ACTS

ACTS 10

• Acts 10:1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, 
• 2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always. 

Here is someone who loved God and served God but that wasn't enough to save his soul and his household. They needed to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and be filled with the Holy Spirit.This is an occasion where the glorious gospel is given to the Gentiles as well as the Jews. God is no respecter of persons and He sent Jesus to save any who would believe both Jews and Gentiles, bond or free, male or female, child or adult. 

• Acts 10:3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. 
• 4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. 

God saw the works of this man and had mercy upon Him sending an angel and an apostle to tell him of the gospel and give him the greatest gift of all; the gift of the Holy Spirit and of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. The ninth hour is about 3 in the afternoon according to some sources.

• Acts 10:5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: 
• 6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. 
• 7 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually; 
• 8 And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa. 
• 9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: 

God doesn't leave any loose ends. He sent an angel to Cornelius but he also had a very prejudice apostle to deal with. Peter was faithful in spreading the gospel but he forgot that it was for the entire world. He even forgot his own words spoken in the first few chapters in Acts, and the great commission given by Jesus. The sixth hour is about 12 noon.

• Acts 10:10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, 
• 11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: 
• 12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 
• 13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. 
• 14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 

Jews were forbidden to eat certain animals and to eat them would have broken the law of God.

• Acts 10:15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 
• 16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven. 

When God makes a person clean from sin, he or she is clean no matter what nationality. Peter was about to find out that those unclean Gentiles were also to be recipients of the Holy Spirit. God could have used an angel to do all these things but He chooses human vessels that already know Him to spread the word to others. He wants believers to connect and be one in spirit and in truth.

That does not mean that we are all to join into one big church, be organized in a way that we are all a big powerful religious institution but to be one in spirit and in truth. To love, exhort, teach, connect, yes we are to be that; yet be individuals with the ability to choose and make decisions on our own. We are as individuals to have a one on one relationship with God through His Holy Spirit. This is made possible by faith in Jesus Christ and the power of His resurrection. We are to be one body but separate individuals in that body so that we are all under the headship of Christ. Good godly leadership over local churches is necessary also to teach, keep out false teaching, and keep things orderly as directed by the Holy Spirit. They are not to be control freaks.

There are some that take this message as a sign that we now can eat pork or other unclean animals if we didn't do so in the past but this really has nothing to do with what we eat or drink. The message was plain that it was to show the Jewish people who first received the gospel that it is for all nations, not just the Jews or Israel.

• Acts 10:17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate, 
• 18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
• 19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. 
• 20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. 
• 21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come? 
• 22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by a holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee. 
• 23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him. 
• 24 And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends. 
• 25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. 
• 26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. 

A true man of God will never accept worship or credit for what God does through him. An angel of God will not accept worship. Only an agent of Satan will receive worship that is meant only for God or for Jesus Christ. 

• Acts 10:27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together. 
• 28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 
• 29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me? 
• 30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 
• 31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. 
• 32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee. 
• 33 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. 
• 34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 
• 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. 

Apparently God still sees righteous works and accepts them but this man still needed to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. A truly righteous man who loves God would want to receive all God has for Him. 

• Acts 10:36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) 
• 37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 
• 38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. 
• 39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: 
• 40 Him God raised up the third day, and showed him openly; 
• 41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. 
• 42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. 
• 43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. 
• 44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 

These people were quick to believe and as a result they received the Holy Spirit. This is really what should occur when we first come to the faith in Jesus Christ but some receive the Holy Spirit baptism later as we saw in one of the chapters previous to Acts.10. 

• Acts 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

They should not have been astonished but they were. Even Peter preached that the Holy Spirit was available for everyone. 

Here is his words in Act 2:

• Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 
• 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 

Tongues were a sign that the Holy Spirit was present and one had received this Holy Spirit baptism. The same is true today. Tongues accompany many who are baptized in the Holy Spirit and this is never to be dismissed or taken lightly. It never should be ignored and taught that that gift has ceased or was just for the apostle's day only or just until the written bible was complete.  That which is perfect in 1 Corinthians chapter 13 has not yet come. We have the written word but it is not yet perfectly understood. All the gifts of the spirit are needed today even more so since unbelief is returning and the world is reverting to many pagan religions again, some mixing with Christianity. We should know better. 

• Acts 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 

This is proof that tongues did not just appear on the day of Pentecost when people of other nations were present. Tongues is a supernatural sign that God is present. To speak in one's own tongue the great works of God is great and will win the lost to Christ. Those that are naturally gifted can speak as well as those that can only speak as moved by the Holy Spirit but to speak in a language that one has never learned previously is a miracle and can only happen by the supernatural.

