ACTS: BREAKING THROUGH

Pastor Jonathan Falwell 

Acts 10-11 (NKJV) 

1. God’s intention is known to all 

Acts 10:1-6 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, 2a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. 3About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!” 4And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. 5Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. 6He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.”

• Cornelius served in Caesarea, a coastal city north of Joppa that was despised by Jews
• While the city was the picture of Roman occupation, Cornelius was a man seeking God

Acts 10:9-16 The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. 10Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance 11and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. 12In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 13And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” 15And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” 16This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.

• In this vision, God called Peter to go against the Mosaic Law (Lev. 11) and “eat” that which was unclean, Peter objected to God’s call to go against his long-held tradition and obedience
• Harry Ironside said, “Notice the contradiction implied in that first expression. “Not so, Lord.” The Lord had commanded him to do a thing-and in the one breath he acknowledged Him as “Lord” and in the next he refused to do as he was commanded. I wonder if some of us are like this. We know what His will is for our lives…but we draw back from full obedience.”[1]
• F. Bruce said, “It was a momentous lesson for the spread of Christianity.”[2]

2. God’s message is clear for all

Acts 10:24-28 And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.” 27And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. 28Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

• Peter began their interaction with an insult and ended with a revelation

Acts 10:34-36 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. 36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all.

3. God’s promise is true in all

Acts 10:39-43 And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. 40 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. 43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.

• Peter did what Peter does, he preached the Gospel!

4. God’s grace is great with all

Acts 10:44-45 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.

• There was a lesson and an inference here. As Cornelius and others listened to the Gospel presentation, they clearly believed and were saved

5. God’s hope is everlasting thru all

After Peter’s return, he faced criticism because he dared spend time with a Gentile. Yet Peter explained this was God’s plan and purpose for them all

Acts 11:15-18 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?”18 When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.

• They recognized this message was not exclusive to them any longer, this was a message to the world. They understood what was said in John 3:16…”For God so loved the world…”
• At the same time, some who had fled Jerusalem after Stephen’s death came to Antioch and began to preach the Gospel. Like Peter, some even shared it with the Gentiles, and they were being saved, so the leaders in Jerusalem wanted to find out more and sent Barnabas.

Acts 11:23-26 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. 26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Takeaways:

1. Never lose sight that the Gospel is not yours alone

2. It is not your job to save, it is your job to share

3. Focus your time and energy on the places where the Gospel is at work, you will be amazed at how God uses you

[1] H.A. Ironside, Acts, (Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers Publishers, 1943), 249.

[2] Bruce, F. F. The Book of Acts. (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1988.)