March 28, 2025

#268 - Acts 10.9-11.18 - The Sheet Came Down—And So Did Grace

In this powerful and pivotal episode of the AL Pastor Podcast, Pastor Brian is joined by Noah for a deep dive into Acts 10 and 11—a turning point in the story of the early Church. Together, they walk through Peter’s rooftop vision, the surprising inclusion of a Roman centurion named Cornelius, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Gentiles for the very first time. What unfolds is not just a lesson in ancient history—it’s a call to embrace God’s heart for all people.
Through rich storytelling, real-time discussion, and detailed verse-by-verse teaching, Pastor Brian helps listeners grasp the weight of Peter’s transformation and the radical scope of the Gospel. With echoes of Noah’s ark, the Tower of Babel, and Pentecost, this moment marks the fulfillment of God’s promise to redeem all nations—not just Israel—through Jesus Christ.
As the Holy Spirit falls, as Peter opens his mouth, and as Gentile voices magnify God in unknown tongues, the Church witnesses a miracle of grace that still reverberates today: God shows no partiality. Those once deemed "unclean" are now called chosen. The barriers are breaking. The Gospel is moving out.
Whether you're a seasoned Bible reader or just beginning your faith journey, this episode will leave you inspired, challenged, and in awe of the God who includes, redeems, and transforms.
This podcast summary was generated with the assistance of ChatGPT, based on the full transcript of the episode.

Show Notes
Transcript

🎙️ Podcast Summary

Episode Title: Acts 10:9–48 & 11:1–18
Hosts: Pastor Brian & Noah
Show: The AL Pastor Podcast

In this power-packed episode, Pastor Brian and co-host Noah walk verse-by-verse through Acts 10:9–48 and Acts 11:1–18, exploring one of the most pivotal turning points in redemptive history: the inclusion of the Gentiles into the covenant people of God. Through Peter’s rooftop vision and his Spirit-led journey to Cornelius’s home, we witness the dawn of the church's expansion beyond the bounds of Jewish custom and tradition. With humor, insight, and deep application, this episode challenges believers to consider God’s heart for every nation and the cost of obedience to His calling.

📌 Key Themes Covered:

Peter’s rooftop vision and its symbolic meaning
The transition from old covenant distinctions (clean/unclean) to new covenant inclusion
Divine orchestration between Peter and Cornelius
The radical message of impartiality: “God shows no partiality” (Acts 10:34)
The baptism of the Holy Spirit as a sign to the circumcised believers
The role of obedience and humility in stepping across social, cultural, and religious boundaries

🗺️ Episode Breakdown & Commentary

🔹 Acts 10:9–16 — Peter's Vision

Setting: Peter is in Joppa, praying at noon on the rooftop of Simon the Tanner’s house.
Vision Content: A sheet descends from heaven containing all kinds of animals (clean and unclean).
Interpretation: God is preparing Peter to break from deeply ingrained cultural norms. The command “Rise, Peter; kill and eat” represents not just food, but people. Gentiles will no longer be considered unclean.
Echoes of Noah’s Ark: The sheet imagery recalls the inclusion of all animals in Noah’s Ark—God is now preparing to include all people in His redemptive plan.
Repetition for Emphasis: The vision occurs three times, signaling the gravity of the revelation.

🔹 Acts 10:17–23 — Divine Timing

Peter is still pondering the vision when three Gentile men (sent by Cornelius) arrive at the house.
The Spirit speaks directly to Peter: “Go with them, doubting nothing, for I have sent them.”
Peter invites them to lodge with him—an act of radical hospitality for a Jew toward Gentiles.

🔹 Acts 10:24–33 — Peter Meets Cornelius

Peter journeys to Caesarea with six Jewish brothers.
Cornelius gathers his extended household and close friends—a crowd possibly around 80–100 people.
Cornelius falls at Peter’s feet; Peter corrects him: “Stand up; I myself am also a man.”
Peter acknowledges that God has shown him he should not call any man unclean.
Cornelius recounts his vision and affirms that he obeyed immediately.

🔹 Acts 10:34–43 — Peter’s Gospel Proclamation

Key Verse: “God shows no partiality” (v. 34). Peter publicly affirms this revelation.
Peter summarizes Jesus’ ministry, death, and resurrection.
Apologetic Emphasis: Peter stresses the bodily resurrection—“we ate and drank with Him.”
The gospel message is presented: salvation and remission of sins through faith in Jesus.

🔹 Acts 10:44–48 — The Holy Spirit Falls

While Peter is still preaching, the Holy Spirit falls on all who heard.
The Jewish believers are astonished as Gentiles begin speaking in tongues and magnifying God—mirroring Pentecost.
Key Point: The Spirit’s outpouring is God’s stamp of approval on Gentile inclusion—no room for debate.
Water Baptism: Peter commands they be baptized in the name of Jesus—affirming their full inclusion into the covenant community.
Peter stays with them several days, continuing discipleship.

🔁 Acts 11:1–18 — Peter Defends His Actions

Controversy: Peter is criticized by Jewish believers in Jerusalem for eating with Gentiles.
Peter’s Defense: He recounts the vision, the Spirit’s command, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Six Witnesses: Brought along to affirm the truth of what happened (a nod to Deuteronomy’s requirement for two or three witnesses).
Peter quotes Jesus: “You shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Crucial Conclusion: “If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us... who was I that I could withstand God?” (v. 17)
Silence and Praise: The critics are silenced and glorify God: “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”

💡 Application Points

Obedience sometimes requires discomfort. Peter had to shed religious bias to follow God’s command.
God’s kingdom is multiethnic and inclusive. The gospel tears down ethnic, cultural, and national barriers.
Hospitality is holy. Peter inviting Gentiles into his home and later staying with them reflects the radical welcome of Christ.
Transformation precedes tradition. The true mark of covenant isn’t circumcision but a transformed heart.
The Holy Spirit affirms God’s work. The Spirit’s outpouring confirmed divine approval when cultural traditions would have resisted it.
We must not call unclean what God has called clean. That applies to people, churches, neighborhoods, and individuals we are tempted to write off.

📖 Key Scriptures Referenced

Acts 10:9–48; 11:1–18
Deuteronomy 10:17 – “God shows no partiality”
Isaiah 43:1 – “I have called you by name; you are mine”
Psalm 2:8 – “Ask of me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance”
John 17:17 – “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth”
Romans 10:17 – “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God”

🔒 Doctrinal Clarifications

Tongues as Evidence: Speaking in tongues was a sign of the Holy Spirit’s work for verification—not a prerequisite for salvation.
Baptism: Water baptism is a sign of the New Covenant, replacing circumcision as the initiation rite into the body of Christ.
Salvation: Salvation is by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8–9), not by ritual or moral performance.

🎧 Where to Listen

Anchor.fm (via Spotify)
Apple Podcasts
Google Podcasts
Amazon Music
iHeartRadio

⚠️ Disclaimer

This episode summary and show notes were generated with the help of ChatGPT and edited by Pastor Brian for clarity and accuracy.

⚠️ Disclaimer

This podcast is for spiritual edification and biblical education. It is not a replacement for your personal study of Scripture or participation in the local church. Always test what you hear with God’s Word and seek pastoral guidance for deeper questions.

0:07

You're listening to Al Pastor, the show that helps you love God, love your neighbor and eat more

tacos.

0:15

I'm your host, Pastor Brian, welcome to the show.

Hey friends, I want to welcome you to today's podcast.

0:24

We're continuing our walk through the book of Acts and we are in Acts chapter 10.

We're going to pick up at verse #9.

0:31

I have in studio with me.

Noah know how you doing today?

0:34

I'm.

Doing good.

0:35

Now, do you know why I brought you in?

Because because you had to redo this podcast multiple times.

0:42

No, I have I actually haven't had to redo this podcast.

It's that I have been I've been going like this stuff is really, really, I don't want to use the

0:53

word complicated.

It's in depth and so I'm hoping that you're going to help me simplify it.

0:58

So having you sit in front of me looking at you, I have to make sure that you get it.

And so I want to simplify and streamline the process or else I'm never going to get through this.

1:12

I mean, it's like.

We're going to be in Chapter 12 when you're doing.

1:17

Exactly, exactly.

So I appreciate you coming on.

1:22

So let's do it.

Just a quick context before we dive into chapter #9 we in the previous episode and in the 1st 8

1:30

verses of Acts chapter 10, God has done something really, really significant in the life of

Cornelius.

1:36

He has spoken to him.

We walk through a little bit of some of the identifying factors in his life, who he is, his

1:45

background, he's a Roman, he's a centurion, he's devout, he's a God fearer.

And this is really a unique situation that's going on.

1:53

We also looked a little bit at the town, the place called Caesarea.

