‘Cornelius Meets Peter’
Acts 10:34
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
1 Corinthians 10:31-32
31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
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Who was Cornelius?
Acts 10:1-2
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
2 a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always.
- A Centurion
- Of the Italian Band
- A Devout Man
- Feared God (with all his house)
- Gave much Alms to the People.
- Prayed to God Always.
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Who Was Peter?
Matthew 16:18-19
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
God’s Careful Arrangement
Acts 10:3-4
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.
Acts 10:5,6b
5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:
…he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.
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God’s Constant Awareness of our lives.
Acts 10:6a
6 he lodged with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the seaside:
Cornelius’s Careful Response
Acts 10:7
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;
Acts 10:8
8 and when he had declared all these things unto them,
he sent them to Joppa.
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God Prepares Peter
Acts 10:9-10
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:
10 and he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
Acts 10:11-12
11 and saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
12 wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
Acts 10:14
14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
Acts 10:15-16
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.
Acts 10:17-20
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, 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. 20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.
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The Biblical Response to Racism
Acts 10:34
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
1 Corinthians 10:31-32
31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: