Acts 10
Cornelius seeks the LORD verse 1- 8
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius
a centurion of the band called the Italian band
a devout man
and one that feared God with all his house
which gave much alms to the people
prayed to God always
He saw in a vision evidently – about the ninth hour of the day
an angel of God coming in to him
and saying to him Cornelius
And when he looked on him – he was afraid – and said
What is it – Lord?
And he said to him
Your prayers and your alms are come up
for a memorial before God
and now send men to Joppa
and call for one Simon
whose surname is Peter
He lodges with one Simon a tanner
whose house is by the seaside
he shall tell thee what you ought to do
And when the angel which spoke to Cornelius was departed
he called two of his household servants
and a devout soldier of them
that waited on him continually
And when he had declared all these things to them
he sent them to Joppa
Peter receives a vision from the LORD verse 9- 20
On the morrow – as they went on their journey
and drew nigh to the city
Peter went up on the housetop
to pray about the sixth hour
And he became very hungry – and would have eaten
BUT while they made ready – he fell into a trance
And he saw heaven opened and a certain vessel descending
unto him as it had been a great sheet knit at four corners
and let down to the earth wherein were
all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth
wild beasts, creeping things,
fowls of the air
And there came a voice to him
Rise – Peter – kill and eat
BUT Peter said – Not so Lord
FOR I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean
And the voice spoke to him again a second time
What God has cleansed – that call not you common
This was done THRICE
and the vessel was received up again into heaven
Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision
which he had seen should mean
BEHOLD – the men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry
for Simon’s house – and stood before the gate
and called and asked whether Simon
which was surnamed Peter
were lodged there
While Peter thought on the vision – the Spirit said to him
BEHOLD – three men seek you
Arise therefore – and get youe down – and go with them
DOUBTING NOTHING – FOR I have sent them
Peter goes with the men sent by Cornelius verse 21- 23
Then Peter went down to the men which
were sent to him from Cornelius
and said – BEHOLD – I am he whom you seek
what is the cause wherefore you are come?
AND they said – Cornelius the centurion – a just man
one that fears God and one of good report
among all the nation of the Jews
was warned from God by a holy angel
to send for you into his house
and to hear words of you
THEN called he them in – and lodged them
and on the morrow Peter went away with them
and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him
Peter questions Cornelius verse 24- 33
And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea
and Cornelius waited from them
and had called together
his kinsmen and near friends
And as Peter was coming in – Cornelius met him
and fell down at his feet
and worshiped him
BUT Peter took him up – saying
Stand up – I myself also am a man
and as he talked with him – he went in
and found many that were come together
AND he said to them
You know how that it is an unlawful thing
for a man that is a Jew to keep company
or come to one of another nation
BUT God has showed me that I should not call any man
common or unclean
THEREFORE came I to you without gainsaying
as soon as I was sent for
I ask therefore for what intent
you have sent for me?
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
and said – Cornelius – your prayer is heard
and your alms are had in remembrance in the
sight of God
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 seaside
who – when he comes shall speak to you
Immediately therefore I sent to you
and you have well done that you are come
Now therefore are we all here present before God
to hear all things that are commanded you of God
Peter presents the Gospel verse 34- 43
THEN Peter opened his mouth
and said
Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons
but in every nation he that fears HIM
and works righteousness
is accepted with HIM
The word which God sent unto the children of Israel
PREACHING peace
by Jesus Christ (HE is Lord of all)
that word – I say – you know
which was published
throughout all Judea
and began from Galilee
after the baptism
which John PREACHED
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
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
HIM God raised up the THIRD DAY and showed HIM openly
not to all the people
BUT to witnesses chosen before of God even unto us – who did eat and drink
with HIM after HE rose from the dead
And HE commanded us to PREACH to the people
and to testify that it is HE which was ordained of God
to be Judge of quick and dead
to HIM give all the prophets witness
that through HIS name whosoever believes in
HIM shall receive remission of sin
Holy Ghost fell on Gentiles verse 44- 48
While Peter yet spoke these words
the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word
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
FOR they heard them speak with tongues
and magnify God
THEN answered Peter – Can any man forbid water
that these should be baptized
which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
AND he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord
THEN prayed they him to tarry certain days
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always. (2152 “devout” [eusebes] means godly, pious, dutiful, religious, or well-reverent)
DEVOTION: One of the problems with many people is they think that if they are well-behavior and religious they will go to heaven. There are many people who act better than many people who are true believers in Christ. They are religious but not true followers of Christ.