And now as this as as that had happened, we jump into verse #9 So about 30 miles down the road is a

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city called Joppa.

And that's where we find ourselves here.

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And the apostle Peter happens to be there.

So go ahead and read verse 9 for us.

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The next the next day as they went on their journey and junior the city, Peter went up on the

housetop to pray about the 6th about 6 hour.

2:30

OK, so even though I went quickly over the context, when it says the next day as they went on their

journey, there are two household servants and there's a soldier that is sent by Cornelius because

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God had told Cornelius sin for a man by the name of Peter who's staying at the Tanner's house.

Cornelius was obedient.

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So the they here in verse 9 or this is this party of three that made this 30 mile journey on foot.

It was about two days, right?

2:59

Yeah, it would take about two days.

So you could, you know, depending on, on how you wanted to break it up, you can go half and half or

3:07

you could go beast mode and maybe go, you know, 2022 miles in one day and say, all right, we've got

a light day the next day.

3:14

Can you imagine walking 30 miles?

I mean some people running.

3:20

Oh, that's true.

OK, so they drew near to the city.

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What's the city?

It's Joppa.

3:25

OK.

And Peter is up on the housetop to pray, and it tells us that it's the 6th hour.

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Do you know what time that is, Noah, by any chance?

Noon.

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Yeah, it's at noon, so good job.

So it's up at noon.

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He's up on the the housetop.

This was actually very common in the ancient world to go up to catch a breeze.

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The housetop is significant for several reasons.

I had said this before in Bible study, but there are some indications from like Jewish writings,

3:52

extra biblical that there were a couple of places that were known for Torah study.

One would be under under the shade of of a fig tree.

4:03

If you remember Nathaniel in the book of John and also on rooftops.

And so here is what Peter's doing.

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He's, if you remember in the beginning of Acts, the apostle said, hey, it's not good that we should,

you know, put all our focus on feeding windows with, I said windows widows, but we'll devote

4:22

ourselves to prayer in the study of God's Word.

And so most likely that's what Peter's doing.

4:27

He's he's devoted to this task of prayer in the study of God's Word.

Kind of like how like how you like to go to the cabin and just like, do you like go reset?

4:38

Yeah, yeah, actually that's that's why I love going up there, just to get into God's Word in a

different type of environment.

4:47

And so Peter's up there, he's praying.

And then it says in verse 10, go ahead and read it for us.

4:53

Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat, but while they made ready, he fell into a trance.

OK, really, really important.

5:01

A couple of things here #1A trance.

It's important to establish this because in our English language we have imposed this meaning of

5:11

trance, which is really kind of different from what the Bible is.

The trance isn't in the sense of like all the sudden I'm, you know, channeling some kind of spirit

5:22

or doing a seance.

He isn't.

5:24

He isn't in a hypnotic state.

Exactly.

5:27

Good job, good job.

So we would describe this as, you know, the most relatable term to us would be kind of like

5:34

daydreaming, but it is something much, much heavier.

It's he's he's about to see something.

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And because he he could sense something important was about to happen.

Possibly.

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Possibly.

So verse 7, what does he see in that?

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Or verse 11.

I'm sorry, what does he see in that trance?

5:54

He saw heaven open with the object like a great sheet bound after the four corners.

And descending to him and let down to earth.

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So this particular object is a sheet.

Like think of just a giant bed sheet, right?

6:10

And it says that it's bound at four corners.

If we if we were to say bound, it could be like tide or as if someone's grabbing a hold of it,

6:19

right?

Like if you were to make a bed with four people, you each grab a corner.

6:22

I'm.

Just kind of picturing the like sound thing with with like the corners to hold it up.

6:27

Uh huh.

Yeah.

6:29

Now this word, the four corners is, is really kind of a loaded statement because we have the four

cardinal directions, north-south, east, West in biblical imagery and usage, we would say the four

6:41

corners of the earth, the four winds of the earth.

And So what that has to do with this is we're going to see in verse 12, if you notice it says in it

6:50

we're all kinds of four footed animals.

That means there is a representation of all of the animals on the earth.

7:00

Now we can take that to the extreme.

I mean, you can be like it was there a giant sloth in there?

7:05

Is there a a, you know, a Guinea pig, a Guinea pig.

I mean, we're we're not getting into those details.

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This is a representation, right?

The four corners all kind.

7:15

So there's a representation of all the different animals that are being let down on earth, both

clean and unclean.

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This also give us gives us, there's some commentators, Noah that have noted the what we would call

echoes from Noah's ark.

7:30

Now there was and you might say, well, what's significant about that?

Do you remember when Noah brought in?

7:36

How, who, what did he bring into the ark?

22 pairs of every animal.

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Yeah, of every clean and unclean, every animal was in there on that ark.

And the reason is because God was about to pass judgement during that time.

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That was a major, when you think of Noah, that was a, a, a major event in the history of the plan of

redemption, of God's purposes.

8:04

God was cleansing and judging the earth.

Now, do you remember?

8:08

I don't, I'm not.

I don't want to go too deep with you, Noah, but do you remember what Pentecost was a reversal of?

8:16

No, it was a reversal.

The Tower of Babel.

8:19

See, God declared judgement at Babel because everybody had their own languages and they were, or I

mean, they were all of one language.

8:28

I'm sorry.

And they were all coming together.

8:30

So God judged them.

And then he, he, he scattered their languages, confounded, confused their languages.

8:39

Pentecost was a reversal of that.

Now I want you to think of what Peter's doing here with the Gentiles.

8:46

It's almost as if there is a reversal of Noah's ark.

Now in Noah's day, he brought in all the animals and he was passing judgement on the world.

8:57

Here God is bringing in grace.

No longer what's going to be considered unclean is clean.

9:04

He is.

He is going to release the disciples into the nation's, which was part of his plan from all along.

9:12

So there is some of that imagery that's in here.

That's not something that I'm just like kind of coming up with that we'd say like Willy nilly out of

9:21

nowhere there.

There are several commentators that have made note of this.

9:26

Do you have any thoughts or any questions on that concept at all?

I know.

9:30

OK, so verse 12, in it we're all kinds of four footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping

things and birds of the air.

9:39

And then in verse 13, notice it says a voice came to him.

I like this because we have a voice that came to him.

9:48

We have a personification of the voice.

But notice, notice the words rise, Peter, kill and eat.

9:58

And what do you think's going on here?

You have any thoughts, Noah?

10:04

It's God testing whether or not Peter is going.

He's trying to see what Peter, how he's going to respond.

10:12

Yeah, yeah, that's actually part of it.

Here's another motif.

10:16

We call it like a motif or a pattern out of the Old Old Testament is what we would call a a Old

Testament commissioning sequence.

10:27

And when you go throughout the Bible and you begin to look at the calls that many of the giants of

the faith in the Old Testament had people like Moses and, and people like maybe somebody in Judges

10:39

like Gideon or somebody like Ezekiel or Jeremiah, There is always a process that and they, they

identify this process as a protest.

10:48

And it's not at it's not in the sense of us being disobedient.

It's sort of like hesitancy to make certain.

10:58

And so what's being depicted here is not a resistance in a bad way from Peter.

It's a reluctance because his heart is so aligned with God.

11:11

And so he says in verse 14, when he's told to eat, he says, no, not so, Lord, I've never eaten

anything common or unclean.

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I, I can get like both sides because because it's like on one side it's it's, it's like it's like

got us both testing him and not testing him.

11:31

Yes, because it's a matter of like as a Jew, you it was kosher, right?

Correct.

11:38

You ate kosher all your life and then all of a sudden he's saying you can eat whatever.

Yes.

11:44

And then, and then, I mean they he eventually does eat whatever, right?

Correct, but it but it's not it.

11:52

We're going to find out.

It's not about food, it's about people.

11:55

Yeah.

And so here's his first part of his protest.

11:59

He says no Lord, I've never eaten anything common or unclean.

Verse 15 and then a voice spoke to him again.

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Notice now it's the second time what God is cleansed you must not call common.

The the Gentiles.

12:14

Exactly, exactly.

And then verse 16, this was done three times and the object was taken up into heaven again.

12:23

Now the three times is really kind of an emphasis on repetition, and it is to kind of solidify this

into Peter's heart that this is the Lord.

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Now God's going to give him some additional confirmation.

How many people did we say we're coming up to the gate?

12:42

Three.

And all three of these are what we would call unclean.

12:45

So I want you to think about this.

Three times Peter was given the vision.

12:49

Three times there was some resistant.

And then all of a sudden in verse #17 it says now, while Peter wondered within himself, he's trying

12:57

to figure out what's going on, what this vision which he had seen meant.

Behold, I mean, literally, he comes out of it.

13:04

He snaps out of it.

