A STUDY GUIDE ACTS 10:34-48
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 10:34-48
a) The verses tell about Peter’s preaching to Cornelius and his household, and the falling of the Holy Spirit upon them.
#1) Acts 10:34-36
34 Opening his mouth, Peter said:
“I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, 35 but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him. 36 The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)—
i) Every nation. The main point of Peter’s new understanding, and of his speech to this gathering, is that it doesn't matter to God what nation you were born into or call your own. He is not interested in whether you are one of the circumcision or one of the Gentiles. What matters is your attitude and actions —do you worship and fear God and do his will?
ii) Good news of peace. The gospel or “good news” is for every nation and it promotes peace and reconciliation between all nations and God. This is beautifully stated by Paul (Ephesians 2:11-22). When Jesus was born, the angels said, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people of good will" (Luke 2:14).
iii) Lord of all. Jesus is not just Lord of his countrymen, but Lord of all peoples. He is called "King of kings and Lord of lords" (1 Timothy 6:15).
#2) Acts 10:37-38
37 you yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. 38 You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
i) You know... Cornelius and his household knew about the activities of Jesus of Nazareth. Caesarea is on the coast between Judea and Galilee, not far from where Jesus was well known. Cornelius associated with Jews, and no doubt he'd heard tell of Jesus, even if he had not seen him personally.
ii) Virtues of Jesus. Peter makes three statements about Jesus: (1) God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and with power. (2) He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil. (3) God was with him. These three statements refute the accusation that was made against Jesus —that he and his work was of the devil (Luke 11:14-20). It may have been that this sort of slander against Jesus had also come to the notice of Cornelius and his household.
#3) Acts 10:39-41
39 We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. 40 God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.
i) Peter’s testimony. Peter is able to personally testify to the events of Jesus’s ministry, his death, and his resurrection. Whilst Jesus has the testimony of the Old Testament prophets, of angels, and even of God himself, the testimony of his apostles was also very important and necessary. Jesus had said, "You shall be my witnesses" (Acts 1:8). Here Peter is performing that very role.
#4) Acts 10:42-43
42 And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. 43 Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”
i) Christ’s commission. Jesus commanded Peter and the other apostles to go out into the world and preach the gospel to all nations (Mark 16:15-16, Matthew 28:18-20). Peter is now doing this.
ii) Christ’s authority. Jesus has been appointed by God as the judge of all people both the living and the dead (2 Timothy 4:1-2). Peter is now declaring and preaching by that authority.
iii) Christ’s preordination. All the prophets bear witness of him. Jesus Christ did not come into Judea as an upstart, as some new thing. Rather he came in fulfillment of ancient prophecy. This means that he was preordained. Peter says, "He was foreknown before the foundation of the world" (1 Peter 1:20). On the day of Pentecost Peter said, "He was delivered by the predetermined counsel and foreknowledge of God" (Acts 2:23).
iv) Christ’s power to save. Through his name (his power and authority) believers will receive forgiveness of sins. This means everyone as Peter says. Forgiveness of sins is offered to all nations. Forgiveness is conditional upon becoming a believer, but any believer, of whatever nation, shall have the right to become a child of God and receive forgiveness (John 1:12).
#5) Acts 10:44-46
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. 45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered,
i) The Holy Spirit fell. This was not the first time the gospel was preached to non-Jews. Philip’s work in Samaria is an example (Acts 8:4). God however had a point to make, and he now supports the vision he gave to Peter with a miracle never before seen except on the day of Pentecost when Peter himself was one of those on whom the Holy Spirit fell (Acts 2:1-4).
ii) Pentecost repeated. Now the Spirit was “poured out also on the Gentiles”. Peter later recounts, "As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as upon us at the beginning" (Acts 11:15-16). So this was an outpouring of the Spirit previously unique to the apostles at Pentecost, but now repeated as a clear indication from God that God had as much regard for Gentiles who fear him as he has for Peter and his fellow apostles. In repeating the miracle, there was but one difference: instead of the preachers receiving the outpouring, as on the day of Pentecost, it was in this case the hearers on which the Spirit was poured out.
#6) Acts 10:47-48
47 “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” 48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.
i) Peter commands baptism. Previously Peter says, “Everyone who believes in Jesus will receive forgiveness of sins.” (Acts 10:42-43). That these Gentiles were now believers could hardly be denied since the Holy Spirit had marked his recognition of their faith. Therefore, being believers, they had "the right to become children of God" (John 1:12). Peter therefore commands baptism in water in the name of Christ. This will allow them to come into Christ and receive forgiveness through his death (Romans 6:3-6).
ii) Baptism into Christ. We note that it was in water baptism, not in the baptism of the Holy Spirit, that these believers came into Christ’s death. The baptism of the Holy Spirit was not for the forgiveness of sins, but for convincing the skeptical and prejudiced that God grants to Gentiles no lesser blessings than he grants to Jews.
