The Gentile Pentecost
Acts 10:24-48
32
Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is
lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh,
shall speak unto thee. 33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and
thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present
before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God. 34
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no
respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him,
and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. 36 The word which
God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is
Lord of all:) 37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published
throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John
preached; 38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost
and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed
of the devil; for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all
things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they
slew and hanged on a tree: 40 Him God raised up the third day, and
shewed him openly; 41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses
chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose
from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and
to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and
dead. 43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name
whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. 44 While
Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the
word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were
astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was
poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak
with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man
forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy
Ghost as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the
name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Introduction:
Review the first half of Acts 10
Outline:
I. The Sending by Cornelius - Explanation
(10:24-33)
II. The Sermon of Peter - Exposition (10:34-43)
III. The Spirit on the Gentiles - Evidence
(10:44-48)
I. The Sending
by Cornelius - Explanation (10:24-33)
24 And the morrow after they
entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together
his kinsmen and near friends. 25 And as Peter was coming in,
Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. 26
But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. 27
And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together. 28
And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that
is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath
shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 29
Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask
therefore for what intent ye have sent for me? 30 And Cornelius said,
Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in
my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31
And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance
in the sight of God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither
Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner
by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee. 33
Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art
come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that
are commanded thee of God.
1. The Meeting
(10:24-27)
2. The
Clarification (10:28-29)
3. The Preparation
(10:30-33)
There are two explanations here. One by Peter, and the other by Cornelius.
1. The Meeting
(10:24-27)
24 And the morrow after they
entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together
his kinsmen and near friends. 25 And as Peter was coming in,
Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. 26
But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. 27
And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
1) 25 And as Peter was coming in….27….
he went in
One small step for Peter
(as he went through Cornelius' doorway), one giant leap for the Church![1]
Two
possible sources of illustrations of a reality-altering entrance or passage to
compare to Peter's entrance into Cornelius' house:
(1) Lewis Carroll (Charles Lutwidge
Dodgson), Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There (1871). Israel, look at yourself in this looking
glass! Peter has passed through! Who is viewed as unclean now?
(2) C. S. Lewis, The Lion, The Witch and
the Wardrobe, Vol. 1, The Chronicles of Narnia (1950). The reality that Lucy discovered as she
passed into the wardrobe was reacted to with unbelief by her older brother
Peter, until he too entered the wardrobe.
The salvation-historical
shift exhibited in Peter's passage through the doorway into the home of the
Gentile Centurion Cornelius surpasses movement in other socio-economic cultural
spheres that would also be astonishing or unheard of:
(1) from the
slavemaster's mansion to the slave's cabin,
(2) from the
Brahmin's palace to the Untouchable's hovel, and,
(3) From the Lord's
palace to the peasant's cottage.
The salvation-historical shift exhibited in
Peter's passage through the doorway into the home of the Gentile Centurion
Cornelius was foreshadowed by and "opens the door" to a transcending
of Christ's dining with tax-collectors and sinners (Mt. 11:19; Lk. 7:34), and
His physical contact with the unclean (Mt. 8:2-3; and the Synoptic parallel in
Mk. 1:40-41; Mt. 9:20-22; 14:36; 26:6; and the Synoptic parallel in Mk.
14:3).
Mt. 8:2-3 (Mk. 1:40-41) - 2 And, behold,
there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst
make me clean. 3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him,
saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Mt. 9:20-22 - 20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased
with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of
his garment: 21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his
garment, I shall be whole. 22 But Jesus turned him about, and when
he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee
whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
Mt. 11:19 (Lk:34) - The
Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and
a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her
children.
Mt. 14:34-36 - 34 And when they were gone over, they came into
the land of Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place had
knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought
unto him all that were diseased; 36 And besought him that they might
only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly
whole.
Mt. 15:22-28 - 22
And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him,
saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously
vexed with a devil. 23 But he answered her not a word. And his
disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after
us. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost
sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him,
saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet
to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she
said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their
masters' table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman,
great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was
made whole from that very hour.
Mt. 26:6 (Mk. 14:3) - Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,
This transitional
exhibition of the tearing down of the middle wall of partition indicates that
now it is not just the crumbs from the table of Israel that is left for the
Gentiles (Mt. 15:22-28). Christ has not just sent His Spirit in this age to the
lost sheep of the House of Israel!
May we
consider that there were three major phases in the transition from the Old
Covenant Temple worship to the New Covenant realities in the Church?
(1) The veil rent at
the death of Christ,
(2) the middle
wall of partition - understood as fencing the Gentiles out of the
Temple proper, and restricting them to the Court of the Gentiles due to their
ceremonial uncleanness and uncircumcised state - is now beginning to be
perceived as having been removed, and finally,
(3) the Temple itself
destroyed in 70 AD.
2) 25
….Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
26
But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
What would have led Cornelius to do this? What was he
thinking?
