A STUDY GUIDE ACTS 10:24-33

1. A Study Guide

a) A study guide of Acts of the Apostles. It is intended to be expository — to explain and bring out the meaning of the original text. You may use this for your personal bible study or even group bible study.

2. Acts 10:24-33 

a) The verses tell about Peter the apostle going, by God’s directive, to the house of Cornelius a Gentile.

#1) Acts 10:24-27

24 On the following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am just a man.” 27 As he talked with him, he entered and found many people assembled.

i) Peter comes to Cornelius. It is interesting that Cornelius was not sent to Peter, but Peter to Cornelius. Perhaps God was looking out not only for Cornelius, but for his household and close friends, who were also wishing to hear Peter’s message. It could also be that God was making Peter accept the Gentiles in practice, not just in principle, by sending him to a Gentile’s house.

ii) Joppa to Caesarea. On the journey from Joppa to Caesarea, Peter was accompanied not only by the three men from Cornelius, but also six brethren from Joppa (cf Acts 11:12). That made a party of ten to safely travel together. Joppa is roughly 50km from Caesarea. Probably they made the journey on foot, because they started one day and finished the next (Acts 10:23-24). On horses, they could have made it in one day.

iii) Cornelius worships Peter. When Peter came into the house, Cornelius fell at his feet and worshiped him. Peter refused this worship. The only man people should worship is Jesus Christ, because he is also God (1 John 5:20).

#2) Acts 10:28-29
28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean. 29 That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask for what reason you have sent for me.”

i) The formalities. Peter has been brought to this house to teach the gathered Gentiles the message of the gospel. However, Peter is only now being initiated into this ministry. This is a new experience for Peter. Before he does any preaching, he wishes two things to be established in the hearing of the gathering. Firstly, from himself, he offers what amounts to an apology in view of his new understanding that God cares as much for Gentiles as he does for Jews. Secondly, from Cornelius, Peter asks for a formal statement of the reason for asking him to come.

#3) Acts 10:30-33
30 Cornelius said, “Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour; and behold, a man stood before me in shining garments, 31 and he said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Therefore send to Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you; he is staying at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

i) It was good of you. Cornelius briefly recounts events leading up to this meeting. He then states the reason for the assembly. But in between he adds, “It was good of you to come.” This accepts Peter’s apology, with a commendation of Peter’ willingness to act contrary to ingrained prejudice.

ii) Here to hear. Cornelius says, “We are all here present in the sight of God to hear all things that God has commanded”. Not every crowd in a house is ready to listen to God’s message through Jesus. But it can happen. When it does, God can do wonderful things. 

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