ONLINE ACTS LESSON 18 – GOD BRINGS NEW DIRECTION

Acts 10:1-23
GETTING STARTED: The description of Cornelius – A devout God-fearing man. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God. Cornelius is a God fearing gentile who attends services at the local synagogue. He believes in God – but has not yet converted to Judaism. He practices prayer – devout living and generosity.

• Caesarea is the capital of Judea and located there is a volunteer regiment known as the Italian Regiment. Cornelius is a centurion or captain in this regiment. Thirty miles away on the coast is Joppa. Peter stays with a tanner named Simon.
• God is ready to bring a new direction to the church so that the Gospel will be preached to Gentiles and to Jews. People will not need to become Jews to become Christians. They will be saved by the work of Jesus, and they will be filled with the Holy Spirit.
• Your young men will see visions. God will speak to Cornelius and to Peter through a vision.

GOD SPEAKS TO CORNELIUS. Acts 10:1-8

• God chooses Cornelius – likely to demonstrate that you don’t need circumcision to live a Godly life. He was doing that – but he had no way of hearing the Gospel.
• So God decides that this man must hear the Good News and not trust in circumcision and becoming a Jew to be saved – but to be saved by calling on the name of the Lord.
• The message – Go get Peter. Peter is chosen by God to lead this major breakthrough. The church will include Gentiles. When Jesus said to go to the ends of the earth – it wasn’t just for the Jews scattered to the ends of the earth – it was to everyone. JESUS IS THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD.

GOD SPEAKS TO PETER. Acts 10:9-23

• Noon was a time for prayer – but Peter is hungry – and tired – so he asks for some food to be prepared and goes up on the flat roof to wait and nap.
• Now God has him alone and uses this occasion to speak to him through a vision. God uses Peter’s hunger to speak a bigger message to him. Eat these animals that you think are unclean – but that I call clean. Peter objects – but God corrects. Settle this – God’s way is best. You can object – but God is correct.
• Tradition is so strong in Peter that God has to show him the vision 3 times. Even then it is difficult for him to comprehend. But Peter is willing and he is obedient.
• When the men from Cornelius arrive – Peter goes with them. A BRAND NEW DAY IS BEING LAUNCHED UNDER GOD’S DIRECTION.

CLOSING THOUGHT: New direction will come to us when we take time to seek the
Lord and listen to His voice. God is still speaking and leading through His Spirit.

ONLINE ACTS LESSON 17 – THE HEALING MINISTRY OF JESUS CONTINUES

Acts 9:32-42
GETTING STARTED:
● Luke laid out the book of Acts and centered it around 2 ministries – the ministry of
Peter and the ministry of Paul. It’s really the ministry of Jesus continuing in the
power of the Holy Spirit through these two.
● Luke took a break in chapter 9 to tell us the story of Paul’s conversion and now at
the end of chapter 9 he returns to the ministry of Peter. This focus will continue
through chapter 12 and then Acts will focus on the missionary efforts of Paul.
● One of the great things you see in Peter is his openness to signs and wonders
that lift up Jesus. Peter did not miss the opportunity to let miracles lead to people
being saved. When the miracle lifted up Jesus – he preached the Good News.
● At the end of chapter nine there are two amazing miracles – let’s read them.

AENEAS IS HEALED BY JESUS CHRIST. 9:32-35
● Aeneas was bedridden for eight years but that was about to change. Peter was
not intimidated because he walked in the power of the Spirit.
● Look out how clearly Peter understands that healing is a continuation of the
ministry of Jesus. Peter will write in 1 Peter 2:24 that by His stripes you were
healed. He knew Jesus paid the price and he knew that Jesus anointed him with
the same Holy Spirit. So Peter says with confidence – Jesus Christ heals you.
● Finally – Look at verse 35 – People turned to the Lord. The miracle led to the
greater miracle of salvation. Peter did not lose focus on the greater need.

DORCAS IS RAISED FROM THE DEAD. 9:36-41
● To truly appreciate this account you need to remember that Peter was present
when Jesus raised the daughter of Jairus – a synagogue leader. In that account –
Jesus sent out the mourners and went into the room with the parents and with
Peter, James and John. YES – PETER WAS IN THAT ROOM. Jesus told the
little girl to get up and she was raised from the dead.
● In this account – Peter sends out the widows who are mourning – they are
believers but they don’t have the faith to believe for this miracle.( The people
Jesus sent out started laughing and mocking – this was not the case in Acts)
● Before Peter gave the command like Jesus to get up – He knelt and prayed. We
do not know what he prayed – but it is likely it was for direction. When he knew
the will of God – he acted in faith and this woman was raised up.

CLOSING: Look at 42 – This is what it is all about. MANY BELIEVED IN THE LORD.
We say yes to signs and wonders that lift up Jesus – that allow his great ministry to
continue. And we say yes to people hearing the Good News and believing.

