by Brett Hickey In addition, the prophets indicated a day when the chosen people would include Gentiles. #811 Conversion of Cornelius Part 1

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1 #811 Conversion of Cornelius Part 1 by Brett Hickey God made a covenant with Abraham that was passed down to Isaac and Jacob (whose name was changed to Israel 1 ). As a result, the Scriptures present the descendants of Israel the Jews as the chosen people of God for over seventeen centuries. Then Jesus was born into a Jewish home and lived under the Jewish law. At thirty years of age, Jesus began His earthly ministry that was directed toward the Jewish nation. Multitudes were awed by His miracles and teaching; on one occasion they even tried to make Jesus king. Jesus, however, rejected this move. During His three-year ministry, Jesus concentrated His efforts on reaching His Jewish brethren. When a Gentile woman from Canaan asked Jesus to intervene with her daughter who was demon-possessed in Matthew 15:24-28, Jesus responded, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 2 When she further pleaded, He responded, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs." Because of her great faith, Jesus eventually relented and healed her daughter. This, though, was a rare exception to His focus on reaching the Jews. Many Jews believed on Jesus, but He upset the religious hierarchy who rightly perceived that His mission was designed to make seismic changes within Judaism. They tried to undermine His work by challenging His authority. They attempted to humiliate Jesus by asking questions they incorrectly assumed would stump Him. When they realized that they could not thwart Jesus work peacefully, they set about to kill Him. On the heels of Judas betrayal, an illegal and prejudiced tribunal found Jesus guilty of blasphemy. Next, the Jews intimidated Pilate into complying with their demands to crucify Jesus. Meanwhile, Jesus had laid a sufficient foundation for His Kingdom a Kingdom that would rock the world. Then, shortly before His ascension into heaven, Jesus articulated the Great Commission. The message is recorded in Matthew 28:19-20 and Mark 16:15-16: Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit " and "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved... Both passages suggested the broadening of the parameters of the kingdom to include all nations, all the world and every creature. Ultimately, on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, 3,000 Jews responded to the preaching of the gospel (v. 41). Peter told his audience in verses 38-39, Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." When the Holy Spirit through Peter says that the promise is...to all who are afar off, (italics mine) this should have signaled (to the apostles, if no others) that salvation would be extended to the Gentile nations. In addition, the prophets indicated a day when the chosen people would include Gentiles. 1 Genesis 32:28 And He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed." 2 All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 1

2 Conversion of Cornelius Part 1, by Brett Hickey, sermon #811 2 of 6 Isaiah 11:10, And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him (italics mine) Isaiah 42:1, 6, He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the Gentiles. Amos 9:12 And all the Gentiles who are called by My name Micah 5:8 And the remnant of Jacob Shall be among the Gentiles, In the midst of many peoples. Malachi 1:11 My name shall be great among the Gentiles Apparently, the expansion of the Kingdom to include the Gentile world eluded the people of God for eight years after the church was established. However, the fulfillment of the prophecies to bring Gentiles into the fold of God began with the conversion of Cornelius, the first Gentile convert, recorded in Acts 10. What a happy day, not only for Cornelius and his household, but for all mankind! More on this controversial passage after our song Acts 10:1-2 reads, There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. Cornelius was a centurion in the Roman army as part of a regiment of about six hundred men. The centurion led a group of a hundred soldiers and was similar to a captain in our military. The other details are not what we would expect of one holding this position in a pagan nation s military. Cornelius is religious, but not pagan. He fears the true God that he had learned about from the Jews. We know he has not fully converted to Judaism because we learn later that he has not been circumcised. 3 He demonstrated considerable conviction in his devotion to the true God through regular prayer, generous giving and leading his family and friends to join him in serving God. It is no accident that this noble man was chosen as the first Gentile disciple of Christ. He had the faith and character that God was seeking. Verses 3-4, About the ninth hour of the day [3 p.m.] 4 he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, Cornelius! 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. Note that neither seeing a vision nor hearing from an angel saved Cornelius. It doesn t work that way. Notice also that Cornelius, a courageous man who rarely experienced fear, did not consider the angel cute or cuddly like so many portray angels today; the angel intimidated him. This reminds me of Isaiah s response to the seraphim s appearance in Isaiah 6:5: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips..." When Cornelius saw the angel, he said, lord, using the word that means sir. The angel told him that his prayers and generosity had been specially noted by God. God s response to Cornelius prayer demands our attention. How does God hearing Cornelius prayer square with 1) the fact that Cornelius is still a sinner and 2) Biblical teaching that God does not hear the prayer of sinners, as articulated by the blind man in John 9:31. First, consider that the Scriptures 3 See comment on verse 24-25, starting in last paragraph of page 4. 4 A bracket [ ] within a quotation is used to note words added that are not in the original quote.

