Table of Contents
Introduction 2
Signs, Miracles, and Visions (Acts 9:31-10:48) 2
1)Peace In the Church (Acts 9:31) 2
2)Aeneas Healed (Acts 9:32-35) 2
3)Tabitha Raised (Acts 9:36-43) 2
4)Cornelius and the Visions (Acts 10:1-48) 3
Cornelius' Vision 3
Peter's Vision (Acts 10:9-16) 3
The Visions Fulfilled (Acts 10:17-48) 4
5)Illustration 5
6)Principle 5
The final authority for the Christian life is the Bible; that is where one finds God's will. 5
7)Applications 5
What uncomfortable new venture are you being called you into? Are you checking with God through the word? Are you talking with God in prayer? 5
What Biblical principles or commands are you resisting because they go against the way you've always been taught? 5
Mental and Spiritual Revisions (Acts 11) 5
1)What Was the Difficulty (Acts 11:1-3) 5
2)Explanation Given (Acts 11:4-18) 5
3)The Antioch Church (Acts 11:19-30) 6
4)Illustration 6
5)Principle 7
God's word brings unity when all parties are yielded to His Spirit. 7
6)Applications 7
How would you rate your willingness to receive Biblical correction from a brother? 7
When was the last time you praised God for a change in your thinking brought about by sound doctrine? 7
Divine Providence (Act 12) 7
1)Herod Executes James and Arrests Peter to Please the Jews While the Church Prays (Acts 12:1-5) 7
2)An Angel of the Lord Frees Peter (Acts 12:6-11) 7
3)Peter Shows Himself to Disbelieving Prayer Meeting (Acts 12:12-17) 7
4)Herod Executes Guards and is Executed By God (Acts 12:18-23) 7
5)Illustration 8
6)Principle 8
Our prayers don't change God's will but God's will includes believer's prayer. 8
7)Applications 8
What situation are you facing that seems inevitable and how is the inevitability affecting your prayers? 8
What answer to prayer are you having a hard time accepting? 8
What do you need to stop wringing your hands over and start folding them instead? 8
Conclusion 8
Introduction
Have you ever had to be told something more than once before you got it? Or perhaps you've gotten something (intellectually) and over time lost it?
If you are anything like me, it sometime takes a number of times hearing or seeing the same thing in various ways before it sinks in to my thick skull. And often times, I need to be reminded of what I claim to already know.
Often, God in His grace, provides us will a multiplicity of disclosures in order for us to grasp and realize His direction and leading in our lives. That's what we are going to see in this week's text. Something that seemed to oppose everything a Jew had grown up to believe. And to top it off, it was God pointing out the wrong thinking of the believers.
Let's look.
Signs, Miracles, and Visions (Acts 9:31-10:48)
1)Peace In the Church (Acts 9:31)
God often sends times of peace and refreshing to His people. Sometimes too much peace can cause one to let his guard down.
This doesn't seem to be the case for the church in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria. There remained a healthy fear (or reverence) for the Lord, they experienced the comfort from the Holy Spirit, and they continued to grow.
Into this setting, we see Peter moving freely about, visiting various local gatherings in order to encourage them and teach. Remember, the New Testament was not yet written, so part of the apostolic ministry was to teach and correct any errant doctrine that might creep into the church.
As we have already seen, Peter spends much of his time proclaiming the Gospel message to various groups of people. And often the message was validated (or confirmed) by God through the use of signs or miracles.
We looked at a couple such cases this week.
2)Aeneas Healed (Acts 9:32-35)
Aeneas seems to be a believer from the context of the verse.
Acts 9:32 Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.
33 There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed.
So here was a saint, bedridden for eight years. And Peter, in typical form, heals the man but makes it perfectly clear that it is not him at all, but Jesus Christ who heals.
Acts 9:33b “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose.
Luke immediately zeroes in, not on the healed man, but the result of the healing. He tells us that when people in Lydda and Sharon saw the man, they turned to the Lord.
What does, “they turned to the Lord mean”?
What did they believe in? The healing? Jesus the healer? Or, Jesus the one who died for sin and rose again?
