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GOD REVEALED HIS
INCLUSION OF GENTILES (Ac 10:1-16) 6/8/14 Grace Bible Church,
Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I. JUDAISM WAS SEPARATED FROM THE GENTILES A. Acts 10 records the inclusion of the
Gentiles into a relation with God through Christ and into the church. Some
have maintained that Aeneas was the beginning of the inclusion of the
Gentiles. However, Aeneas was most likely a Hellenistic Jew. Peter had come
to accept Hellenistic Jews and Samaritans into the church. But Peter would
need a divine revelation from God to accept the Gentiles. So important is
this account that it is mentioned three times in the book of Acts (Ac
10:1-48; Ac 11:1-18; Ac 15:6-9). B. There was a great divide between Jews and
Gentiles. This separation began in the OT when God made a covenant with
Abraham and his offspring (Ge 12:1-3). Abraham’s offspring became the nation
of Israel, God’s chosen people (Dt 4:37; Dt 10:15). Israel was separated from
all other nations because Israel alone served the one true God (De 4:7-8,
32-39). Therefore, the nations were excluded from Israel, strangers to
Israel’s covenants, and without hope and without God (Ep 2:12). The nations
were looked upon with contempt and spoken of with derogatory terms such as,
“spewed out” (Le 18:28), “drop in a bucket” and “dust on the scales” (Is
40:15), and a source of slaves (Le 25:44), “uncircumcised” (Ep 2:11), and
dogs” (Mk 7:27). Strict Jews were not to associate or even to eat with the
“uncircumcised” much less share the gospel with them. II. THE GENTILE CORNELIUS HAD A VISION TO FIND
PETER A. Cornelius was a Devout God-fearer (1-2) 1. [1] Luke writes of a Gentile named
Cornelius, who lived in Caesarea. It is located in the center of the coastal
Plain of Sharon in northern Palestine, on the shores of the Mediterranean,
some sixty-five miles northwest of Jerusalem, and some thirty miles north of
Joppa. It was named in honor of Augustus Caesar (Caius Octavianus, later
called Augustus), the adopted heir of Julius Caesar. In NT times, the city
was the Roman capital of the province of Judea 2. Cornelius was a centurion in the Italian
cohort. A centurion was a noncommissioned officer comparable to a captain. He
commanded a group of soldiers called a “cohort” (a portion of a Roman legion
numbering 100-300 soldiers). 3. [2] It seems probable that Cornelius was
a “God-fearer” (phoboumeno ton theon - “fearing (worshipping) God” (Ac
10:2, 22, 35; 13:16, 26) cf. tōn sebomenōn prosālutōn -
“God-fearing proselytes” (Ac 13:43), a name given to Gentiles who
converted to Judaism. Being a Roman soldier and associated with Gentiles, he
was not a full-fledged proselyte (i.e. “righteous proselyte”) who would have
to be circumcised. Nevertheless, Luke uses other adjectives to describe
Cornelius’ pious worship of Yahweh. He was “devout” (eusebās -
reverent manner of life toward God), gave alms, and prayed to God
continually (cf. Ac 10:22). In addition, Cornelius had raised his family to
be God-fearers as well. B. Cornelius’ Vision was to Find Peter (3-6) 1. [3] The ninth hour was three in the
afternoon, a time when Jews (and God-fearers) were to pray (cf. Ac 3:1). At
that time, Cornelius saw a vision of an angel who called his name. Though
Cornelius was the second non-apostle (cf. Ananias) to see a vision, the
vision was in regard to finding an apostle. The frequency of visions in Acts
was minimal and they appear to be intended exclusively for the apostles (Ac
9:10, 12; 10:17; 16:9-10; 18:9). 2. [4] Though a Roman soldier, Cornelius
stared in fear (emphatic) at the angel, until he mustered enough courage to
inquire of him. The angel said that God had taken notice (“memorial,” i.e. a
remembrance) of Cornelius’ prayers and alms. This does not suggest salvation
by works, but that Cornelius was searching for God, and God was about to
reveal Himself and His salvation. 3. [5-6] Cornelius was instructed to send
men to find and bring Peter back to him. The angel even informed Cornelius
that he would find Peter at the tanner’s house by the sea. C. Cornelius Carried Out His Instructions
(7-8) 1. [7] As soon as the angel left, Cornelius
faithfully followed his instructions. He sent two servants and a soldier who
was his personal attendant. This attendant was also “devout” and a
God-fearer. Perhaps Cornelius’ life and beliefs had an influence on his
attendant. 2. [8] Having explained the entire account
to them, he sent them to Joppa to find Peter. III. PETER HAD A VISION CONCERNING UNCLEAN
GENTILES A. Peter Had a Vision in Joppa (9-10) 1. [9] The next day, while the men were on
their way, Peter went up to pray at the sixth hour (noon). 2. [10] Luke records that Peter was hungry
and waiting to eat while praying. At that time he fell into a trance and saw
a vision. The “trance” was not induced by Peter’s hunger because this same
word was used when Paul fell into a trance and saw a vision while praying (Ac
22:17). Nor was this trance a self-induced physiological phenomenon. In other
words, it could not be repeated by Peter or anyone else by attempting to put
themselves in some sort of hypnotic state. Rather it was a condition that God
supernaturally brought upon Peter in order to receive a divine revelation.
