109. PETER BAPTISES CORNELIUS THE GENTILE

"God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean"

Aim

To show how Peter learned that the Gospel was to be preached to Gentiles as well as Jews, when God sent him to baptise Cornelius.

After Peter raised Tabitha he stayed in Joppa and lived with a man called Simon, whose trade was to treat animal skins to make them into leather. He was called a tanner. Joppa was a seaport on the Mediterranean coast, and about 48 km to the north was a large city called Caesarea. When the Romans took over Judea, they made Caesarea the capital and it became the headquarters of a big section of the Roman army. Among the rough Roman soldiers stationed there, was one man whose heart was turned towards the God of Israel. Now Peter was a Jew and the Jews would have nothing to do with Gentiles. God prepared Peter's mind for the work he had to do, before sending him to preach the Gospel to a Gentile.

Acts 10

CORNELIUS: A GOD-FEARING ROMAN SOLDIER (vv 1-2)

In the garrison of Caesarea was a Roman centurion called Cornelius. (A centurion was a commander of one hundred soldiers.) Cornelius was a leader, an important man in the army, but he had heard much of the one true God and believed in Him. He "feared God will all his house" (v. 2). His family and his servants respected him and worshipped Israel's God as he did. Not only did he believe in the God of Israel, but Cornelius did many good deeds for the Jews. He prayed to God always and tried to please Him in everything he did. Cornelius' prayers were very sincere and God, Who knows the hearts of all men, heard them.

CORNELIUS RECEIVES A VISION (vv 3-8)

Cornelius prayed to God often and one afternoon about 3 o'clock when he was praying, an angel of God appeared to him quite clearly in a vision. "Cornelius", the angel called. At the sound of the angel's voice he was afraid. "What is it, Lord?" Cornelius asked. The angel told him that God had seen his good deeds and heard his prayers and now was sending His messenger to tell him what else he must do.

"Send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter ... he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do."

Cornelius was not slow to obey his heavenly messenger. He called two of his servants and a trusted soldier and told them what had happened. Then he sent them down to Joppa to fetch Peter.

GOD PREPARES PETER'S MIND BY A VISION (vv 9-18)

The next day, as the servants of Cornelius came near to Joppa, Peter was on the roof-top praying. It was about midday and he became unusually hungry. While a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance - it was almost as though he was asleep and dreaming. Peter saw heaven opened and what looked like a large sheet, tied at the four corners, was let down from heaven. It was filled with all kinds of unclean animals, that is, animals which the Jews were not allowed to eat under the Law of Moses (see Lev. 11:46-47). Then Peter heard a voice say to him, "Rise, Peter, kill and eat." Peter was horrified. He had never eaten any unclean thing and believed that it was wrong to do so. The voice spoke again: "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common." Three times this happened and then the sheet was taken up into heaven.

Peter was very puzzled. He knew it was God speaking to him, but he could not understand why God was commanding him to do something he had always thought was wrong.

PETER GOES TO CORNELIUS (vv 19-24)

As Peter thought about this strange dream, God said to him, "Behold three men seek thee." The servants of Cornelius had arrived at Simon's house. "Go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them" (vv. 19-20). Peter went downstairs and found the men at the door asking for him. They told him what Cornelius had heard in a vision. Peter knew then what his dream meant. God was showing him that the Gentiles were in His sight like the Jews. Like the animals in the dream they were not to be thought of as unclean any longer. It did not matter if a person was a Jew or a Gentile - all had to come to God through Jesus Christ.

That night the men stayed at Simon's house and the next day Peter went with them to Caesarea, to the house of the Gentile Cornelius.

CORNELIUS IS BAPTISED (vv. 25-48)

In those days a strict Jew would not have entered the house of a Gentile as Peter did. But he realised that it was God's will (v. 28). Cornelius greeted Peter with great joy and fell down to worship him, but Peter said, "Stand up: I myself also am a man" (vv. 25-26). Then he told Cornelius and all those who had gathered in his house to hear him. "God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean" (v. 28). It did not matter whether a person was a Jew or a Gentile, if he feared God and obeyed Him, God would accept him (vv. 34-35). Then Cornelius and all his household listened carefully as Peter taught them about the great Saviour of mankind, Jesus, the son of God (vv. 36-43).

While Peter was still speaking the power of the Holy Spirit came upon all who heard. They began to speak in different languages and gave glory and praise to God. God was clearly showing them (and Peter as well) that He would accept Gentiles into the Hope of Israel. "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptised?" exclaimed the amazed apostle Peter and he commanded that they all be baptised. Thus Cornelius and his family became part of the true family of God, equal in God's sight to all the faithful Jews who believed in the Gospel.

LESSON FOR US

There are many people who believe that if they do good deeds, this will please God and He will save them, no matter what they believe. This is not true. There is only one way whereby man can be saved - by believing the Gospel and being baptised (See Lesson 1 - the Gospel is the good news about the Kingdom of God and the way of salvation through Jesus Christ. See also Instructor question 72). We must read the Bible to find out what God wants us to know and serve Him as He commands.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

In the Old Testament we read of Gentiles who became adopted Jews and agreed to obey the Law of Moses and follow the customs of the Jews. Among these were faithful men and women such as Caleb, Rahab and Ruth. It was really always God's purpose that Gentiles should have a hope of salvation as well as Jews.

After the resurrection of Christ, the apostles taught that it was necessary to believe the Gospel and repent and be baptised. (You remember that Peter spoke in this way on the Day of Pentecost - see Lesson 2.) It was not until Peter was sent to Cornelius that the Jews began to realise that Gentiles too could be saved in this way. There is only one way of salvation for all men.

When Peter later told the story of Cornelius to the other apostles in Jerusalem, he showed that God is calling out of the Gentiles a people for His Name (Acts 15:14).

Learn Gal. 3:26-29. There Paul tells us, "Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptised into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek ... ye are all one in Christ Jesus."

What a great privilege we have then. God will accept us, who are Gentiles, as His children, if we believe (have faith) in Jesus Christ and are baptised.

QUESTIONS

Short Answers

1. Where did Cornelius live?

2. Cornelius was a Roman; in whom did he believe?

3. What did Cornelius do every day? *

4. What did the angel tell Cornelius to do?

5. What was Peter's vision?

6. What was God showing Peter in this vision?

7. Where did Peter go the day after his vision?

8. What did Peter do for Cornelius and his household?

Detailed Answers

9. (a) What kind of man was Cornelius?

(b) What else did Cornelius have to do?

9. (a) Tell what Peter saw in his vision.

(b) What did Peter learn from this vision?

Additional Answers

11. (a) Give examples of Gentiles in the Old Testament who became adopted Jews.

(b) What did they agree to do?

12. (a) What must we do to be saved?

(b) Is this true for all men?

(c) Give a quotation from, the Bible to prove your answer.