Acts 10
ACTS 10
The Tale of Two Visions
MEET CORNELIUS – v. 1-8
v. 1 Caesarea - a city on the shore of the Mediterranean, on the great road from Tyre to Egypt, about 70 miles northwest of Jerusalem, at the northern extremity of the plain of Sharon. It was built by Herod the Great (B.C. 10), who named it after Caesar Augustus. It was the capital of the Roman province of Judaea, the seat of the governors or procurators, and the headquarters of the Roman troops. It was the great Gentile city of Palestine, with a spacious artificial harbor. It was adorned with many buildings of great splendor, after the manner of the Roman cities of the West.
v. 1-2 Cornelius
What did he do?
What was his ethnicity?
What was his character?
God-Fearer: When they went to synagogue meetings, the God-fearers had to meet in a separate place. They could not enter the worship area of the synagogue itself because they were Gentiles, and as us, were regarded by the Jews as unclean. John Stott says: “It is difficult for us to grasp the impassable gulf which yawned in those days between the Jews and the Gentiles. No orthodox Jew would ever enter the home of a Gentile, even a God-fearer, or invite such into his home.”
v. 3-6 Cornelius’ vision
When did it happen?
What does this say about Cornelius’ priorities and passions?
Who was in the vision?
What did he say?
v. 7-8 Cornelius’ response
What specific things did Cornelius do in response?
PETER’S TRANCE – v. 9-16
v. 9-10 Peter experiences a trance
What is going on in Peter’s life just prior to this?
Fasting removes obstacles to hearing the voice of God.
v. 11-12 Specifics of the trance
v. 13 Instructions
v. 14 Peter’s initial response
Why would Peter respond this way?
v. 15 Instructions and explanation
What does this mean?
What did it mean to Peter the Jew?
What does it mean to YOU the American?
v. 16 A third time
Why repeat it so many times?
THE APPLICATION
v. 17-20 Immediate Application
What was it in this case?
When God grants revelation, keep watch for what happens next!
THE VISIONS COLLIDE
v. 21-23 Peter goes to Joppa
v. 24 Cornelius prepares for Peter’s visitation
What does Cornelius do in preparation?
v. 25-28 Equality in Christ
What does this do for Peter? For Cornelius?
v. 29-35 God does not show favoritism
v. 36-43 Sharing the Gospel
v. 44-48 Pentecost comes to the Gentiles!
This is the ultimate example of God’s acceptance. The Holy Spirit comes into the lives of the ‘unclean’ and purifies, fills and empowers them!
“If you want to win this world to Christ, you are going to have to sit in the smoking section. That is where lost people are found, and if you make them put their cigarette out to hear the message they will be thinking about only one thing:
‘When can I get another cigarette?’”
Neil Cole Organic Church: Growing Faith Where Life Happens
The Tale of Two Visions
MEET CORNELIUS – v. 1-8
v. 1 Caesarea - a city on the shore of the Mediterranean, on the great road from Tyre to Egypt, about 70 miles northwest of Jerusalem, at the northern extremity of the plain of Sharon. It was built by Herod the Great (B.C. 10), who named it after Caesar Augustus. It was the capital of the Roman province of Judaea, the seat of the governors or procurators, and the headquarters of the Roman troops. It was the great Gentile city of Palestine, with a spacious artificial harbor. It was adorned with many buildings of great splendor, after the manner of the Roman cities of the West.
v. 1-2 Cornelius
What did he do?
What was his ethnicity?
What was his character?
God-Fearer: When they went to synagogue meetings, the God-fearers had to meet in a separate place. They could not enter the worship area of the synagogue itself because they were Gentiles, and as us, were regarded by the Jews as unclean. John Stott says: “It is difficult for us to grasp the impassable gulf which yawned in those days between the Jews and the Gentiles. No orthodox Jew would ever enter the home of a Gentile, even a God-fearer, or invite such into his home.”
v. 3-6 Cornelius’ vision
When did it happen?
What does this say about Cornelius’ priorities and passions?
Who was in the vision?
What did he say?
v. 7-8 Cornelius’ response
What specific things did Cornelius do in response?
PETER’S TRANCE – v. 9-16
v. 9-10 Peter experiences a trance
What is going on in Peter’s life just prior to this?
Fasting removes obstacles to hearing the voice of God.
v. 11-12 Specifics of the trance
v. 13 Instructions
v. 14 Peter’s initial response
Why would Peter respond this way?
v. 15 Instructions and explanation
What does this mean?
What did it mean to Peter the Jew?
What does it mean to YOU the American?
v. 16 A third time
Why repeat it so many times?
THE APPLICATION
v. 17-20 Immediate Application
What was it in this case?
When God grants revelation, keep watch for what happens next!
THE VISIONS COLLIDE
v. 21-23 Peter goes to Joppa
v. 24 Cornelius prepares for Peter’s visitation
What does Cornelius do in preparation?
v. 25-28 Equality in Christ
What does this do for Peter? For Cornelius?
v. 29-35 God does not show favoritism
v. 36-43 Sharing the Gospel
v. 44-48 Pentecost comes to the Gentiles!
This is the ultimate example of God’s acceptance. The Holy Spirit comes into the lives of the ‘unclean’ and purifies, fills and empowers them!
“If you want to win this world to Christ, you are going to have to sit in the smoking section. That is where lost people are found, and if you make them put their cigarette out to hear the message they will be thinking about only one thing:
‘When can I get another cigarette?’”
Neil Cole Organic Church: Growing Faith Where Life Happens
posted by Doug Love at 2:06 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home