Acts 10:24-33

Good morning, church. Open your Bibles to Acts chapter 10. Our text today will be Acts chapter 10 verses 24 through 33. Hear the word of the Lord. And the following day they entered Cessaria. Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshipped him. But Peter lifted him up saying, stand up, I myself am also a man. And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. And 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. Therefore I came without objection. As soon as I was sent for, I asked them, for what reason have you sent for me? No Cornelius said four days ago I was fasting until this hour. And at the ninth hour I prayed in my house and behold a man stood before me and bright clothing. And said Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms are remembered in the sight of God. And then therefore to Japa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a Tanner by the sea. And when he comes he will speak to you. So I sent to you immediately and I have done well and you have done well to come. Now therefore we are all present before God to hear all the things commanded you by God. This is the Word of the Lord. Let us pray. Father we thank you for your Word, we thank you for the gospel, we ask that you would take. This Word, your Holy Word, and by your Holy Spirit, Father would you mold us and shape us and transform us. Lord conform us to the very image of Christ our Lord. That we, your church, would be a glorious people, a glorious witness in the earth, a glorious bride for Christ. Father do this for the glory of your name and for the good of all men in Jesus' name, amen. So Peter and Cornelius finally meet. In Acts chapter 10 we have a record of the events that have led to this meeting of these two men. Acts is a history if you will, it's the Acts of the Apostles. So unlike the letters or the epistles, there are different historical events. In Acts chapter 10 begins the record of this particular historical event where Peter, this Jewish fisherman and apostle of Christ, has been divinely led to meet this Gentile Centurion. And it is truly a divine appointment. The chapter begins with the vision of Cornelius a Gentile in which he was visited by an angel who instructed him to bring Simon, surname Peter, a Jew who was in Japa to his home in Cessaria. And you remember the divinely orchestrated events that led Peter from Jerusalem to Lidda to Japa. Next in the chapter is the record of Peter up on the rooftop of the house of Simon the Tanner, praying when suddenly he falls into a trance and sees a sale-like sheep descending from heaven with all kinds of animals, including unclean kinds, in this sheet lower down. And he hears the voice of God command him to arise, kill, and eat. And God tells Peter what he has cleansed you much no longer call common or unclean. And Peter is greatly perplexed about the meaning of this vision. When God tells him three men are waiting for him and Peter is to go with them doubting nothing. And these three men are Gentiles. And Peter obeys and he goes with the men and that brings us to our text today, Diverse24, where we see finally these two men, Peter and Cornelius meet. The significance of Peter, of faithful Jew, entering the home of this Gentile cannot be overstated. It is significant in every way, so much so that it would alter the belief and practice of the apostolic church and become the orthodox belief of the church of Christianity. Our faith today has been impacted by these very events we're reading about. God having created in Himself one new man from the two, from Jew and from Gentile no longer sees a distinction, but all are now made one in Christ. And the following day, verse 24, in the following day they entered Cessaria. Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives in close friends. The following day they entered Cessaria. If we read verses 23 and 24 in context without any break, we see Luke lay out the timing of Peter's arrival in Cessaria. Starting from the afternoon these men arrived at the house of Simon the Tanner. Acts chapter 10 verses 23, let me read these two verses in context. So after the angel departs from Cornelius, he sends the men, they arrive at the house of Simon the Tanner in the afternoon. Verse 23, then he, meaning Peter, invited the men and lodged them. On the next day Peter went away with them and some brethren from Japa accompanied him and the following day they entered Cessaria. So after lodging there at night, this party of men leave the house of Simon the Tanner the next day and they spend the night on the road and they arrive in Cessaria the following day. Very similar to how the three servants of Cornelius came to Peter. They left in the afternoon, they spent the night on the road and they arrived at the house of Simon the Tanner around noon or in the afternoon the next day. So after lodging or after spending the night on the road and then arriving in Cessaria the following day, this means that Peter had a good amount of time to hear more detail and to learn about Cornelius and all the happenings leading up to this divine encounter with these Gentiles. On the words of Peter in verse 28, it is clear that somewhere from the