3 Conversion of Cornelius Part 1, by Brett Hickey, sermon #811 3 of 6 are inspired 5, but they also relay the words of individuals like the blind man who do not necessarily speak by inspiration. We still read, though, in I Peter 3:12, For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil." Again in Proverbs 15:29, we find, The LORD is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous. Then, the Bible says, Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear. (Isaiah 59:1-2) It is clear from these Scriptures that a man cannot disregard the word of God and then expect God to answer his prayer. Do you have friends or family that only come around when they need something? I think we all have some folks like that. These Scriptures teach that God does not respond to this type of allegiance. God says, in effect, if you don t listen to Me, don t expect Me to listen to you. Cornelius, though a sinner, desired to please God. He never prayed for salvation, per se, and the Bible certainly does not teach that he was saved by praying. Rather, his prayers and alms came up for a memorial before God. (v. 4) Unfortunately, today, men have substituted what is called the sinner s prayer in the place of baptism in the plan of salvation. This passage provides no refuge for such an idea. We see nothing about salvation at this point. When I read the story of Cornelius, I m reminded of what Jesus said in Matthew 7:7, Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Has there ever been any better illustration of this idea than with Cornelius? If you truly seek the truth, be assured that you will find it! Let s move on to verses 5-6, Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do." Life has been thrilling for Peter in the ancient seaport of Joppa where Jonah had once boarded a ship for Tarshish to flee from the presence of the Lord 6. The previous chapter ends with Peter raising Dorcas from the dead at Joppa. As a result, we find in Acts 9:42-43, And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord. So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with Simon, a tanner. So Peter had been staying for some time at Simon the tanner s house. These details are insignificant, though, compared to the angel saying that Peter will tell you what you must do. (Acts 10: 6) We cannot overemphasize this detail. Cornelius is searching for salvation, and the angel is lining him up with Peter who will tell him what he must do. Verses 7-8, 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. So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa. This story involves more than Cornelius. He had a team of people who were on the same page with him; he was the leader 5 2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NKJV) 6 Jonah 1:3

4 Conversion of Cornelius Part 1, by Brett Hickey, sermon #811 4 of 6 of a group of conscientious Gentiles who feared God. Meanwhile, the Lord has to prepare Peter for a major change with a bizarre display. Verses 9-14, 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. Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance 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. In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. And a voice came to him, Rise, Peter; kill and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean. " When you talk about Jewish convictions, few were more intense than the resolve to honor the Mosaic dietary restrictions. In this vision, the Lord confronted Peter directly with this deeply held belief. The same image was presented three times for emphasis. Verses 15-16, And a voice spoke to him again the second time, "What God has cleansed you must not call common. And the object was taken up into heaven again. Imagine how conflicted and confused Peter must have been. He must have wondered, What s going on? What is this all about? The mystery begins to be unveiled, though, in verses 17-20, 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. And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there. While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, Behold, three men are seeking you. Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them. " Empowered by the weight of the vision, the Holy Spirit commanded Peter to accompany the men who were waiting downstairs. Verses 21-22, 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?" 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." We have another significant detail here; this Roman soldier had a good reputation among the Jews. And, notice that despite the fact that an angel and the Holy Spirit had been involved, salvation for Cornelius, his household, and his associates required hearing words from Peter. Verse 23 reads, Then he invited them in and lodged them. These Jews, Simon the tanner and Simon Peter, invited these Gentiles to stay in the same house. This was an extraordinary development. This was highly unusual behavior for a Jew. Verse 23 continues, On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him. It was critical for Peter to have Jewish believers to witness the upcoming events to corroborate his story. We learn in Acts 11:12 that six Jews came along. Verse 24, And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. Cornelius was counting on the Lord delivering big news and he wanted to be sure to share it. Cornelius was a significant leader in the Roman army, but look at the humility he displays when he meets Peter in verse 25: As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, Stand up; I myself am also a man. " Even though Cornelius intended only great

