Study From the Book of Acts,10

Study From the Book of Acts,10  

Today we study the tenth chapter of the Book of Acts and we choose two biblical principles and their lessons which are useful in Biblical Counselling.

This chapter and the following one, make an important turning point in the Book of Acts. Those who were scattered by persecution from Jerusalem had been preaching the gospel only to the Jews. At this point they began to overcome their prejudices and carry the message of Christ to the Gentiles. God cut away Peter’s prejudices by having him stay for many days with one whose trade Peter likely considered repulsive.

Cornelius’ desire was to be pleasing to God. The fact that he readily obeyed the angel is a sign of how much he desired the truth. With this kind of attitude, there is no question that Cornelius was open to receiving the truth of the gospel the moment he heard it.

While Simon the tanner, preparing the noon meal, Peter fell into a trance during which he was commanded to kill and eat all kind of animals. the problem was that the animals were mixed: clean and unclean where Jewish people were taught from childhood never to touch or eat any animal that was unclean. However, Peter was commanded by God to do just that.  The vision was a sign from heaven that Jews were no longer to call Gentiles uncleans. From that point on, these two groups would be on equal footing before the Father. God was breaking down Peter’s prejudices.

The great faith of Cornelius is demonstrated by the fact that he had a house full of people when Peter arrived. The good news of the gospel is not for a certain population. In every nation every kind of person is welcome into the kingdom of God. This is precisely what Christ had told the apostles in Math. 28:19.

The Jewish believers present were amazed because they saw that the Gentiles had received the same gift of speaking in tongues that they had received. The good news had reached the Jews, the Samaritans, and now the Gentiles. All were united by the same faith, in the same Lord, with the same gift of the Holy Spirit.

Structure:

Verses 1-8: Cornelius sends a delegation.

Verses 9-16: Peter’s vision  

Verses 17-23: summoned to Caesarea.

Verses 24-33: Peter meets Cornelius

Verses 34-43: preaching to Cornelius’s household

Verses 44-47: the Holy Spirit falls on the Gentiles.

Principle 19: verse 10:20 ---“Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing for I have sent them.”

Lesson 19: Have you ever noticed that God tends to guide us in stages? He rarely, if ever, gives us a roadmap to follow; instead, He asks us to take His hand and go where He goes, without doubting our final destination.

Principle 20: 10:35--"But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.”

Lesson 20: Cornelius feared God and performed “righteous” deeds before he heard a word about risen Christ-but he still needed to come to faith in Jesus. Those who really seek God will find Him as in Jer. 29:13.(6/4/2025).