We have an illustration of someone who is godly or pious and still not a believer in Jesus Christ. Some of the Jewish leaders were good men who tried to live a life that was pleasing to the rules God had set down in the Old Testament. They had their act together, in that, they knew the rules and obeyed them the best they could but were still headed to the lake of fire which was reserved for the devil and his angels.
We even have many in the churches around the world who sing praises to God and give their money for the ministry but leave the church and do nothing from Sunday to Sunday. They have no devotional life. They have no prayer life. They are not witnessing for the LORD. They are good attendees but not servants. Are they genuinely saved? Only the LORD knows their hearts. Their actions don’t show life.
Here is a man and his family that seem to be interested in going further with the LORD. They needed someone to present Christ to them. Peter was reluctant but came after the LORD gave him a vision regarding his attitude toward the Gentiles.
The LORD answered the prayer of a man who wanted to know more. HE will always answer the prayers of those who are outside of Christ but seek more. There are other religious people who seek to know more about the life in Christ. We might be the ones who have to share these truths with them as the Holy Spirit directs us.
CHALLENGE: Realize that not all pious people are believers in Christ without our showing them more. Share the truth with others.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said to him, Behold, three men seek you.
: 20 Arise therefore and get you down, and go with them doubting nothing for I have sent them. (1252 “doubting” [diakrino] means make a distinction, discriminate, prefer, give judgment, to pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness, waver, evaluate, differentiate, or separate)
DEVOTION: Peter is one who questions God on a regular basis. He questioned Christ on some of his commands. He struggled with understanding a plain statement of the LORD. He struggled even during the vision that the LORD gave him regarding reaching out to the Gentiles with the Gospel.
Change is not easy for any of us. It was extra hard for Peter. He thought he knew what God wanted him to do but then the LORD gave him other instructions. He was to reach those whom the Jews hated. There was prejudice. There was a lack of understanding the promise to Abraham that all the nations of the earth were to be blessed by the coming of the Messiah.
Now he came face to face with a group of Gentiles who wanted to know more about Jesus. He was to go with them and present the Gospel to them. He was not to hesitate. He was not to worry. He was just to go.
God sends people into our life for a reason. Each person is one that needs our friendship and encouragement. Some need to know the LORD. Some need to help us grow in the LORD. Some need our help to grow in the LORD. Some just need someone to walk side by side with them as they go through their walk with the LORD. We are to be prayer partners to all.
CHALLENGE: Listen to the voice of the LORD and follow HIS instructions. HE will direct our paths.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 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? 369 “without gainsaying” [anantirrhetos] means promptly, without contradiction, or without raising an objection)
DEVOTION: Have you ever said “NO” to God when HE asked you to do something? Remember HE speaks to those who are true followers of HIM through our prayers and the ministry of the Holy Spirit even today.
We have to remember that there are sins of omission, as well as, sins of commission. The sins of commission we understand are sins that are listed in the word of God such as lying, stealing, anger, etc. Here we are concerned with the sins of omission.
When the Holy Spirit tells us to do something and we don’t do it – that is the sin of omission. When HE tells us to do something, do we do it?
This could be helping a family who is in need. This could be having a burden for something to be done in the church and giving the money so that it can be done. This could be taking someone to church, a doctor appointment, visiting someone in the hospital, etc. This could be opening our homes for missionaries or traveling speakers.
The LORD may lay a burden for a servant of God on our hearts and we may need to give something to him or buy his children shoes or help in another way.
One example is that a group of dentists saw a camp speaker who needed work done on his teeth and they set up the appointments and fixed his teeth for nothing. PTL. When we offer a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name, we will receive a reward. We need to be listening to HIM. Peter didn’t want to do what the LORD told him to do, but he did it anyways?
Peter was given a vision of unclean animals that Jews were not to eat. In the vision he was told to eat. He refused. The LORD told him that there were men waiting for him downstairs and that he was to go with them. He did.
What happened? Gentiles were saved. PTL. He did it promptly. He had others come with him as witnesses. They all saw the Holy Spirit active in the lives of these Gentiles.
CHALLENGE: When the LORD tells you to do something – do it!!!