And the men who had been sent from Cornelius, they're knocking on the door.

13:11

Hey, is Peter here?

Is Peter here?

13:14

And they're standing before the gate.

So there there is as we as we interpret this, sometimes people say, well, is the three times because

13:26

Peter denied Jesus three times.

And that very well could be.

13:30

But most likely this is an emphasis on no, Peter, I'm about to do something extraordinary, something

that is going to help you in your heart and in your mind and in your understanding, know what God is

13:47

about to do.

Any thoughts or questions?

13:51

I mean, I think, I think with the three times it is both with the being repetitive to like put in

his head and then it's like like like Peter was able to recognize that it was Jesus already.

14:05

However, the the the three times would have been like the hitting the nail on the coffin with the

like him denying and then him asking if he loves them three times.

14:16

Yeah, very well.

So what we do with things like that, Noah, is we we take something like that and we say, yeah,

14:25

that's possible.

It could be a number of different things, but we, we do what I always call, we hold that loosely,

14:32

right?

So that means we don't make a, we're not dogmatic about that.

14:36

And so it's very, very possible.

And it's also possible that none of that is involved.

14:42

It could could have just been three times for emphasis.

You see what I'm saying?

14:48

So that's, that's one of the ways that we handle the Bible.

There are certain places that you'll find that you do.

14:55

You are dogmatic.

Let me give you an example.

14:57

Jesus said I'm the way, the truth, and the life.

There's no other way around that, right?

15:02

Like there is no other way.

Except through.

15:05

Him except through him now that you're you, you've got to be dogmatic.

This we hold loosely, right?

15:12

Doesn't this does that make sense?

Good, good.

15:17

All right, so they standing before the gate verse 18.

Go ahead and read it for us.

15:22

And they called and and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.

I like that because whose house are they at?

15:32

Simon the Tanner.

Exactly.

15:34

So there's more than one Simon there, Simon there, right.

So we're like when you played football, you had more than one Noah.

15:39

So they had to say Noah O.

And everybody just called me over turf.

15:43

Or now over turf, right?

So I don't know if you'll have that problem next year.

15:47

Will there'll be a No.

It.

15:48

Was it Noah Napier you played with, I think.

Yeah, I remember Napier.

15:52

Yeah.

I wonder if he'll be playing with you next year.

15:55

We'll see.

15:56

But what's here, Here's what's interesting.

Why am I bringing that out?

16:01

It's because these three guys are foreigners and they're up from Caesarea.

They're coming down into Joppa Jewish town.

16:07

They have they have no idea who, who they're supposed to look for.

Yeah.

16:10

So they're, but they have specific information.

They're like they if they just want to say, Hey, is Simon here here comes out the Tanner.

16:17

No, no, we want we're specific.

We want Simon, whose surname is Peter.

16:22

We were told he's lodging here.

They're like, OK, how do you know this info?

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They got it from they got from the Lord, right.

That's Cornelius got it.

16:32

So pretty cool.

And verse 19.

16:36

While Peter thought about the vision, the spirit said to him, Behold, three men are seeking you.

Verse 20.

16:45

Arise, therefore go down, go with them, doubting nothing, for I have sent them.

All right, I want you to notice the repetition here now from verse 20 and what's the first word of

16:56

verse 20?

Arise, arise.

16:58

And what's the what's the word in verse 13?

It says rise, Peter, kill and eat.

17:05

So God is is reinforcing.

He says arise, therefore go down with them.

17:13

So we also have some beautiful imagery of of some architecture.

Even though Peter is up on a roof, he is coming down from his vision, right?

17:24

And he is coming down just as those animals were lowered.

So he's got to walk down the stairs.

17:30

He goes down with them and he's told doubt nothing and then notice, notice, notice what the spirit

says.

17:38

He says I have sent them.

The Spirit himself is behind this.

17:45

All right, verse 21.

Go ahead and read it.

17:48

Then Peter went down to the man who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, Yes, I am he who

you seek.

17:56

For what reason have you come?

All right, so Peter is, he's asking a question.

18:01

This is actually really, really telling.

And the reason that it's telling is, is when we kind of do a character study of Peter in the Gospels

18:13

prior to the, you know, everything before the resurrection, Peter is, is depicted as what?

Like sassy Peter.

18:23

OK, I like that word, Sassy Peter.

OK.

18:26

That came from youth.

OK, sassy.

18:28

OK, not zesty, but sassy.

Why you left?

18:34

Well, I don't even know what zesty means.

Like gay.

18:37

Oh, no, no, no, no, no.

OK, I said the wrong word.

18:40

So he's not zesty.

Let's, let's explain.

18:42

What do we mean by sassy?

Meaning He is impulsive.

18:46

He tends to act.

Yeah, before he thinks.

18:49

He jumps off the bridge when everybody else does.

Exactly.

18:54

Yeah, Yeah, that's how Peter's depicted.

So I want us to pause for a moment.

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I want you to to really appreciate this look at Peter here.

He's he's matured some and and how do we know he's matured?

19:05

Noah, what do you think?

I mean, I mean he, I mean with the question like he's asking them, he's like, he's like a now I'm

19:16

not assessing before he's acting.

Correct.

19:20

You're exactly right.

I'm man, I'm really, really glad that you got that.

19:25

That's good.

So that's that's that's what I want to sit on and appreciate.

19:29

Yeah, this is this is Peter who's walked with the Lord.

Peter.

19:33

He's not perfect, he doesn't have it all together, but he's.

He isn't dropping people's ears off anymore at least.

19:40

Yeah, exactly.

All right, verse #22.

19:44

So he asked them and tell us the response.

And they said Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has good reputation.

19:55

Reputation among all the nation of the of the Jews was divinely instructed by a holy Angel to summon

you to his house and to hear words from you.

20:05

Then he invited them and watched them.

Now at this point, the only information that Peter has Noah is 3 guys are seeking you.

20:15

I want you to go down and doubt nothing because I've sent them right?

So Peter doesn't know.

20:20

So he asked them hey, what's what's up What's going on?

And the as soon as they say Cornelius the Centurion, I I'm just going to tell you, I'm wondering

20:30

what leapt up in his spirit.

Like, was it fear?

20:33

Like, oh, my, what have I got myself into?

You're wanting me to go talk to a centurion, right?

20:41

Like, this is a big deal.

Yeah.

20:44

But then they, they say he's a just man.

You know, they're, they're, they're trying to lower his tension, his anxiety a little bit, right?

20:51

Maybe he's like, wait, wait, wait, you said hold on a centurion.

And they're like, he's a just man.

20:57

He fears God, he's got a good reputation, don't worry.

And, and, and he was divinely instructed.

21:03

And Peter's going, this is going to be interesting, right?

At least, at least he's obeying the first.

21:12

The first one.

Yeah, yeah.

21:14

And so verse 23 then he invited them in and lodged them.

Now that's a big, big step right there.

21:26

He's lodging them.

He.

21:28

He just met these people and then all and then he just say, hey, come on in.

We'll, we'll go on your journey tomorrow morning.

21:35

Exactly what they would have to logistically speaking, to go up to to.

I mean, think about this.

21:41

They got there at noon, right?

And, and they had their conversation and Peter's like, all right, you stay the night, we'll head out

21:49

in the morning.

Then I guess Peter's got some time to think.

21:53

I'm so curious.

Like what was going through his head?

21:55

And I wonder what what went on during that time.

Well, and, and even though it might be shocking to us, like man, how do you just invite somebody

22:04

that quick to, you know, stay the night or whatever?

This was very common in 1st century hospitality customs.

22:12

And and then with men, men are able to make friends simple.

It's just you walk up to them and you guys start talking and then you guys are best friends already.

0:00

Well, this, this would be a little different because these two servants and a soldier, OK, these are

22:26

gentiles.

So this is, I don't know how, I don't think they're, they're singing Kumbaya by the campfire just

22:32

yet.

I don't think that they're, you know.

22:35

He's a work in progress as of right now.

As of right now, yes.

22:39

So he invited them in the lodge with him.

And then it says what?

22:42

On the next day Peter went away with him, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

Now do you remember from?

22:53

I don't know, yeah.

Good job.

22:55

So you remember that from Bible study?

He went, we'll see for in the next chapter that he brought six guys with him.

23:01

Now, do you remember why he brought six guys?

Because in Jewish laws you needed at least three witnesses to prove something and and he wasn't

23:10

dumb, so he he got double the people.

Exactly.

23:14

Out of the mouth of two or three witnesses a thing shall be established.

That's the that's that's biblical law.

23:21

That's true law.

So Peter double S it.

23:22

Yeah.

And so there's a party of nine, actually party of 10, because if he brought 6-7, yeah, there's ten

23:30

of them walking the dusty roads from Joppa, going on a road trip up to Caesarea.

