ADULT STS LESSON 194 GENTILES RECEIVE THE GOSPEL
MEMORY VERSE:
“Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God”
(Acts 10:33).
TEXT:
Acts 10:1–48
The tenth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles details how the gospel began to spread to other parts of the world for the salvation of the Gentiles. Christ’s commission to believers to “go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15) was being fulfilled. Whereas the gospel had been largely restricted in its outreach to the precincts of Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, its course was now being changed to reach sinners in “the uttermost part of the earth” as commanded by our Lord Jesus Christ. Beginning with Cornelius and his household, the gospel was now available for and accessible to everyone in “all nations”.
This account marked the beginning of an open door for the gospel to the Gentiles. It records God’s schemes for the conversion of the first Gentile gave two household. In this account, the Lord complementary visions to two representatives of the two major divides – Jews and Gentiles – in order to remove the barrier that had negatively affected the outreach of the Jews towards the Gentiles.
CHARACTER, CONVICTION AND VISION OF CORNELIUS
(Acts 10:1–6; Psalm 103:13; Proverbs 3:7; Ecclesiastes 12:13; John 9:31; Romans 8:3; Hebrews 11:28; 1 John 3:17,18)
“There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared God…” (Acts 10:1,2).
As a Roman military officer commanding over a hundred Italian soldiers, Cornelius wielded considerable authority in Caesarea. None of the soldiers under him could challenge, refuse or alter his order (Matthew 8:9). Yet, he was convinced that he too was subject to God. This state of his heart guided his whole outlook on life so much that he was consistently God-fearing.
The lesson from this is that one should not allow any privilege becloud his or her need to humbly recognise the superior claims of God on him/her. No matter one’s social status, we should always be conscious that the Lord who places someone in a position of power or influence expects the beneficiary to be subject to His overriding purpose.
Serving within the Israeli territory, Cornelius would no doubt have had contact with the notion of the true God. So, he lived in the light of the truth he had received. Again, his example and influence on his household should challenge those who profess to love God, yet do not correct the ungodly comportment of their wives, children and domestic helps.
In spite of the possibility of conflicting superior claims between Christianity and Judaism in the territory at that time, his pattern of life indisputably reveals his reverence for God. As a Gentile, he had a basic belief in the tenets of godliness and lived by them. This was even before Peter’s declaration of the gospel message and the salvation experience.
If Cornelius could be so God-fearing, generous, prayerful and devoted, and was still instructed by God to send for Peter to preach salvation message to them, religious people need the same message for their salvation.
In response to Cornelius’ soul’s thirst and continual prayer, God gave a vision to assure him that his good works and prayer had come up for a memorial before Him. “He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him…” (Acts 10:3).
The vision gave a clear directive to send for Peter. In addition, it gave an unmistakable description of Peter’s residence. It also gave a concise declaration of the purpose of the directive: “he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do” (verse 6).
Undoubtedly, we have vital lessons from this vision:
- It shows that in situations of personal confusion, a believer can pray like David: “Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness… make my way straight before my face” (Psalm 5:8). In keeping with His faithfulness to His promise, God will instruct, teach and guide him (Psalm 32:8).
- It proves that God, indeed, is not willing that any sincere seeker should perish (2 Peter 3:9).
- It confirms the fact that angels are messengers of God to humanity.
- Cornelius was God-fearing but not yet a Christian. The command that he should send for Peter shows that in the reckoning of heaven, there is no acceptable alternative to salvation. Christ alone is the way as well as the gate to heaven. No other creed or religion can substitute for His atoning sacrifice on the cross.
COMPLIANCE TO DIVINE DIRECTIVE
(Acts 10:7,8; Genesis 19:15–19; 22:1–3; Luke 19:5–10; Galatians 1:15,16)
“And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants… And… sent them to Joppa” (Acts 10:7,8).
The centurion was prompt in his compliance to the divine instruction. In like manner, believers should ensure prompt and complete compliance to God’s directives (Psalm 119:60).
Two, his choice of three of his most trusted and devout men to fetch Peter challenges contemporary believers to deploy the best of their human and material resources in the course of obeying God.
Three, the way he narrated the message to his servants reminds believers not to embellish, subtract or add to the word of God (Deuteronomy 4:2; Revelation 22:18).
Four, Cornelius’ evaluation of these servants and the sincerity when they carried out the assignment should challenge Christians in any employment or engagement to be faithful and dependable. “…Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:1,2).
CONSEQUENCE OF PETER’S VISION
(Acts 10:9–22; 11:1–12; Hebrews 8:6,7; 10:7–14; 2 Corinthians 3:1–11)
As Cornelius’ servants approached Peter’s residence, the apostle fell into a trance and saw a “…great sheet …wherein were all manner of four footed beasts… wild beasts, creeping things, and fowls of the air” (verses 11,12).
As a faithful Hebrew, taught in the laws of Moses, the suggestion to kill and eat the unclean content of the descended sheet was resisted. However, the divine correction to his resistance and the repetition of the vision forced him into reconsidering its significance.
