Acts 12 (April 44 AD)
18 At daylight, there was a great commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 19 After Herod had searched and did not find him, he interrogated the guards and ordered their execution. Then Herod went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.

• If a guard permitted a prisoner to escape, Roman law required that he receive the same punishment that the prisoner would have received, even if it was death (see Acts 16:27; 27:42).
• This law did not strictly apply in Herod’s jurisdiction, so the king was not forced to kill the guards; but, being a Herod, he did it anyway.
• Instead of killing one man to please the Jews, he killed four and perhaps hoped it would please them more.[1]
• Show Map of Caesarea

 
HEROD’S DEATH

• August 1, 44 AD

20 Herod had been very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon (north of Caesarea). Together they presented themselves before him. After winning over Blastus, who was in charge of the king’s bedroom, they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food from the king’s country. 21 On an appointed day, dressed in royal robes and seated on the throne, Herod delivered a speech to them. 22 The assembled people began to shout, “It’s the voice of a god and not of a man!”

• The Jewish historian Josephus said that this scene took place during a festival honoring Claudius Caesar, and that the king wore a beautiful silver garment in honor of the occasion.
• We do not know what Herod said in his oration, but we do know why he said it: he wanted to impress the people.[2]

23 At once an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give the glory to God, and he was eaten by worms and died.

• As he speaks, the public utters out: “You are more than a mortal; you are a god!”
• Herod does not rebuke the people, but accepts their impious flattery. Immediately, the angel of the Lord strikes him down.
• According to Josephus’ account, Herod complains of intestinal pains and is removed from the crowds.
• He suffers with stomach pains for five days until he dies.
• The cause of death is intestinal worms that eat his insides.[3]
• The first 12 chapters of Acts are dominated by Peter. The remainder of Acts shifts to Paul.

24 But the word of God flourished and multiplied.

• At the beginning of Acts 12, Herod seemed to be in control and the church was losing the battle.
• But at the end of the chapter, Herod is dead and the church—very much alive—is growing rapidly!
• The secret? A praying church![4]

25 After they had completed their relief mission, Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, taking along John who was called Mark.[5]

• This was the relief fund trip in Acts 11:27-30.
• According to Galatians 2:1, Paul also took Titus.
• Galatians 2:1 - Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also.[6]
• Titus was a Gentile representative of the Antioch Church.
• From Antioch to Jerusalem it is a good 250 miles.
• They handed over the relief funds to the elders in Jerusalem.
• Galatians 2:2-5 - 2 I went up according to a revelation and presented to them the gospel I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those recognized as leaders (Peter, James & John). I wanted to be sure I was not running, and had not been running, in vain. 3 But not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. 4 This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus in order to enslave us. 5 But we did not give up and submit to these people for even a moment, so that the truth of the gospel would be preserved for you.
• Now from those recognized as important (what they once were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—they added nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised, just as Peter was for the circumcised, 8 since the one at work in Peter for an apostleship to the circumcised was also at work in me for the Gentiles. 9 When James, Cephas, and John—those recognized as pillars—acknowledged the grace that had been given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to me and Barnabas, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They asked only that we would remember the poor, which I had made every effort to do. [7]
• Saul, Barnabas, and Titus head back home to Antioch of Syria.
• They take with them Barnabas’ young cousin (Colossians 4:10), John Mark. (“John” is his Jewish name while “Mark” is his Roman name. He is the same Mark that authored the Gospel of Mark.)

 
PREPARING FOR THE MISSION FIELD
Acts 13
Spring 47

• Now the Church in Antioch is about 7 years old.

1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger (Niger is his Latin surname indicating that he is of dark complexion. He is also known as Simon of Cyrene who carried Jesus’ cross), Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, a close friend of Herod the tetrarch (an aristocrat and probably the foster brother of Herod Antipas who was the youngest song of Herod the Great), and Saul.
2 As they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off.

• Like the Twelve, they are now “sent ones”—apostles.
• But their sending has not been without preparation.
• Barnabas has lived in the experience of the church for seventeen years (ten years in Jerusalem and seven in Antioch).
• He was also trained by the Twelve.
• Saul has lived in the experience of the church in Antioch for five years.
• He was trained by Barnabas.
• The other three brothers lay hands on Barnabas and Saul on behalf of the Antioch church, sending them out to the work.[8]

 
THE MISSION TO CYPRUS
47-50 AD
Paul’s First Missionary Journey
Time: 2 years – 47-49 AD
1200 Miles traveled
Churches Planted: (4)

• Pisidian Antioch 3-4 months
• Iconium – 3-4 months
• Lystra – 3-4 months
• Derbe – 3-4 months
• Barnabas, Saul & John Mark with Barnabas taking the lead.
• Show map of Antioch to Cyprus

4 So being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia (sixteen miles from Antioch), and from there they sailed to Cyprus (60 miles offshore from Antioch).