Man, that would have been cool, huh?

23:42

Isn't that what man was wanting us to do?

He we just go up and walk through him.

23:46

He's crazy, man.

I ain't walking 30 miles.

23:49

You can if you want to.

I ain't doing it.

23:52

You know what?

I I actually I would hike, I would probably hike 30 miles, like on a nice trail in the mountains.

23:57

You're past your hiking age.

I don't know about that.

24:01

All right, let's go on.

So the next day, the next day they entered Caesarea.

24:08

So I want you to think about this.

They stay at night.

24:11

The next morning they probably head out and they don't get to Caesarea till the next day.

So on the after after they woke up in that morning, that first morning in Joppa, they probably went

24:21

beast mode and said let's go and let's let's let's get as far as we can.

Yeah, because if it took them about like 2 days to get there and they stayed a day, that means that

24:31

means they would just like Speedrunner.

Yeah, yeah.

24:35

All right.

So they entered Caesarea and it says Cornelius was waiting for them and he called together his

24:41

relatives and his close friends.

Now, you, you weren't with me on the previous podcast, but the household of Cornelius, we know from

24:52

Roman culture and custom didn't just include what's the term Noah is called your nuclear family.

That would be like, for instance, you've got family, you've got aunts and uncles and you've got

25:06

cousins that wouldn't be considered your nuclear family.

Your nuclear family is just just me and your mom.

25:12

We're we're a nuclear family, right?

When you say nuclear, do you do you mean like direct or?

25:17

Something, yeah, it comes from the word like nucleus, and you've got atoms that revolve and all that

kind of stuff.

25:23

So that's what we mean by that term.

Nuclear family.

25:26

Now in the Roman world, a household, OK, a household.

It included everybody.

25:31

I mean you, you lived with your you.

If you had a old man, you lived with your aunt, your uncle, your cousin.

25:37

I'm.

Picturing us in Brazil and and that house for the few days.

25:42

Oh, yeah, that's exactly what it is.

Noah, you got everybody, so notice this.

25:47

And included in the household would be family servants.

We would say servants or slaves.

25:52

And we're both like soldiers and like guards.

Maybe not the soldiers, but the soldiers had their own families.

25:58

But if there were household servants or slaves, we use the word slave.

And I know people's skin crawl when we use that, but it the idea would be like employees, yeah,

26:08

like, you know, if you had a household.

Like like a buffler or?

26:11

Something you could have.

You could have a Butler, you could have a housekeeper, you could have a chef, you could have a

26:16

gardener, all those different things.

Now we know that Cornelius was a very wealthy man.

26:22

Right.

What was it like 1.5 or like 1.3 or somewhere in a?

26:27

Million somewhere, somewhere.

The equivalent modern day equivalent would be about a million, just over a little bit of a million

26:33

annual salary.

Was it like 33 or 36 times?

26:37

33 times the average salary according.

And we hold that loosely.

26:41

OK, yeah, because there's different figures, but the point is this, that Cornelius had affluence.

He was, he was he, he influenced his entire household.

26:50

So the let me get back to the point here.

The household included all your family, all your servants, and he brings in all his friends.

26:59

Here's the here's the reason this is a big crowd.

Now when we say big, it could be OK, could be anywhere from 80 to 100 people.

27:10

In like living in the household.

No, at this gathering, Oh yeah, 'cause he's, he's, he's there now there's a scholar his, his name is

27:19

Keener and he's, this guy gives us so many details.

And what he does is he studied archaeology and he knows from typical Roman style houses how they

27:29

would host banquets.

And, and he describes what we would call like an atrium.

27:35

It would be like a hard Dean in the middle.

So like, imagine if there's like a square shaped house and in the middle you've got a little

27:41

fountain, you've got tables set up and it would be sort of like a giant backyard, right?

A place to be able to host plenty of people.

27:51

They were throwing they.

I mean it's.

27:53

I'm picturing the like parties at the like at the like Rancho in Mexico and stuff.

Exactly.

27:58

Could be like that.

But do you remember I was preaching?

28:01

I said it's kind of like what's going on here in Arvin sometimes.

You ever see the cars on a Friday night or Saturday night?

28:06

Across we had that across the street, like, yeah.

I mean, cars all down the street and it's like, man, everybody shows up to those things.

28:14

That's how it is.

That's how it is for the food bank.

28:17

Yeah, yeah.

So that's the idea.

28:20

That's the idea behind this.

So verse 25, as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and he fell down at his feet and worshipped

28:30

him.

What's going on here, you think?

28:33

I think he, I mean he just assumed.

I mean, he knows Peter is sent from God, but I think he because like because like in the next verse

28:45

it says like Peter, he's a he's a human just like him.

He isn't any.

28:51

He isn't any better than him.

Yeah, yeah, there's there is no, no harm, no foul in what Cornelius did.

29:00

What we mean by that is he didn't have any bad intentions.

He and this is actually quite telling to us, because when you think of the the social ladder between

29:11

a Roman and a Jew, Jews are way down on the ladder, Cornelius.

Is way up on the ladder Centurion of all people.

29:18

And a centurion and he bows down because he had been told divinely this is a spiritual thing.

So he doesn't mean like, oh, your God there.

29:28

But there, there could be some of that there.

You know, you could read into it, but they're most commentators are like, no, no, no, no.

29:35

He did no harm, no foul, right?

I, I bet I, I bet Peter wasn't expecting a Roman to do that.

29:41

Oh.

I Yeah.

29:43

And then I wonder what the the the six people he brought with a thought there.

So Peter lifts him up immediately.

29:51

I mean, that's the idea.

Immediately I Oh no, no, no, stand up.

29:54

He says I myself am also a man.

That's verse 26, Verse 27.

29:59

As he talked with him, he went in and found notice the word many who had come together, many.

So this is a big crowd.

30:07

We don't know exactly.

I'm my guess 80 to 100.

30:11

That's my guess.

Could be less, could be more, who knows.

30:14

OK, verse 27, go ahead and read it for us.

Or no Verse 28, sorry.

30:21

Then, then, then 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.

30:31

But God has shown shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

All right, so it's very here's here's what we call a tell Peter says, you know, right.

30:44

So because of the some of the information that has already been received from these servants and

them lodging and them walking, Peter's probably got a little bit of a a background on on Cornelius

30:55

by then.

They would they probably tell him Peter all about him like, man, Yeah, I mean, this guy's been

31:00

studying the Torah and synagogue.

He he gives alms generously to the poor.

31:05

He prays continuously and all his household, they also worship the God of Israel.

And so Peter can come in with confidence and he says to him right off the bat, he's like, listen,

31:18

you know what?

It like this is a big deal.

31:20

This is what Peter saying like, you know, that it's unlawful for a Jewish man to keep company with

or to go to one of another nation.

31:34

And this is the this is the point.

Everything up to this point Cornelius has experienced has been arm's length, meaning you can come

31:45

study with us.

You can come to synagogue, but you're always at an arm's length.

31:53

There's a line that cannot be crossed.

And what is that line?

31:57

That line is, is what Peter's saying to keep company with is also a term for like table fellowship,

to eat with.

32:08

You can come listen, but when it comes time for us to, to, to, to eat, you can't.

You can't go to lunch with us.

32:20

Does that make sense?

Yeah, Everything you're saying, it's just reminding me of how racism used to be between like white

32:28

and black people, that type of thing.

But.

32:31

Yeah.

You know what?

32:32

That that's good.

Tell me a little bit more about that.

32:34

Tell me what you know.

Because because before it would be, it would be like black people had like their own bathrooms,

32:43

their own water fountains, their own schools.

They had it worse and so and then, I mean eventually over time it became equal.

32:55

Correct.

So, and you know what?

32:57

That is exactly what's happening here in the Spirit.

God is declaring equality, equity within the nation's for His covenant people.

33:10

Up until this time, the Jews were exclusive.

We are God's chosen people.

33:17

But guess what?

It doesn't mean that they're not chosen anymore.

33:20

They're still chosen.

But what God is saying is surprise, everybody is chosen.

33:29

Everybody can come into covenant with me.

And so this is a big deal.

33:36

So Peter's telling him right off the bat.

He says, you know, OK again, verse 28 you know, you know how serious of an issue this is Cornelius

33:47

but then he says, but God OK, but God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

Verse 29 Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for.

34:05

Now I want to pause here for a second.

We have we have some parallelism in the beginning in the 1st 8 verses, Cornelius acts with some

34:16

immediate obedience, like there's no hesitation.

He just says yes, God.

34:23

And even though Peter had to have his little three time objection protest part of that process, once

the Holy Spirit told him to go, he's saying here I came without objection as soon as I was sent for.

0:00

So you have we have bookends here.

