Acts 10:24-46
GETTING STARTED:
● In our previous lesson we learned how God speaks through the Holy Spirit to
people who are seeking him. At regular times of prayer – Peter at noon and
Cornelius at 3 – God spoke great change and direction. They both saw visions
and they both followed instructions obediently.
● Now Peter is traveling with the people Cornelius sent to bring Good News to
Caeserea. The meaning of not calling unclean what God calls clean is about to
be very clear. LET’S READ THE REST OF THE STORY FROM CHAPTER 10.
GOD OPENS A DOOR FOR CORNELIUS TO RECEIVE GOOD NEWS.
● Cornelius was a devout – God fearing man who sought the Lord. God answered
his prayers and sent Peter with the Good News.
● Look at how eager he was to receive. He even tried to worship Peter – but Peter
let him know that he was the messenger and not the one to be worshipped.
● He states to Peter – we are all hear waiting to hear the message the Lord has
given you.
● Peter preaches the Good News of Jesus. Acts 10:38 is one of my favorite
declarations about the Lord. That Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit and
that he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil.
● As they hear the Good News – they believe it and receive salvation. God always
responds to faith. The sign that they have believed is that they are also filled with
the Holy Spirit and they speak in other tongues. GOOD NEWS COMES TO THE
HOUSE OF CORNELIUS. Now they are followers of Jesus Christ.
NOTE: Clearly God establishes that you don’t have to become a Jew first to be a
follower of Jesus – that’s how powerful the work of the Cross is.
GOD OPENS THE UNDERSTANDING OF PETER.
● Earlier in the year, I used this story to talk about God filling the empty places in
our lives. We looked at how God brought new understanding to Peter so that
now his heart is open to Jews and Gentiles calling on the name of the Lord.
● 2 keys to Peter’s heart receiving new direction. First – he regularly sought the
Lord so it was easy for God to speak to him. Second – he walked humbly before
the Lord – he refused to be worshipped or to take credit for what God was doing.
● Finally – it is Peter who fully recognizes what God has done. Look at what he
says in the final 2 verses of this chapter. (Acts 10:47&48) Let’s baptize them –
they are believers just like us.
MY PRAYER FOR YOU – May the Lord continue to increase your understanding as you
seek Him and humbly follow the Lord.