Authenticated
Turning Point
God’s plans don’t change because He doesn’t change, He’s perfect. We are not, and we need to change all the time. Coping with change is difficult especially when we’re unsure of God’s plans for us and what decisions to take to follow His will for us. We need to evaluate everything according to His Word to discern what His will is and then we need to trust Him to authenticate His work in us. We can see how Peter followed God’s will even when it seemed to be a departure from everything He knew, He did this by trust and obedience to the word of God, and the evidence of the Holy Spirit. We need to learn to do the same.
Scripture
Acts 10:34-48 ESV So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, [35] but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. [36] As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), [37] you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: [38] how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. [39] And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, [40] but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, [41] not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. [42] And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. [43] To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” [44] While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. [45] And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. [46] For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, [47] “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” [48] And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
Bible Study Questions
Everyone who fears Him and does what is right
Peter is told that God has made clean what has been previously unclean. In this He calls Peter to move forward from the ceremonial laws that have served their purpose and come to an end. He also calls Peter to reach out to people who are considered unclean, this is a massive turning point in the establishment of the Church. God loves and draws everyone, from any background or culture. It is faith in the One true God, evidenced by fear and obedience that makes us acceptable to Him.
Acts 10:34-35 ESV So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, [35] but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
John 6:44-45 ESV No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. [45] It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me—
The Word that was sent to Israel
God draws people from every nation and offers us forgiveness by faith in Jesus Christ, but His definite plan was to bring a knowledge of Him and His holiness, righteousness and mercy through the nation of Israel. He did this through His prophets and through the Scripture by His Holy Spirit. God’s plan is perfect, and while His love for all nations is the same, He has chosen to work differently through different people. How is God working through Israel and the Gentiles today?
Acts 10:36-37 ESV As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), [37] you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed:
Romans 11:11-15 ESV So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. [12] Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean! [13] Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry [14] in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. [15] For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?
The Gospel
The good news that God sent through Israel is all about Jesus Christ. Even though His own people rejected Him, God raised Him from the dead to authenticate His message of salvation by faith in Him alone. How important is this message about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ?
Acts 10:38-41 ESV how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. [39] And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, [40] but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, [41] not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
1 Corinthians 15:1-6 ESV Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, [2] and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. [3] For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, [4] that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, [5] and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. [6] Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.
Freedom through faith alone
The events of Jesus life, death and resurrection are inseparable from the message that He Himself will judge all people from all nations, and that He will have mercy on those who have believed the Gospel and trusted in Him for the forgiveness of their sin. Jesus is the One who judges and executes God wrath, and He is the One who saves us from that wrath. How are we saved from the wrath of God?
Acts 10:42-43 ESV And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. [43] To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
1 Peter 4:3-5 ESV For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. [4] With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; [5] but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
Matthew 25:31-33 ESV “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. [32] Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. [33] And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.
Romans 8:1-4 ESV There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. [2] For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. [3] For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, [4] in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
God’s perfect plan authenticated
The Gospel of Jesus Christ was a radical change from what the people of Israel understood and were accustomed to. God not only instructed Peter to minister to the “unclean” and to move past the ceremonial law, but He drew Cornelius and His household near to hear the message of the Gospel. Not only did He do this, but then He proved the truth of this great new direction in a visible outpouring of the power of His Holy Spirit. What effect did this have on the Jewish believers and why?
Acts 10:44-46 ESV While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. [45] And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. [46] For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God…
Acts 2:4-11 ESV And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. [5] Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. [6] And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. [7] And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? [8] And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? [9] Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, [10] Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, [11] both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”
Baptism and follow through
When it has been made evident that these people are loved and forgiven in the same way that Peter and the Jewish believers are, Peter responds in obedience to Jesus commandment to make disciples of all nations. In what two ways does He obey this instruction of Scripture? (Why did He stay some days with them?)
Acts 10:46-48 ESV …Then Peter declared, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” [48] And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
Matthew 28:18-20 ESV And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
What do we the Church need to do today?
What does the world look like today? Is there widespread hatred and immorality? What does it mean that the Church is not of the world, but it is in the world? How do we respond to the immorality and hatred we find ourselves surrounded by?
John 17:14-15 ESV I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. [15] I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 ESV But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. [2] For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, [3] heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, [4] treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, [5] having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
Jude 1:20-23 ESV But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, [21] keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. [22] And have mercy on those who doubt; [23] save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.