time he left Simon the Tanner's house to the time he arrived in Cessaria, Peter had come to discern the meaning of the vision that God had shown him. Remember Peter was greatly perplexed, Luke writes, wondering what this vision meant. Well by the time he gets to Cessaria, he's figured out what the vision means. Then Luke tells us now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his family and close friends. So Cornelius wasn't just waiting idly, he was gathering his family, gathering his friends because remember the angel said Peter will come and he will speak words to you. Well we know from this record that the words that Peter was going to speak to Cornelius and whoever was gathered in his house were the words that were commanded by God. So they weren't just hearing any words from Peter, they were hearing the words commanded by God. While the servants of Cornelius are leading Peter and the other brethren to Cessaria, Cornelius is preparing for their arrival by calling together his relatives and close friends. By Luke's account, Peter's arrival in Cessaria would have been on the fourth day from the day the angel appeared to Cornelius. Just as an example, if the angel appeared to Cornelius on a Monday, it was Thursday when Peter arrived in Cessaria. We're not told exactly what days nor does it matter but we do know the timing and we do know how many days Luke tells us how many days it was four days. So by the time Peter arrives at the home of Cornelius, he has invited his relatives and close friends. Cornelius was anticipating that whatever the words Peter was to speak, they were words he wanted his loved ones to hear. Cornelius cared about his family and his friends enough to ensure that they were at his home to hear the words that God would command Peter to speak. And this is why the angel instructed Cornelius to bring Peter into his home to hear the words of God. This was another example of the faith and devotion to God. This man possessed. That love for God translated into love for his neighbors, just as it is supposed to translate for us. The greatest commandment loved God with all your heart. The second is likened to it, love your neighbor as yourself or as Jesus gave the new commandment in John 13, love one another even as I have loved you. So this love Cornelius had for his family and his neighbors so much so that he wanted those he loved to hear the words that God would command Peter to speak. We also are to love our neighbors enough that we help them hear the words of God which are the words of life, just why God commands us to preach the gospel. The command to preach the gospel is not just for preachers, it's not just for pastors. The command to preach the gospel is for all believers. You are commanded to preach the gospel. The behind the pulpit is not the only place the gospel is to be preached. The gospel is to be preached everywhere. In fact, I believe the most important preaching of the gospel does not necessarily take place behind pulpit. It takes place as we are living epistles, as we are the living manifestation of the gospel being preached, not just with our words but with our life. You can imagine the anticipation on the part of Cornelius and all those gathered in his home as well as the anticipation of Peter and the men with him. Remember he took six men, six brethren from Japa, they didn't have a vision. Peter did. So you can imagine the questions that these men must have had. We are going with these Gentiles where? To the house of a Gentile? I am sure Peter explained everything to them and so all of these men, Peter and the six that went with them were going in faith and in obedience to the Lord. Peter finally understood the meaning of his vision but he had no way of knowing what was going to happen. He still didn't know why Cornelius had called him to his house. He was completely walking by faith, obediently trusting his Lord who commanded him to doubt nothing. Verse 25, as Peter was coming in Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshipped him. Luke begins this verse with these words as Peter was coming in. In verses 24, 25 and 27 we see Luke record a threefold re-iterration of Peter's entry into Cessaria and ultimately into the house of Cornelius. Luke seems to be emphasizing the importance of Peter entering into the home of this Gentile and Luke was doing that because it was so important. It was a detail that must not be missed. And for reasons that we've already noted, we see this threefold re-iterration in verses 24, 25 and 27. In verse 24, Luke records that Peter enters Cessaria. In verse 25 we see Peter coming closer to God's purpose as he enters the home of Cornelius. So if you can picture this, this is the verse where it says Cornelius falls down at his feet. So Cornelius is waiting. He is a very intelligent man and so he understands they didn't have phones, they didn't have any way to communicate. But Cornelius knows when his servants departed, he knew his servants would not delay, he knew approximately. He knew it would be Thursday before they got there because he understood distances and he had men that he marched all over the place. So he knew how long it took to walk some place. He knew