This may be related directly to
what he had been requesting in prayer, which remains an unknown quantity due to
details unrevealed in the inspired account.
Notice is made of other
occasions in the Scriptures when prostration before created beings was
corrected. Darrell L. Bock[2] along with others makes
comparison to Rev. 19:10; and 22:8-9.
Rev. 19:10 - And
I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it
not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of
Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Rev.
22:8-9 - 8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I
fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
9 Then
saith he unto me, See thou do it not:
for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which
keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
F. F. Bruce notes that the
verb is also used in Mt. 8:2; 9:18; 15:25; 18:26; and 20:20, in the sense of
“paying homage to someone of whom a favour is being asked”, and not just of
"worship" in a religious sense.[3]
A Gentile
bowing before a Jew - a fulfillment or "foreshadowing" of the
fullfillment of OT prophecies? On
Cornelius bowing down to Peter in relation to OT Millennial prophecies
concerning the Gentile nations bowing down to Israel consider the following:
Is. 45:14 - Thus saith
the LORD, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans,
men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall
come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto
thee, saying,
Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God.
Is. 49:22-23 - 22 Thus
saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set
up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and
thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders. 23 And kings
shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of
thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed
that wait for me.
Is. 60:14 - The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto
thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of
thy feet; and they
shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
Might what occurred in Acts 10:25 be
considered as a "first fruits", foretaste or foreshadowing on an
individual level of what will occur on a national scale in the actual
Millennial fulfillment of the prophecies listed above?
What Cornelius does before
Peter in Acts 10:25 may also be compared in this regard to the following:
Dan. 2:46 - Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped
Daniel, and
commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him.
Acts 16:29 - Then he
called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, (the keeper of the prison
in Philippi)
2. The
Clarification (10:28-29)
28 And he said unto them, Ye know
how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or
come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call
any man common or unclean. 29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying,
as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?
This is the crux of the matter!
Why would Peter speak of it being “unlawful” for a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of
another nation? What is this based
on?
3. The
Preparation (10:30-33)
30 And Cornelius said, Four days
ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house,
and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31 And said,
Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the
sight of God.
32
Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is
lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh,
shall speak unto thee. 33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and
thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present
before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
We should focus on verse 33!
This is not your normal Sunday morning church service,
but maybe…!?!?!
II. The Sermon
of Peter - Exposition (10:34-43)
34 Then Peter opened his mouth,
and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35
But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted
with him. 36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel,
preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) 37 That word,
I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from
Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38 How God anointed
Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing
good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. 39
And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews,
and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: 40 Him God
raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; 41 Not to all the
people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and
drink with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us
to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of
God to be the Judge of quick and dead. 43 To him give all the
prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall
receive remission of sins.
1. The Wideness of
the Gospel (10:34-35)
2. The Word of the
Incarnation (10:36-38)
3. The Witness of
the Apostles (10:39-43)
1. The Wideness
of the Gospel (10:34-35) - accepted with
Him
34 Then Peter opened his mouth,
and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35
But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted
with him.
1) The
Impartiality of God’s Grace (10:34)
God is no respecter of persons
This follows on
to what Peter had said when he first entered Cornelius’ house in verse 28.
2) The
Basis for God’s Acceptance (10:35)
in every nation he that feareth him, and
worketh righteousness, is accepted with him
How should we
understand verse 35, since it seems to base acceptance with God upon our
response and works?
Do not lose sight of the fact that this is spoken as a
proof of the fact that God is no
respecter of persons!
2. The Word of
the Incarnation (10:36-38) - God was with
Him
36 The word which God sent unto
the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) 37
That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began
from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38 How God
anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about
doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with
him.
1) The Nature of the Word
(36) The word....(37)
That word…
2) The Proclamation of the Word
(36) …sent….preached….(37)…was published…
3) The Content of the Word
(36) peace by Jesus
Christ (he is Lord of all)
(38) How God
anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about
doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with
him.
3. The Witness
of the Apostles (10:39-43) - whosoever
believeth in Him
39 And we are witnesses of all
things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they
slew and hanged on a tree: 40 Him God raised up the third day, and
shewed him openly; 41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses
chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose
from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and
to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and
dead. 43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name
whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
1) The Particular Identity of the
Witnesses (10:39-42)
(39)…we….
(41) Not to all the people, but unto witnesses
chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose
from the dead.
(42) And he
commanded us to preach unto the
people, and to testify…
2) The Historical Focus of the Witness
(10:39-41)
3) The Soteriological Purpose of the
Witness (10:42-43)
III. The Spirit
on the Gentiles - Evidence (10:44-48)
44 While Peter yet spake these
words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And
they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with
Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy
Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.
Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should
not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48
And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they
him to tarry certain days.