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: 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. (5548 “anointed” [chrio] means consecrating Jesus to the Messianic office, to assign, to coat, paint, to consecrate by unction, appoint one for a position, practice of pouring of olive oil on a prophet, priest or king as a symbol or choice or approval)
DEVOTION: Here again we find the Trinity or Godhead in one verse of the Bible. God is the one who sent the Son to die on the cross for our sins because he was the only appeasing sacrifice, HE could accept for our sins.
Jesus sent the Holy Spirit as a comforter and teacher and helper for all those who believe. HE would help them in their prayer life when they didn’t know how to pray. HE would give them direction regarding who they were to witness to in their journey.
Jesus as our Messiah is sitting at the right hand of God as our advocate. HE finished his task on the earth by dying on the cross for our sins. We have forgiveness offered to us because of HIS death.
All three persons of the Godhead have a responsibility. All three have equal power but have willingly worked with one another for special purposes. They are not three gods or a manifestation of one god at three different times. They are one God working a plan for eternity.
The Father sent the Son who sent the Holy Spirit to give us the power to oppose the devil and his angels. We have the power of the Godhead on our side.
CHALLENGE: We can overcome with that power. God is with us also.
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Cornelius was fasting verse 3
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Alms and prayers verse 4
Memorial before God verse 4
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Cornelius prayed always verse 2
Cornelius’ prayers answered verse 4
Peter prayed verse 9
Angel tells Cornelius his prayers
are answered verse 30, 31
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Prophets witness verse 43
Word verse 44
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God verse 2 , 4, 15, 22, 28, 31, 33, 34, 36, 38, 40- 42, 46
Sight of God verse 31
No respecter of person verse 34
Every nation people fear HIM verse 35
God was with Jesus verse 38
God raised up Jesus on third day verse 40
God showed Jesus openly verse 40
Witnesses chosen before God verse 41
Ordained Jesus verse 42
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Lord verse 4, 14, 36, 48
Jesus verse 36, 38
Christ verse 36
Jesus Christ verse 36
Lord of all verse 36
Anointed with power verse 38
Jesus of Nazareth verse 38
God the Father was with HIM verse 38
Doing good verse 38
Healing verse 38
God raised from the dead verse 40, 41
Commanded disciples to preach verse 42
Jesus ordained of God verse 42
Judge of quick and dead verse 42
Prophets witnessed of HIM verse 43
Through HIS name remission of sins verse 43
Baptism in the name of LORD verse 47, 48
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Spirit verse 19
Holy Ghost verse 38, 44, 45, 47
Holy Ghost fell on all listening to Peter verse 44
Gentiles received Holy Ghost verse 44
Gift of the Holy Ghost verse 45
Received the Holy Ghost verse 47
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Angel verse 3- 7, 22
Angel of God verse 3
Holy angel verse 22
Man in bright clothes verse 30- 32
Devil verse 38
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Caesarea verse 1
Cornelius -centurion verse 1- 8, 22- 48
Italian band
Devout man
Feared God
Gave alms
Prayed to God always
Vision
Joppa
Tell what ought to do
Sent three men to Joppa
Just man
Good report among Jews
Hear words of Peter
Called together kinsmen and friends
Fell down at feet of Peter
Tells Peter of vision of God
Hear all things commanded of God
Another nation verse 28
Every nation people fear God verse 35
Work righteousness
Accepted of God
Gentiles received Holy Ghost verse 45
Gentiles spoke in tongues verse 46
Gentiles magnify God verse 46
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Unclean verse 14, 28
Saying NO to God verse 14
Doubted verse 17, 20
Unlawful verse 28
Gainsaying verse 29
Slew and hanged on tree verse 39
Sins verse 43
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Devout verse 2
Fear God verse 2, 22, 35
Gave alms verse 2, 4
Prayed to God always verse 2, 4, 9, 48
Just verse 22
Good report verse 22
Worship verse 25
Answered prayer verse 31
No respecter of persons verse 34
Work righteousness verse 35
Accepted verse 35
Baptism verse 37, 47, 48
Preach verse 37, 42
Doing good verse 38
Witnesses verse 39, 41
Chosen verse 41
Testify verse 42
