Acts 10:23-48
Q.1. What made Peter accept the Gentile delegation? How did he explain his break with Jewish prejudice? Why did Cornelius invite Peter? – (Acts 10:22-33)
The delegation convinced Peter that Cornelius had received a divine visitation, in much the same way as he had (Acts 10:22 c.f. 10:17). Peter accepted these men and gave them lodging. He would later be severely criticized for this (Acts 11:2-3). Upon arriving at the home of Cornelius, Peter restated why he was willing to break with Jewish tradition regarding interaction with Gentiles – … “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean (Acts 10:28). Cornelius then explained that an angelic messenger had told him that God was rewarding his faith, and he was to send for a man called Simon Peter. Hence, he had gathered his family, household, and friends to hear Peter’s message (Acts 10:30-33).
Q.2. What had Peter learned about God’s dealing with the Gentile nations? What was the substance of Peter’s message to the gathering? – (Acts 10:34-43)
Peter had been given a dream which expanded his vision – 34 … “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, 35 but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him (Acts 10:34-35). Cornelius was chosen, because he was – a devout man and one who feared God with all his household and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually (Acts 10:2). Peter was able to build on Cornelius’s understanding of the Jewish Scriptures, in order to present the Gospel (c.f. Acts 10:36). He added the well-known recent events concerning the life of Jesus Christ, culminating in His death on a cross (Acts 10:38-39). To this Peter added the facts of the resurrection and its implication, namely – 42 …that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. 43 Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins (Acts 10:42-43). Now this Jesus is both Saviour and Judge.
Q.3. How did God ratify the inclusion of the Gentiles into His family? What was the nature of the tongues? How did Peter follow up the converts? – (Acts 10:44-48) =
God showed Peter and his brethren that the Gentiles were part of His plan and family, by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He had done before (Acts 10:44-45 c.f. 2:1). What evidence did Peter and his Jewish companions have? The Holy Spirit came on them, just as He had done on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 10:45-47 c.f. 11:15-17). Luke recorded that the tongues were not unintelligible, but clearly understood to be exalting God in just the same way as on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 10:46 c.f. 2:6-11). Peter responded by calling on these converts to be baptized. He then encouraged them in their faith by staying on for several days more (Acts 10:47-48).