• Cyprus is where Barnabas is from.
• Cyprus belongs to the province of Cilicia.
• The principal export of Cyprus is copper, from which it derives its name. (Barnabas probably sold a copper field when he pooled his money to help the Jerusalem church seventeen years ago.)
• Cyprus stretches 140 miles from east to west.
• It is an island made up mostly of Greeks.
• Yet it has a large Jewish population.[9]

5 Arriving in Salamis (a town on Cyprus), they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues.

• This became common for Saul to bring the Gospel to the Jews first, then the Gentiles.

They also had John as their assistant. 6 When they had traveled the whole island as far as Paphos (west side),

• Island tradition has it that Barnabas & Saul were tied to a pillar and whipped – receiving the “forty less one” beatings and imprisoned.
• Picture of the column
• 2 Corinthians 11:24 - Five times I received the forty lashes minus one from the Jews.[10]
• Over the next ten years.

they came across a sorcerer, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. 7 He was with the proconsul (governor), Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man (Sergius Paulus) summoned Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas (also Bar-Jesus, bar translating to “son”) the sorcerer (that is the meaning of his name) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

• He interrupted them in the middle of the Gospel.

9 But Saul—also called Paul—filled with the Holy Spirit, stared straight at Elymas 10 and said, “You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery, you son of the devil and enemy of all that is right. Won’t you ever stop perverting the straight paths of the Lord? 11 Now, look, the Lord’s hand is against you. You are going to be blind, and will not see the sun for a time.” Immediately a mist and darkness fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.

• A rebuking w/ a curse.

12 Then, when he saw what happened, the proconsul believed, because he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

• Sergius Paulus became Barnabas and Saul’s first Gentile convert.
• Sergius Paulus has relatives in Pisidia and most likely encourages them to go tell them the Gospel.

 
PAUL’S SERMON IN ANTIOCH OF PISIDIA
Summer of 47 AD
13 Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia, but John (Mark) left them and went back to Jerusalem.

• Ten years later Paul will mention being involved in three shipwrecks and spending a night and a day in the open sea (2 Corinthians 11: 25).
• Luke mentions nine sea voyages and only one shipwreck, which occurred after Paul penned 2 Corinthians.
• Adding up all of Paul’s sea journeys, we discover that Paul traveled some 3,000 miles by sea.
• At this point. Luke begins to use Saul’s Greco-Roman name Paul (Paulos) instead of his Jewish name, Saul.
• It is significant to note that John Mark left them.
• Show map from Cypress to Perga.
• The journey from Paphos to Perga is accompanied by a shipwreck.
• The shipwreck, coupled with the bandits who haunted the Taurus Mountains, greatly discourage John Mark from continuing on the journey.
• He is also disturbed that Paul is now the leader of the apostolic mission, instead of his cousin Barnabas.
• Paul is prepared to preach outside the synagogue to Gentiles with greater freedom than Mark had anticipated.
• All this causes John Mark to get homesick, so he heads back to Jerusalem.
• Paul views John Mark’s departure as unfaithful abandonment.
• In addition to all these setbacks, Paul is sick.
• Galatians 4:13-14 - you know that previously I preached the gospel to you because of a weakness of the flesh. 14 You did not despise or reject me though my physical condition was a trial for you. On the contrary, you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus himself. [11]

14 They continued their journey from Perga and reached Pisidian Antioch.

• Show map from Perga to Psidia.
• Antioch of Pisidia is 3600 feet above sea level.
• The men must cross over the Taurus Mountains to get there.
• This is a very dangerous journey.
• The roads are not safe, and they abound with robbers.
• The rivers in this area are also known to overflow easily, causing many to drown.
• When Paul will write of “dangers from robbers and dangers from rivers” in 2 Corinthians, he is undoubtedly speaking of the journey from Perga to Pisidia.
• The ordinary rate of travel by foot in the first century is 20 miles a day.
• Therefore, the journey from Perga to Pisidia will take approximately ten days.
• Paul and Barnabas undoubtedly had to stop at the local tavern inns on their journey.
• Well-to-do Romans avoid these inns at all cost.
• Inns are noted for their filthy sleeping quarters, adulterated wine, extortionate innkeepers, gamblers, thieves, and prostitutes, not to mention their bug-infested beds.[12]
• Arriving in Psidian Antioch (today’s central Turkey), the civil and administrative center of Galatia, there are many Jews but only one synagogue.
• “Antioch near Pisidia” is still a Roman colony.

