A WAY FOR PAGAN GENTILES?

Acts 10-11

EXTENSION OF THE GOSPEL TO THE GENTILES 10:1-11:30

     SALVATION OF CORNELIUS 10:1-48

While Peter was in Caesarea, the Lord simultaneously spoke to Peter and Cornelius to bring them together.

Cornelius was a centurion who sought to please the Lord.

Peter was sent to tell him about Jesus.

         Cornelius' introduction 10:1-2

         Cornelius' vision 10:3-8

         Peter's vision 10:9-16

         Messengers' arrival 10:17-23

         Cornelius' explanation 10:24-33

         Peter's message 10:34-43

         Hearers' response 10:44-48

God used supernatural evidence to demonstrate the Spirit had come on the hearers and that He had opened the door of salvation to the Gentiles.

Peter was shocked, but God's revelation was too clear to doubt.

When word of Peter's activities came to Jerusalem to the apostles they were stunned.

Peter had gone too far this time.

They called a meeting to discuss his activities (11:1-18).

     DEFENSE FROM PETER 11:1-18

         The accusation 11:1-3

The accusation that he had gone to the house of Gentiles was presented.

         The answer 11:4-17

Peter answered by explaining how God had revealed His plan to him

The whole story was retold.

             Peter's vision 11:4-10

             Messengers' arrival 11:11-12

             Cornelius' vision 11:13-14

             Hearers' response 11:15-17

         The acceptance 11:18

When the evidence of the Spirit's coming was described, they were convinced.

The coming of the Spirit on the Gentiles could not be denied without denying their own experience.

If God had done for the Gentiles the same as He had done for them, then He must be accepting them also.

Therefore, tongues was a sign to Jewish Christians to demonstrate that God had accepted pagan Gentiles also.

     GROWTH OF GENTILE MINISTRY 11:19-30

Once God's confirmation of the acceptance of Gentiles into the people of God was recognized, the door opened wide for witness to Gentiles.

         Work in Antioch 11:19-21

         Introduction to Barnabas 11:22-30

When the work in Antioch began to develop, the apostles sent Barnabas to investigate.

             Inspection of work 11:22-24

Barnabas was excited about what God was doing.

             Inclusion of Paul 11:25-26

He decided to go for Paul, the man God had named to carry on this ministry in the future.

Paul became his disciple until he was ready to assume the responsibility for the ministry.

             Involvement in famine relief 11:27-30

When a prophetic message predicted famine in the Roman world, an offering was collected to help needy brethren throughout Judea.

Barnabas and Saul were asked to take the offering to the elders.

SALVATION FROM PERSECUTION BY HEROD 12:1-25

At about this time a period of persecution broke out under Herod.

     DEATH OF JAMES 12:1-2

He killed James and, discovering a positive popular response among the Jews, decided to try again.

     IMPRISONMENT OF PETER 12:3-6

     DELIVERANCE OF PETER 12:7-11

He arrested Peter (12:3-6)

             but God freed him (12:7-11).

     RESPONSE OF THE CHURCH 12:12-17

The church was not expecting such a dramatic answer to their prayers.

Nevertheless they praised God for His mighty act.

     RESULTS OF PERSECUTION 12:18-25

         For Herod 12:18-23

         For the church 12:24-25

The final result of the persecution was judgment against Herod and triumph for the word of God.

The word was spread and the church strengthened as people saw what God had done.

WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS PASSAGE FOR US?

     1. If God is no respecter of persons, we shouldn’t be either!

     2. If reaching pagan Gentiles was this important to God, we ought to reflect that love to pagans and religious people in our community also.

     3. If God could control history and protect His people, He can protect us if we’re faithful to proclaim the gospel also.