Day 99 – Monday, May 19, 2025

One Year Journey Through the New Testament

Acts 10

Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!

Cornelius Sends a Delegation

1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, ² a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. ³ About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”

⁴ And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?”

So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. ⁵ Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. ⁶ He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.” ⁷ And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually. ⁸ So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa. 

(Acts 10:1–8, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• This chapter focuses on the inclusion of Gentiles in the early church in a more significant measure. Peter is called to the home of a Gentile in a vision and literally. This changes the way the church sought converts.
• In this passage, Cornelius, a Gentile centurion in the Roman army, is described as a devout man who feared God.
• He heard from God in a vision at about 3:00 in the afternoon that his prayers and alms had come before God. He was instructed to send a delegation to Peter to come and help him find his way.
• He sent servants to Joppa to get Peter.

Peter’s Vision

⁹ The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. ¹⁰ Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance ¹¹ and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. ¹² In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. ¹³ And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”

¹⁴ But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”

¹⁵ And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” ¹⁶ This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again. 

(Acts 10:9–16, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• At about noon the next day, Peter also had a vision. As he was praying on the housetop, he was hungry. Simon the tanner’s family prepared him a meal.
• In the meantime, he saw a vision of heaven opened and a sheet descending to the earth before him. It had all types of animals, clean and unclean. A voice told him to kill and eat.
• Peter, in a truly Jewish response, rejected the notion because some of the animals were unclean.
• God replied that what He had made clean, Peter must not call unclean.
• The scene recurred a total of three times before it ended.

Summoned to Caesarea

¹⁷ Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate. ¹⁸ And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.

¹⁹ While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you. ²⁰ Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”

²¹ Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?”

²² And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.” ²³ Then he invited them in and lodged them.

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

(Acts 10:17–23, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Peter was unsure what this meant. About that time, Cornelius’ men showed up at the gate of Simon’s house. The Lord told him that He had sent the men, and Peter went down to greet them.
• They told of Cornelius’ vision, and his order to them to summon Peter. He brought them in to stay over that night, and then they left the next day to go to Cornelius’ house.

Peter Meets Cornelius

²⁴ And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. ²⁵ As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. ²⁶ But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.” ²⁷ And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. ²⁸ 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. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. ²⁹ Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?”

³⁰ So 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, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God. ³² Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.’ ³³ So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.” 

(Acts 10:24–33, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• They arrived as Caesarea the next day, and Cornelius was waiting for them. Cornelius bowed before Peter, but he humbly told him that was not necessary, He was no different than him.
• Peter told of his vision, and explained that it was the only reason he came. Normally, he could not visit the home of a Gentile, but got told him not to call anyone unclean.
• Cornelius shared his vision, and told him that was the reason for his calling for Peter. His entire household was present at the house to hear from Peter.

Preaching to Cornelius’ Household

³⁴ Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. ³⁵ But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. ³⁶ The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all—³⁷ that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by 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 killed by hanging on a tree. ⁴⁰ Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, ⁴¹ not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. ⁴² And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” 

(Acts 10:34–43, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Peter said that he had learned that God shows no partiality. The gospel preached to the Jews was now coming to the home of a Gentile.

The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles

⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. ⁴⁵ And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. ⁴⁶ For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.

Then Peter answered, ⁴⁷ “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” ⁴⁸ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days. 

(Acts 10:44–48, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• While Peter was preaching the gospel, the Holy Spirit fell on those who heard the word. The Jews present were astonished that the Holy Spirit had fallen on Gentiles, but they could not deny it. They spoke with tongues and magnified God, as did the disciples in the upper room.
• Peter called for water for them to be baptized. He stayed a few days with them. The Gentile revival had begun.

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All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page. Another blog will be posted each weekday at 6:00 a.m.