1. The Reception
of the Holy Spirit (10:44)
2. The Reaction of
the Jewish Christians (10:45-46b)
3. The Response of
the Apostle Peter (10:46c-48)
1. The
Reception of the Holy Spirit (10:44)
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy
Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
Notice especially what is not included in the inspired
record of this event!
Observe what did not happen both prior to and during this
“Pentecost”!
2. The Reaction
of the Jewish Christians (10:45-46b)
45 And they of the circumcision
which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the
Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they
heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.
The circumcison is astonished at the uncircumcision
empowered by the Holy Spirit of God.
The purpose of tongues[4]
has everything to do with convincing those of the circumcision who did not
believe that God was judging their nation, and turning to the Gentiles to
provoke them to jealousy. Tongues always has been a sign of the impending
judgment of God for breach of covenant, and is always terminated by the
dispersion included with that judgment.
3. The Response
of the Apostle Peter (10:46c-48)
Then answered Peter, 47 Can any
man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the
Holy Ghost as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in
the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
This is one of the most significant events in all of
God’s dealings with mankind!
The “middle wall of partition” between Jew and Gentile
has been broken down! Christ is now
making it clear by His Spirit that this is an accomplished fact. Nothing would ever be the same again. This major covenantal shift is directly tied
to the fulfillment of the Abahamic covenant in Christ, the Seed of
Abraham. Here during this era of
transition another large piece of the New Covenant reality is being
magnificently and unmistakably displayed.
Eph. 2:11-22 - 11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the
flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision
in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at
that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel,
and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in
the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes
were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he
is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of
partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in
himself of twain one new man, so
making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both
unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
18 For through him we both have
access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19 Now
therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the
saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom
all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an
habitation of God through the Spirit.
Conclusion:
We should expect to be led to and through the doorways in
life by God!
We can count on being surprised by God!
God will open our eyes!
Having our horizons expanded and our misconceptions
corrected is part of the process of our sanctification as we interact with the
Word of God by the Spirit of God, and relate to other people!
God is in the business of smashing our prejudices!
God is not a racist!
The Gospel of Jesus Christ observes no national boundary
lines!
There is absolutely no room for racism of any kind in the
Church of Jesus Christ!
I. The Sending by
Cornelius - Explanation (10:24-33)
1. The Meeting (10:24-27)
2. The Clarification (10:28-29)
3. The Preparation (10:30-33)
II. The Sermon of
Peter - Exposition (10:34-43)
1. The Wideness of the Gospel (10:34-35)
2. The Word of the Incarnation (10:36-38)
3. The Witness of the Apostles (10:39-43)
III. The Spirit on
the Gentiles - Evidence (10:44-48)
1. The Reception of the Holy Spirit (10:44)
2. The Reaction of the Jewish Christians
(10:45-46b)
3. The Response of the Apostle Peter (10:46c-48)
[Sermon preached 23
FEB 2014 by Pastor John T. “Jack” Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown,
PA.]
Resources:
G. K. Beale and D. A. Carson, eds., Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old
Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007), pp. 513-606.
Darrell L. Bock, Acts, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, eds. Robert W.
Yarbrough and Robert H. Stein (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007).
F. F. Bruce, The
Acts of the Apostles: The Greek Text with Introduction and Commentary, 2nd
ed. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1951, 1952).
I. Howard Marshall, Acts: An Introduction And Commentary,
Vol. 5 in Tyndale New Testament
Commentaries, gen. ed. Leon Morris (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press,
1980; 2008 reprint).
David G. Peterson, The Acts of the Apostles, The Pillar New Testament Commentaries,
gen. ed. D. A. Carson (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009).
John B. Polhill, Acts, Vol. 26 in The New American Commentary, gen. ed.
David S. Dockery (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, Publishers, 1992).
Eckhard J. Schnabel, Acts, Vol. 5 in the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New
Testament, gen. ed. Clinton E. Arnold (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012).
William H. Willimon, Acts, in Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching,
series ed. James Luther Mays, New Testament ed. Paul J. Achtemeier (Louisville,
KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010).
[1] Paraphrasing Neil Armstrong’s “That’s one small step
for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” (21 JUL 1969) Source:
Natalie Wolchover, “'One Small Step for Man': Was Neil Armstrong
Misquoted?” (27 AUG 2012), on
Space at http://www.space.com/17307-neil-armstrong-one-small-step-quote.html
[accessed 23 FEB 2014].
[2] Acts, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament,
eds. Robert W. Yarbrough and Robert H. Stein (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic,
2007), pg. 393.
[3] The Acts
of the Apostles: The Greek Text with Introduction and Commentary, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1951,
1952), pg. 221.
[4] On this see especially O. Palmer Robertson, “Tongues:
Sign of Covenantal Curse and Blessing”, Westminster Theological Journal,
Fall 1975, pp. 43-53; and The Final
Word (Banner of Truth, 1993), pp. 41-51.
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