It must be the latter. Although Luke does not spell out the details, turning to the Lord implies they believed in the Lord of the Gospel. The One who died for sin, was buried, and rose again.
Peter moves on from their to visit a town along the coast, Joppa.
3)Tabitha Raised (Acts 9:36-43)
This was a lady who was loved by many. She is called a disciple, so she was a believer. And her faith led her to care of others, using the skills and gifts God gave her. Her skill at weaving and sowing and her gift of generosity.
But now she is dead and those who love her are grieving. And their seems to be nothing to do but bury her. And yet they still send for Peter – very interesting.
Healing a paralyzed person is one thing, but raising the dead, that is a totally different category, isn't it? Or is it? For God, this is all natural (no preservatives added). Giving life to a paralyzed man and putting life back into a dead woman – all the same.
Acts 9:40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.
41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
Again, this is not belief in a Lord who is able to raise the dead. This miracle was a validation of the words and work of the apostle. The New Testament was under construction at this point. Those without the ability to test against Scripture, often received a validating sign of God's work through an individual.
So this sign pointed to the fact that the One who raised Tabitha from the dead is the One who has power over death and proved it by his own resurrection. Tabitha would die again. But the Lord who had raised her is the One with the power over the second death. Those whose faith is in him will never see the second death, but receive eternal life in Him.
So Peter stays in Joppa for many days. And with a tanner, no less.
4)Cornelius and the Visions (Acts 10:1-48)
When you read chapter 10, weren't you impressed with this man's character?
I was. He had every reason, from a human perspective, to be self-confident. He was a very important man and in authority. Yet, we see that all of what this man had and who he was was placed in a right perspective because of his relationship to God (YHWH).
He was a devout man (Acts 10:2) and he feared God. This fear of God is the same terms Luke used in Acts 9:31 for the church that was at peace. Cornelius was a believer.
And we see the result of his faith sprinkled throughout this chapter. He had compassion for the needy and gave generously. And he prayed continually. He depended on God and took prayer seriously.
Cornelius' Vision
God answers Cornelius' prayer in a very unique way. One that you and I better not be expecting. He receives an angelic messenger who gives him just enough information for what he needs.
I am not sure what Cornelius' prayers consisted of, but I can imagine confession of sin as he struggled with it, and a hope on God's provision of Messiah, the Christ.
Merely speculation on my part, but he is about to encounter the Christ.
You doesn't waste time obeying the words of God. He gets dependable servants and a devout soldier to go get Simon Peter. And he shares with them what he has experienced so they understand the importance of this assignment and its Divine origin.
Peter's Vision (Acts 10:9-16)
Peter's vision may have seemed strange to you if this was the first time reading it. You might have thought, “what does this have to do with Cornelius”.
Peter thought the vision was strange too. Especially having grown up as a devout Jew. He knew what foods you can and cannot eat and to do otherwise was ingrained in him as detestable.
But what he had not yet grasped was the reality of much of the Old Covenant symbolism through the ceremonial laws. When God declared certain foods as unclean, he was not saying that they were unclean but that they were common and would make His people ceremonially unclean if they touched or ate them.
The Jews were set apart as a holy nation unto God. And part of that setting apart was that they were not for common use. They were His and could not live any old way they pleased. So much of what they did as a people looked very different from the people around them. Part of that was different foods.
But the real aspects of these laws were symbolic in nature. All of the ceremonies, observances, memorials, daily sacrifices, seasonal offerings, etc. All of these things were not an end in and of themselves but they pointed to something. They pointed out the character and nature of God; they showed the inability of man to remain clean; and they pointed ultimately to One who was to come who would fulfill all these things in himself.
In Matthew 5:17, Jesus says:
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Covenant. Anyone who is in Christ through the New Covenant in his blood, has me the righteous requirements of the law because Jesus met them for you. And he gives the ability to live according to the moral requirements of the law. Because sin is no longer our master...
But if you've grown up with these types of traditions, it would be hard to break from them. And it would take something very compelling to convince you that they no longer have any value whatsoever in the life of a believer.
