The Gospel Includes the Gentiles

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Acts 10:1-23

 

Acts 1:8

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be ^[a]witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

(NKJV)

 

 

In this text, two men receive angelic visions from the Lord, one a Gentile Roman official and one Peter, an apostle of Christ. The two visions will lead to a divinely arranged meeting of the two men in Caesarea. This meeting will be a turning point for the Church, leading to the gospel going out from Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria to the uttermost parts of the earth (Acts 1:8).

 

A devout Roman official, Cornelius, a man who feared God and gave generously to those in need, and who prayed to God always received an angelic vision (Acts 10:1-3). After asking the Lord what He wants, the Lord tells him his generosity and prayers have come before the Lord as a memorial (Acts 10:4). The Lord instructs Cornelius to send men to Joppa, sending for Peter, who is lodging with Simon, a tanner in a home by the sea, where Peter will tell him what he must do (Acts 10:5-6). Cornelius is obedient to the Lord and sends two servants and a devout soldier to Joppa after explaining everything to them (Acts 10:7-8).

 

The next day the men depart for Joppa and about the sixth hour Peter who is in Joppa goes up on the housetop to pray (Acts 10:9). Peter was hungry and while they prepared a meal for him, he fell into a trance (Acts 10:10). While in the trance, Peter sees a vision of a great sheet coming down, containing all kinds of four-footed animals, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds with a voice telling him to kill and eat (Acts 10:11-13). Peter responds to the voice by saying he has never eaten anything common or unclean (Acts 10:14). The voice answered Peter, telling him that what God has cleansed is not common (Acts 10:15). This happened three times, with the sheet going back up to heaven (Acts 10:16).

 

While Peter was wondering what the vision meant, the men sent by Cornelius arrived at the house and were standing at the gate, asking if Peter was staying there (Acts 10:17-18). While Peter continued to contemplate the meaning of his vision, the Spirit told him that three men were asking for him and to go, doubting nothing because they had been sent by God (Acts 10:19-20). Peter meets the men and asks why they have come, and it is told that Cornelius has had an angelic vision and is to invite Peter to his house to hear words from him (Acts 10:21-22). Peter asks the men to stay with him for the night and leaves with them for Caesarea the next day (Acts 10:23).

 

In Acts 1:8, the disciples are asked to take the gospel to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth. At this point, the church is predominantly Jewish, but the visions given to Cornelius and Peter are going to change this. Since Jews and Gentiles seldom got together to discuss their belief in God, Cornelius was most likely hesitant to call for one of the apostles to teach him. However, an angelic visit that tells him to call for Peter and bring him to Caesarea changed that. Peter was also hesitant to be seen going to the house of an unclean Gentile, that is, until an angelic vision changed what he viewed as unclean. The divinely arranged meeting of Peter and Cornelius will become a turning point in the Church, laying the foundation for taking the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth.

 

When a church becomes like a social club or self-help organization, it can begin to cater only to a niche group of individuals with similar interests and demographics. This is not what Jesus had in mind with the great commission (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20). The Lord delays his return so that the church has time to take the message of the Gospel to everyone, giving them a choice of where they will spend eternity (2 Peter 3:9). The church is not a social club or a self-help organization, but a lighthouse shining with the light of Jesus Christ to a dark and fallen world. For revival to come, each of us must serve as ambassadors for Christ, lifting Him up wherever we go (2 Corinthians 5:20; John 12:32).

 

Jesus Christ is certainly coming back with those choosing to make Him their savior, spending eternity with Him. If you are reading this and have never prayed to ask for the forgiveness of your sins and to make Jesus Christ your savior, I invite you to do so now by praying with me.

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23). I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9). I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

This prayer is not some magical prayer, but must be a genuine expression of your heart. If that is why you prayed, rest assured, your sins are completely forgiven, and you have eternal life. I now encourage you to let someone know of your decision. I also urge you to find a church of truth that teaches from the Bible and is empowered by the Holy Spirit, so you can grow in your faith. May God convict, challenge, and bless everyone reading this post.