5 Conversion of Cornelius Part 1, by Brett Hickey, sermon #811 5 of 6 respect, Peter absolutely refused to have any man bow before him. If only all religious leaders demonstrated this same humility. Now Peter explains to the many how awkward and unusual this situation was in verses 27-28, And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. 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. (italics mine) The one area where Jewish sentiments were more intense than dietary restrictions was their relationship with Gentiles. Burton Coffman s cites F. F. Bruce in his commentary as saying that the phrase one of another nation referred to an uncircumcised Philistine. The Jews viewed everyone else as beneath them as racially inferior. Peter is learning that this position is no longer tenable for the child of God. Verse 29, Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?" Cornelius recounts his experience with the angel in verses and then adds in verse 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." If God was going to save Cornelius directly with the angel or the Holy Spirit, Cornelius would not have needed this meeting with Peter. But, once again, we see the emphasis on Cornelius and his company hearing from Peter the things commanded by God. He was ready to hear Peter tell him what to do to be saved. Verses 34-35, Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. The idea that God is impartial and no longer viewed one nation or race above another was news to Peter. Jesus, as Paul puts it in Ephesians 2:14, had broken down the middle wall of separation. Jews and Gentiles alike would now have full access to God through Jesus Christ. Without Jesus, neither would now have access. The standard has been clarified, in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. (v. 35) We must accept Jesus, for sure, but this Scripture and the importance of being accepted by God - by Jesus needs to get more airtime. The two keys are fearing God and working righteousness. We ll have to pick up with the best part of the story next week. Stay with us after our song for a final word and how you can get a copy of this message. We are glad you joined us this morning. We hope you will every Lord s Day. Of course, the program cannot substitute for assembling with the saints. God would frown on that. Some are physically unable to attend church, but if you are able please consider the words of the Spirit in Hebrews 10:24-25, And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. (italics mine) So, we hope you will watch the program every Lord s Day and then join us for worship at one of the congregations listed shortly. Call 1(800) or write for a DVD copy of #811 The Conversion of Cornelius. You may also request a free six lesson Bible study by mail. We close with the words the apostle Paul issued in Romans 16:16, the churches of Christ salute you. Until next week, goodbye and God bless! Sermon delivered by evangelist Brett Hickey over Let the Bible Speak May 26, 2011

6 Conversion of Cornelius Part 1, by Brett Hickey, sermon #811 6 of 6 Are you searching for the truth of God's word and have a sincere desire to learn about the Bible? Do you want to know what the Bible says about salvation and about Christ and His church? If you are looking for Bible Founded discussion on these topics and many others, then please accept this invitation to explore "Let the Bible Speak" and then contact us for additional studies. We are members of the church of Christ as found in the New Testament. We are not members of a denomination or earthly religious organization. We are a brotherhood of believers, joined by a common bond, Jesus Christ. We try to live and worship following the patterns found in the New Testament. For manuscripts of other sermons visit: or call LTBS (5827). COPYRIGHT Let The Bible Speak. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. IMPORTANT COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Express permission is granted to distribute any video, audio, or transcript of any broadcast message as long as the material is: unedited and attribution is given to Let the Bible Speak; a hyperlink to LettheBibleSpeak.com is included for electronic distribution; a text reference is included to for printed distribution; and the original author receives attribution. An irrevocable, world-wide, royalty free license for distribution is granted as long as such distribution has the intent of: supporting the truth as presented; giving glory and honor to God; and spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. PDF, 6/14/2011