Believe in name of Jesus verse 43, 45
Remission of sins verse 43
Hear the word verse 44
Speak with [known]tongues verse 46
Magnify God verse 46
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Jew to keep company verse 28
Children of Israel verse 36
Published throughout all Judaea verse 37
Began in Galilee verse 37
Baptism of John verse 37
Land of the Jews verse 39
Jerusalem verse 39
Slew Jesus verse 39
Hanged Jesus on tree verse 39
Church (New Testament people of God)
Simon Peter verse 5, 9- 48
Pray
Hungry
Fell into trance
Vision of animals three times
Told to eat unclean animals
Said NO to Lord
Told not to doubt
Went to Joppa
God showed Peter
Not call any unclean
Baptized Gentiles
Gentiles wanted Peter to stay
Simon the tanner verse 6, 32
Take others with you on visitation verse 23
No respecter of persons verse 34
Preaching peace verse 36
Witnesses verse 39
Baptism verse 47, 48
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
45–46 The six Jewish believers (hoi ek peritomēs pistoi, “the circumcised believers”) who were there with Peter were astonished at what they saw and heard. For in accepting these Gentiles and bestowing his Holy Spirit on them, God had providentially attested his action by the same sign of tongues as at Pentecost. The gift of tongues at Pentecost should probably be understood as distinguishable languages because they were immediately recognized as dialects then current (cf. comments on 2:4). Here, however, an outburst of foreign languages would have fallen on untuned ears and failed to be convincing. So we should probably view what was here expressed as being ecstatic utterances such as Paul later described in 1 Corinthians 12–14. Undoubtedly the sign of tongues was given primarily for the sake of the Jewish believers right there in Cornelius’s house. But it was also given for Jerusalem believers, who would later hear of what happened, so that all would see the conversion of these Gentiles as being entirely of God and none would revert to their old prejudices and relegate these new converts to the role of second-class Christians. (Longenecker, R. N. (1981). The Acts of the Apostles. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: John and Acts (Vol. 9, pp. 394–396). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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They of the circumcision which believed (οἱ ἐκ περιτομης πιστοι [hoi ek peritomēs pistoi]). The believing ones of the circumcision, more exactly. Were amazed (ἐξεστησαν [exestēsan]). Second aorist active indicative, intransitive, of ἐξιστημι [existēmi]. They stood out of themselves. On the Gentiles also (και ἐπι τα ἐθνη [kai epi ta ethnē]). Or, even upon the Gentiles. Was poured out (ἐκκεχυται [ekkechutai]). Present perfect passive retained in indirect discourse of ἐκχεω [ekcheō] or ἐκχυνω [ekchunō], old verb, used metaphorically of the Holy Spirit also in 2:17 (from Joel 2:28f.), 33. (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Ac 10:45). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)
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(5) The vindication by the Spirit (10:44–48). 10:44–45. Peter’s message was rapidly concluded by the sovereign interruption of the Holy Spirit who came on all those who heard Peter’s message about Jesus and believed. The six (cf. v. 23; 11:12) circumcised believers … were astonished (exestēsan; “they were beside themselves”; cf. 9:21) at this evidence of equality of Gentiles with Jewish believers. (Toussaint, S. D. (1985). Acts. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 381). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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The Holy Spirit was giving witness to the six Jews who were present that these Gentiles were truly born again. After all, these men had not seen the vision with Peter and come to understand that the Gentiles were now on an equal footing with the Jews. This does not suggest that every new believer gives evidence of salvation by speaking in tongues, though every true believer will certainly use his or her tongue to glorify God (Rom. 10:9–10). This was an event parallel to Pentecost: the same Spirit who had come on the Jewish believers had now come on the Gentiles (Acts 11:15–17; 15:7–9). No wonder the men were astonished!
With this event, the period of transition in the early history of the church comes to an end. Believers among the Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles have all received the Spirit of God and are united in the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27).