There would have been nothing wrong with Peter continuing to abstain from certain foods. But he would have to examine his motivation. If he thought abstaining would make him right with God, then this practice would be sin.
Jesus already had pointed out to the disciples that food cannot make one unclean because it merely goes into the body and then passes through. But what is unclean is what is in the heart and that generally comes out through the mouth in spoken words.
So Peter's vision of the sheet was revolutionary for him because he was being asked to do something that was repulsive. And to top that off, it was God asking him to do it.
So either this was a test, or Peter was misunderstanding God, or something else.
Interesting that this was happening at a time when Peter was seeking the Lord in prayer. He was also hungry, so the parable is fitting for his current situation (more than he even knows).
God custom fit this vision to illustrate a very important point to Peter. God in His Sovereignty, is opening Gentile territory so you can fulfill Jesus' commission.
What religious traditions or practices are you holding on to that are un-Biblical?
If not against Scripture, are you giving them the same authority as Scripture?
Nothing should have more authority in a Christian's life than the Word of God.
God will never call you to do anything morally wrong. If you are being called to do something morally wrong, you can be assured it is not God calling you there.
God will never call you to do anything that opposes His word. If you are being called to do something against the Word of God you can be assured it is not God calling you.
You and I must be very careful to test all things in light of the Holy Word of God. We must hold this high, especially in a day where people like to take a bit of this and a bit of that and some experience I've had and roll it all up to make a customized form of Christianity. One that may look a bit like the real thing, but is far from it.
The Visions Fulfilled (Acts 10:17-48)
This is a large passage so I will try to just hit a couple of points.
Peter was perplexed at the vision and what God was telling him. But he also recognized that it was the Lord revealing to Him the nature of clean and unclean. God had declared the animals that were unclean to His people, but now that was no longer the case. So too were the other aspects of the ceremonial laws.
And Peter was about to get a confirmation on what this vision was really about. Or at least an expansion on that vision.
Coincidence, no way. Here comes 3 visitors looking for Simon Peter. And now the Holy Spirit tells Peter to go without hesitation. And the men he meets help validate what he has already experience, God had sent these men.
This whole encounter was orchestrated by the Sovereign Lord for the purpose of His kingdom.
And Peter goes.
And when he goes, he gets more confirmation. Its one thing to be sent by God to spread the Gospel, its another to enter a house and have an entire family with friends awaiting your arrival so you can tell them the Gospel message.
That's what he finds.
He finds a humble Cornelius who is so committed to the Lord that he doesn't want to leave out any friend or family member.
And after hearing the account directly from Cornelius, Peter shares his conviction that he now understands. That aha moment came as he recognizes that all this was orchestrated by God and that there is no partiality and that descent has nothing to do with the Gospel's applicability.
The same Gospel is for Jew and Gentile alike because Jesus came to seek and to save the lost regardless of national origins. Besides, we all are physical descendents of one man and one woman – Adam and Eve.
And God provides one Spiritual adoption into His family tree through Jesus Christ.
And as Peter expounds on the life of Jesus, these believers faith is confirmed and the Holy Spirit fills them.
Peter could have no doubt now, God had added the confirmation of the sealing by the Holy Spirit – even on Gentiles.
So they're baptized at Peter's command.
5)Illustration
When I was in the army, there were guys who had been in so long that they knew many of the regulations by heart. They could almost quote them. And if not quote them, they know what they said and how they applied to a given situation. And they knew how to find them in order to determine what they said in the event they were uncertain.
For the Christian, knowing the Word of God is of utmost importance for where else can we find the will of God? We can't or at least we can't be certain apart from His word.
6)Principle
The final authority for the Christian life is the Bible; that is where one finds God's will.
7)Applications
What uncomfortable new venture are you being called you into? Are you checking with God through the word? Are you talking with God in prayer?
What Biblical principles or commands are you resisting because they go against the way you've always been taught?
Mental and Spiritual Revisions (Acts 11)
It's one thing to be convinced in your heart of the truths of Scripture and to live them out. But sometimes the things God reveals are not shared by other believers and they need you to share with them.