34:40

Immediate obedience, immediate obedience.

Now notice again, what's the rest of that verse in verse 29, what does he do?

34:49

He says.

I ask.

34:50

For what reasons have you sent for me?

Notice again what's Peter doing?

34:56

He's asking before acting.

He's not making any assumptions.

35:00

Yeah, he's asking before he's acting.

He's already got all the most of the details he could possibly get, but he's going to reinforce and

35:09

he's like, let let me not assume here.

Let me, let me.

35:11

I want to hear it from your your mouth, Cornelius.

Tell me.

35:15

You want it to be a 100% before doing anything.

Yeah, tell me, what can I do for you?

35:20

How can, how can I, how can I help you?

So verse 30.

35:23

So Cornelius said.

Notice the indication of time here four days ago.

35:29

Now let's just pause here.

If he sent his servants, they booked it over there, they stayed the night and they booked it back up

35:35

to there.

That was it's four days.

35:38

So he's like four days ago.

He says I was fasting until this hour.

35:43

So what does that mean if he says I was fasting until this hour?

He was he was fasting for the four days and he's going to end it today.

35:56

Yeah, well, he he says I was fasting until this hour.

Yes.

36:00

So I'm, I'm in here in prayer and fasting.

And at the 9th hour, I prayed in my house and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing.

36:10

So he's here's Peter.

Now, I'm not telling you Peter's making these connections, Noah.

36:15

But when he hear like I'm assuming, I'm assuming now that Peter's getting some new information, he's

like, wait, wait, wait, wait, you're telling me at the 9th hour, like that's the hour of prayer and

36:28

you had a man standing before you in bright clothing.

That's an Angel.

36:33

Like this is incredible.

And let's go on verse 31 and said, Cornelius, the Angel called him by name.

36:43

See, there's, there's some awesome scriptures.

There's a scripture I, I'm trying to think of where it's at.

36:49

No, I can't think of it right now.

But in the book of Isaiah, God says to his people, he says, fear not for I am with you, says the

36:58

Lord.

I have redeemed you and I have called you by name.

37:04

You know what?

It's worth looking that up.

37:07

Let's look, let's look that up.

Hold on.

37:17

Hold on, We're we're Sir Isaiah 4110.

All right, let's look at this, Noah.

37:22

This is going to be beautiful Isaiah what?

Isaiah 4110.

37:29

Beautiful Scripture.

Isaiah 41. 10 I can spell Isaiah 41.

37:43

All right, all right, and go ahead and read it.

Just 10 or 10 down to a.

37:54

Read a few verses.

Fear not, for I am with you.

37:59

Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you.

38:03

Yes, I will help you.

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

38:09

Behold, all those who were in sin and sins against you shall be ashamed and disgraced.

They shall be as nothing, and those who strive with you shall perish.

38:21

OK, now go to to chapter 43.

We're going to see the same language, OK.

38:27

Isaiah 43. 43 verse one.

But now thus says the Lord who created you, O Jacob.

38:34

Stop there for a second.

Who's he talking to?

38:38

He's talking to Jacob, right?

He says in he who formed you, O Israel.

38:43

This is language that's used for Israel, God's covenant.

People keep going.

38:48

And who formed you, O Israel, if you're not?

For I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name.

38:55

You are mine.

Super interesting.

38:58

So I want, I want us to connect these dots, Noah.

It's Peter realizing that God is accepting everybody because Cornelius is is a child of God and and

39:15

God is redeeming him.

Exactly when that Angel appeared to Cornelius, he was afraid, and God said, called him by name.

39:25

He's and says, I've heard you, I've heard your prayers.

And this in this moment is God about to redeem him.

39:35

Now that language that we say, because he says he says here, fear not, for I have redeemed you, I

have called you by name, you are mine.

39:44

What does that word redeem mean to you?

Like like after you had been lost for this period of time, I have called you back and you are back

39:57

where you belong.

Yes, yes.

40:00

If you were to redeem something, if I gave you let's say, a Fortnite gift card, what do you have to

do?

40:06

I have to redeem.

It you have to redeem it right?

40:08

You've got to do what activate it is that right?

So you can have that card for how long you could sit there and it's not until what you redeem it

40:19

that it's now active right now here's the thing from the very beginning, God's plan and intention.

Yes, he loves Israel, but it was bigger than Israel.

40:31

He.

He's going for everybody.

40:33

He's going for all the nations.

This is his plan all from from Genesis 12.

40:38

God told Abraham in you in your seed, I will bless the nations and when it what happened at Babel

was God was disinheriting the the nations.

40:54

OK, out of that he disinherited them.

It's the idea of like, like here, I'm going to give you your inheritance now.

41:03

Take it.

Now the, the Bible says that the earth is the Lord's right, but what does he do?

41:09

He gives the nation's over to themselves.

Like, you don't want to be part of me, you reject me.

41:14

You don't want to be part of my covenant.

You want to do your own thing here.

41:17

Go ahead.

It's the prodigal son.

41:19

Give me my inheritance now.

In that sense, the prodigal son was disinherited.

41:24

He received his inheritance, but he doesn't have anything left.

And so for God to redeem, for him to redeem the nations, he had to go through the seed, which was

41:36

the seed of Abraham, the root, root of Jesse, the son of David, through Jesus Christ.

He brought him through there.

41:44

And now we're at the moment where God is redeeming the nations.

Now I'm going to give you one more verse, Psalm 2.

41:56

Let's go there.

Psalm 2, verse 8.

42:08

Ask of me, and I will give you, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the ends

of the earth for your possessing.

42:16

Now this is what we would call Messianic Psalm meaning David the psalmist is better said the

psalmist is speaking and and notice what God says.

42:25

This is God, ask of me and I will give you the nations for your inheritance.

This is what's happening now here in Acts chapter 10.

42:36

God is getting, reclaiming and redeeming the nation's.

Cornelius is a Rep because he's from the Italian regiment is a representation of Rome.

42:47

Rome is a microcosm of the world.

So let's go back to this because I we, we can go all day on that one.

42:56

Believe me.

So let's go, let's go back into where were we?

43:02

Oh, verse 31.

So here's the first part.

43:05

He says Cornelius, that's that's what made me say he got called him by name.

How beautiful.

43:11

He says your prayer has been heard and your alms remembered in the sight of God.

I already went over that in the previous episode, but these are, is what we call cultural

43:19

appropriations of Jewish prophetic language, of covenant language.

And, and Peter's probably going wait, wait, wait, wait.

43:27

Your prayers have been remembered.

They've been, they're like a memorial before God.

43:32

And then, and then he goes on verse 32.

Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter.

43:39

Now that's a word that's really direct.

And he's lodging in the House of Simon, a Tanner by the sea.

43:47

And when he comes, he'll speak to you.

And so he says, I sent to you immediately and you've done well to come.

43:53

He says now, therefore we're we're all present before God to hear the things commanded you by God.

And so he's like, it's really Cornelius's mind.

44:02

He's like, man, it's real simple.

I had a you know, it's like Cornelius may not even realize how big of a deal this is.

44:09

He just obeying.

He just obeying and so he's like.

44:12

And so here's Peter probably stunned like what is happening?

So verse 34, guess what?

44:20

Peter opens his mouth and the first thing he says is something that he had been processing in his

heart the entire time.

44:29

He says, in truth, I perceive that God shows no partiality.

Now I touched on this Sunday when he says in truth, what is what does that phrase mean?

44:41

Do you remember Noah?

What is truth, by the way?

44:48

You're not lying.

Yeah, yeah.

44:51

But specifically in this case, God's word is truth.

So yes, Peter can be like, you know what?

44:56

I'm I'm not lying.

I'm telling the truth.

44:58

I perceive, but it actually means in truth, according to God's word.

I now perceive, I now understand that God really like really shows no partiality.

45:10

That's what Peter is saying in truth because in John 17, Jesus praise to God and he tells the

Father, he says sanctify them in truth or sanctify them by truth.

45:25

And then he says your word is truth.

And because of what Peter just quotes, he says, I perceive that God shows no partiality.

45:35

He's quoting, He is quoting the Old Testament.

Let me read this to you.

45:40

Just listen.

It's Deuteronomy 10/17.

45:43

It says for the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of Lords, the great God, mighty and awesome,

who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe.

45:55

God shows no partiality.

What does that mean?

45:59

Or no partiality.

No favorites.

46:02

Exactly.

So Israel, who would be like, well, we're God's favorite, right?

46:10

Peter's starting to get it now he's starting to connect the dots.

Yes, is real special.

46:17

Yes, Israel was entrusted with the oracles in the the word of God and all of those things, but he's

saying, oh boy, this is he's like, this is going to be hard.

46:28

I might have some explaining to do.

This is a big deal.

