Acts 10

Acts 10:1

Ten years prior to the events of this chapter, Jesus told His disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature (Mat_28:19-20). But could He have really meant that? The apostles must have wondered, for, although they had gone through Jerusalem and Judaea and up into Samaria as we saw in Acts 8, they hadn’t yet approached “all the world"the world of the Gentiles. Certainly, reasoned the disciples, the Lord couldn’t have meant for them to take the gospel to the Gentiles. Weren’t Gentiles created only to serve as fodder for the fires of Hell? When Jesus spoke of “all the world,” surely He must have meant the world of the Jew. So it was that the gospel had not yet been taken to the Gentiles until here in Acts 10, where we will see the Lord use Peter, to whom He had entrusted the keys of the kingdom (Mat_16:19), to open the door of His kingdom to the Gentiles. The Italian band wasn’t the entertainment at Luigi’s on Saturday night, but a band of soldiers. The Roman army was divided into legions of six thousand men. The legions were divided into cohorts of six hundred men. The cohorts were divided into six groups of one hundred meneach overseen by a centurion. Centurions were the “master sergeants” of the Roman army. They were brave of heart, sound of mind, and strong in discipline. Interestingly, every time a centurion is mentioned in the New Testament, he is always spoken of in a favorable light… It was a centurion in Luke 7 who caused Jesus to marvel when he said, “I am not worthy for You to come under my roof. Just speak the word and my servant will be healed” (see Luk_7:6-7). It was a centurion in Matthew 27, who, upon witnessing the crucifixion of Jesus and the events that followed said, “Truly this was the Son of God” (Mat_27:54). And here is Corneliusyet another centurion whom God will use.

Acts 10:2

The Holy Spirit calls our attention to three important qualities in the life of Cornelius. Here we see the faith of Cornelius. Cornelius feared God. Yet, although he was a very religious man, he was a very lost man. Although he was a man of prayer and of almsgiving, he was not saved. Secondly, we see the family of Cornelius. After seeing the vanity and fallacy of the gods of Rome, Cornelius wanted his family to know the True and Living God. This is amazing to me. His family had seen Romethe Hollywood or New York of that dayand yet somehow Cornelius was able to inspire in them a fear of God. Thirdly, we see the fervency of Cornelius as he went about doing good and praying always. There are those who say, “Even though a person doesn’t know Jesus Christ, as long as he loves God and does good to his fellow man, he’ll be okay.” But this account tells me they are wrong, for if all it took for a man to get into heaven was that he loved God and his fellow man, God would have said, “There’s Cornelius down there. He’s a pray-er. He’s a God-fearer. He’s a giver. I’ll let him be.” That’s not what God said. Instead, Acts 10 is the story of a seeking Savior searching out a seeking sinner. This comforts me because whether a person lives in America, Israel, or a country dominated by Islam; in the subtropical jungle of South America, or the outback of Australiathis story tells me that God will do whatever it takes to get anyone who is truly seeking Him pointed in the right direction.

Acts 10:3

Why did the Lord send an angel to tell Cornelius to find Peter? Why didn’t the angel himself share the gospel with Cornelius? Because it is not the job of angels to share the gospel. It’s ours. God could thunder the gospel from heaven if He so desired. But He’s chosen to use you and me as instruments to tell people His good news. Gang, if we ever get it through our heads that the gospel really is good news, we wouldn’t need classes or motivational seminars on witnessing. Telling people that the Lord loves themthat every sin they’ve ever committed, are committing, or will commit is forgiven because of Jesus’ death on the Crossis not a burden. It’s a privilege! Talking about religion is a pain. But sharing the gospel is pure joy. Dan_12:3 says those who turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars forever. If you’re a soul-winner, a Good News-sharer, you’re going to shinenot only in heaven, but here on earth as well. How long has it been since you looked someone in the eye and said, “I’ve got Good News for you! Jesus loves you and died for your sin”? A week? A month? If you feel kind of dull and burned-out, share the gospel and shine once again!

Acts 10:9

It was lunchtime. As Peter was on the rooftop praying, his stomach started growling, and he fell into a trance. Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea from his rooftop perch, he saw a sheetor “sail,” as the word “sheet” can also be translatedfull of unclean foods. Our Lord is so good! He uses the things we’re feeling and the world in which we’re living to speak to us in wonderful ways. He doesn’t condemn us for feeling hungry or for spacing out. He’ll even use our growling stomachs and heavy eyelids to fulfill His plan.