how far it was from Cessaria to Japa. He's waiting, anticipating the arrival. And as they arrive, he goes out and he meets Peter at his home and he falls down. This is verse 25. Then in verse 27, Peter actually enters inside the home and encounters all the people waiting inside. It is inside the home of this Gentiles Centurion that we will see the Holy Spirit descend and fill all of the Gentiles inside that room. The inner sanctum of that living room of Cornelius became a sacred place, it became holy ground as God would descend there in the Holy Spirit. So not the temple in Jerusalem, but the home of a Gentile is where the presence of God would manifest. Even on the day of Pentecost, it was not in the temple that the Holy Spirit and the presence of God manifest. It was in an upper room. And so we see that God, the temple narrative continues here in the book of Acts. And we see that God is moving his temple from this physical location in the city of Jerusalem. To the temple which is the resurrected body of his son, which you and I are called the body of Christ. You and I are called the temple of the Holy Spirit. The temple is no longer in Jerusalem. The temple is not going to be rebuilt in Jerusalem. God has already rebuilt his temple. You are the temple. Christ is the resurrected, raised up temple. You are the living stones being built into a holy habitation of God in the Spirit. And it is now in the home of this Gentile that we will see the manifest presence of God come down once again and fill not Jews but Gentiles to show that the words of Christ are true, that God so loved the world. Every nation, every tongue, every tribe, every people that he sent his only begotten son, that whosoever should believe in him will be saved. Even this Gentile Centurion and his relatives and his close friends. So they are all waiting there. Verse 27 shows us Peter coming into that most holy place, the place where the presence of God would come down. Think tabernacle. This threefold reiteration of Peter's entry culminating in his entry into the living room of Cornelius minors, mirrors the threefold entry into the tabernacle. Verse the entry into the outer court, then into the holy place, and finally into the most holy place where the presence of God dwelt, where the ark was, where the mercy seat was, where God dwelt between the cherubum on the ark. And the one time a year could a man go into that most holy place and it had to be the high priest who would go in one time each year on the day of atonement. Now it's hard for us to grasp the significance of what's happening here because we're 2000 years on the other side of this event because we've been so conditioned and so permeated with gospel truth. We even realize how permeated you are with gospel truth. You live in a nation that's permeated with gospel truth that defines so much of what we do every day that we don't even think about or pay attention to it any longer. We think it's just commonplace. Well surely we all know that whoever believes in Jesus will be saved. Well Peter and the church at this time did not fully understand that. And God was orchestrating this event with Peter and Cornelius to bring this revelation so that we 2000 years later take it for granted. Well it wasn't taken for granted then. And so Peter enters into the home of this Gentile and it is in this home in a pagan city called Cessaria. It's in this home that God would descend and fall upon these Gentiles. This is more significant than we realize. Cornelius met him, falls down at his feet and worshiped him as he's coming into his home. And this picture of Cornelius falling down at the feet of Peter with anticipation tells us something about this man as Peter is entering his home. Verse 26, Peter lifts him up saying, stand up, I myself am also a man. Peter immediately lifts Cornelius up correcting him, telling him he is also a man. Peter rightly would not allow Cornelius to have the mistaken thought that he was anything more than an ordinary man. And this reaction by Cornelius informs us about this man. His pagan background no doubt coming to the forefront here in his falling down to worship Peter reaffirms his unquestionable obedience to God. By coming to Cornelius without objection, I'm sorry, it was brought to the forefront, his falling down to worship Peter. The apostle recognizing the error of Cornelius quickly administers the correction instructing Cornelius rightly that he is a man, that he is to worship only the Lord God. All of this also informed Peter of the great spiritual hunger and the great spiritual need in this man and in those gathered in the home of Cornelius. They continued on into the home where many were waiting for Peter. Verse 27, and as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. Many had come together to hear the words that the angel had told Cornelius Peter was going to speak. The people gathered there and they had come together to hear the words that God would command Peter to speak the words of salvation in Jesus Christ. Verse 28, then he said to them, you know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or to go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Luke is re-emphasizing