This study will take approximately 30 minutes.
In Acts 10:1-48, we encounter a pivotal moment in the early Christian church as God’s plan of salvation expands to embrace both Jews and Gentiles. Through the encounter between Peter and Cornelius, profound truths about God’s character, His redemptive plan, and the transformative power of the Gospel are revealed. This is great news for most of us. Likely, you were not born Jewish as only .02 percent identified as Jewish in 2022. Thank God for including the rest of us! Jesus “came unto His own and His own received Him not.” This doesn’t mean God doesn’t love His chosen but it does mean His bride is made of every tongue, tribe, and nation. What a love! A love for the whole world! Let’s explore more key insights from this passage:
- God Hears Prayers: The narrative begins with Cornelius, a devout Roman centurion, who receives a vision from God while praying. Despite being a Gentile, Cornelius’ sincere prayers are heard by God (Matthew 7:7-8), demonstrating His attentiveness to the cries of all who seek Him earnestly. This underscores the universal nature of God’s love and His desire to draw all people to Himself (1 Timothy 2:3-4). This reminds me that “you will find Him when you seek for Him with your whole heart.”
- God Reveals His Plan to Peter: Simultaneously, God reveals His plan to Peter through a vision of a sheet descending from heaven containing various animals considered unclean according to Jewish dietary laws (Acts 10:9-16). Through this vision, God challenges Peter’s understanding of purity and prepares him to embrace the Gentiles as recipients of His grace and salvation (Galatians 2:11-14).
- Peter is Perplexed but Responds: Upon receiving Cornelius’ invitation, Peter is initially perplexed, struggling to reconcile his Jewish upbringing with God’s inclusive plan of salvation (Acts 10:17-20). Despite his crisis of belief, Peter obediently responds to God’s prompting and agrees to visit Cornelius, recognizing that God’s ways are higher than his own (Proverbs 3:5-6).
- Religion Was Not Enough: Cornelius Needed Jesus: Cornelius’ devoutness in religious observance was commendable, yet it was not sufficient for salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9). God orchestrates divine encounters to lead Cornelius to the knowledge of Jesus Christ as the only source of true salvation (John 14:6). This serves as a reminder that religious rituals and practices, while important, cannot replace a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
- Cornelius Called His Relatives and Neighbors to Hear Peter Preach: Recognizing the significance of Peter’s message, Cornelius gathers his relatives and close friends to hear the Gospel (Acts 10:24-27). This demonstrates Cornelius’ eagerness to share the good news of Jesus Christ with those closest to him (Romans 10:14-15) and his desire for them to experience the same transformation he has encountered (Matthew 28:19-20).
- Peter Deflects Honor: Upon entering Cornelius’ house, Peter humbly deflects the honor bestowed upon him (Acts 10:28). This act of humility highlights Peter’s willingness to set aside cultural barriers and prejudices in obedience to God’s command (Philippians 2:3-4).
- The Man in Bright Clothing: During Peter’s encounter with Cornelius, he recounts the vision he received from God, emphasizing the significance of the divine revelation and its implications for the expansion of the Gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 10:30-33). The presence of the man in bright clothing underscores the supernatural nature of the encounter and God’s sovereign orchestration of events (Hebrews 10).
- God Shows No Partiality: Through Peter’s proclamation, it becomes evident that God shows no partiality but accepts people from every nation who fear Him and do what is right (Acts 10:34-35). This profound truth challenges societal norms and prejudices (James 2:1-4), affirming the equal standing of all believers before God regardless of ethnicity or background (Galatians 3:28).
- Peter Preaches Jesus: Peter boldly proclaims the Gospel message (Acts 10:36-43), emphasizing Jesus’ role as the appointed Judge of the living and the dead (2 Timothy 4:1) and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah (Isaiah 53:5-6). Through his preaching, Peter invites Cornelius and his household to place their faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Romans 10:9-10).
- The Spirit of God Was Poured Out: As Peter proclaims the Gospel, the Holy Spirit falls upon Cornelius and his household (Acts 10:44-48), confirming God’s acceptance of the Gentiles into the family of God (Galatians 3:14). This outpouring of the Spirit serves as a tangible sign of God’s approval and affirms the authenticity of their faith (Ephesians 1:13-14).
Conclusion: The account of Peter’s encounter with Cornelius in Acts 10:1-48 serves as a powerful testament to God’s inclusive love and His desire for all people to come to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:9). As believers, we are called to emulate Peter’s obedience and humility (1 Peter 5:5-6), recognizing that God’s plan of salvation extends to all humanity (Romans 1:16). May we, like Cornelius, respond eagerly to the Gospel message (Romans 10:16) and experience the transformative power of God’s love in our lives (Romans 12:2).