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January 13, 2008 - Acts 10:24-48 (34-43)

Open It

  1. If you could have been born and raised in another culture, in which one would you like to have been raised? Why?

  2. If a family from another country moved in next door, how might you welcome them to the neighborhood?

  3. When was the first time you faced prejudice?

Explore It

  1. Who was with Peter when he arrived in Caesarea? (10:23-24)

  2. How had Cornelius prepared for Peter's visit? (10:24-25)

  3. How did Peter refuse the centurion's homage? (10:25-26)

  4. Who was inside the centurion's house? (10:27)

  5. What did Peter say to show that he had learned what God had wanted him to learn? (10:28-29)

  6. What did Peter ask? (10:29)

  7. How did Cornelius respond? (10:30-33)

  8. In what way was Peter's understanding of God changed by his vision? (10:34-35)

  9. What was Peter's message to the group? (10:34-43)

  10. How was Peter's message interrupted? (10:44-46)

  11. Why did Peter suddenly stop talking? (10:44-46)

  12. What happened to the non-Jewish believers to show the Jewish believers that God accepted them? (10:44-46)

  13. How did the circumcised believers react to what happened? (10:45-46)

  14. How did Peter sum up what had happened? (10:47-48)

  15. What did Peter command? (10:48)

  16. In what ways was fellowship between believing Jews and believing non-Jews improved during Peter's stay in Caesarea? (10:48)

Get It

  1. How do cultural and religious barriers hinder growth in our faith?

  2. If you had a vision like Peter's, what deep-seated prejudices would you be called on to get rid of?

  3. How would Cornelius and his group fare at your church?

  4. Why might someone visiting your church for the first time feel unwelcome?

  5. What could you and others do to make people of all kinds feel welcome in your church?

  6. What cultural and religious barriers hinder growth in your church?

  7. How is your pastor like Peter?

  8. How could your pastor benefit from an encounter with Cornelius and Peter?

  9. How can your church be open to the power of the Holy Spirit in a new way?

  10. If someone asked you to tell them about your faith, what would you say?

Apply It

  1. What is the first step you could take to show respect for a racial or cultural group that is different from you?

  2. How can you be an effective witness for Christ this week among people who are different from you?

Notes

Acts 10:26: This act of worship could have caused Peter to become arrogant. After all, a Roman centurion was bowing before him. Instead, Peter pointed Cornelius to Christ. We too should remember our mortality whenever we are flattered or honored, and use the opportunity to give glory to God.

Acts 10:34-35: Perhaps the greatest barrier to the spread of the gospel in the first century was the Jewish-Gentile conflict. Most of the early believers were Jewish, and to them it was scandalous even to think of associating with Gentiles. But God told Peter to take the gospel to a Roman, and Peter obeyed despite his background and personal feelings. (Later Peter struggled with this again-see Galatians 2:11-14.) God was making it clear that the Good News of Christ is for everyone! We should not allow any barrier-language, culture, prejudice, geography, economic level, or educational level-to keep us from telling others about Christ.

10:35 In every nation there are hearts restless for God, ready to receive the gospel-but someone must take it to them. Seeking God is not enough-people must find him. How then shall seekers find God without someone to point the way? Is God asking you to show someone the way to him? (See Romans 10:14-15.)

Acts 10:37-43: Peter's brief and powerful sermon contains a concise statement of the gospel: Jesus' perfect life of servant-hood; his death on the cross; his resurrection, personally witnessed and experienced by Peter; Jesus' fulfillment of the Scriptures; and the necessity of personal faith in him. A sermon or witness for Christ does not need to be long to be effective. It should be Spirit-led and should center on Christ, the way and the truth and the life.

10:43 Two examples of prophets testifying about Jesus and his forgiveness of sins are Isaiah 52:13-53:12 and Ezekiel 36:25-26.

Acts 10:45: Cornelius and Peter were very different people. Cornelius was wealthy, a Gentile, and a military man. Peter was a Jewish fisherman turned preacher. But God's plan included both of them. In Cornelius's house that day, a new chapter in Christian history was written as a Jewish Christian leader and a Gentile Christian convert each discovered something significant about God at work in the other person. Cornelius needed Peter and his gospel to know the way to salvation. Peter needed Cornelius and his salvation experience to know that Gentiles were included in God's plan. You and another believer may also need each other to understand how God works!

10:45 "The circumcised believers" could be translated, "the Jewish believers" (see also Acts 11:2).

Acts 10:47-48: In this case, the people were baptized after they received the Holy Spirit, publicly declaring their allegiance to Christ and identification with the Christian community.

10:48 Cornelius wanted Peter to stay with him for several days. He was a new believer and realized his need for teaching and fellowship. Are you as eager to learn more about Christ? Recognize your need to be with more mature Christians, and strive to learn from them.

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