Acts 10:13

You can say, “Not so, buddy.” Or you can say, “Not so, dude.” But you can’t say, “Not so, Lord.” If Jesus is truly Lord, you can’t say, “Not so” to Him. That’s the language of legalism, the pride of the Pharisee. Legalism says, “I have never done this.” Liberty says, “I have never done this before.”

Acts 10:15

What God has cleansed, don’t call common. God has cleansed you. He’s washed you in the blood of His only begotten Son. Don’t call yourself common. Most of us have the tendency to say, “God couldn’t use me. I’m no good. I don’t pray like I should. I say things I regret. I struggle with things. I’m just common. I’m just dirt. I’m nothing.” But God says to us, “Don’t call common or unclean what I have cleansed. I’ve cleansed you. I chose you by name before the foundation of the world” (see Eph_1:4).

Acts 10:17

Notice that God works on both sides. He spoke to Cornelius through an angel and to Peter through a vision. When these three men showed up at Peter’s gate, it was confirmation that both Cornelius and Peter had heard God correctly. Sometimes well-meaning brothers and sisters come to you and say, “The Lord told me to tell you…” When this happens, your answer should be, “If that’s so, He’ll tell me, too.” So much is said in the name of the Lord that is not from the Lord or of the Lord. We need to be careful. Well-meaning people are sometimes convinced they’ve had a vision or a prophecy, and they’ll share it freelyeven though it may never come to pass. Acts 10 shows us the model of how the Lord works. He works on both ends. According to the law, a Jew could not allow Gentiles into his house for any reason. But Peter, realizing the Lord was breaking down the wall between clean and unclean, said, “Come on in, boys.” And they came in. Peter took an entourage of six disciples with him. He was stepping out in faith, but perhaps it was because he was worried he could get in big trouble that he took six witnesses along. Vision A Topical Study of Act_10:9-20 Saul DeVries was a billionaire who made his fortune during the Great Depression. Born of immigrant parents, he grew up in poverty. But as a young adult he had an idea, a vision of how he might become a rich man. Realizing that in the Depression years, people were unable to buy new appliances or to remodel their kitchens and bathrooms, DeVries decided what was needed was a single product that would clean appliances and keep things sparkling. So he invented an all-purpose cleaner, the first of its kind, called Spic and Span®. It sold well throughout the years of the Depression and continues to do so today. Saul DeVries made billions from his vision and literally cleaned up! So, too, in our text, Peter had a vision dealing with cleanliness. Unlike Saul DeVries, Peter would not become a rich man materially. He would, however, become wealthy spiritually. And the entire Gentile world would become the beneficiary. Whenever God wants to do something new, something special, something wonderful, He will usually motivate a man or a woman through a vision… When God wanted to deliver the children of Israel from Egypt, He called Moses by causing a bush to burn in the desert that caught Moses’ attention. Wondering why the bush burned without becoming consumed, Moses approached it, and it was then that God called him to go to Egypt to free His people from bondage (Exo_3:3). When God wanted to open Europe to the gospel, He called Paul through a vision in which he heard a man from Macedonia saying, “Come over and help us” (see Act_16:9). Until that time, it had never entered Paul’s mind to cross the Mediterranean sea with the gospel. And here in Acts 10, God is again about to do something new, something special, something wonderful as He is about to fling wide open the door of the church to the Gentiles. The Gentiles? How shocking this would have been to the apostles and to the leaders of the early church, for as Jews, they had been taught throughout their history that Gentiles were unclean. The Mishnah itself stated that Gentiles existed for one primary purpose: to fuel the fires of hell. Thus, Jews had nothing to do with Gentiles. If a Jew even accidentally brushed against a Gentile, he would immediately go home, burn the clothes he was wearing, and take a ceremonial bath. Jews did not talk to Gentiles. They did not care about Gentiles. They had no hope for Gentiles. This was not the original plan of God. The prophetsparticularly Isaiahproclaimed very clearly that Israel was to be a light to the Gentiles and that God would bless the people of Israel in order that Gentiles might see the benefits of walking with Him (Isa_42:6; Isa_49:6). But the Jews lost that understanding. They turned inward and thought Gentiles were good for nothing but to keep hell hot. Here in Acts 10, God is about to use Peter to bring salvation to the Gentiles. First, however, He must give Peter a new understanding. He must prepare Peter’s heart. So what does He do? He gives Peter a vision. Whether you’re Saul DeVries marketing Spic and Span®, or an apostle with a much more significant callingyou need to have vision. Solomon said, “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Pro_29:18). Thus, God desires to give us vision for our lives, our families, our ministries, and our country. How? In this passage, I see three steps God uses to give vision… Preparation for Vision On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour.Act_10:9 In Bible times, housetops were flat and accessed by a stairway that ran up the outside of the wall. They were used as places of quiet retreat away from the crowd and clamor of the cities. So it was that Peter went to the housetop to pray. Vision always begins away from the crowd, away from the busynessin a quiet place, through a quiet time, with a quiet heart. In Isaiah 30, the people of Israel were panicking because they were surrounded by their enemies, the Assyrians. Afraid of the Assyrian threat, the Jews sent ambassadors to Egypt seeking safety through an alliance with them. However, Isaiah came on the scene saying, “Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me…For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not” (Isa_30:1, Isa_30:15). How often we seek advice and help from other people, and yet fail on a daily basis to get away to a “rooftop” and seek the Lord. We make our plans, form our alliances, and get counselall dependent upon other people. But the Lord says to us, as He did to the children of Israel, “It’s not going to work. The Egyptians are unable to help you. Return to Me and rest, for in My quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” Illumination in Vision And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, and saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.Act_10:10-13 In Leviticus 11, the Jews were given very specific instructions concerning what foods they could and couldn’t eat. Here in Peter’s vision, he sees clean and unclean, kosher and un-kosher foods all together upon a sheet. I find it fascinating that in this illumination in vision, the Lord used food. This is great! I love Peter because, just like me, he sometimes had a hard time being spiritual. In the Garden of Gethsemane when the Lord asked him to pray with Him for an hour, what did Peter do? He fell asleep (Mat_26:40). He wanted to pray. His spirit was willing. But he fell asleep because his flesh was weak. Here, Peter wanted to pray again. He went up to the rooftop, but he was hungry. And in his hunger he sort of spaced out. Did the Lord come down on Peter and say, “What’s wrong with you? You should be spiritual. You should be able to miss a meal or two”?