46:33

Now verse 35, he says, but in every nation, whoever fears him and works righteousness is accepted by

him.

46:44

Now I want to make sure that we get this and I explained this on Sunday.

You're not accepted by God because you work righteousness.

46:54

It's whoever fears him and does the right thing will be accepted by him.

It's you're not accepted because you work righteousness.

47:07

It just means fear the Lord do the right thing.

You're able to do the right thing and not be, I mean, a lot of people who are a Christian do the

47:19

right thing.

You're exactly right.

47:21

There's a lot of this is, this is the major issue today.

This is I, I've mentioned this before, but you know, Donald Trump had an interview and he said,

47:31

well, you know, I think if you just do do good things, you'll get to heaven.

And if you don't, then well, you know, you go to that place and nobody wants to go to.

47:46

That's not the gospel, Noah.

The gospel is as you are saved by grace through faith, not of works so that nobody can boast it.

47:57

You contribute nothing to your salvation.

It is by grace and so and so Peter's coming to the realization he's like, you know what if you

48:09

remember, Cornelius is a is a good man, a devout man.

He fears God.

48:14

And so Peter's just saying I now perceive that God shows no partiality, but that in notice he says

in every nation he's not limiting this no longer is restricted now to geography in every nation.

48:29

Whoever fears him, whoever works who's doing the right thing works righteousness, they're going to

be accepted by him.

48:37

Now this word accepted Noah is means to come into covenant relationship with God.

Now for the Jews, their basis of covenant meant you needed to be circumcised.

48:52

You needed to eat kosher.

Uh oh.

48:55

But that's their their conception of covenant.

It's not going to work that way with God.

49:03

God is going to accept them by one thing.

What do you think that one thing is?

49:10

By faith.

By faith and but why?

49:14

By the blood of Jesus Christ, the only pure sacrifice.

And God's not going to circumcise them.

49:22

But you know what he's going to do?

He's going to circumcise their heart.

49:27

That's what the New Covenant was promised that they're, they would have a new heart, that they would

be born again.

49:33

It would be an inward transformation, not just not just an outward.

And that doesn't mean that there aren't outward evidences like in a changed lifestyle.

49:44

We were talking about that on Wednesday.

Like do you remember somebody asked like, hey, do you think they still dress different?

49:50

And we got into that whole discussion.

Of course there's going to be some changes in transformation.

49:56

We're not talking about behavior modification in the sense of if you modify your behavior, then

you're going to become part of the covenant people of God.

50:04

No, no, it's, it's, it's exactly the opposite.

Because you have a heart that's transformed, you're not going to have a desire to do the same things

50:13

that you were doing.

That's the idea.

50:16

And so let's, let's, let's continue on verse 36.

He says the word which God sent to the children of Israel preaching peace through Jesus Christ.

50:29

He is Lord of all he and he says that word, you know, which was proclaimed all throughout Judea and

began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached.

50:41

Now we have another, you know, remember earlier he said, you know, it's not lawful.

Now this, you know, Noah in verse 36, seven pertains to what the gospel of Jesus Christ.

50:54

He says that word, you know.

What do you think that means?

51:02

Peter knows that the that Cornelius and them know the word of God and everything that that Jesus

preached and everything that's been going on.

51:12

Correct, correct.

And here's the thing, that word that he knows, meaning he has received some information and where

51:22

did he get it from?

It was from Philip.

51:23

Philip had gone into Caesarea and had preached Jesus.

So he's like, you're not a stranger to this message of Jesus, You know, he says that word, you know,

51:32

which was proclaimed.

That's the word that was proclaimed where?

51:35

In Judea and began from Galilee after the baptism, which John preached.

And then he says how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went

51:45

about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil for God was with him.

So now we're getting into the good stuff.

51:52

He's preaching Jesus, he's reinforcing Jesus.

The Bible tells us that there are different people that can come along, some plant, some water, but

52:01

we all are participants in the harvest.

That means that we all contribute in different ways.

52:06

Now, the debate isn't whether or not Cornelius is saved here.

We can get into that, but it's not worth it in this moment because people be like, well, Philip

52:14

preach Jesus, Is Cornelius saved?

Did he accept Jesus yet?

52:18

Right where it doesn't matter.

Honestly, it really, really doesn't at this point.

52:23

Would Cornelius have started?

Well, you had said that Philip was preaching in Caesarea, but is that when Philip was preaching?

52:33

Was that when Cornelius would have had started like questioning everything started like giving alms

and all that?

52:41

I think no.

Well, no, I would say that this was part of Cornelius's character way before because he had already

52:50

been.

He was already a God fearer.

52:52

Now if we want to get technical about this, the only way at this moment that Cornelius would have

heard about Jesus would have been because Phillip spoke in a synagogue.

53:02

Now Phillip wasn't going out like preaching in the streets or holding an evangelistic crusades.

At this point, they're only preaching to the Jews.

53:10

How would they do that?

Well, if you were in another town, you would go into a synagogue and Philip used that opportunity to

53:17

be in the synagogue to preach about Jesus.

Now, if Cornelius was a God fearer, Noah, that meant that he was probably in synagogue service that

53:26

particular day.

He could have been sitting.

53:28

He was sitting.

Well, I don't say could have.

53:31

He would have been sitting in the back because he wasn't granted full privilege of a Jewish person

to be able to go in.

53:38

So he's sitting in the back and then here comes is this guy named Phillip.

And Phillip stands up and he says, like, you know, I'm just assuming men and brethren, I've got good

53:47

news for you.

The promised 1, the Messiah, he has come, he lived, he died, he rose again.

53:53

And Cornelius is probably back there.

Like what's going on?

53:57

So Peters, this is this is the idea behind it.

It's really cool.

54:02

I know, I, I know that that the, that the Romans gave the Jews permission to have like their own

little like government and stuff and to be able to do whatever as long as the like Romans overseeing

54:15

stuff.

But I thought that with Cornelius being like a high, like higher up, it wouldn't have mattered if he

54:22

had like the Jewish type of like ranks or whatever he wanted.

I, I think I understand what you're asking here.

54:32

Yes, Rome allowed the Jews to be self governing in the sense of you can police yourselves.

Now it that means like when you get into Jerusalem, that's a whole different ball of wax than it is

54:46

in Caesarea.

When you begin to spread throughout the Roman Empire, you still had some of those privileges, but

54:53

it's different because in Jerusalem is the temple system.

That's the mega structure that you would have to travel to.

55:01

Now when you get outside of Jerusalem, yes, you could form small communities and like for instance,

we learned in Bible study that Antioch had a significant population of Jews.

55:13

Yes, yes.

So in other words, Cornelius is not there overseen like as a supervisor role.

55:21

He's a God fearer, which meant that he had been attending synagogue.

There was a small Jewish community in Caesarea.

55:28

Now, Caesarea for the most part, was a Roman Pagan port with Pagan statues everywhere, with a

theater and gymnasium and horse racing track.

55:41

So does that, does that kind of settle that for you?

I think what like I was trying to ask why would it matter if he was in like the front versus the

55:51

back?

Oh, because you Jews had priority and privilege.

55:57

They were not permitted to in a synagogue to have the full rights and privileges of a Jewish person,

which meant what?

56:06

You get the best seat in the house?

She's different.

56:09

People want to show up early to church to get the back Pew today, right?

Instead of saying we should be in line to get the front Pew.

56:16

I mean, this real.

It's the opposite.

56:18

Back then you would have to be restricted.

You weren't allowed to speak.

56:23

You had to stay silent.

You had to be.

56:25

You were just an observer.

So it did matter.

56:29

That's why I'm saying Cornelius would have walked into the synagogue if he was there.

If damn, just speculate.

56:34

If he was there the day Phillip rolled through town, he would have heard about Jesus.

And and guess what?

56:41

Cornelius wouldn't have been able to ask any questions.

Can you imagine if he said in the back of you like, hold on, I've been studying Torah.

56:50

Now let's just assume two years, right?

I've been reading.

56:55

I understand, I understand Passover.

I know that we're looking forward to the one who's going to come, the one who's promised that that

57:02

God's going to raise up a prophet just like Moses said, right.

And then all of a sudden he's on the back Pew and Phillips talking and he's like, I can't ask any

57:10

questions.

I can't.

57:13

I'm.

I'm right.

57:14

Yeah.

So guess what?

57:16

He's fasting and he's praying and and he's he's in his house and guess who's going to answer his

question?

57:23

He gets an Angel and he says send for Peter.

He's going to fill in all the blanks for you.

57:28

Does that make sense?

Yeah, it's pretty cool.

57:31

Like more than pretty cool.

It's very cool.

57:35

All right.

What verse did we leave off on Verse 39?

