowing that it was an angel from the Lord God speaking, did what he was told to do. The bible says that when the angel departed, " he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually. And when he had declared all these things unto them, He sent them unto Joppa."
2.) PETER SEES THE GREAT SHEET:
While Peter was staying in Joppa he would go to the roof top to pray. One day while he was there praying he fail into a trans. He began to see a great sheet coming down from heaven, as the sheet got closer and closer, he could see that on the sheet there was all kinds of split-hoof animals. A voice from heaven begin to cry out: " Rise, Peter, Kill and eat."
Verse fourteen says; " But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean."
To the Jewish people a split-hoofed animal was and still is considered an unclean animal.
In Israel, when I was there in November, our guide told us that the pigs are not allowed to touch the ground, because if they did, that ground would become unclean. All the pigs are in pens that are platforms above the ground.
So Peter just flat out refused to eat. The bible says that the voice of the Lord called out again and said for him to rise and eat, again Peter refused, this was done, the bible says three times. The last time the Lord told Peter " What I have cleansed, that call not thou common."
While Peter was thinking about all that had happened, the bible says that the men that was sent from Cornelius’ house was standing at the gate inquiring if this was the place where they might find one called Peter.
As Peter was thinking about all that he had seen and heard, the Lord spoke and told him that three men was seeking him, God told him to go with them doubting nothing. You see, Cornelius was a Gentile, and it was a forbidden thing for a Jew to even enter the house of a Gentile, or a Gentile to enter their house. So I can understand how that Peter might feel a little reluctant. But nonetheless, Peter came down and talked with them, and even went with them.
I believe that as they begin to talk and tell Peter about Cornelius, how he feared the Lord and shunned evil, and how that the angel of the Lord told him to sent for Peter and that He would tell them all things that they must do, I believe that Peter felt the Holy Ghost confirming what they were saying.
3.) PETER PREACHES TO THE GENTILES:
When Peter arrived at Caesarea, Cornelius met him and Peter wanted to know why he had sent for him, and Cornelius begin to tell him all that the angel of the Lord had said, Cornelius had gathered all his kin people in and Peter begins to tell them all about the Lord.
He says that he knows that the Lord is not respect of persons, but in every nation, he that feareth him and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
He told them how that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power, who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil for God was with Him.
The bible says in verses forty four to forty six; " While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all of them which heard the word."
" And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost."
" For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,"
After the Holy Ghost fell on all of them, Peter ask can any man forbid water, that these should be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
Peter learned, as well we should, that God will pour out of His Spirit
upon those that He chooses. It does not matter what color their skin is, it does not matter what church they go to, it does not matter what country they live in, God is not respect a persons, and Peter learned that on his missionary trip to Caesarea.
Prayer!