On the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, you can speak.”
16 Paul stood up and motioned with his hand and said: “Fellow Israelites, and you who fear God, listen! 17 The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors, made the people prosper during their stay in the land of Egypt, and led them out of it with a mighty arm. 18 And for about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness; 19 and after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance. 20 This all took about 450 years. After this, he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. 21 Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22 After removing him, he raised up David as their king and testified about him: ‘I have found David the son of Jesse to be a man after my own heart, who will carry out all my will.’
23 “From this man’s descendants, as he promised, God brought to Israel the Savior, Jesus. 24 Before his coming to public attention, John had previously proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 Now as John was completing his mission, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not the one. But one is coming after me, and I am not worthy to untie the sandals on his feet.’
26 “Brothers and sisters, children of Abraham’s race, and those among you who fear God, it is to us that the word of this salvation has been sent. 27 Since the residents of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize him or the sayings of the prophets that are read every Sabbath, they have fulfilled their words by condemning him. 28 Though they found no grounds for the death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him killed. 29 When they had carried out all that had been written about him, they took him down from the tree and put him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and he appeared for many days to those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. 32 And we ourselves proclaim to you the good news of the promise that was made to our ancestors. 33 God has fulfilled this for us, their children, by raising up Jesus, as it is written in the second Psalm:
You are my Son; today I have become your Father.
34 As to his raising him from the dead, never to return to decay, he has spoken in this way, I will give you the holy and sure promises of David. 35 Therefore he also says in another passage, You will not let your Holy One see decay. 36 For David, after serving God’s purpose in his own generation, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and decayed, 37 but the one God raised up did not decay. 38 Therefore, let it be known to you, brothers and sisters, that through this man forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you. 39 Everyone who believes is justified through him from everything that you could not be justified from through the law of Moses. 40 So beware that what is said in the prophets does not happen to you:
41 Look, you scoffers,
marvel and vanish away,
because I am doing a work in your days,
a work that you will never believe,
even if someone were to explain it to you.” (Habakkuk 1:5)

• This is the same message that Stephen preached and was stoned on the same day.
• Paul obviously heard it and retained.
• He knew the reaction he would get from the Jews because of what he saw happened to Stephen.

 
PAUL AND BARNABAS IN ANTIOCH
42 As they were leaving, the people urged them to speak about these matters the following Sabbath. 43 After the synagogue had been dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking with them and urging them to continue in the grace of God.

• The audience is made up of Jews, Jewish proselytes and God-fearers.
• Jews are born Israelites and are circumcised on the 8th day after birth to show their covenant with God.
• Proselytes are Gentiles who have converted over to Judaism and been circumcised. They have become complete Jews.
• God-fearers are Gentiles who follow the God of Israel but they are not circumcised.
• Therefore, they are not full members of the synagogue.

44 The following Sabbath almost the whole town assembled to hear the word of the Lord. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what Paul was saying, insulting him.
46 Paul and Barnabas boldly replied, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first. Since you reject it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us:
I have made you
a light for the Gentiles
to bring salvation
to the end of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:6)
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and honored the word of the Lord, and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed. 49 The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the prominent God-fearing women and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from their district.

• Associated Paul’s sickness with sin of preaching a false message.
• They are beaten with birch rods because it is part of the formal process of being banished from the city.

51 But Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.[13]

• The Church is mostly Gentile.

