Acts 10
1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
Cornelius was over a Roman regiment that number from 100 to 500 men.
2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
This Roman loved The Lord, him and his house.
3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
Alms giving = giving without expecting anything in return. God sees everything we do and everything we think.
5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:
Peter will be asked by Cornelius to come to Cornelius home that he will preach to his family. "Simon" = "heard" but "Peter" in the Hebrew = "rock" and is for the church.
6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.
The angel is telling Cornelius "send for Peter and he will tell you what you should to do."
7 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;
Cornelius had this devout soldier by his side a lot because this one could be trusted more than the others.
8 And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.
9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:
Peter is praying at midnight. A day started at 6am in the morning, as in verse 3, the vision coming to Cornelius at the 9th hour = 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
Peter is having a vision.
12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
In this sheet were all unclean insects, mammals and birds from the four corners of the earth.
13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.
15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,
God has a purpose for everything He does and although we don't understand at our time, He lets us know at His time. It's all for our own good.
18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
Remember in John 21 and the feeding of the lamb and the sheep? Peter was told three times to feed. This is also on the different levels from babes to adults and the spiritual.
20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.
God is telling Peter to accept the Gentiles and stop the doubting, after all, He showed him three time in his vision.
21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?
Yes, Cornelius sent the three men, but why? Because God told Cornelius to send them to Peter.
22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.
They are letting Peter know it was God that sent them by the words of Cornelius the centurion.
23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
24 And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and he had called together his kinsmen and near friends.
Cornelius is letting his friends know who was coming and wanted them to hear what Peter is going to say.
25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
It's never good for anyone to do this. We should NEVER look at a person to be worshiped!
26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
They hungered for God. Not many do today. Everyone is too busy or just don't care about The One that has given them the chance to be what is truly important. Awake in Truth that is Christ Jesus †
28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
This is what the vision given to Peter was all about. All the races are Flesh and the souls are all of God. Not one is above another. It's our actions that determine each outcome. God created all but one of the races on the 6th day and we were created for His pleasure. Genesis 1:27 So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him: male and female created He them. We are not any better than anyone else, so this races baiting that goes on today has no place in a Christians heart or mind. What people do with their life is what makes us how we are.
29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?
A Christian will go and preach to everyone. They won't direct it to a specific race or type of person. Peter knew to go as soon as he was called.
30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
Cornelius has been faithful to God and held to his works for God. God blesses those that do the things Christians are to do. When you wake, is it about you or others?
32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.
The angel to Cornelius.
33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
They are ready to hear GOD'S WORD. Ever counted how many verses you get in an hour at your church? When you go to churches today, very few teach His Word, but will feed you a lot of their own.
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
Peter understands the vision he had seen in verses 10-14. God expects Peter to teach everyone, not just a certain type or race of people.
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
God accepts every person that loves Him and accepts His truth over the lies of satan. You're alive RIGHT NOW to decide. Our actions show how we are† You must study His Word to understand what things you should do. There is too much sugar and acceptance of the world while calling it Christian or good.
36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
Christ Jesus is for everyone and He, unlike the world's religions, is by choice not force or indoctrination. His reward to us is life everlasting, not 72 virgins or to come back as some animal. He Is True Love †
37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
The story of Christ has been told to you that God would have you hear. All that was told out of Judaea, starting with His being baptized in the river Jordan.
38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
He came that we may have life. You can have Peace of mind though Him RIGHT NOW †
39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
The Apostles went throughout the land of Judaea with Christ seeing all the miracles and hearing The Words He spoke. They also witnessed the evil of the kenites hanging Him on that cross.
40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
And we have FULL report of it ALL today. Those that Love The Lord will study His Word and reap the blessings from it. The rest are just missing out on something very spectacular and comforting.
41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
Those that were chosen to see Christ and the things He said and did were chosen by God to do so, just as you are chosen to see the end of this age.
42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
Christ Jesus set the standard and He is Judge of the living with Truth and the spiritually dead.
43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
CONDITION! "whosoever believeth in him" OUTCOME! "shall receive remission of sins".
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them which heard the word.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Those who came with Peter to Cornelius' house were blessed to see the evidence of the Holy Spirit in all of those Gentiles and they were astonished.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
They knew The Holy Spirit was there because everyone understood what was being said in the language in which they were born = speaking in tongues. If you ever hear someone speaking gibberish you know it's of the devil and not of God. The "pentecostal churches" of today are known for this type of gibberish.
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?
To be a Christian is to do as Christ has done. Christian = Christ like and we should want to get baptized because He did it. Notice these have already received the Holy Spirit before they have been baptized. It isn't water that does this, it is the blood of Christ and " that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins." Ref. verse Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. CONDITION! "whosoever believeth in him" OUTCOME! "shall receive remission of sins".
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.