the significance of Peter entering the home of this Gentile. God was bringing about something that would have eternal consequences. Peter informs the crowd gathered there as well as the men that had traveled with him, that it is unlawful for a Jewish man to keep company with or go into one of another nation. That was true, but God had shown Peter something that he had never seen before. Peter continues, and he tells Cornelius and those gathered, but God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. And in this saying, Peter articulates the meaning of the vision that had so perplexed him before he went with those Gentiles to Cessaria. This was the meaning he had been trying to discern. Peter had received the meaning of the vision that God showed him, and it was exactly what God had said in the vision. God said to him, what God has cleansed, you must not call common. Peter came to understand that God was showing him a truth about the salvation of the Gentiles, the salvation of the world. And the same salvation that God brought for the Jews, there was only one salvation, one Savior, for all men, it is the same salvation he would bring to the Gentiles. Those words of God recorded in Acts 10-15 are the words of God in Peter's vision. Peter applied it only to animals when he saw it, but God gave him the meaning, and Peter came to understand that no longer was he to look at Gentiles as unclean. God would cleanse Gentiles the same way he cleansed those animals in Peter's vision. Peter now understood that God was calling the Gentiles to salvation, opening the door for the gospel to go to them into the ends of the earth. Verse 29. Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I asked, then, for what reason have you sent me? Peter asked Cornelius, I'm here, I've come without delay. For what reason have you sent for me? Peter reaffirms his unquestioned obedience to God by coming to Cornelius without objection. He asked the reason for the encounter. Cornelius recounts his own experience of the angelic visitation. So keep in mind here, Luke is repeating both of these visions. So he gives us the account of the original vision Cornelius has in detail. He gives us the account of the vision Peter had when he was in the trance. He gives it to us in detail. Now Cornelius and Peter, they have those visions separately, separated in time, separated in geography, separated in every way. But they're both given these divine visions from God. Now Peter and Cornelius are together meeting for the first time and they both recount their visions to one another and Luke records it. Which should inform us of the importance of what God is doing here. So Peter reaffirms his unquestioned obedience. And so Cornelius recounts his own experience as well. Verse 30. So Cornelius said four days ago I was fasting until this hour. That means they're meeting and they're talking at the very time of day that Peter has is or Cornelius has his vision four days ago. Which tells us it's somewhere around three o'clock in the afternoon, the hour prayer. And at the ninth hour that's three in the afternoon I prayed in my house and behold a man stood before me in bright clothing and said Cornelius your prayer has been heard and your alms are remembered in the side of God. Sin therefore to Japa and call Simon here whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon at anner by the sea when he comes he will speak to you. Cornelius lets Peter know that the reason he sent for him was because God through the angel commanded that he do so. Peter asks why have you sent for me Cornelius answer is because an angel commanded me to an angel from God. That's a pretty good reason. Just as it was for Peter it was a matter of obedience and faith also for Cornelius. In verse 30 Luke confirms the timeline of four days that he has already laid out in his record. And we see that as Cornelius is speaking to Peter. He informs him that it was about this time four days ago that the angel appeared in the vision. And they are now gathered at the time a prayer the same time Cornelius had division. Peter would have no choice but to believe the account is true. How could Cornelius have known Peter was lodging at the house of Simon at anner in Japa. How could Cornelius have known any of this? Well it is because God revealed it. And so we see also that as Cornelius is speaking to Peter he informs him that it was about this time of day four days ago. All of this, all of this information, all of this detail across days, across geography could only mean that God had orchestrated this. Cornelius was divinely directed how and where to find Peter. And in light of all that had transpired, not Peter nor the six men with him could deny that God had arranged all of this. And God did this so miraculously because it was so unheard of that these Jews would have gone with these Gentiles and entered into this Gentiles house. But God made it such that they could not explain it away. They could not justify disobedience. They were compelled to obey God. It truly was a divine appointment. And soon all would see God move in a mighty way that had never been witnessed before. Cornelius finishes his accounting of how he came to sin