Bible Reading
Acts 10:1-48 “At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa. The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven. Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.” So he invited them in to be his guests. The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.” And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.” So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 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. 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, but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 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. 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. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 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. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.”
[02:01]Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
[11:59]Romans 5:8 “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
[12:44]Observation questions
- What religious and political barriers stood between Peter and Cornelius, and how did God prepare each man for their meeting in Acts 10? [03:19]
- In Acts 10:9–29, how did Peter move from resisting the vision to entering Cornelius’s home? What did he say God had shown him about people? [05:49]
- In Acts 10:34–43, what did Peter emphasize about Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and authority? How did he explain the way people receive forgiveness? [09:08]
- What do Ephesians 2:8–9 and Romans 5:8 reveal about the basis of salvation and the condition of the people Christ died for? [12:07]
Interpretation questions
- Why did Peter need more than a change in his understanding of food before entering Cornelius’s home? How does Acts 10:28 help explain the deeper purpose of his vision? [07:25]
- Cornelius was prayerful and generous, yet God still sent Peter to bring him the message about Jesus. How does this help explain the difference between living a respectable life and receiving salvation by grace? [12:07]
- Why can forgetting personal dependence on mercy lead a believer to resent God’s mercy toward someone else? How does remembering undeserved forgiveness challenge that attitude? [17:38]
- Peter presented Jesus as both Lord of all and the source of forgiveness. How do these truths help a church welcome sinners without either demanding that they earn acceptance or suggesting that repentance does not matter? [25:07]
Application questions
- Is there a person or group you believe God loves but find difficult to welcome? What assumptions might you need to question before getting to know their story? [08:22]
- Where do you notice yourself trying to earn God’s acceptance through effort, achievement, or being better than someone else? What would depending on Jesus rather than your record look like in that area? [11:47]
- Have you ever struggled to celebrate someone else receiving forgiveness or a fresh start? How might remembering a specific way God has shown you mercy change your response? [17:38]
- Have your words, jokes, or reactions ever suggested that someone’s background or past makes them less welcome among God’s people? Is there a conversation or act of kindness that could help repair that hurt? [23:29]
- Think of someone who is new to church or feels outside your usual circle. What could you or this group do this week to help that person build genuine relationships and take a step toward Jesus? [18:08]
- Grace welcomes us and calls us to surrender to Jesus. Where are you tempted either to avoid an honest conversation about sin or to speak without kindness? What might a truthful, humble, and gracious next conversation sound like? [26:08]