Peter's obedience to God had the potential to bring disunity to the church. It could have split the church. This can be the cause of many church problems in our own day.
1)What Was the Difficulty (Acts 11:1-3)
The circumcision party had grown up just like Peter, observing all the ceremonial laws. And they had heard that one of these laws had been disregarded by their own leadership. This needed explanation. This was a clear violation of everything they had been taught from youth onward.
2)Explanation Given (Acts 11:4-18)
Since these people were not aware of the circumstances, Peter goes into detail about the events. He shows that this vision he had was from God:
He was praying at the time. (Acts 11:5)
That he initially rejected the notion but that God confirmed it by showing 3 times (Acts 11:5-10)
After the vision the visitors were there (Acts 11:11)
The Holy Spirit confirmed he should go (making no distinction between Jew and Gentile) (Acts 11:12)
They were waiting (Acts 11:11-12)
Cornelius' explanation of the angel (Acts 11:14)
The Holy Spirit fell on the listeners (Acts 11:15-17)
In Peter's mind, this was indisputably God's work, every bit. And if Peter had not complied, he would have been standing in the way of God.
He and John had already boldly stated on two occasions that they would obey God rather than men.
The great thing about this confrontation is the way it ends. Those questioning Peter are as convinced of the truth as Peter is. They had been willing to listen and saw that this clearly was of God.
And the result is unity and glorifying God. And now they see more clearly the vision God has – salvation is truly for Jew and Gentile alike.
This really opens the door now for what is to happen next. The opening of Antioch, the gateway to the uttermost parts of the earth.
3)The Antioch Church (Acts 11:19-30)
This church in Antioch was very strategic. It would become the launching point of many of Paul's missionary journeys into Asia Minor and Greece.
It was Jews who were scattered that spread the Gospel to other Jews in Cyprus. And some of those believers shared with the Hellenists in Antioch.
The Hellenists were those who were well versed in Greek. We remember that the original dispute between Hellenists and Hebrews lead to the need to select 7 deacons to serve tables (Acts 6:1).
There may have been a tendency toward prejudice between the Hebrews and Hellenists. Hebrews may have thought Hellenists should stick to the Language of the O.T. – our mother tongue.
Hellenists thought Hebrews too narrow and besides, we have the Septuagint Greek Torah.
These are merely speculations on my part however.
But the Holy Spirit did some amazing things in Antioch:
The grace of the Lord was evident there (Acts 11:23)
There was an unheard of generosity for people they didn't know (Acts 11:29)
There was a great number who turned to the Lord – the H.S. Was at work there! (Acts 11:21)
They were first called Christians here. (Acts 11:26)
One other item was this church became a place where Spiritual gifts were used to edify the church. Barnabas was sent (the son of encouragement). What a better use of his gift of encouragement than to send him to a fledgling church.
And then God gave him insight be bring Saul from Tarsus so that there could be training of the new believers.
This all happened according to God's will and timing and for a whole year, this church grew under Saul's teaching.
4)Illustration
A church split.
5)Principle
God's word brings unity when all parties are yielded to His Spirit.
6)Applications
How would you rate your willingness to receive Biblical correction from a brother?
When was the last time you praised God for a change in your thinking brought about by sound doctrine?
Divine Providence (Act 12)
1)Herod Executes James and Arrests Peter to Please the Jews While the Church Prays (Acts 12:1-5)
2)An Angel of the Lord Frees Peter (Acts 12:6-11)
3)Peter Shows Himself to Disbelieving Prayer Meeting (Acts 12:12-17)
Have you ever had God answer a prayer while you were praying?
Maybe not one that would surprise you as much as this answered prayer.
My suspicion is that this same group of people had been praying for James as well. But God's answer for James was different than His answer for Peter. They may have been thinking that Peter's doom was sealed.
One of the main things Jesus taught about prayer was to pray according to God's will. God's will for James was to take him home. We don't know why. God's will for Peter was to release him from prison. We don't know why other than He had more for Peter to do.
4)Herod Executes Guards and is Executed By God (Acts 12:18-23)
Even ungodly leaders are answerable to God.
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