[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 455). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 455). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[3] The Untold Story of the New Testament Church: An Extraordinary Gide to Understanding the New Testament, Frank Viola, Destiny Image Publishers, Inc., 2004. Chapter 8
[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 455–456). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[5] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ac 11:19–12:25). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ga 2:1). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ga 2:2–10). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[8] The Untold Story of the New Testament Church: An Extraordinary Gide to Understanding the New Testament, Frank Viola, Destiny Image Publishers, Inc., 2004. Chapter 8
[9] The Untold Story of the New Testament Church: An Extraordinary Gide to Understanding the New Testament, Frank Viola, Destiny Image Publishers, Inc., 2004. Chapter 9
[10] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (2 Co 11:24). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[11] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ga 4:13–14). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[12] The Untold Story of the New Testament Church: An Extraordinary Gide to Understanding the New Testament, Frank Viola, Destiny Image Publishers, Inc., 2004. Chapter 9
[13] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ac 13:1–52). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

THE CHURCH IN ANTIOCH
Acts 11

• Antioch Map
• 41 AD

19 Now those who had been scattered as a result of the persecution that started because of Stephen made their way as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except (Hellenistic/Grecian)Jews.

• Antioch of Syria is located on the Orontes River and sits 300 miles north of Jerusalem.
• According to Jewish historian Josephus (A.D. 100), Antioch is the third largest city in the Roman Empire, following Rome and Alexandria.
• The city is known as “the queen of the East,” “Antioch the beautiful,” and “the third city of the Empire.”
• Antioch is the center of political, military, and commercial communication between Rome and the Persian frontier.
• It is a wealthy city and the only one that has streetlights at this time. Its main east-west street is paved with polished stone and there are colonnades on both sides.
• Antioch’s population is estimated between 300,000 and 500,000. The Jewish population is large and vigorous, standing between 22,000 and 50,000.
• In the years to come, Syrian Antioch will become the cradle of Gentile Christianity.

 

• Antioch of Syria is typical of all Greco-Roman cities of the first century. It is a pesthole of infectious disease. Sickness is highly visible on the streets.
• Swollen eyes, skin rashes, and lost limbs are readily seen in public.
• The city is populated with recent newcomers so it is peopled by strangers.
• The city is filled with misery, danger, despair, fear, and hatred.
• The average family lives in filthy and crowded quarters.
• At least half the children die at birth or during infancy.
• Most children lose one parent before reaching maturity.
• There is intense ethnic antagonism which breeds hatred and fear. This problem is worsened by the constant influx of foreigners.
• Crime is rampant, and the streets are unsafe at night.
• What Christianity will bring to this city and all others is a new culture capable of making life in Greco-Roman cities more tolerable.
• The community of Jesus Christ—the church—will bring joy, hope, charity, a sense of family, and social solidarity to such cruel conditions.[1]
• There were at least sixteen Antiochs in the ancient world, but this one was the greatest.
• Antioch was a wicked city, perhaps second only to Corinth.[2]

20 But there were some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus.

• Acts 21:16 - Some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us and brought us to Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we were to stay.[3]

21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.

• The church in Antioch is quickly becoming a church full of Law-free Gentiles.

22 News about them reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas (originally from Cyprus) to travel as far as Antioch.

• Although this could certainly be seen as a sort of “supervision” by Jerusalem, in each instance the Christians of Jerusalem enthusiastically endorsed the new work and gave it their stamp of approval.
• The church leaders in Jerusalem had a responsibility to “shepherd” the scattered flock, which now included Gentile congregations as far away as Syria.
• Apparently the Apostles were ministering away from Jerusalem at the time, so the elders commissioned Barnabas to go to Antioch to find out what was going on among the Gentiles.
• This proved to be a wise choice, for Barnabas lived up to his nickname, “son of encouragement”[4]
• The Church in Jerusalem has great confidence in Barnabas.

23 When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged all of them to remain true to the Lord with devoted hearts, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And large numbers of people were added to the Lord.

• Barnabas had a natural relationship with the Hellenists.
• As a native of Cyprus, he most likely was fluent in Greek.
• On the other hand, he did not seem to have originally belonged to their group but rather to have had ties from the beginning with the non-Hellenist church in Jerusalem and particularly with the apostles.
• He participated in exemplary fashion in the church’s practice of sharing (4:36f.).
• Barnabas was a “bridge-builder,” one who was able to see the positive aspects in both sides of an issue and to mediate between perspectives. [5]

 