for Peter, reaffirming the words of the angel, telling Peter, according to the angel, you will speak words. Peter will speak words to you. Cornelius makes it clear that they are all waiting to hear Peter speak to them. The words of Cornelius are interesting and purposeful. Listen again carefully to what he tells Peter, verse 33. So I sent to you immediately and you have done well to come now. Therefore we are all present before God to hear all the things commanded you by God. Cornelius commends Peter for coming but then Cornelius lets Peter know in no uncertain terms that they are ready to hear the words that God has given to Peter to speak to them. We are all present before God. Notice they are not present before Peter. Cornelius didn't say, we're all present here now with you, ready to hear from you. He says, we are all present before God. They're not there for Peter per se. They are there for God. They are all present before God. There was an expectation that God was present. Did you catch that church? These Gentiles, these Godfairers, were present before God. They were aware that they are in that home. God was present. There was an expectation that God was present and that the words spoken by Peter would be the words ordained by God. God was there among those gathered in the home of Cornelius. The faith and expectation of those Gentiles gathered that day is truly inspiring. Think of how many Christians are gathered today in churches. I wonder how many Christians gathered in Christian churches built and established to worship the God and creator of heaven and earth. The God of our salvation, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the God who is the author of your salvation. How many Christians across this land, across this world are gathered who have this same faith and expectation who come and they gather and they say, we are ready, we are gathered, we are in the presence of God. Do you come here knowing that when you enter in to worship your Lord that you are in the presence of God? I love getting to come and see all of you and fellowship with you, visit with you. For some of you this is the only time I get to see you during the week and I love our time to see one another. I love standing here, seeing your beautiful faces. But we are not here because this is a great social club. We are not here simply to fellowship with one another. As much as I love your presence here, we all have to remember that the reason we have gathered in this place is because God is present here. And He is present here because we are here because Christ in you is your hope of glory. It is all of our hope of glory. And God is present here because His people are present here because Jesus promised it would be so because you are the temple of the Holy Spirit. God truly dwells in you. And even though these Gentiles had not received the Holy Spirit yet, he had not yet fallen upon them, they had not yet heard the presentation of the gospel yet. And that God had done something in them and there was a recognition that they were present before God. They were there in the presence of God. God was among them. Oh, that we would be so inspired with such faith and expectation as we gather, as we are present before God to hear all the things that God has commanded. Each and every time we gather for worship, God is present. He is present here and now in and among His people, we do not worship and serve a different God today. Our own faith and expectation toward God should be no less inspirational. We must guard against becoming lack of days equal in our faith and our expectation of what God is doing. If we become lazy and apathetic or worse, if we become indifferent and idolatrous, we will be sowing to the wind. And if we sow to the wind, Scripture says we will reap the whirlwind. And I fear we are living in a nation now that is on the verge of reaping a much greater whirlwind than it has already reaped if something does not change. And I look across the landscape and I see the church of the Lord Jesus Christ who seems to have lost its faith and expectation in God. And turn our gatherings not a place where we have come into the presence of God but where we have come into the presence of all kinds of things, the least of which is a social club. We literally have churches today who call evil good and good evil. And we say, well those aren't real churches, though, they're real churches. They may not be God's elect but they're real churches. They really represent the Lord Jesus Christ. They bear His name. They may bear an in vain but they bear His name. And we can't just dismiss it and say they don't count because when God looks at a nation, they count. Because they're in a building under His name. They're in a place under His covering. And they're saying one thing about God, when God says another thing. They're teaching things that are not true to this word. They're sowing to the wind and they will reap the whirlwind. But just like Israel of old, when Israel reap the whirlwind, you do realize good and faithful people also suffered. It will not be and it is not different in our own nation. So we, what can we do about that? Well we can't do anything about other people