No, He said, “You’re hungry, Peter? Okay. I’ll use your hunger to show you something new. Watch out. Here comes some food!” This story helps me a whole lot because through it I understand that the Lord uses common, everyday things to teach us lessons and to give us vision. Don’t think the Lord only gives vision at church or in a Bible study.

Yes, He uses His Body and His Word powerfully, but not exclusively. If He has already prepared your heart to receive it, He can give you vision anytime, any placeeven when, like Peter, you’re in line waiting for a Quarter Pounder®! Confirmation of Vision While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.Act_10:19 God spoke to Cornelius through an angel and to Peter through a vision. When three men showed up at Peter’s gate, it was confirmation that both Cornelius and Peter had heard God correctly. Whenever God gives a vision in your heart, it will be confirmed by a knocking on your door. The voice of the Lord will always be confirmed. That’s always the way of God throughout Scripture. And Jeremiah said, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum thine uncle shall come unto thee, saying, Buy thee my field that is in Anathoth: for the right of redemption is thine to buy it. So Hanameel mine uncle’s son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the LORD, and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance is thine, and the redemption is thine; buy it for thyself. Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD.Jer_32:6-8 Sometimes we say, “Wow! It’s the Lord,” when in reality, it could just be Satan bugging us. When my son Benjamin was a toddler, he spent some time with his uncle Jimmy and aunt Julie. Julie later told us that Ben was saying, “Wow,” as he moved his head in circles. “Do you hear that buzzing?” “What buzzing?” she asked him. “That buzzing. Don’t you hear that buzzing?” Finally, looking a little closer, Julie discovered a ladybug in Benny’s ear. Benjamin believed there was a buzzing in the roombut actually, it was all in his head. That’s why confirmation is essential. Make sure you’re hearing the Lord’s voice. Wait for His confirmation. God is faithful. It will come. And when it does, like Jeremiah, you can say, “Then I knew it was the Word of the Lord.” And you can press ahead. My prayer is that we will not wander around aimlessly year after year, wondering what our life is aboutbut that we will be men and women of vision. For without vision, we’ll wander indefinitely and perish eventually. Saul DeVries became a billionaire because he had a vision about people in depression needing to clean up. When he died, as was instructed in his will, his body was cremated and his ashes were poured into his kitchen sink. You see, although Saul DeVries was a billionaire, because he didn’t know the Lord, his life went down the drain literally. He is said to have died a miserable man. You might have vision today to build a big business, to have a glorious ministry, to accomplish something athletically or academically. But Jesus said, “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his soul?” (see Mar_8:36). The reason you’re studying the Word is because God is giving you a new vision even nowan invitation to be a part of His kingdom. It is confirmed by the knocking of opportunity as Jesus says to you, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. And if any man hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and sup with him and he with Me” (see Rev_3:20). Today, wherever you’ve been, I invite you to be born againto confess you are a sinner, to call Jesus your Lordand to emerge truly Spic and Span®!

