Lesson 11: “What God Has Made Clean…” (Acts 9.32-10.48)

Every Jew was familiar with the regulations laid out in Leviticus 11, for that was where God laid out their dietary restrictions, defining what was clean and what was unclean. And why was God so concerned that His people be able to discern between clean and unclean? “For I am the LORD who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.” (Leviticus 11.45) The Jews understood that the Lord was concerned with more than just the food they ate; He wanted a people who were holy and set apart from any defilement. One application the people readily made was in regard to other nations; if they were the Lord’s holy nation, then it stood to reason that other nations were unholy.

However, God’s promise to Abraham was that through him all families of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12.3). The Lord also revealed that His true servant, the Messiah, would not only restore Israel, but would be “a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth” (Isaiah 49.6). While on the earth Jesus proclaimed that he had “other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd” (John 10.16). And so His final commission to His disciples was to teach not just Israel, but the nations (Matthew 28.19-20; Mark 16.15-16; Acts 1.8).

So far in our study of Acts we’ve noted how the gospel was proclaimed to those on the fringe of Jewish society. Proselytes were present on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2.11); Samaritans and worshipers from distant lands heeded the gospel call (Acts 8). But all of these had been affiliated with Judaism, even if only loosely. What about a true Gentile, a Roman no less? Was the gospel for him too?

Notes From The Text

9.32-43, Peter’s Travels

• Vs. 32, Lydda was ~32 miles west of Jerusalem. Note there were already saints here, likely after the church in Jerusalem dispersed (Acts 8.1-4).
• Vs. 35, Sharon was the coastal plain where the cities of Joppa and Caesarea were located.
• Vs. 36, Joppa was located about 30 miles south of Caesarea and 35 miles NW of Jerusalem.
• Vs. 37, common practice among the Jews was to bury the dead the same day they died. Their laying her in an upper room may indicate the hope that Peter would come and heal her.
• Vs. 40, Peter’s actions were very similar to those of the Lord (see Mark 5.37-42).
• Vs. 43, “The more scrupulous Jews regarded such an occupation as unclean, and avoided those who pursued it. The conduct of Peter here shows that he did not carry his prejudices to that extent” (Hackett). One of the rabbis said: “It is impossible for the world to do without tanners; but woe to him who is a tanner.” A Jewess could sue for divorce if she discovered that her husband was a tanner. And yet Peter will have scruples on the housetop in the tanner’s house about eating food considered unclean. “The lodging with the tanner was a step on the road to eating with a Gentile” (Furneaux).” (Robertson’s Word Pictures)

10.1-8, The Lord’s Message To Cornelius

• Vs. 1, Cornelius was a man of authority in that he was a centurion (over 100 soldiers) in the city of Caesarea, the Roman seat of power in Palestine. It has been reasoned that since Cornelius is a Latin name and Luke records that he was a part of the Italian regiment, that Cornelius was the head of all-Italian soldiers, one of the best the Romans had and probably the personal bodyguard of the Roman procurator of Palestine.
• Vs. 2, the character of Cornelius
  • Devout. Note that this was how the Jews were described in Acts 2.5.
  • Feared God with all his household.
  • Gave alms generously to the people. “The people” would have been in reference to the Jewish people.
  • Prayed continually to God. The notion that God does not hear the prayers of sinners was spoken by the Pharisees (see John 9.31). No, God will not hear the rebellious, but He will answer those who are seeking (Matthew 7.7).
  • Yet, as good and devout as he was, Cornelius was not yet saved (note Acts 11.14).
• Vs. 3, the ninth hour (3PM) was a traditional hour of prayer which accompanied the offering of the evening sacrifice (see Acts 3.1).
• Vs. 4, “The word ‘memorial’ was used in the Old Testament of a vegetable sacrifice which was burned on the altar together with frankincense and which produced a sweet, aromatic smoke which ascended toward heaven and, as it were, caught the attention of God and commended the worshiper’s prayers to Him.” (Garreth Reese)
• Vs. 5, compare with Jonah 1.2-3. The prophet had been commanded by God to go and preach to the Gentiles, but he went to Joppa to flee from the Lord.

10.9-23, The Lord’s Message To Peter

• Vs. 9, the sixth hour was noon.
• Vs. 12, note Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. According to the Law, these were unclean animals.
• Vs. 15, the promise to Abraham was that all nations would be blessed through His seed, Gen. 12.3, and the prophets foretold that His Kingdom would be for all, Isaiah 2.2-3. Remember the commission of the Lord was that all were to be taught the gospel, Mark 16.15-16; Matt. 28.19; Acts 1.8.
• Vs. 16, the repetition was to impress upon Peter that this was a message from God (see Genesis 41.32).
• Vs. 22, note Acts 11.14.
• Vs. 23, if Cornelius’ servants were gentiles and not Jews, this action on Peter (and Simon’s) part shows an expanding comprehension of God’s acceptance of the nations.

10.24-33, Peter Arrives At Cornelius’ Home

• Vs. 24, Cornelius serves as an example to all of us. We should invite our friends and family to hear the word of God proclaimed.
• Vss. 25-26, if Peter thought of himself as the first pope (as Catholics claim), why not accept worship? Worship is reserved for God alone (see Revelation 22.8-9).
• Vs. 28, while the Law forbade intermarriage with the peoples of Canaan, the Law did not expressly forbid association with foreigners. However, that had become the general interpretation of conscientious Jews. While Peter’s comprehension of God’s plan was expanding, he did not yet fully comprehend that God was accepting the gentiles (note vss. 47-48).
• Vs. 33, “Visions combined with the greatest preaching possible will not save one unless he has a responsive heart. God forces no one to be saved, although He wishes all would be (cf. 1Tim. 2.4; 2Pet. 3.9). We must condition our hearts that we listen to the gospel with ‘readiness of mind’ (cf. Acts 17.11; Rom. 6.17-18; James 1.21-25).” (Robert Harkrider)

10.34-43, Gentiles Hear Good News

• Vs. 34, God shows no partiality, salvation is open to all (Romans 2.11). He expects us to emulate His character (James 2.1,9).
• Vs. 36, Cornelius would have sworn allegiance to Caesar, acknowledging him as god. To believe the gospel, Cornelius would now have to acknowledge Jesus as “Lord of all”.
• Vs. 38, Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit at His baptism (see Matthew 3.16), the event which confirmed He is God’s anointed (see John 4.25-26).
• Vs. 42, the good news of the Kingdom includes proclamation of Jesus as judge over all (see Acts 17.31; 2Timothy 4.1; 1Peter 4.5).
• Vs. 43, see Acts 3.24; 1Peter 1.10-12.

10.44-48, God Accepts The Gentiles

• Vss. 44-46, contrast with Acts 8.17-18. This was the way which the apostles received the Holy Spirit (Acts 2.1-4).
• Vs. 47, this was God’s acknowledgment that Gentiles were accepted by Him (see Acts 15.7-9). This instance and the occurrence at Pentecost (Acts 2.1-4) are the only examples in Scripture of the Holy Spirit falling on men. It’s uniqueness is evident in Peter’s remark that the Gentiles “received the Holy Spirit just as we have”.
• Vs. 48, Cornelius and his family were baptized in the Holy Spirit, not as a means of salvation, but as a means of confirming that Gentiles are eligible for salvation. This is exactly the purpose it served, Acts 15.7-9; 11.15-17. That baptism in water was then commanded is clear proof that remission of sins can come only through baptism. “Isn’t it strange that modern preachers tell us that baptism is not necessary, but the inspired apostle commanded baptism?” (Robert Harkrider)