Evidently, this trance-like state was only involved in two of the visions in
Acts. The word “trance” is the Greek word ekstasis and literally means
being put out of place. It can mean astonishment at miracles (Ac 3:10) or a
suspended consciousness or trance (Ac 11:5; 22:17). From this word we get our
English word “ecstasy.” B. Peter’s Vision Contained Unclean Animals
(11-12) 1. [11-12] In Peter’s vision, a “sheet” (othōnān
- linen material, i.e. sheet or sail) was lowered from heaven, which
contained both clean and unclean animals (and birds and crawling creatures). 2. It was a reflection of the OT instruction
on animals that could and could not be eaten (Le 11:1-47). This OT
restriction would separate Israel unto God and separate them apart from the
idolatrous nations (Le 20:25-26). C. Peter was Commanded to Eat Unclean Animals
(13-16) 1. [13] A voice commanded Peter to “kill and
eat” both the clean and unclean animals. 2. [14] But Peter, not unaccustomed to
giving the Lord his contrary opinion, said “no” (Mt 16:22; Jn 13:8). However,
given the Jewish perspective, and the fact that Peter had never eaten
anything unclean, Peter’s exclamation was understandable. 3. [15-16] The voice came a second time and
stated the key to the vision, “What God
has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.” In fact,
to show its importance, it happened three times before taking the sheet back
up to heaven. D. The Meaning of the Vision was the
Inclusion of the Gentiles 1. The meaning of the vision was that it was
God’s plan to enter into a new dispensation with the inclusion of Gentiles. 2. In this dispensation of the “Church Age,”
Gentiles, who were unclean and apart from God, could now become clean through
the atonement of Christ (Ac 11:1, 18). Furthermore, Jews and Gentiles would
become one in Christ and in the church (Gal 3:28; Ep 2:11-12, 13-22; Col
3:9-11). IV. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS: GENTILES ARE
INCLUDED IN THE CHURCH A. Gentiles have been brought near to God (Ep
2:13) B. The “dividing wall” between Jew and
Gentile has been broken down (Ep 2:14) C. In Christ there is peace and unity between
Jew and Gentiles (Ep 2:14a-17). D. Both Jew and Gentile have access in one
Spirit to the Father (Ep 2:18). E. Gentiles are now members of God’s
household (Ep 2:19). F. The church has been built on the
foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ being the cornerstone (Ep
2:20). G. Jews and Gentiles together are the
dwelling of God in the Spirit (Ep 2:21-22). H. The Gentiles have been brought in to make
Israel jealous (Ro 11:11). I. Gentiles have been brought in by the
kindness of God and must respond in gratefulness and humility (Ro 11:18, 22). J. Gentiles, especially, have a testimony to
give concerning salvation through Christ. |
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Grace Bible Church · 4000 E. Collins Rd · PO Box #3762 · Gillette, WY · (307) 686-1516 |
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