• 42 AD

25 Then he went to Tarsus to search for Saul, 26 and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.

• Why not send to Jerusalem and ask the deacon Nicolas who was from Antioch? (Acts 6:5)
• Because Barnabas knew that God had commissioned Saul to minister to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15; 22:21; 26:17).
• You recall that Barnabas befriended Saul in Jerusalem (Acts 9:26–27), and no doubt the two of them often talked about Saul’s special call from God.
• In Antioch, Saul lives with Simon of Cyrene (also called Simeon), his wife, and his two sons, Rufus and Alexander.
• Simon’s wife cares for Saul and acts like a mother to him. (Simon carried the cross of Christ.)
• The believers are first designated “Christians” (Christ’s people) in Antioch.
• They do not call themselves Christians, nor is this name given to them by the Jews (for the Jews do not believe that Jesus is the Christ—the Messiah).
• It is rather given to them by their Greek-speaking neighbors.
• The reason? The believers are constantly talking about their Lord, just as Jesus constantly talked about His Father.
• The Christians in Antioch are consumed with Jesus Christ, and out of the abundance of their hearts their mouths speak.
• The new movement is also called “The Way”—a term the Christians use for the way of salvation and the way of life.
• In Palestine, the Christians are known as “Nazarenes.”
• There are two men in the Antioch church who will play a key role in the story: Luke and Titus.
• Titus will one day become an apostolic worker (church planter), but only after he has had time to develop spiritually in the church.
• Luke is a Gentile itinerant (traveling) physician who plies his trade in places like Troas and Philippi.
• Titus is Luke’s younger brother.[6]

 

• What Barnabas did for Saul needs to be practiced in our churches today.
• Mature believers need to enlist others and encourage them in their service for the Lord.[7]

 
FAMINE RELIEF

• 43 AD

27 In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine throughout the Roman world. This took place during the reign of Claudius (Roman Emperor from 41-54 AD)

• In Jerusalem, King Herrod Agrippa, grandson of the Herod the Great, is ruler.

29 Each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers and sisters who lived in Judea. 30 They did this, sending it to the elders by means of Barnabas and Saul.

• Ancient writers mention at least four famines: two in Rome, one in Greece, and one in Judea.
• The famine in Judea was especially severe, and the Jewish historian Josephus records that many people died for lack of money to buy what little food was available.
• The pattern for Christian giving today is not Acts 2:44–45 and 4:31–35, but Acts 11:29, “every man according to his ability.”
• It is this pattern that Paul taught in 2 Corinthians 8–9.
• The practice of “Christian communism” was found only in Jerusalem and was a temporary measure while the message was going “to the Jew first.”
• Like God’s care of the Jews in the wilderness, it was a living exhibition of the blessings God would bestow if the nation would repent and believe.
• The word elders in Acts 11:30 has not been used before in Acts, except to refer to the Jewish leaders (Acts 4:5, 23; 6:12).
• In the church, the elders were mature believers who had the spiritual oversight of the ministry (1 Peter 5:1; 2 John 1).[8]

 
JAMES MARTYRED AND PETER JAILED

• April, 44 AD

12 About that time King Herod violently attacked some who belonged to the church,

• This evil man was the grandson of Herod the Great, who ordered the Bethlehem children to be murdered, and the nephew of Herod Antipas, who had John the Baptist beheaded.
• His father, Aristobulus, had been executed in 7 b.c. by his grandfather for fear that he might usurp his throne.
• After his father’s death, while still a child, Agrippa was sent to Rome with his mother, where he was reared and educated along with the children of the Roman aristocracy.
• These childhood friendships eventually led to his ruling over a Jewish kingdom.
• In 37AD, the emperor Caligula gave him the title of king and made him ruler over the territories formerly ruled by his uncle Philip, lands in the Transjordan and the Ten Cities (Decapolis) north of Galilee.
• In 39AD, Caligula extended Agrippa’s rule by giving him Galilee and Perea, the territory of his uncle Antipas, who had been sent into exile.
• Finally, when his former schoolmate Claudius became emperor in 41AD, he was given rule of Judea and Samaria, which had been under Roman jurisdiction for thirty-five years.
• He was truly “king of the Jews” now, ruling over all of Judea, Samaria, Galilee, the Transjordan, and the Decapolis.
• Though king, Agrippa was hardly secure. Much of his good fortune was due to his friendship with Caligula, and Caligula had not been a popular emperor with the Romans.
• In fact, Agrippa could not count on always being in the good graces of Rome.
• It became all the more important for him to win the loyalty of his Jewish subjects in order to give him at least a firm footing at home.
• Everything Josephus said about Agrippa would indicate that he made every attempt to please the Jews, particularly currying the favor of the influential Pharisees.
• His “Jewishness,” however, seems to have been largely a face he put on when at home.
• When away, he lived in a thoroughly Roman fashion.
• Why persecution of the Christians was particularly pleasing to them at this time is not stated. Perhaps the acceptance of uncircumcised Gentiles as related in chap. 11 had something to do with their disfavor.[9]

2 and he executed James, John’s brother (sons of Zebedee), with the sword. 3 When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too, during the Festival of Unleavened Bread.