except pray for them, be good witness to them, which means we can do something about us. You can do something about how you come into this place. You can do something about the attitude you have, the faith you have, the expectation you have, when you come into this place. Is it, oh it's Sunday, I have to get up and go to church again. Or is it praise God? I get to go and gather with God's people. And I get to come into the presence of God. I get to come and hear what God has commanded. That was the attitude of these Gentiles gathered in the home of Cornelius. I wonder what is the attitude of God's people who gather weekend and week out as they come into the house of God. Sadly I think we can look across our nation and we can discern what it is largely. But it doesn't have to be that way for you and for me. We can choose a better way. We can choose, we can pray, we can ask God to change our hearts, to change our minds. And then we can do the things necessary for that change to take place like read his word, study his word, go to God in prayer. Be circumspect and wise how you walk out your faith and live your life. Each and every time we gather for worship God is present. He is present here and now in and among his people. We must know that, we must believe that. And we have gathered here in the presence of God to hear all the things commanded you by God. The expectation of those Gentiles gathered in the home of Cornelius was to hear the things commanded by God. They didn't say we want to hear what Peter has to say. We would say something like that. We would say we want to hear what Peter would think about that. Now you want to hear what God thinks about that. They wanted to hear what God commanded. They had it right. They had the right perspective, the right understanding about what was taking place here. That's what they expected Peter would speak. Their belief was that Peter would speak the words of God commanded him to speak. They would say that the expectation every time God's people assemble to worship the Lord. They would hear words spoken by Peter, but those words would be inspired by God. So it should be true as men speak from pulpits all across this land. And from this pulpit right here at Christ Fellowship, that should be your expectation. And you should call me or you should call Pastor Kailer or you should call anybody else out who does anything different. You should. Those assembled in the House of Cornelius realized that Peter was only the mouthpiece, the Oracle of God. They were all present before God to hear all the things commanded by God. Their hunger was to hear the words of the true in living God. Is that your hunger? Do you hunger to hear God's word? Do you thirst for the word of God? If men would hunger for such today, if men would demand such today, if men would refuse to settle for less today, imagine what Christ's church may become. Imagine what this church may become. Imagine then what your nation may become. For a church with that kind of hunger humbled in the presence of God is a church that gains the attention of heaven and hell. That is a church. God will hear from heaven and He will heal the land. God knows we need our land to be healed. Let it be so. Let it be so in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Let us prepare to come to the Lord's table. Here's your church. Imagine if the church assembled each week knowing that we are all present before God. To hear all things commanded by God. Imagine if that became our expectation. And it was so great that anything less would never satisfy your hunger for Him, for His Word and for His ways. Imagine if that hunger began to spill over into your daily life, into your family, into your work, into every area of your life. Imagine fulfilling the command of Christ to go and make disciples of all the nations starting right where you are with your family and close friends. Babtizing them in the name of the triune God and teaching them to obey all that He commands. Imagine such faith and expectation that your obedience would not be thwarted and your life become a living testimony of God's power and grace. Imagine the possible not the impossibility. God who began a good work in you has promised to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. God cannot lie. The words of the prophet will come true. The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God. His Word is true. His promises do not fail even though we may. When you fail, pick yourself up and keep walking. God is for you. Therefore, who can be against you and you know the answer. It is no one. Now you are light in the Lord. Walk as a child of light. Walk with faith and expectancy. Douding nothing, even as Peter commanded, was commanded by God. Douding nothing as you do each thing he puts before you faithfully, obediently trusting him, trusting that you will see his Word fulfilled. Amen. Let us sing our thanks to God. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise him of creatures here below. Praise him above ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. The Lord be with you.

Acts 10 · chapter mention Acts 10:24–33 Acts 10 · chapter mention Acts 10 · chapter mention Acts 10:23