Some claim that the devil also can duplicate this and I will leave that to the skeptics to figure out. I don't know and will not comment on it. I do know though that speaking in tongues does occur when one is baptized with the Holy Spirit and that this is real. Just because some claim to speak with tongues and do not live godly or someone may act in a manner that is unscriptural, doesn't make this gift of God any less real. Just as everyone that claims to be saved by grace doesn't always live by the scriptures; this is also true of those who claim to be filled with God's spirit. We still have our own free will and can sin if we over ride the leading of the Holy Spirit. We still have the power to resist the will of God and refuse to obey His word. That doesn't make this wonderful gift null and void or not real.

These things are promised to all that are afar off. It did not stop with the apostles. If they disappeared for a season after the apostles died off, it was probably because the church was going into apostasy rather than God taking the gifts back. They might have shied away from the gifts because of the trouble the Corinthian church had. Look at the results though of refusing to lean on the Holy Spirit. The gospel was replaced by the religion of man. Some, not all began to use force to spread the gospel instead of the power of the Holy Spirit. People were converted to a religion called Christianity but did not know Jesus Christ and were not walking in the spirit of God.  

In saying that I will say this: Those of us who have received this wonderful gift of God have even more responsibility to live by the word and in obedience to God by not returning to the sin Jesus saved us from because the gifts of the spirit is holy and we should never take them lightly. We have even more responsibility to not add to or take away from the scriptures. Those who speak against this are ignoring part of the scripture. How can we accuse the Catholic Church of adding to scripture and living by tradition, if we do the same? To my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord that reject these wonderful things, I say this: It is in the bible. I do hope we can all lay aside unscriptural traditions and get back to the word. 

Maybe some rumors or things we have seen and hear about may be happening today that are not in the bible and you can say, perhaps it is not scriptural but tongues are in the bible which most of us believe is the very word of God.

• Acts 10:47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 

Peter saw something. He saw the God had given the Gentiles the Holy Spirit. They heard the outward evidence or speaking in tongues and praising God. In other places the evidence is speaking in tongues and prophesying. Prophesying is not necessarily foretelling the future. In fact only in rare cases does that occur. Prophesying is either interpretation of tongues or speaking forth a word from God in a language that is understood. It is usually exhortation, comfort, correction, or praise. It is usually short as opposed to anointed preaching of the word which is longer. There are many times when people may prophesy and assume someone is just praying. If it is preceded by tongues it is more easily recognized as prophesy. 

Let us avoid speaking evil of this just because we can't figure it out. It is a gift from God. I consider it proof positive that God exists and the whole gospel is real. We have the supernatural that we know that we couldn't get by ourselves. I have heard of talk that people teach people to speak in tongues. Whether or not that is true, I've never seen it. In my own case I was not in church and no one was praying for me or laying hands on me. I was in the back seat of my dad's car. He was driving and the Holy Spirit came upon me and for the first time in my life, I spoke in a language that I had never learned before. It was beautiful and was a definite language. It was not gibberish or baby talk. It was not repeating the same phrase although I've heard many do that and will not speak against it. All experiences are not the same.

If this experience was not in the word of God, I would say, go ahead and reject it. It is there however, and is the real evidence that God is present with us. Maybe it can be faked, that is between God and the individual who does the faking. All it know is that it is real and it is in the word. I want all the spirit blessings God has for me and whatever God thinks I need, I want to receive. 

• Acts 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. 

I noticed that they still observed water baptism even though these received the Holy Spirit first. This shows that they were in obedience to the example that Jesus set in being baptized by water. It is an outward confession of what has taken place in the inner man. It is a sign of obedience. It shows our willingness to be buried with Jesus in baptism and rising to the newness of life. No the water itself does not wash away our sins but is an outward testimony to the fact that our faith in Jesus enabled our sins to be washed away by His own blood. Also we are washed in the water of the word. All these good things are gifts of God and we are privileged to have heard about them. 

Notice the attitude of Cornelius. He didn't think in his heart, "Hey, I don't need anything else. I already love God. I'm already religious. I'm good enough as I am." No! he wanted all God had for him. He wanted to hear what God had to say to him. He was willing to hear a Jew tell him that he needed this Jesus that was crucified for his sins and for the sins of his household. Because of his obedience, his whole family was saved. If we had that attitude, we would receive the Holy Spirit.
I don't want to miss the message here that God was showing Peter. The gospel is for the entire world. It is for men, women and children of every language, culture and nation. We should really rejoice. Jesus and the salvation He brings is for all which includes me. DC

Acts 11