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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