These Gentiles were not saved by being baptized; they were baptized because they gave evidence of being saved. To use Acts 2:38 to teach salvation by baptism, or Acts 8:14–16 to teach salvation by the laying on of hands, is to ignore the transitional character of God’s program. Sinners have always been saved by faith; that is one principle God has never changed. But God does change His methods of operation, and this is clearly seen in Acts 1–10. The experience of Cornelius and his household makes it very clear that baptism is not essential for salvation. From now on, the order will be: hear the Word, believe on Christ, and receive the Spirit, and then be baptized and unite with other believers in the church to serve and worship God. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 447). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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We get the effect of that marvelous sermon in verses 44 to 48, the sixth section of our chapter: “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the Word. 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. For they heard them speak with tongues (just as the Jewish believers did on the day of Pentecost) and magnify God.” Peter preached the Word and, while he was preaching, Cornelius and all his household received the message in faith. Peter did not have to urge and plead and entreat. He preached the Word and the whole congregation broke down, and God, who reads the heart, saw that every one of them received the message. When Peter said, “Whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins,” they believed—every one of them—that Christ had died for them, and their sins were remitted. God set His seal upon them by giving the same Pentecostal blessing which He had given at Jerusalem to His own blessed disciples. We are even told that they spoke in tongues. This is the second occasion when this strange gift was given, so far as the record goes, though the same thing may have occurred in Samaria. We are not told they spoke there in tongues, but they may have done so.
Peter, when he saw the evident blessing of the Lord, turned to the little company of Hebrew Christians who had come down with him from Joppa and he said, as it were, “What shall we do about it?” God has received them and given evidence that all are forgiven. “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?” I have heard people say sometimes that if you are baptized with the Holy Ghost you do not need to be baptized in water. It is not a question of what you need—it is a question of what God has commanded. So Peter commanded them to be baptized in the Name, or by the authority, of the Lord Jesus. (Ironside, H. A. (1943). Lectures on the Book of Acts. (pp. 256–258). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
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Ver. 45. And they of the circumcision which believed, &c.] Or of the Jews that believed, as the Ethiopic version renders it; the circumcised Jews who believed in Jesus Christ: were astonished, as many as came with Peter; who were six brethren, as appears from ch. 11:12 these were amazed, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out of the gift of the Holy Ghost: which they before thought was peculiar to the Jews; and this was according to their former notions, and the sentiments of the whole nation, that the Shekinah does not dwell without the land, and only in the land of Israel; yea, they sometimes say, only upon the families in Israel, whose genealogies are clearp: the same they say of prophecy, which is one of the gifts of the Holy Ghost, and was one of those which were now bestowed. They own, that before the giving of the law, the Holy Ghost was among the Gentiles, but from that time ceased to be among themr: hence even these believing Jews wonder at the pouring it forth upon them; which they needed not, had they known that the legal dispensation was now at an end, and the Gospel dispensation had taken place; in which it had been foretold the spirit should be poured forth on the dry ground of the Gentiles. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 2, p. 243). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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The gift of the Holy Spirit was manifested in the home of Cornelius in the same way the gift of the Holy Spirit had been manifested in the upper room. The Gentiles spoke with tongues.
This sign gift was necessary. Peter and the other Jews would probably have never received the Gentiles as “fellow heirs and of the same body” (Eph. 3:6) apart from this sign. That, of course, is in keeping with the basic purpose of the gift of tongues, which was to bear witness against the unbelief of the Jewish people. On the first occasion of its use it testified against the unbelieving Jews at large. This time it testified against unbelieving Jews in the church who, without this sign, would never have believed that in the church Gentiles were no different from Jews.
The half dozen men who came with Peter were astonished, but Peter accepted the situation at face value at once. He realized that these Gentiles were now Christians. They needed to be baptized in order to publicly identify themselves with Christ and His church and as the first public step of obedience to the Lord. However, before acting on his conviction, he challenged the Jews who were with him. Was there any reason why these Gentiles should not be baptized? The Jews could think of none. Like Peter, they were convinced. The sign gift of tongues swept away any hesitation they might have had. The Holy Spirit had spoken. Who were they to argue? (Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring Acts: An Expository Commentary (Ac 10:45–47). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.)
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FROM MY READING:
Progressive dispensationalism teaches that the mystery character of the church means not that the church was unrevealed in Old Testament times but only that it was unrealized. The view also makes the baptism of the Spirit more of a metaphor related to Messianic times in general, including the nation of Israel when it turns to Christ in the future.
(p. 145-6, Dispensationalism by Charles C Ryrie)
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David Brainerd was a missionary to the American Indians in New York, New Jersey, and eastern Pennsylvania. Born in Connecticut in 1718, he died of tuberculosis at the age of 29 in the home of his friend Jonathan Edwards. Edwards preached the funeral sermon for Brainerd and published his diary.
…….
