Acts 10:1-29

Ok, guys this is a long passage, but it is so important and it would not be best to break this passage up, so I will give you a summary and then I want you to read it and answer the questions below:

So a man named Cornelius, saw a vision from God, and the Lord told Him to send for simon Peter, the disciple, that he may come and explain some things to him about God. In verse 9, the story picks up with Peter and we see Peter out praying on the roof of his house, when He suddenly receives a vision from the Lord talking about eating clean and unclean food, and God is basically explaining to Peter that Peter has no right to pick and choose what is clean and unclean in this world, whether it be a human being, or whether it be a piece of meat. God explains that Peter is to treat all people the same. Just about that time, someone knocks on Peters door, and God says, go with these men and minister to Cornelius. So Peter obeys God and he goes to meet and minister to Cornelius. What strikes me about this passage is the way that God works in many different places at the same time to accomplish his will. He does the same thing in our life today. Read and answer the questions below!

Acts 10

Cornelius Sends a Delegation

¹ There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,

² a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.

³ About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”

⁴ And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?”    So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.

⁵ Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter.

⁶ He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.^[a] He will tell you what you must do.”

⁷ And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually.

⁸ So when he had explained all thesethings to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Peter’s Vision

⁹ The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour.

¹⁰ Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance

¹¹ and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth.

¹² In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.

¹³ And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”   

¹⁴ But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”   

¹⁵ And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.”

¹⁶This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.

Summoned to Caesarea

¹⁷ Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate.

¹⁸ And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.   

¹⁹ While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you.

²⁰ Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”   

²¹ Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius,^[b] and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?”   

²² And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.”

²³ Then he invited them in and lodged them.On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

Peter Meets Cornelius

²⁴ And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends.

²⁵ As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.

²⁶ But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.”

²⁷ And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together.

²⁸ Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

²⁹ Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?”  

QUESTIONS:

1. So, this passage is long, but Gods working is so clear, that it is worth reading it together. My favorite part about this passage is the way that God is working in different places and different times to make everything come together the way that He has planned it to be! Have you ever seen that happen in your life? I certainly have. I was just up in NYC with a pastor friend and he shared an incredible way that God did this in his life. He was sure that God wanted him and his family to move, and so he went to his boss to resign, not even knowing where he would go, just a few days later he received a phone call from someone wo was the father of a man that he had met for 5 minutes years before. Those five minutes impacted the man so much that he said, one day you need to call this guy and offer him to take over your church and pastor it. God worked the whole thing out before anyone even knew it was going to happen. Have you ever seen God do something like that in your life? Share about it?

2. Another thing that I noticed in this passage is all of the humility and obedience. Seriously, they are all so trusting in Gods plan that they are willing to obey immediately. I think that we would see Gods hand on our lives much more if we too were willing to obey immediately! What is something that God has told you to do recently? You do not have to share whether you did it or not, just share something that God told you to do!

3. I love it when Peter walks into the room and Cornelius bows down to worship peter! What is Peters response? Why did He respond that way?

4. Peter often did and said crazy things, but in this passage Peter was a great example, he trusted God, obeyed God, and ultimately Gave God the Glory! That is what we must do in our life! Seriously! It is as simple as Trust God! Obey God, and Give God the Glory! How can you do that in your own life today?

See you guys in church tonight!!

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Life Verse

Hey guys, I am sitting on an airplane and we ate about to take off. That means all electronics must be turned off. -__-

For today devotions, I want us to pick and share life verses.

A life verse is a verse of scripture that has meant so much to you and has encouraged and challenged you throughout your life.

My life verse is Micah 7:8
I will talk about it more another time, but basically it says: don’t get to happy when I fall Satan, because I am going to get back up and keep following the Lord! 🙂

What is your life verse? If you do not have one, why not go on a search for one! Then share what you find!!

See you tomorrow!!! 🙂

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Acts 9:36-43

Hey guys! Hope you had a great weekend! Thanks for being faithful!! Today is our last day in NYC, and we are leaving tomorrow to fly home!! Can’t wait to see you guys Wednesday!! 🙂

Acts 9:36-43

Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.
And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.
Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise.
And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.
And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.
And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.

Alright, I hope you followed it well, I cannot do any colors when I post it on my cell phone! -__-

QUESTIONS:
1. There is a certain disciple in this story, what is his name? WAIT!! It seems like every time we read about disciples in scripture, it is a guy… NOT HERE! This woman is an incredible disciple of Christ! What is her name?
What is her AKA?

2. She was a disciple! How do you know? The Bible says that she was full of good works! Are you full of good works? Explain yes or no? And why?

3. Then… She died… WHAT?? She got sick and died?? But she was a good person?!?! Bad things never happen to good people!! Right??

4. I am reminded of Joseph. For Joseph, his entire life seemed to be falling a part, but God was in control! When we are going through a tough time, why should we trust God through it, even when it seems impossible?

5. When we read this passage, we read about an incredible miracle of someone who died and then was resurrected! Get this, had Tabitha not died, she could have never been brought back to life. Had she not gone through a horrible situation, she would not be changing lives throughout history by being in scripture!! What difficult things have you gone through, or are you going through, that God is allowing you to go through to make a great impact for Christ??

Great job guys!! Stay faithful!!

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