WEEK 8
THE CHURCH IN CAESAREA – ACTS 10:1-48
CORNELIUS CALLS FOR PETER
There was another gathering in Caeserea in the house of Cornelius. Cornelius was a centurion of the Italian Cohort. He was a devout man who feared God with his household. He gave alms liberally to the people and prayed constantly to God. About the ninth hour of the day, he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God calling out to him. The angel said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. Now send men to Joppa, and bring one Simon who is called Peter; 6 he is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside.” Immediately the angel left, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier, who guards him. He told them everything he heard and sent them off to Joppa.
PETER’S VISION
Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. He became hungry and desired something to eat. But while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance. He saw the heaven opened and something like a great sheet descending and being lowered down by four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of animals, reptiles and birds of the air. And then, there came a voice to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter declined and said, “No, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” The voice came to him again a second time saying, “What God has cleansed, you must not call common.” This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.
While Peter was perplexed as to what the vision which he had seen might mean, the men that were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, were already standing before the gate. They called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. Peter was still pondering over the vision when the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. Rise, go down and accompany them without hesitation because I have sent them.” Immediately, Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for your coming?” They replied saying, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house, and to hear what you have to say.” So, he called them in to be his guests.
PETER AT CORNELIUS HOUSE
The next day, Peter rose and went off with them. Some brethren from Joppa also went with him. On the following day, they entered Caesare’a. Cornelius, who was already expecting them, had called his kinsmen and close friends together. When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. Then Peter said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit any one of another nation; but God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.” Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was keeping the ninth hour of prayer in my house; and behold, a man stood before me in bright apparel, saying, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter; he is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the seaside.’ So I sent to you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God, to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”
GENTILES HEAR THE GOOD NEWS
Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the word which he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), the word which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. And we are witnesses to all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and made him manifest; not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that he is the one ordained by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him, all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
GENTILES RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT
While Peter was still saying this, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. The believers from among the circumcised who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. They heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, “Can anyone forbid water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
MORAL LESSONS:
God is the God of the Jews and also the God of the Gentiles.
Anyone that believes in God and walk in His ways is acceptable to God and He shares His gifts abroad to all flesh.
Unprecedented 