Brainerd’s primary method in his mission work was Christ-centered preaching. He explained his approach to preaching in his journal: “I cannot but take notice, that I have, in the general, ever since my first coming among these Indians in New Jersey, been favoured with that assistance, which to me is uncommon, in preaching Christ crucified, and making him the centre and mark to which all my discourses among them were directed.” According to Brainerd, Christ was the energizing center of every sermon but he is also the mark, or the goal of every sermon.
His preaching was both Christocentric and Christotelic. He explains his homiletical method as focusing on “the being and perfections of God,” man’s “deplorable state by nature as fallen creatures,” “The utter insufficiency of any external reformations,” to open [Jesus’s] all-sufficiency and willingness to save the chief of sinners,” and “thereupon to press them without delay.”
Thus, Brainerd’s normal expositional pathway was:
The perfections of God.
The fallenness of man.
The utter insufficiency of self-justification.
The utter sufficiency of Christ to save.
The urgent call to respond to Christ by faith without delay. (David E. Prince, Southern Blog)
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Jude 1
Jude is challenged to earnestly contend for the faith against false teachers.
INSIGHT
False teachers were a major problem in the early church, and many of the epistles deal with them. Jude offers scathing rebukes and warnings to false teachers, but in addition he offers insights on how we can protect ourselves from them. In verses 20-21, Jude uses four phrases which are instructive: “building yourselves up” (studying and doing things to encourage your spiritual growth); “praying in the Holy Spirit” (cultivating a healthy prayer life); “keeping yourselves in the love of God” (monitoring your lifestyle and guarding against sin); and “looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (cultivating an eternal perspective). (Quiet Walk)
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FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS IN PRAYER
And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. 1 John 5:15
One sees the very Son of God Himself at prayer. So if you are interested in the philosophical aspect of prayer, go immediately to the case of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is the only begotten, the eternal Son of God; there is the one who says of Himself that though He is upon earth, He is still in heaven; there is the one who says, “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30). Why had He any need to pray? Why, before choosing His disciples, did He spend all night in prayer? If you are interested in philosophical problems, answer that. Why was it ever necessary for the Son of God to pray so much while He was here on earth? And yet He did.
In other words, the Scripture teaches that prayer is essential and vital to us, and everywhere we are exhorted to it. Not only that, but if you read the lives of God’s greatest saints in the long history of the Church, you will find that they were men and women of prayer. I believe I am right in saying that John Wesley used to say that any Christian worthy of the name should spend at least four hours every day in prayer, and he tended to judge his people by that. There has never been a man or woman of God who has been singularly used of God in this world, but that they spent much time in prayer. The nearer people are to God, the more they pray to Him; so the testimony of the Christian Church supports the teaching of Scripture itself.
Furthermore, we have numerous incidents in Scripture of what God has clearly done by way of answer to prayer, and it seems to me that the explanation ultimately is not really difficult. The God who determines the end determines the means; and if God in His infinite wisdom is determined that He is going to bring certain things to pass as a result of and in answer to the prayers of His people, I ask with reverence, why shouldn’t He?
A Thought to Ponder: The nearer people are to God, the more they pray to Him.
(From Life in God, pp. 116-117, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Zechariah’s Visions: Transition to the Branch
“Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest; And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD.” (Zechariah 6:11-12)
The instructions to Zechariah focus on setting up model leaders for Judah. Joshua is crowned high priest, and crowns of authority are issued to others who had returned with Ezra and Zerubbabel (Zechariah 6:14). These were all to be a memorial toward the future coming of the Branch who would come and complete the work of God (Zechariah 6:12-15).
The role of the Branch is told to Zechariah earlier in the fourth vision among the myrtle trees. He would be the servant who would do the Lord’s will as the Branch of righteousness who was the “stone” with “seven eyes” (Zechariah 3:8-9).
The promise of ultimate rule is clear in Scripture (Isaiah 9:7 and Jeremiah 23:5-6; 33:15-16). The impact of this prophecy in Zechariah extends to the millennium and even into eternity. “And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you” (Zechariah 6:15).
The little band of remnants needed assurance from their Lord. They, like us, needed to shift their eyes beyond the moment to the end-game. “For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14).
(HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
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Glenn writes (NY): My parents spanked me as a child. As a result
I now suffer from a psychological condition known as “Respect for others”
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