57:39

He says, and we are witnesses of all the things which he did both in the land of the Jews and in

Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree.

57:50

I can be super quick with this one.

Noah, the hanging on the tree is what we call euphemism.

57:55

That means it's a figure of speech as a saying, because in the book of Deuteronomy, he who is cursed

is someone who was hung on a tree.

58:03

So any kind of instrument with wood was considered a tree.

Like if I said, hey, I'm sitting here, I've got my computer sitting on this tree.

58:11

Why would I say that?

Because this is made out of wood, this table that we're on right now.

58:16

So there's no there's no, you know, big significance about the tree, but it does point to the one

that Jesus died.

58:24

He was hung on a tree.

He was nailed to a cross.

58:26

He was in in the Jews.

Consider that to be cursed.

58:31

Cursed is the one who hangs on a tree and that particular verse.

I had it I I'd say out of Deuteronomy.

58:41

But anyway, any thoughts or questions on that or any of the?

Oh no.

58:47

All right, verse 40, Oh, this is good.

Him God raised up on the third day and showed him openly.

58:56

And he says not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us.

Who now knows this part.

59:06

Noah ate and drank with him after he arose from the dead.

Now, I'll be quick with this cause we're going to finish this up.

59:17

I hope Peter is doing something amazing here.

Two things.

59:23

There is a vision that Paul had had in the previous chapter.

It was in the middle of the day.

59:28

It was the light that shone was bright as the noonday sun, as Paul would later witness and testify.

Cornelius's vision happened in the middle of the day.

59:37

Peter's happened in the middle of the day, right?

And this is very important.

59:41

We might not appreciate or pick up on this, but in this particular world, most of these types of

things occurred like in the Pagan world when at night, and it had to do with darkness and it had to

59:57

do with mystery and it had to do with secret teachings.

God is doing everything openly in the light.

1:00:06

That is part of what Peter's communicating.

Not only that, he is also affirming a key component of the gospel, what we would call the bodily

1:00:16

resurrection of Jesus.

The reason that's important is because later a bunch of people are going to come and they're going

1:00:26

to deny the bodily resurrection of Jesus.

They'll say, well, yeah, you know, he was all spiritual.

1:00:32

He wasn't even really human.

But notice the language that Peter uses here.

1:00:38

What did he said?

He he, what did he say?

1:00:41

He says, He says, We ate and we drink with him after he rose from the dead.

This parallels the same testimony that John the Apostle wrote in his letters.

1:00:56

He says that which we have seen that which we have touched, that which we have heard, that which we

have looked upon the physical, bodily resurrection of Jesus.

1:01:07

So I'm I'm like, I really love this.

In other words, nothing is secret.

1:01:13

It's all in the open and it in his he rose bodily tab tangibly.

We could touch him.

1:01:21

He ate.

Does that make sense?

1:01:24

Yeah.

Verse 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that if that it is he who is

1:01:34

ordained by God to be judge of the living and the dead.

So this is a heavy, heavy statement right here.

1:01:45

Jesus is the judge of the living and of the dead.

Meaning there is an aspect of accountability in this which means we will all stand.

1:01:57

Yes, Jesus can judge.

He's judging the living and he will judge the dead.

1:02:02

That will happen when He comes back, what we call the resurrection, the rapture, right?

And so accountability, yes, He can save you now, but he also is the judge.

1:02:16

It's really beautiful.

And then in verse 43, he says to him, all the prophets witnessed that through his name.

1:02:25

Whoever believes.

Notice here's the keyword.

1:02:28

Whoever believes in him will receive remission of sins through his name.

That means his authority, through his authority in the name of Jesus Christ.

1:02:43

Whoever, not just Jews, not just those with a pedigree, whoever believes will do what they will

receive remission of sins.

1:02:54

No mention Noah of sacrifice.

No, because how do you receive remission of sins in this world?

1:03:01

You got to go make a sacrifice.

You've got to be cleansed.

1:03:04

You've got to go through ritual rites and purification.

That's.

1:03:08

To.

Be circumcised, all, all of those things.

1:03:10

But guess what?

Now it's it's believe whoever believes in him, it's beautiful.

1:03:18

And then do you have any questions before we move on?

Oh, I had one question from a because you were talking about Babel and how you like mixed up all the

1:03:28

nations.

And now does that mean that like the like the goal would be that like all the nations that we have

1:03:37

like today, for example, won't be is it'll turn to like one big nation of like combining every.

In that sense, yes, from a biblical perspective, in the we will call the economy of God, there will

1:03:52

be no, there will be no, no boundaries, correct.

Yeah.

1:03:59

Now there will be some identifying factors because John, I think I had brought this verse up.

I we won't look it up, but I had brought up John in the Book of Revelation when he sees the end of

1:04:11

all things he says, and I saw in heaven every nation, every tribe, every tongue, he is going to see

what God has.

1:04:21

Just what you just described, Noah, God bringing together all of the nations and they won't be

identified exclusively by their ethnicity or their nationality.

1:04:32

They will be identified under those that through his name have believed and have received the

remission of sins.

1:04:42

It's awesome.

It's really awesome.

1:04:44

That's also why the Bible tells us, Noah, that, that we are not of this world.

We are strangers and pilgrims.

1:04:57

Our citizenship is in heaven.

Now you've got a Brazilian passport and you have an American passport, and that works for now.

1:05:08

But in reality, spiritually speaking, you just need that stamp that you are sealed from God.

That is your passport.

1:05:17

You are not a, you're not really an American and you're not really a Brazilian, even though you

have, you have dual citizenship.

1:05:24

You are, you are a citizen of the Kingdom of God.

You're not of this world.

1:05:32

Anything before we move on.

Oh, no, I'm glad you asked that.

1:05:37

That's actually a really, really good question.

Verse 44, while Peter was still speaking these words, notice the language.

1:05:45

Now the Holy Spirit fell, He fell upon all those who heard the word, Oh, this is so beautiful, so

beautiful.

1:05:55

They heard the word.

They had ears to hear.

1:05:59

Noah, we've been watching when they have been preaching.

I want you to think about this their hardest.

1:06:06

Up to this point, people have been getting saved right in the book of Acts, but their biggest

opposition has been coming from who?

1:06:13

The Romans.

The No, not not yet.

1:06:16

Where was their opposition coming from in Jerusalem?

Oh, the the Sadducees.

1:06:22

And the Pharisees and the scribes, right?

They, they, even though they heard, they couldn't hear because they didn't have ears to hear.

1:06:31

But now we have a plot twist because these folks heard the word.

In other words, they had ears to hear.

1:06:38

Hearing is also receiving.

Faith comes by hearing, hearing the Word of God.

1:06:43

They're open, they're received.

And what's the result?

1:06:45

The Holy Spirit fell.

Verse 45.

1:06:48

Read it for us.

And those of the circumstances who believed worth darnest as many as came with Peter.

1:06:55

Because the gift of the Holy Spirit has been poured out on the Gentiles also.

Now think about this Now.

1:07:00

This is a reference to those six witnesses, those six guys, because it says those of the

circumcision who believed they are astonished.

1:07:12

And why?

Because it says the gift of the Holy Spirit have been poured out.

1:07:15

How did they know that?

Noah verse 46 tells us.

1:07:19

Read it.

For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.

1:07:23

Then Peter answered.

So this is God is in this moment leaving no room for doubt how?

1:07:35

Because they're speaking with tongues and they're magnifying God.

In other words, God is shutting the mouth of those six witnesses.

1:07:46

Very important that they're going to they're they're that they are going to give testimony to this

and to Peter himself.

1:07:57

But it's interesting that God is validating them beyond a reasonable doubt.

There's no, we would say no ambiguity, no room for like, well, I mean, imagine, let's think about

1:08:12

this.

Peter comes back and he says, hey, good news, guys.

1:08:17

I preached to some Gentile folks and they decided, hey, we're going to give this.

We're going to, we're going to give our lives to Jesus.

1:08:25

Well, Peter, how do you know?

Did they get circumcised?

1:08:30

Did they said they're going to eat kosher?

No, no, not exactly.

1:08:34

Well, then, Peter, how do you did you receive them?

Yeah, I received them.

1:08:38

They're now children of God.

They're part of the covenant people.

1:08:41

Pete, wait, wait.

Hold on, Peter.

1:08:42

How do you, how can you say that?

Well, they, I kind of heard them speaking with tongues and magnifying God.

1:08:51

Hold up.

Like this is the idea, like what the same thing that God did in Acts chapter 2 in the upper room.

1:09:01

He's doing it to the Gentiles now beautiful.

Go ahead.

1:09:06

And in verse 47 then Peter answered and said.

Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be bapt?

1:09:15

That these should not be baptized?

To have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.

1:09:22

Verse 48.

And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.