Acts 10:24

Cornelius fell at Peter’s feet and worshiped him. Do you know people still do that in Rome today? In St. Peter’s Basilica, they line up in front of Michelangelo’s statue to kiss the feet of Peter. Over the centuries, the statue has been kissed so many times that the big toe on Peter’s right foot is missing. It’s wrong. It’s not healthy. People can get “toe-maine” poisoning! Then they have to call a “toe” truck! Why is it we worship people? We elevate and idolize people and it ought not be. Peter instinctively knew this. He knew his frailties, he knew his weaknesses, and he knew only One is worthy of worshiphis Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Acts 10:27

I like this! It’s a home Bible study!

Acts 10:28

Although Peter didn’t understand the vision immediately, as events began to unfold, walking from Joppa to Caesarea, he got the picture.

Acts 10:29

Have you ever heard people say God doesn’t hear the prayers of unbelievers? This passage says otherwise, for although Cornelius was not yet a believer, an angel appeared to him saying God had heard his prayers.

Acts 10:32

What a great congregation! Peter walked in and Cornelius said, “We’re all ears.” When asked what makes a great preacher, Charles Spurgeon is said to have answered quickly: “A great congregation.” Where people want to hear the Word, there will always be good teaching and preaching. I’m convinced it’s not a good preacher that produces a great congregation, but a great congregation that produces a good preacher.

Acts 10:34

God is not a respecter of persons. He doesn’t care if you are intellectually brilliant or if you flunked kindergarten four times, if you spend eight hours in prayer or if you haven’t prayed in eight months. God is not a respecter of people. He’s a lover of people.

Acts 10:35

“The word which was published” was the Word become fleshJesus Christ.

Acts 10:38

Why did Peter use the phrase, “Hanged on a tree”? Why didn’t he just say, “Whom they slew”? The Jewish method of execution was by stoning. It was the Romansthe Gentileswho utilized crucifixion. Thus, by using this phrase, Peter was saying, “There’s no room for anti-Semitism. All men are guiltyJew and Gentile alike.”

Acts 10:40

Whoever believes in Jesus will enjoy and receive the forgiveness of sin.

Acts 10:44

Peter was a man who was frequently interrupted. He was interrupted by the Father in Matthew 17 when, on the Mount of Transfiguration, God said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him” (Mat_17:5). He was interrupted by the Son when Jesus said, “What thinkest thou, Simon? Do the children of the king pay taxes to the king?” (see Mat_17:25). And here in Acts 10, he was interrupted by the Spirit. Like Peter, I need to be interrupted by the Father, by the Son, and by the Spirit. I hope you’re not upset when your plans are interrupted or when your program is altered, for truly the Lord is the Great Interrupter. When did the Spirit move? When Peter spoke the Word. There was no mumbo-jumbo. There was no seminar entitled, “How to Speak in Tongues.” It was simply when Peter taught the Word that the Spirit began to move. People often say, “Your church spends too much time teaching and not enough time moving in the Spirit.” My answer to them is that the biblical pattern is that of the Spirit moving through the teaching of the Word. Colossians 3 says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Wives submit to your husbands. Husbands love your wives. Children obey your parents. Employees obey your employers.” Ephesians 5 says, “Be not drunk with wine but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to each other with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. In everything give thanks. Wives submit to your husbands. Husbands love your wives. Children obey your parents. Employees obey your employers.” The results of “letting the Word of Christ dwell in you richly” (see Colossians 3) are exactly the same as being “filled with the Spirit” (see Ephesians 5). Therefore, it follows that the Word and the Spirit are intimately linked together. If you want to live in the Spirit, keep in the Word. Become totally saturated with the Scriptures, and you’ll find yourself overflowing with the Spirit.

Acts 10:46

Without exception, in every biblical reference, tongues are directed to God to give praise and adoration and exaltation to Him. They are never directed to man, never a message for man. Tongues are always used to praise God. Reminiscent of the Ethiopian eunuch in chapter 8, these believers were eager to be baptized, eager to demonstrate their acceptance of God’s amazing grace that was vast enough to embrace even Gentiles.