• James is the first of the Twelve to be martyred.
• James and John, with their mother, had asked for thrones, but Jesus made it clear that there can be no glory apart from suffering.
• “Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” He asked (Matt. 20:22).
• Their bold reply was, “We are able.”
• The martyrdom of James is told with the utmost brevity.
• Luke did not want to dwell on it but used the incident to set the stage for his main emphasis—God’s deliverance of Peter.[10]

4 After the arrest, he put him in prison and assigned four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.

• Herod would not risk his favor with the Jews by executing Peter during this time, since that would be considered a desecration.[11]

5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was praying fervently to God for him.
 
PETER RESCUED
6 When Herod was about to bring him out for trial, that very night Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while the sentries in front of the door guarded the prison.

• That Peter could sleep so soundly the night before his trial is perhaps indicative of his calm assurance that he was in God’s hands.[12]
• But the main cause of Peter’s peace was the knowledge that Herod could not kill him.
• Jesus had promised Peter that he would live to be an old man and end his life crucified on a Roman cross (John 21:18–19 - “Truly I tell you, when you were younger, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you and carry you where you don’t want to go.” 19 He said this to indicate by what kind of death Peter would glorify God.)[13]
• Peter simply laid hold of that promise and committed the entire situation to the Lord, and God gave him peace and rest.
• He did not know how or when God would deliver him, but he did know that deliverance was coming.[14]

7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. Striking Peter on the side, he woke him up and said, “Quick, get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. 8 “Get dressed,” the angel told him, “and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Wrap your cloak around you,” he told him, “and follow me.”

• This was the end of the Passover week.
• The Passover was a week long rememberance of how God delivered the Israelites from Egypt.
• Now God is delivering Peter from the hands of King Herod.

9 So he went out and followed, and he did not know that what the angel did was really happening, but he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 After they passed the first and second guards, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went outside and passed one street, and suddenly the angel left him.
11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s grasp and from all that the Jewish people expected.” 12 As soon as he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many had assembled and were praying.

• Since it was the prayers of God’s people that had helped to set him free, Peter decided that the best place for him would be in that prayer meeting at Mary’s house.
• Furthermore, he wanted to report the good news that God had answered their prayers.

13 He knocked at the door of the outer gate, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer. 14 She recognized Peter’s voice, and because of her joy, she did not open the gate but ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the outer gate.

• Rhoda had been praying for a week for Peter’s release but when it actually happened, she did not have enough faith to open the door.
• She couldn’t believe God answered their prayers.
• We must face the fact that even in the most fervent prayer meetings there is sometimes a spirit of doubt and unbelief.
• We are like the father who cried to Jesus, “Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)
• These Jerusalem saints believed that God could answer their prayers, so they kept at it night and day.
• But, when the answer came right to their door, they refused to believe it.[15]

15 “You’re out of your mind!” they told her. But she kept insisting that it was true, and they said, “It’s his angel.” 16 Peter, however, kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were amazed.
17 Motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. “Tell these things to James and the brothers,” he said, and he left and went to another place.

• Where Peter went when he left the meeting, nobody knows to this day!
• It certainly was a well-kept secret.
• Except for a brief appearance in Acts 15, Peter walks off the pages of the Book of Acts to make room for Paul and the story of his ministry among the Gentiles.
  
• 1 Corinthians 9:5 tells us that Peter traveled in ministry with his wife, and 1 Corinthians 1:12 suggests that he visited Corinth.[16]

[1] The Untold Story of the New Testament Church: An Extraordinary Gide to Understanding the New Testament, Frank Viola, Destiny Image Publishers, Inc., 2004. Chapter 8
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 449). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[3] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ac 21:16). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 449). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[5] Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 272). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[6] The Untold Story of the New Testament Church: An Extraordinary Gide to Understanding the New Testament, Frank Viola, Destiny Image Publishers, Inc., 2004. Chapter 8
[7] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 449). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[8] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 451). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[9] Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, pp. 277–278). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[10] Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, pp. 278–279). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[11] Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 279). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[12] Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 280). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[13] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Jn 21:18). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[14] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 453). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[15] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 454). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[16] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 454). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

• Peter (in Joppa) had just come out of his trance where God told him 3 times about making all the animals clean enough to eat.
• Peter’s understanding changed from the Jews being clean and the Gentiles unclean to both the Jews and the Gentiles had been made clean by God.
• This meant the Gentiles didn’t have to become Jews before they became believers.