1:09:26

Then they asked him to stay a few days.

All right, Now, here's the thing, although part of the proof of the evidence of their salvation for

1:09:36

this verifying event, OK, I want to make sure that you get this, Noah.

The verifying factor for the witnesses and for Peter is the tongues, but the sign of the covenant to

1:09:52

come into covenant with God is no longer circumcision.

It's actually baptism and water.

1:09:59

OK, so the reason this is important is because God is doing something extraordinary in this instant.

I cannot say today, Wait, you let me see if you're saved or not.

1:10:14

I want, I need you to speak in tongues.

No, it's not.

1:10:18

It's not.

What is it?

1:10:20

It's baptism.

It is a proclamation.

1:10:23

It is a public declaration that you have committed your life to Jesus Christ.

And it is the baptism in water is the idea of the sign of the covenant that seals the deal.

1:10:37

Now, it's not that that happens at that moment.

It is just an outward testimony of an inward change that has occurred.

1:10:45

Now in this case, again, I want to reemphasize this because this is important.

The tongues is for them, for Peter and for those witnesses.

1:10:56

So again, remember, there's no doubt, no ambiguity.

And because of that, now Peter can go ahead and initiate them into the community, the covenant

1:11:08

people of God through baptism.

Does I'm going to ask you, does that make sense a little bit.

1:11:15

Now, the reason this is important is because there are particular denominations that will say, well,

you're not saved unless you speak in tongues and that's not correct.

1:11:28

The the tongues happen subsequent to salvation.

The tongues are a gift that is given to us that everybody should seek the baptism of the Holy

1:11:42

Spirit.

But that is not the evidence of your salvation.

1:11:46

It's only the evidence that you've been baptized in the Holy Spirit, not salvation.

And so that's why this is important.

1:11:55

Your baptism is the evidence.

All right, I didn't realize that we're at the end of the chapter.

1:12:05

Do you want to keep going?

We can keep going, man.

1:12:07

No, no, you know what?

We actually, we might do a little bit of 11 because it's not, it's not long.

1:12:14

Can you hang?

Can you do a little bit of 11?

1:12:16

Because it's just repetitious.

You mean this podcast?

1:12:18

Yeah, No, you're done.

OK, Let me see.

1:12:22

How long has it been?

Let's take a look.

1:12:24

It is.

Hey, it's only been an hour and 12 minutes.

1:12:28

Hey, I do you understand though how long it would have taken me by myself to go through these

verses?

1:12:33

Two hours.

Oh no, I think almost three.

1:12:37

I think I was probably going to be hitting about 33 minimum to get through this.

I just have like one quick question.

1:12:44

Oh, you don't have to make it quick, I'm teasing.

Go ahead.

1:12:48

In verse 48, when it says then they asked them to stay a few days, would that be, would that

actually be a few days in our terms or or like how long realistically would that have been back

1:12:59

then?

In this case, the context would say it would, I think literally be a few days, like 3, three or

1:13:10

more.

So a few days.

1:13:11

How long we don't know exactly, but he stayed there.

And that's actually highly, highly significant.

1:13:17

And the reason is, and we're going to go ahead and go into Chapter 11.

OK, Because trust me, trust me, it's it's quick 11 verse one.

1:13:26

Let's go into it.

It says now the apostles.

1:13:30

I'm laughing because if you can't see, no, he's going like, oh, no, we got to go.

Now you can hang with me for a little bit.

1:13:36

We're not going to go long through this.

Trust me. 11 verse one.

1:13:39

Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard notice the repetition of the word heard that

the Gentiles had also received the word of God.

1:13:47

And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, how long did it take him to get there?

Well, he stayed there a few days and then he had to make the journey.

1:13:54

So Peter came to Jerusalem those of the circumcision Notice this contended with him.

I just want to do a quick a quick note.

1:14:03

This word contended is highly significant.

It means to waiver, to doubt, to separate, to distinguish.

1:14:12

They're have it.

They're like they're combating a little bit.

1:14:17

What are they contending with him about?

Notice in verse three, they said you went in to an to uncircumcised men.

1:14:25

Here's their problem.

And you ate with them.

1:14:28

You ate with them.

Now do you remember what I said in Bible study?

1:14:33

You know about this term, uncircumcised men, it is actually not a good term.

It it, it's kind of a, a slur.

1:14:47

You wouldn't say uncircumcised.

That's a derogatory statement.

1:14:51

So they're upset because they went in with uncircumcised man.

And so Peter explains it.

1:14:57

We're going to go through this super quick.

He explains to them in order from the beginning, saying now there's some indication here, Noah, that

1:15:04

this is not necessarily like a legal proceeding or a court case, but he's going to take it from the

top.

1:15:09

He says, I was in the city of Joppa.

I was praying.

1:15:12

I was in a trance.

I saw a vision.

1:15:14

He he goes through it right?

And then verse #7 he after he quotes all this, he says, I heard the voice ain't rise Peter kill and

1:15:21

eat.

And then he says no Lord, verse 8, verse 9, the voice answers from heaven with God is cleansed.

1:15:28

You must not call comment.

And then notice verse 10.

1:15:31

He says this was done three times.

Peter's emphasizing, yes, this is from the Lord.

1:15:37

And then verse 11, he says at that moment three men stood.

He's telling the same story.

1:15:42

Nothing new here, right?

And then verse 12, notice he emphasizing then the Spirit, OK, the Spirit told me to go with him.

1:15:50

And then he and then he says, moreover, this is verse 12, these six brothers.

In other words, here's what's Peter's doing.

1:15:58

Listen, even if you don't trust me, I got six guys that are going to tell you, Yep, everything that

he just said was true.

1:16:06

And he says we entered the man's house and then he's recounting a little bit of the story from

Cornelius.

1:16:11

Yes, he told us about all of that.

And then he's in verse 15, he says, as I begin to speak, he says the Holy Spirit fell upon them just

1:16:20

as he did us at the beginning.

And then he says, and now, now Peter's connecting this and he says, then I remember the word of the

1:16:28

Lord and he said, John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

This is the words of Jesus, right?

1:16:36

And then so here's his argument, his conclusion.

Like if if you were to ever one day, you'll learn you'll have to write a persuasive essay or

1:16:45

something, an argument of essay, right I've.

Done that.

1:16:48

Already.

Oh, you've already done it.

1:16:50

Oh, I've done both.

OK, so notice with me now the structure then this is this is his conclusion.

1:16:58

He stated the facts and then this is his conclusion.

If therefore God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who's the US, the Jews when we believed on

1:17:12

the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?

And now verse 18.

1:17:19

Here is the response.

When they heard these things, they became silent.

1:17:26

In other words, Noah, they, they, they couldn't say nothing.

Right, he was able to shut them up.

1:17:31

He was, He was and it says and they glorified God saying then God has also granted to the Gentiles

repentance to life.

1:17:41

Now this is how we're going to close up.

I told you it was going to be quick.

1:17:45

OK, here's the conclusion.

Yes, they're silent.

1:17:51

Yes, they're praising God.

This last statement, Noah, then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.

1:17:58

This issue is not settled.

Yes, they're going to say, all right, he's going to allow him.

1:18:04

But then what does that mean?

Practically speaking?

1:18:07

We got to work it out and we're going to come back to this topic, especially in Acts chapter 15,

because although they're going to say, I grant you this, we'll grant you this, Peter.

1:18:20

All right, them folks, they got saved over there.

Yes, the Holy Spirit came upon them.

1:18:25

They believed, but they need to get a little surgery.

It's not settled yet.

1:18:32

And that's where we're going to end this.

Any other thoughts or questions?

1:18:36

Nope.

Hey, that's the fastest I've ever gone through 18 verses.

1:18:42

Are you proud of me?

That's the way it should be for every.

1:18:45

No, no, no, no, no.

Only on this one.

1:18:47

So now I've got a you're going to leave me by myself to handle 19 down.

What?

1:18:53

What chapter?

Oh, Barnabas and Antioch.

1:18:56

Oh, I can't wait for that.

Actually, I'm going to preach on this Sunday.

1:19:00

Oh boy.

You better, You better you better bring your dancing shoes.

1:19:05

No, it's a good, good scripture.

All right.

1:19:09

So thank you.

No, I appreciate, you know, I mean it from the bottom of my heart.

1:19:13

You you you helped me really get through this material a little bit quicker.

More precisely.

1:19:26

I mean it when I say it would have taken a long time for those of you listening at home.

If you have made it this far, please let me know.

1:19:35

If you have any questions or anything whatsoever you want to know more about, just let me know and

thanks for tuning in.

1:19:52

Thank you for listening to Al Pastor with Brian Overturf.

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1:20:00

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1:20:10

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1:20:15

Until then, we'll see you later.