Studies in Acts–Lesson 6

Read Acts 10:1 – 11:18

1. Who was Cornelius? What kind of man was he?
   Comments: A centurion of the Italian cohort. He was devout, feared God, led his household, was generous and prayerful (vv. 1,2). He also had a close connection with the Jews. (10:22)
2. Why did the angel appear? What time of day was it?
   Comments: The angel appeared because of Cornelius’s prayers and generosity. (v. 4) It was 3 p.m. (3) Also see 10:31.
3. For what purpose was Peter to speak to him? (11:14)
   Comments: Peter had a message that would save Cornelius and his household.
4. Who did Cornelius send?
   Comments: Two slaves and a devout soldier from the ranks (7). These were men were would have believed in Cornelius’s vision – part of Cornelius’s household who also feared God.
5. What time of day was it when Peter had his vision? Describe the vision. Did Peter understand it?
   Comments: It was noon (9). Something like a sheet came down from heaven, full of four-footed creatures, reptiles, and birds, with a voice saying “Get up, Peter, and eat.” But Peter refused. The voice said, “Don’t call profane what God has cleansed.” This was repeated two more times, leaving no room for misunderstanding.
   Peter was still puzzling about this when the men appeared at the gate. He certainly understood it later (10:28). Laws forbidding the eating of unclean foods are in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14.
6. What did the Spirit tell Peter to do?
   Comments: To go meet the men at the gate, for the Spirit had sent them (19). Peter’s impulsiveness was an asset here. He impulsively obeyed – didn’t stop to wonder or deny what had just happened.
   From Lenski’s Interpretation of the Acts of the Apostles, pg. 407:
   If God cleansed, Peter ought to be satisfied; if the Spirit said to go with these men, Peter ought to drop any misgivings about going. When we have God’s authority, any scruples on our part insult God. On God’s authority we must act even if we do not fully understand all that he commands or promises. Too often our trouble is that we invent his authority for what he does not want us to do; and when we do what he disapproves we refer it to him as having demanded it.
7. What did the men from Caesarea tell Peter?
   Comments: That an angel had told Cornelius to send for him (22).
8. Who accompanied Peter back to Caesarea? Why?
   Comments: Believers from Joppa (23). It doesn’t say here, so it could just have been curiosity. More likely, they went as witnesses. The witnesses mentioned in Matthew 18:16 aren’t gathered for the same reason, but the principle would apply.
9. What had Cornelius done in preparation for Peter’s arrival?
   Comments: He had gathered relatives and close friends (24).
10. What did Cornelius do as Peter arrived?
    Comments: Cornelius fell at Peter’s feet and worshiped him. Peter made him get up, saying “Stand up; I am only a mortal.” (10:25,26)
11. What did Peter tell Cornelius was unlawful for a Jew to do? Why then did Peter do it?
    Comments: To associate with or visit with a Gentile. Because God told him to. He did it because he was more than a Jew – he was a Christian (28).
12. When Peter asked Cornelius why he had sent for him, what did Cornelius reply?
    Comments: He had been instructed by an angel to do so (30-33).
13. Peter's sermon might be summarized as:
    The message of Jesus. (or birth, or power)
    The works of Jesus. (or death, or peace)
    The death and resurrection of Jesus. (or resurrection, or healing, or good news)
    Ordained to judge the living and the dead.
    Forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus as the Christ. (43)
    Comment: v. 36 – “You know the message.” The Gentiles had heard the gospel – the death, burial, and resurrection – before this.
14. When the Holy Spirit fell upon the Gentiles, what did Peter say and command?
    Comments: “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. (47,48)
    

     

True or False

1. The angel told Cornelius what he must do to be saved. False. (11:14; 10:22)
2. Peter sent the Gentile messengers to stay with another Gentile. False. (10:23)
3. The demonstration of the Spirit convinced Peter that the Gentiles were accepted. True. (10:47)
4. Peter said, "Nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.” True. (10:14)
5. Peter took three times as many witnesses as the Law of Moses required (Deut. 19: 15). True. (11:12)
6. Four days passed after Cornelius's vision before he talked with Peter. True. To the hour! (10:30)
7. Before Peter finished his sermon, the Holy Spirit fell on the Gentiles. True. (10:44)
8. Peter said, "Stand up; for I myself also am a man." True. (10:26)
9. In every nation, those who fear God are accepted of Him False. They must also do what is right. (v. 35).
10. It is said that Peter saw the heavens opened. True. (10:11)
11. The Spirit told Peter that three men sought him. True. (10:19, per the NRSV)
12. All the prophets gave witness of Jesus. True. (10:43)
13. Why was Peter questioned in Jerusalem?
    Comments: The apostles and believers in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. (11:1)
14. What charge was lodged against Peter?
    Comments: That he had eaten with uncircumcised men. (11:2,3)
15. How did Peter explain the matter to them?
    Comments: He told them the story from his point of view, step by step. (11:4-17) Note Peter’s thought process in 11:15-17.
16. When they heard all these things, what did they do?
    Comments: They were silenced for a minute or two. Then they praised God for giving the Gentiles “the repentance that leads to life.” (11:18)