 
Acts 10
PETER VISITS CORNELIUS
17 While Peter was deeply perplexed about what the vision he had seen might mean, right away the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions to Simon’s house, stood at the gate.

• “Deeply perplexed” – processing in his mind… At this point Peter already had the mind of Christ.
• God’s timing… perfect… sovereignty.

18 They called out, asking if Simon, who was also named Peter, was lodging there.

• The other Simon… besides the tanner who owns this house.

19 While Peter was thinking about the vision (processing), the Spirit told him, “Three men are here looking for you.

• An angel appeared to Cornelius.
• God clarified to Peter with a voice from heaven 3 times.
• Now the Spirit is speaking to Peter.
• God is making Himself known.

20 Get up, go downstairs, and go with them with no doubts at all, because I have sent them.”

• God has given Peter orders.
• He has to hear them first…
• Then he has to obey.
• Hearing is difficult but easier than obeying.
• Peter went in confidence… He trusted God.

21 Then Peter went down to the men and said, “Here I am, the one you’re looking for. What is the reason you’re here?”

• Did Peter really not know what his role in this situation was?
• Peter was always prepared to share the Good News.
• Maybe he was just trying to piece together what the Lord was doing with his vision and the appearance of these men at the right time.

22 They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who has a good reputation with the whole Jewish nation, was divinely directed by a holy angel to call you to his house and to hear a message from you.” 23 Peter then invited them in and gave them lodging.

• Did you say, “Good reputation with the Jewish nation? Come on in!”
• Peter invited Gentile men in to come stay with him.
• The division between Jews and Gentiles was beginning to end.
• Cornelius had told these men his story. Surely they told Peter the whole story.

The next day he got up and set out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went with him. 24 The following day he entered Caesarea.

• Peter took 6 Jewish men with him. (Acts 11:12 - The Spirit told me to accompany them with no doubts at all. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we went into the man’s house.)
• It took them 2 days to travel 25-30 miles north to Caesarea.

Now Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

• Have you ever prepared your house for someone special to come stay there?
• It’s a big deal… You want your whole family there to share in the excitement.

25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and worshiped him.

• This was out of respect… due to the nature of Peter’s reputation among the Jews as an apostle and also an angel setting the stage for this moment.

26 But Peter lifted him up and said, “Stand up. I myself am also a man.”

• Peter was humble in his response and would have nothing to do with making himself (a Jew) better than Cornelius (a Gentile).

27 While talking with him, he went in and found a large gathering of people.

• Strolling into the house together.

28 Peter said to them, “You know it’s forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or visit a foreigner, but God has shown me that I must not call any person impure or unclean. 29 That’s why I came without any objection when I was sent for.

• Peter briefly explains his vision about all animals were made clean and this was God telling him that the Gentiles were just as clean as the Jews.

So may I ask why you sent for me?”

• But Peter is still not sure what Cornelius’ purpose was in calling him to his house.
• I’m not even sure Cornelius had a clue why he was to invited Peter to his house other than an angel told him to.

30 Cornelius replied, “Four days ago at this hour, at three in the afternoon, I was praying in my house. Just then a man in dazzling clothing (an angel) stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your acts of charity have been remembered in God’s sight. 32 Therefore send someone to Joppa and invite Simon here, who is also named Peter. He is lodging in Simon the tanner’s house by the sea.’ 33 So I immediately sent for you, and it was good of you to come. So now we are all in the presence of God to hear everything you have been commanded by the Lord.”

• Cha-ching! Ah… Peter is just supposed to do what he has been called to do… Share the Good News… but now with the Gentiles.

 
GOOD NEWS FOR GENTILES
34 Peter began to speak: “Now I truly understand that God doesn’t show favoritism, 35 but in every nation the person who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.