ONLINE ACTS LESSON 16 – THE CHANGED LIFE

Acts 9:19-31
GETTING STARTED:

● This passage about the start of Paul’s ministry does not get very much attention
but it brings home a very powerful message. That when God saves us – he really
changes us. We witness in this passage what it means to go 180 degrees in a
brand new direction.
● Paul will be bold for Jesus. He has not yet taken the designation as the apostle
to the Gentiles – but that is coming.

BOLDLY PREACHING JESUS IN DAMASCUS. Acts 9:20-25
● Acts does not mention how long Paul was in Damascus but from Galatians we
know that it was about 3 years. In this time he will go out into the desert and be
discipled directly by Jesus.
● Through this interaction with Jesus and in the power of the Holy Spirit – Paul
becomes an unstoppable force for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Look again at
verse 22. They could not refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.
● The result was that they wanted to kill him. But God had a plan for Paul and he
was able to escape at night with the help of other believers.

TAKE NOTE: Look at how God began to use Paul from the beginning. There is an
undeniable willingness in his life to serve the Lord. GOD WILL CHANGE YOU AS
MUCH AS YOU WILL ALLOW HIM.

THIS BOLD MINISTRY CONTINUES IN JERUSALEM. Acts 9:26-30
● At first the believers are afraid of Paul because of his past. But Barnabas – the
son of encouragement – convinced them that he was legit. When God is in
control of your life – he will give you favor with the right people.
● The church learned a key lesson of looking at the fruit of the ministry and not at a
person’s past. They took into account what was accomplished in Damascus.
● Paul will effectively preach Jesus to the Greek speaking Jews in Jerusalem. This
is the same crowd that stoned Stephen and they cannot refute Paul as they could
not refute Stephen. (Both had seen Jesus).
● They want to do to Paul what they did to Stephen – kill him. Paul will never let
the threats of opposition hinder him from preaching the Gospel. He relied on the
prayers of others to lift him up. Look at what he writes in Ephesians 6:19,20.
● So the church sends Paul to Tarsus – where he will minister for a season. During
this time the church will have peace and growth.

NOTICE: Read Acts 9:31. They lived in the fear of the Lord – Obedience – and with the
encouragement of the Holy Spirit – Power. Let’s live in the great combination of the
Lordship of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit.

ONLINE ACTS LESSON 15 – THE DAMASCUS ROAD ENCOUNTER

Acts 9:1-9
GETTING STARTED:
● At the end of chapter 7 we read that Paul – Saul held the coats of those who
stoned Stephen and Paul gave his approval to what was done.
● This means that he witnessed the power of the Holy Spirit released through the
powerful forgiveness that Stephen spoke as he was brought directly into the
presence of Jesus. Not only did Stephen forgive – but he boldly proclaimed that
he saw the Son of Man standing at God’s right hand.
● This witness will explode with a powerful encounter on the road to Damascus.
Saul has one plan – but God has another. LET’S READ THE STORY.

WHO ARE YOU LORD? Verses 3-9
● Jesus demonstrates his power to Saul in order to bring him to repentance and to
salvation. There is a bright light and a clear voice. Jesus asks the first question:
Why are you persecuting me.
● Saul is convinced that he has met the master – the true Lord and now he asks –
Who are you LORD? You are in charge – you are Lord – and I need to know you.
● Jesus answers – I AM JESUS. Present tense – alive tense. Your persecution of
my church is persecution of me.
● The sign of Saul’s surrender to the Lord is his obedience to Christ’s command.
Go to the city and wait – you will be told what is next.

THE LESSON FOR ALL OF US: The salvation of Jesus is not weak – it is strong. He is
mighty to save. When you meet him – your new plan will be His plan for your life.

A FAITHFUL OBEDIENT BELIEVER. Verses 10-16
● Think about the power in Ananias’ first response – Yes Lord! When we say yes –
it releases the power of God through our life. God always uses the willing.
● The yes is tested by what seems to be a very unusual request. Go minister to
Saul – he is my chosen instrument.

LISTEN: We must believe what the Word says – What the Lord says above the reports
of others. It was not a matter of what Saul had done – but a matter of who he had
become. NOW – he is the chosen instrument of the Lord.

JESUS MINISTERS TO SAUL THROUGH ANANIAS. Verses 17&18
● Saul regains his sight and he is filled with the Holy Spirit. This brings forth
physical sight and spiritual sight. Now – there is new leadership and power in his
life. Jesus is Lord and the Holy Spirit is empowering and leading.
● In obedience – Saul is baptized.

2 TAKEAWAYS FOR TODAY: 1. No one is too lost. Paul will call himself a trophy of
God’s grace – the worst of sinners. It was true. 2. The powerful witness of forgiveness
and love will win over hate and vengeance. The Holy Spirit used Stephen’s witness to
bring salvation to Paul.