The story in Acts 10 of Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian band, takes place approximately ten years after Pentecost. The scriptures revealed that Cornelius was a man of prayer who feared God and was charitable to those in need. Additionally, Cornelius had a significant influence on his family to also be God-fearing.
One day, around 3 pm, he was frightened when he had a vision of an angel coming to him and he said, “What is it, Lord?” The angel told him that God looked favorably on his prayers and charitable giving, and he was to send it to Joppa for Peter, who would instruct him on what to do. So, after giving them details of what happened, Cornelius sent two of his household servants and a devoted soldier 33 miles south of Caesarea to Peter, who was lodging in Joppa in the home of Simon the Tanner.
On the following day, around noon, as the three men came near to Joppa, Peter, who went to the house top to pray, became hungry. While waiting for his meal to be prepared, he fell into a trance and saw the heaven open with a vast sheet filled with every kind of four-footed beasts, wild animals, creeping things, and birds in it being lowered to the ground. Next, a voice said, “Rise, Peter; kill, and eat” but Peter, knowing the Levitical law, refused. Again, he was instructed to eat and told, “What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common,” but Peter remained hesitant. After this was done three times, the sheet was raised back into the heavens.
While Peter was confused about the trance he experienced, the three men arrived at Simon’s house and, standing at the gate, inquired about Peter. Having been informed by the Holy Spirit of their arrival, Peter went and conversed with them. The men told Peter about Cornelius and their errand. Peter invited the men into the home, fed and lodged them for the night. In the morning, Peter, along with six brethren, accompanied them back to Cornelius’s house, where Cornelius had gathered his family and friends.
When they arrived at the home, Cornelius bowed down and worshipped Peter, who stopped him by saying, “Stand up; I myself also am a man.” Upon entering Cornelius’s home and seeing the gathering, Peter shared that God had shown him not to call any man common or unclean; therefore, he obeyed God’s directive to go to Cornelius.
In turn, Cornelius shared his angelic experience and instructions he had four days ago, which he followed. Then Peter, perceiving God was no respecter of persons, shared the ministry of Jesus, His death and resurrection, appearance to His followers, and salvation to whosoever believed.
To the astonishment of the brethren that accompanied Peter while he was talking, Cornelius and those gathered were filled with the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues and magnifying God. Responding to what occurred Peter said, “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?”
Happily, this chapter ends with those gathered in Cornelius’ house being baptized and Cornelius asking Peter to stay with them for a few more days. As I have in previous blogs, I close with nuggets that I have gathered from this chapter:
God hears the prayers and recognizes the charitable actions of people who fear Him.
Your righteous character should be displayed to others.
Strive to know more of God.
Sometimes, God speaks to individuals by visions.
When you receive divine direction, act on it.
Pray throughout the day.
God accepts both Jews and Gentiles: He is not a bigot.
Recognize those whom God has sent to you
Following God’s instructions can lead to the salvation of many.
Worship should only be directed to God.
Impart the knowledge God has given you to others.
Bring people to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The infilling of the Holy Spirit can happen in various ways.
Some people receive the Holy Spirit before water baptism.
The Kingdom of God is designed to include people of all nationalities.
Chapter 8 opens with fellow believers of Stephen mourning his death, taking his body and burying it. Also, Saul, a persecutor of the believers who was introduced to us in Acts 7, appeared zealous in his persecution of them, for he went into their houses, dragging and placing them in prison.
In Acts 1:8, prior to the ascension, Jesus said to his disciples, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” It had been eight years since the ascension, and most of the witnesses remained in Jerusalem; therefore, God allowed great persecution to come to the church in Jerusalem, which caused the disciples to scatter to other regions.
Philip, one of the seven men appointed a deacon to handle the church business, went to Samaria and preached the gospel there. Experiencing the miracles, healings, and deliverance from unclean spirits, the Samaritans responded positively with great joy to the Word. Additionally, dwelling in Samaria was a sorcerer named Simon who, through his actions, bewitchment and self-aggrandizement, caused the people to think he had power with God. He and the Samaritans who believed Philip’s preaching concerning the name of Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God were baptized.
When the apostles received word that the Samaritans had become believers, they sent Peter and John down to Samaria, who, when they arrived, prayed for the people to receive the Holy Spirit. And when they laid hands on the people, they received.
Amazed at how this happened, Simon offered money to Peter and John to have this ability bestowed on him. However, Peter told him, “Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. Unfortunately, instead of repenting, Simon requested Peter to pray that nothing he had just heard would come to pass. Having completed their preaching ministry assignment in Samaria and surrounding villages, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem.
Meanwhile, an angel of the Lord instructed Philip to go southward on the road from Jerusalem to the desert of Gaza. In his travels, Philip sees an Ethiopian eunuch in charge of his Queen Candace treasury sitting in his chariot reading Esaias the prophet. Prompted to approach the eunuch, when he heard what he was reading, Philip said, “Understandest thou what thou readest?” to which the eunuch replied, “How can I, except some man should guide me?” Philip then got on the chariot and sat with the eunuch, expounding Isaiah 53:32-33 and its correlation to the ministry of Jesus Christ.
When they came to a place where there was water, the eunuch asked Philip, “See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” And Philip replied, “If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.” So, the eunuch who believed that Jesus Christ was the Son of God got in the water with Philip and was baptized. Immediately coming out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away to Azotus, and from there, he preached in all the cities until he reached Caesarea. Meanwhile, the eunuch who saw Philip no more went on his way rejoicing.
