The Acts of The Apostles

Acts was taught by Dr. James Modlish

 

Chapter Ten
(10:1-48)

In (Acts 10) we see the second of the two major uses of the Keys (Matt. 16:19) which Peter has been given the privilege and responsibility to use. The Keys are used to open the door of faith (1 Cor. 16:9) to the Jew in (Acts 2) and Gentile here in (Acts 10). Tongues appear in both passages as signs to Israel.

In (Acts 2), to prove to the Jews of the Dispersion that the Palestinian Jews who have believed on Christ have received God's approval. In the second case to prove that God has shown no difference between Jew and Gentile (Acts 11:17).

Vs. 1-8

Cornelius was a Gentile centurion (responsible for 100 men). He was what would be considered a godly man. He was devout, God-fearing, an almsgiver and prayed to God. Cornelius is a perfect example how God gets the gospel to a man who responds to the Light (Jn. 1:9), that he has already received. Acts 11:14 makes it clear that Cornelius was a lost man spiritually. When a man seeks for truth (Rom. 2:7) he finds it (Matt. 19:16; Tit. 2:11, Ps. 98:2; Ps. 19:1)

Verse (4) explains how God deals with the heathen. When the heathen follows his conscience (Rom. 2:15) it leads him straight to Jesus Christ, exactly as the law was a schoolmaster (Gal. 3:24) for the Jew. God knows the heart (Rom. 2:13) and when the heart of any man turns to him he is accepted with him (verse 35) in the sense that God will give that man an opportunity to receive Christ. Cornelius receives a vision and is told where the missionary is. He sends three men to Joppa to fetch Peter.

Vs. 9-18

Peter is about to be dealt with by the Lord concerning the transitional changes that are rapidly taking place. The men from Caesarea are already on their way. Peter goes to the roof of Simon's house at noon and begins to pray. While lunch was being prepared downstairs, Peter falls into a trance. God shows him a vision of unclean animals, tells Peter to eat, and of course, Peter objects being a good Jew. Rather than hearken to a direct command of the Lord, Peter concerns himself with important things like "not eating meat on Friday." Peter sticks to his guns and God attempts to teach Peter the lesson of the dispensation being ushered in. (1 Tim. 4:4,5; Col. 2:14; Rom. 14:6-17)

Peter is very confused about the whole thing and while he yet ponders, three Gentiles three separate sheets, (vs. 16) stands before the gate inquiring of Peter. The Spirit of God then tells Peter three men seek thee (vs. 19). The vision is plainly that of Jew and Gentile in one vessel.

The Body of Christ has two official points of revelation, (Acts 2 & 10).

Vs. 19-29

Peter is then told to learn a lesson and doubt nothing. What Peter is about to see is the Holy Ghost fall on a Gentile as He did on the apostles at Pentecost. Doubt nothing!! This implies that Peter had six good reasons to doubt.

Vs. 22

Peter receives an invitation to go preach. Six men then accompany him from Joppa along with the three messengers sent. Including Peter there are 10 men traveling together in (Acts 10). Ten can be connected with the Gentile often in the Word.

Vs. 25

Cornelius falls down at Peter's feet, and begins to worship him. Peter immediately grabs him and stands him on his feet and lets Cornelius know that Peter is but a sinful man.

Vs. 28

Peter has received part of the message of the sheets.

"Without gainsaying" - without an argument.

Vs. 29

Yet Peter says, "Why did you send for me?"

Vs. 31

God hears a seeking prayer of a lost man. Cornelius tells Peter the story of his vision and the instructions given by the angel to send for him. Still wondering what the purpose of his visit was, and only seeing that he shouldn't be "racially prejudiced," Cornelius tells Peter to preach the message he has been commanded to preach.

Vs. 34-43

Some use verse 35 as a proof for a works related salvation. The acceptance is reference to the fact that God will give the man the opportunity to hear and accept the truth. Cornelius is not saved in (vs. 35!)
[1]. His prayers are memorial (vs. 4)

[2]. He is warned by an angel.

[3]. (Acts 11:13,14) show he is unsaved before (Acts 10:44)

Vs. 34

God is no respecter of persons occurs seven other times in the scriptures: (2 Chron. 19:7; Rom. 2:11; Col. 3:25; Jam. 2:1; 11 Sam. 14:14; 1 Pet. 1:17; Eph. 6:9).

Vs. 36

This is a reference to the whole message of Christ's earthly ministry (vs. 37 - "That word I say"), never forgetting that the gospel which Peter knows up until this time is the death, burial and resurrection of the Jewish Messiah. The "word" began with the message of John the Baptist and heralded the Kingdom of Heaven which would come if Israel repented and believed the Messiah. (Jn. 1:10,11; Lk. 1:73-78). Remission of sins (vs. 43) at this point meant forgiveness, for there is no mention of redemption (Col. 1:14).

Vs. 38

The presence of the Trinity. God anointed Jesus with the Holy Ghost. (1 Cor. 12-3-6; Rom. 8:9-14)

Vs. 43

The verse is constructed in such a way that many have insisted that all the prophets spoke of the remission of sins through the crucifixion of Christ. The sense of this verse is the sense of (Jn. 8:56). They see this day and speak, present tense. The prophets are alive today in heaven. Nowhere did they speak of forgiveness of sins being received by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. (Isa. 53:10,11) comes closest. The Old Testament prophets spoke of:
[1]. A prince Messiah who would restore Israel.
[2]. At that time God would blot out Israel's sin.
[3]. The Messiah would suffer before He would come into His glory.

Peter is getting near the truth shown to Philip in (Acts 8). Notice the difference in (Acts 2:38): "for the remission..." (already forgiven Luke 23: 34) and "shall receive remission" (vs. 43).

It is apparent that while Peter was in Joppa (Acts 9:43) he got news of Philip's evangelistic work on the Ethiopian.

Two things bear this out:

[1]. Philip goes to Caesarea where Peter now is (Acts 8:4).
[2]. Peter is passing through (Acts 9: 32) the area where Philip had just been (Acts 8:40). When he says whosoever, he has in mind (Lk. 24:47) and the fact that an Ethiopian proselyte to Judaism (Acts 8) had been saved through (Isa. 53). Hence to him give all the prophets witness (vs. 43).

Vs. 44

A number of truths are clearly given 48 in this passage:
[1]. The Baptism of the Holy Ghost matches the one in (Acts 2:1,2) and of this baptism Paul say One Baptism. He says further it is by one spirit that we are baptized into One Body. The same word "gift" is used in (vs. 45) as in (Acts 2:38).
[2]. Tongues are loan initial evidence" given in the two places in the Bible where the Holy Spirit initiated his work in this age. (Acts 2 & 10) There is no evidence in First Corinthians that tongues are "an initial evidence" of anything.
[3]. Those saved received the Holy Ghost without water baptism and without laying on of hands.
[4]. They are baptized in the name of the Lord. The name Lord is the only name that will match all three persons in the Trinity (Matt. 28:19,20).
The Son - Lord - (Phil. 2:11)
The Father - Lord - (Jude 5)
The Holy Ghost - Lord - (Acts 21: 2 Cor. 3:17)

Cornelius and his house hear the Word and are saved and put in the Body of Christ by the Holy Spirit and they speak in tongues as a sign to Israel (1 Cor. 14:22) that they have the same gift. Peter takes it for granted that new converts should be baptized as Paul did in (Acts 16) and Philip did in (Acts 8).

 

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