His dilemma was how he could remain a faithful Hebrew while obeying a command deemed to be contrary to the laws of Moses. He was yet to fully realise that a New Testament minister is now under a new covenant which is better than the former, comparatively.
“While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. Arise… and go with them…” (Acts 10:19,20).
Peter’s immediate response to the Spirit’s leading, in spite of his initial resistance, teaches believers to always submit to the will of God, irrespective of previous convictions or contrary opinion.
One of the heart-warming results of this vision was that it helped the Hebrew Christians to reach people of other nationalities with the gospel. It opened the way for the Gentiles to become part of the commonwealth of Israel. The erstwhile all-Hebrew church was ready to welcome believers of other nations. It has also led to the expansion of the gospel work to regions hitherto unreached, thus fulfilling the Lord’s mandate to witness to the uttermost parts of the earth.
ABANDONMENT OF NON-ESSENTIAL TRADITIONS
(Acts 10:23–29, 9–18; 9:43; Colossians 2:20–23)
The problem of segregation of the Jews from the Gentiles dates back to the era of Judaism. God had designed the exclusiveness for Israel so that they could maintain their peculiarity and holiness. The Jews were thus proud of their law and adherence to it.
But as they hated the Gentiles for their idolatry, the Gentiles hated them for their bigotry and pride. Even with the birth of the spiritual church, it was still very difficult for Jewish Christians to reach out to the Gentiles. How sad that the exclusiveness God designed for Israel degenerated into a matter of pride! They misunderstood God’s plan and programme for the world.
Meanwhile, in the preceding chapter, Peter had started shedding this rabbinical tradition as he had been a guest in Joppa at the house of “one Simon a tanner”. The Jews despised this trade because tanners handled the flesh of dead animals. But Peter stayed in his house for “many days”.
His prejudices needed to be removed by the Lord because Gentiles like Cornelius had to be reached with the gospel. Now, Peter was to go to the house of Cornelius to honour an invitation to preach the gospel to, not just a Gentile but also an officer in the Roman army who wanted to hear the message.
“Then called he them in, and lodged them…” There was a change in Peter’s heart by the way he entertained these Gentile guests against the custom and tradition of the Jews. He reached out in love to his Gentile neighbours in obedience to what he heard in the trance.
It is always good that believers cast off personal or public opinion when it comes to doing the will of God, bearing in mind that in His sight, “…there is neither Jew nor Greek… there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
AN EXAMPLE OF A SINCERE SEEKER
(Acts 10:30–33; Matthew 7:7–11; Jeremiah 29:13)
Upon Peter’s arrival in Cornelius’ house, he met many people who had gathered, waiting to hear the gospel. Cornelius was not only waiting, he was willing to have his kindred and friends hear also. Besides, he was not ashamed to invite others to this solemn religious meeting. He was “not ashamed of the gospel of Christ” (Romans 1:16).
He shelved any secular engagement during the period for the sake of the gospel. Whenever God spots sincere seekers, He responds to them. Likewise, preachers and soul-winners should promptly identify sincere seekers and attend to them.
Note, however, that as God was speaking to Cornelius, He was also speaking to Peter. Thus, He brought them together. This confirms that out of the mouth of two or three witnesses, the truth shall be established.
SALVATION THROUGH FAITH IN THE GOSPEL
(Acts 10:34–43; Matthew 28:18–20; Ephesians 2:8–13; 1 Corinthians 6:9–11; Romans 4:5–8; 3:21–26; 5:9; 10:9,10)
Peter, beginning to understand God’s posture, told his audience: “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him…” (Acts 10:34,35).
He summed up his message by calling his listeners to faith in the name of Jesus (verse 43). Paul the apostle also preached to the Corinthians briefly, “…how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3,4).
Through the gospel, we learn that Christ became the sin-Bearer and “the propitiation for our sins; and not for our sins only, but for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2). By His work of grace, He brought solution to the problem of sin (Isaiah 44:22).
Although Christ’s atonement on the cross guarantees universal salvation for all mankind, this can only be appropriated on personal basis through faith in Him. This means that a sinner who seeks to be saved must exercise faith in the blood of Jesus.
God is not partial in dealing with mankind. The same Spirit’s baptism that took place on the day of Pentecost came on the Gentiles that were present with Cornelius and was a great surprise to the Jewish Christians who came with Apostle Peter to Cornelius’ house.
That these Gentiles who were referred to as pagans and despised by the Jews were now being incorporated into the body of Christ made it clear to the Jews that God was equally interested in saving the Gentile sinners.
With Christ’s death, the veil that made the holy of holies an exclusive place was torn into two (Matthew 27:51), signifying that the way into the holy place had been opened for all believers to come in. The wall of partition between the Jews and Gentiles has been removed. Therefore, we should seize every opportunity to take the whole gospel to the whole world.
Questions for Review
- Mention some man-made traditions that can hinder the spread of the gospel.
- Why was Peter’s vision significant?
- How does Cornelius’ character challenge contemporary Christians?
- What can a believer learn from the obedience of Cornelius?
- What is the outcome of Peter’s vision?
- How can a soul-winner identify sincere seekers during outreaches?
- What steps should a sinner take to receive salvation?