I close this blog with these nuggets:
Persecution caused the believers to move beyond Jerusalem.
God will confirm His Word with signs and wonders.
Hearing and seeing miracles ignited faith and belief in Jesus.
Experiencing the Word in actions results in joy
People are joyous when suffering individuals are delivered from their painful situations.
When God uses you, remain humble.
Believers need discernment to know when occult practices are being practiced among them.
Beware of deceptive spirits.
Don’t stop at baptism; also, receive the Holy Spirit.
The gift of the Holy Spirit comes from God, not man.
Bestowal of the Holy Spirit cannot be purchased.
Eventually, the intent of your heart will be exposed.
Not everyone understands the word; some need to be taught.
God will give direction on how to evangelize the lost.
Minister the Word as you travel along.
Teach and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.
At the end of chapter 6, Stephen, who was among the seven appointed to oversee the business of the growing church, was taken into custody and brought to the council for questioning. In his defense, Stephen retells the history of the Jewish nation with emphasis on leading characters who, like Jesus, were rejected by their family and fellow citizens.
Stephen began with God appearing to Abraham in Mesopotamia, separating him from his family and country and sending him to the land of promise. Abraham was also told of the four hundred years that his family would be in bondage in Egypt.
Next, Stephen talked about Joseph being sold into slavery by his brethren and how Joseph found favor with the Egyptian pharaoh and became a governor amid the famine. When his family experienced the famine in Canaan, his brothers came to Egypt to buy food, and it was there they and their families were reunited with Joseph, whom they had once rejected.
With the death of Joseph and a new pharaoh in charge, the children of Israel ended in bondage. God, however, used Moses, one of their own who was raised by Pharoah’s daughter, to deliver them. At age forty, Moses killed an Egyptian, which caused him to flee from the wrath of Pharoah to Madian. While living in Midian for forty years, Moses married and had two sons. On a mountain in Horeb, he encountered God, who instructed him to return to Egypt to be a ruler and deliverer for Israel. Like Joseph, Moses was initially rejected by his countrymen but eventually accepted as their God-sent deliverer.
Stephen shared how Israel rejected God’s oracles, disobeyed, and sinned in requesting Aaron to make a god for them to worship and lead them back to Egypt. Consequently, in time, God gave them up to worship the host of heavens and allowed them to end up in bondage in Babylon.
Additionally, Moses constructed a tabernacle in the wilderness according to God’s design, which Joshua took back into Canaan. This tabernacle was used until Solomon built a new one; however, God doesn’t live in tabernacles or temples made by man, for His presence is everywhere.
Stephen ended his defense by calling the hearers of his words “stiff-necked heathens and followers of their ancestors who resisted the Holy Spirit, persecuted the prophets and murderers of the Messiah.” This caused the council members to become hostile and a violent mob. They dragged Stephen out of town and pelted him with stones until he died. Even so, while being killed, Stephen gazed up to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at His right hand. Stephen’s last request of God was to receive his spirit and not to hold this murderous sin against them.”
Noted at the end of the chapter, amongst the crowd, was a young man named Saul guarding the clothing of the men who stoned Stephen.
I close this blog of Stephen’s lengthy discourse to the council, which ended in his death, with these few nuggets:
When you talk to those who oppose your belief, God will tell you what to say.
Remain focused and unwavering in your faith.
Your witness of Jesus may lead to your death.
As the body of believers grew in Jerusalem, problems occurred between the Grecian Jews, who were Hellenists and spoke only Greek, and the Hebrew Jews, who were Hebraists and spoke Aramaic. Apparently, the Grecian widows were overlooked when it came to the daily distribution of food, and this caused dissension between the two groups.
Knowing that their time needed to be spent praying and ministering, the twelve disciples assembled the believers and told them to select seven men to serve the people. Also, they were not to just choose anyone but men who were honest, wise, and filled with the Holy Spirit.
This request pleased the believers, and Acts 6:5 says, “They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch.” To solidify the selection the apostles laid their hands on them, prayed over them, and commissioned them for their task. Furthermore, preaching the Word continued, and the church grew with new converts and priests.
Stephen, one of the chosen seven who was a man of faith and power and did miracles and wonders, came into opposition with men fromthe synagogue of the Libertines, Cyrenians, Alexandrians, men of Cilicia, and Asia. These individuals found Stephen firm and unwavering in his belief; therefore, they disliked him and devised a way to destroy him. Unfortunately, they got false witnesses to lie and say Stephen was speaking blasphemous words against Jerusalem and the law and that Jesus would destroy Jerusalem and change their customs. This incited the people, elders, and scribes who had Stephen arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin council.
This chapter ends with the council members looking at Stephen’s face, which appeared angelic to them, and in the next blog covering chapter seven, I will share Stephen’s eloquent rebuttal speech. I close this blog with the following nuggets I gathered from chapter six:
When people are overlooked, they feel slighted.
Partiality should not be practiced among believers
Leaders are responsible for handling problems that arise in their midst.
Seek to foster unity and not division.
Know what you are called to do.
Prioritize prayer and the Word above everything else.
When a change needs to be made, make it.
Leaders can share their load with responsible persons.
Place persons filled with the Holy Spirit, good character, and wisdom in administrative positions.
The anointing on your life is recognizable.
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