(Answers are filled in on this outline)
Acts 1-2: AD 30 – Acts 10: AD 40
“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” – Acts 4:12 (NASB95)
(vv.1-6) Now there was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and made many charitable contributions to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually. About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, “Cornelius!” And he looked at him intently and became terrified, and said, “What is it, lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and charitable gifts have ascended as a memorial offering before God. Now dispatch some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter; he is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the sea.” (NASB)
What do we know about Cornelius?
He is a man of character (v.1)
He has reverence for God (v.2)
…a devout man and one who feared God… – Acts 10:2 (NASB)
He is a generous man (v.2)
…gave many alms to the Jewish people… – Acts 10:2 (NASB95)
He is a man of prayer
…and prayed to God continually. – Acts 10:2 (NASB)
He is a man who points his family to God
…one who feared God with all his household… – Acts 10:2 (NASB)
One Problem: Cornelius is lost
He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.
– 1 John 5:12 (NASB95)
Our seeking Savior never misses a seeking sinner
Notice: The angel doesn’t share the Gospel (vv.5-6)
(vv.7-8) When the angel who spoke to him left, he summoned two of his servants and a devout soldier from his personal attendants, and after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa. (NASB)
Peter’s Sermon: (vv.34-43) – What does Cornelius need to know?
(vv.34-36) Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the one who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him. The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)…” (NASB)
Jesus is God (v.36)
…God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. – Acts 10:36 (NIV)
(vv.37-38) …you yourselves know the thing that happened throughout Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. 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. (NASB)
(v.39) We are witnesses of all the things that He did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. (NASB)
Jesus died on the cross (v.39)
…whom they slew and hanged on a tree… – Acts 10:39 (KJV)
(vv.40-41) God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He be revealed, not to all the people, but to witnesses who had been chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. (NASB)
Jesus was raised from the dead (v.40)
…but God raised him from the dead on the third day… – Acts 10:40 (NIV)
(v.42) And He ordered us to preach to the people, and to testify solemnly that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. (NASB)
As God, Jesus is the ultimate judge (v.42)
…he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.- Acts 10:42 (NIV)
(v.43) All the prophets testify of Him, that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins. (NASB)
This was all promised in the Bible (v.43)
All the prophets testify about him… – Acts 10:43 (NIV)
When someone believes in Jesus, they receive forgiveness of sins (v.43)
(vv.44-45) While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. All the Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had also been poured out on the Gentiles. (NASB)
“…everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” – Acts 10:43 (NIV)
(Jesus) Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. – Revelation 3:20 (NASB)