Peter and Cornelius

Peter and Cornelius
Acts 10

There was man in a town called Caesaria called Cornelius, and he was a man who loved God. whose whole family feared God and always prayed. He saw in a vision one day an angel of God coming to him, and he was afraid, but the angel called him and Cornelius said "What is it Lord?" and the angel said "God remembers your prayers. Now send men to Joppa and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter who is staying with a man named Simon in a house by the seaside. He will tell you what you need to do." And so Cornelius called two of his household servants, and a soldier who loved God, and he told them all that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

Now Peter had a vision too, and this is what it was. He saw heaven opened and something like a great sheet which contained all kinds of animals and birds. And a voice came to him saying Get up Peter, kill and eat. But Peter said No, I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean..but the voice said to him "what God has cleansed, you do not call common." This happened three times, and while Peter was wondering what the vision meant, the men came from Cornelius to get him.

And the Spirit said to him "three men are looking for you, go down to them and do not doubt because I have sent them." And so Peter went down, and the men told him about Cornelius, and about how an angel had told Cornelius to send for Peter. So the next day Peter set out with them, and also took some of the other believers with him.

And Cornelius was waiting for him, and had called together all his family and close friends. And when Peter came in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet to worship him, but Peter told him to stand up, because he was a man too. And so Peter went inside, and saw all the people, and asked Cornelius why he wanted to see him. And so Cornelius told him of his vision, and how they all came there to hear all things from Peter that God had commanded him. And so this is what Peter said:

"Truly God accepts in every nation he that fears him and works righteousness. God sent to the children of Israel Jesus Christ, preaching peace. (he is Lord of all) God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power, and he went about doing good, and healing everyone because God was with him. And we are witnesses of all the things which he did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, where they hanged him on a cross. He God raised up on the third day and showed him to those who were chosen of God, to us who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to say that Jesus Christ was ordained of God to be the Judge. All the prophets spoke of him, that through his name, whosever believes in him shall receive forgiveness of sins."

While Peter spoke these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all of them that heard and those that had come with Peter were amazed because the gift of the Holy Ghost fell on the Gentiles as well, because they heard them magnify God. And so Peter asked if any one would forbid them to be baptized, because they had received the Holy Ghost as well as Peter and the other believers. So Peter commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for awhile.

Memory Verse: Acts 10:45 ".....on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost."

Questions:
1 Why did Cornelius send for Peter?
2 How did God prepare Peter's heart to go to Cornelius
3 Why do you think Cornelius gathered his family and friends together?
4 Why do you think God brought Peter to Cornelius?
5 When were Cornelius and his family baptized?

Answers:
1 Because an angel appeared to him in a vision and told him to send for Peter
2 Peter saw a vision too, and the Spirit told Peter that the men were coming, and that he was to go with them.
3 Because he wanted them to hear Peter's words that God had commanced him to speak
4 Because Cornelius was a man who loved and feared God and prayed always.
5 After they received the Holy Ghost.

Vicki C. Gross/Feb'03