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 10:34-48
a) The verses tell about Peter’s preaching to Cornelius and his household, and the falling of the Holy Spirit upon them.
#1) Acts 10:34-36
34 Opening his mouth, Peter said:
“I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, 35 but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him. 36 The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)—
i) Every nation. The main point of Peter’s new understanding, and of his speech to this gathering, is that it doesn't matter to God what nation you were born into or call your own. He is not interested in whether you are one of the circumcision or one of the Gentiles. What matters is your attitude and actions —do you worship and fear God and do his will?
ii) Good news of peace. The gospel or “good news” is for every nation and it promotes peace and reconciliation between all nations and God. This is beautifully stated by Paul (Ephesians 2:11-22). When Jesus was born, the angels said, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people of good will" (Luke 2:14).
iii) Lord of all. Jesus is not just Lord of his countrymen, but Lord of all peoples. He is called "King of kings and Lord of lords" (1 Timothy 6:15).
#2) Acts 10:37-38
37 you yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. 38 You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
i) You know... Cornelius and his household knew about the activities of Jesus of Nazareth. Caesarea is on the coast between Judea and Galilee, not far from where Jesus was well known. Cornelius associated with Jews, and no doubt he'd heard tell of Jesus, even if he had not seen him personally.
ii) Virtues of Jesus. Peter makes three statements about Jesus: (1) God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and with power. (2) He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil. (3) God was with him. These three statements refute the accusation that was made against Jesus —that he and his work was of the devil (Luke 11:14-20). It may have been that this sort of slander against Jesus had also come to the notice of Cornelius and his household.
#3) Acts 10:39-41
39 We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. 40 God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.
i) Peter’s testimony. Peter is able to personally testify to the events of Jesus’s ministry, his death, and his resurrection. Whilst Jesus has the testimony of the Old Testament prophets, of angels, and even of God himself, the testimony of his apostles was also very important and necessary. Jesus had said, "You shall be my witnesses" (Acts 1:8). Here Peter is performing that very role.
#4) Acts 10:42-43
42 And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. 43 Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”
i) Christ’s commission. Jesus commanded Peter and the other apostles to go out into the world and preach the gospel to all nations (Mark 16:15-16, Matthew 28:18-20). Peter is now doing this.
ii) Christ’s authority. Jesus has been appointed by God as the judge of all people both the living and the dead (2 Timothy 4:1-2). Peter is now declaring and preaching by that authority.
iii) Christ’s preordination. All the prophets bear witness of him. Jesus Christ did not come into Judea as an upstart, as some new thing. Rather he came in fulfillment of ancient prophecy. This means that he was preordained. Peter says, "He was foreknown before the foundation of the world" (1 Peter 1:20). On the day of Pentecost Peter said, "He was delivered by the predetermined counsel and foreknowledge of God" (Acts 2:23).
iv) Christ’s power to save. Through his name (his power and authority) believers will receive forgiveness of sins. This means everyone as Peter says. Forgiveness of sins is offered to all nations. Forgiveness is conditional upon becoming a believer, but any believer, of whatever nation, shall have the right to become a child of God and receive forgiveness (John 1:12).
#5) Acts 10:44-46
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. 45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered,
i) The Holy Spirit fell. This was not the first time the gospel was preached to non-Jews. Philip’s work in Samaria is an example (Acts 8:4). God however had a point to make, and he now supports the vision he gave to Peter with a miracle never before seen except on the day of Pentecost when Peter himself was one of those on whom the Holy Spirit fell (Acts 2:1-4).
ii) Pentecost repeated. Now the Spirit was “poured out also on the Gentiles”. Peter later recounts, "As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as upon us at the beginning" (Acts 11:15-16). So this was an outpouring of the Spirit previously unique to the apostles at Pentecost, but now repeated as a clear indication from God that God had as much regard for Gentiles who fear him as he has for Peter and his fellow apostles. In repeating the miracle, there was but one difference: instead of the preachers receiving the outpouring, as on the day of Pentecost, it was in this case the hearers on which the Spirit was poured out.
#6) Acts 10:47-48
47 “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” 48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.
i) Peter commands baptism. Previously Peter says, “Everyone who believes in Jesus will receive forgiveness of sins.” (Acts 10:42-43). That these Gentiles were now believers could hardly be denied since the Holy Spirit had marked his recognition of their faith. Therefore, being believers, they had "the right to become children of God" (John 1:12). Peter therefore commands baptism in water in the name of Christ. This will allow them to come into Christ and receive forgiveness through his death (Romans 6:3-6).
ii) Baptism into Christ. We note that it was in water baptism, not in the baptism of the Holy Spirit, that these believers came into Christ’s death. The baptism of the Holy Spirit was not for the forgiveness of sins, but for convincing the skeptical and prejudiced that God grants to Gentiles no lesser blessings than he grants to Jews.
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