• The past 48 hours is beginning to make sense to Peter.
• You can still be obedient to the Father without knowing the whole plan.
• Peter saw that God does not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnic background, looking up to some and down on others.
• But God does discriminate between those whose behavior is acceptable and those whose attitude is not acceptable.
• Those who reverence God and practice what is right are acceptable to him (v. 35; cf. Luke 8:21).[1]
• It is a judgment of one’s heart… not their production.
• Their production is typically a good indicator of their heart.

36 He sent the message to the Israelites, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all.

• “Peace”… this isn’t about civil rest.
• There is a big difference between our human peace and the peace of Jesus.

37 You know the events that took place throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how he went about doing good and healing all who were under the tyranny of the devil, because God was with him. 39 We ourselves are witnesses of everything he did in both the Judean country and in Jerusalem, and yet they killed him by hanging him on a tree.

• Deuteronomy 21:22-23 - “If anyone is found guilty of an offense deserving the death penalty and is executed, and you hang his body on a tree, 23 you are not to leave his corpse on the tree overnight but are to bury him that day, for anyone hung on a tree is under God’s curse. You must not defile the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.[2]

40 God raised up this man on the third day and caused him to be seen, 41 not by all the people, but by us whom God appointed as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

• A bodily resurrection would have been a new concept to the Gentiles.

42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be the judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that through his name everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins.”

• Jesus forgave all sin on the cross.
• It is not our sins that separated us from God… it was our sinful nature.
• Our sinful nature produced sin naturally.
• Our new nature (which replaced the old) produces works from a new heart.
• As believers today, we are learning to live out of our new heart.

 
GENTILE CONVERSION AND BAPTISM
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who heard the message.

• The miracle of repentance and forgiveness occurred before he could even extend the invitation, and the Spirit sealed the event.[3]
• Peter didn’t get to ask people to bow their heads, say a prayer and then raise their hands!

45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were amazed because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in other tongues and declaring the greatness of God.

• The expression here seems more likely related to worship, since there is no need for Cornelius and those with him to speak a human language that would have been otherwise unknown to them (see 1 Cor 14:1–25).[4]

Then Peter responded, 47 “Can anyone withhold water and prevent these people from being baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”

• Again, Peter is proclaiming no differentiation between what the Gentiles have just received and what the Jewish Christians already  have.

48 He commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days. [5]

• These Gentiles were not saved by being baptized; they were baptized because they gave evidence of being saved. [6]

 
GENTILE SALVATION DEFENDED
Acts 11
1 The apostles and the brothers and sisters who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. 2 When Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, 3 saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.”

• It was easy for Peter to accept the Gentiles as part of the faith because it came straight from God.
• Now Peter had to be the one to convince the Jewish Leadership.

4 Peter began to explain to them step by step: 5 “I was in the town of Joppa praying, and I saw, in a trance, an object that resembled a large sheet coming down, being lowered by its four corners from heaven, and it came to me. 6 When I looked closely and considered it, I saw the four-footed animals of the earth, the wild beasts, the reptiles, and the birds of the sky. 7 I also heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’
8 “‘No, Lord!’ I said. ‘For nothing impure or ritually unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 But a voice answered from heaven a second time, ‘What God has made clean, you must not call impure.’
10 “Now this happened three times, and everything was drawn up again into heaven. 11 At that very moment, three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea arrived at the house where we were. 12 The Spirit told me to accompany them with no doubts at all. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we went into the man’s house. 13 He reported to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa, and call for Simon, who is also named Peter. 14 He will speak a message to you by which you and all your household will be saved.’
15 “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came down on them, just as on us at the beginning. 16 I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If, then, God gave them the same gift that he also gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, how could I possibly hinder God?”

• Peter dropped the “But God…” phrase on them.

18 When they heard this they became silent. And they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has given repentance resulting in life even to the Gentiles.”[7]

• Sure… it sounds like the Jews were accepting of the Gentiles coming to the same faith in Jesus, but…
• They still had the circumcision and food restrictions to negotiate.
• In later years, God would use the letters of Paul to explain the “one body,” how believing Jews and believing Gentiles are united in Christ (Eph. 2:11–3:12).
• But at that time, this “mystery” was still hidden; so we must not be too hard on those saints who were uneasy about the place of the Gentiles in the church.[8]

[1] Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 260). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[2] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Dt 21:22–23). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 263). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[4] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ac 10:46). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[5] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ac 10:1–48). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 447). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[7] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ac 11:1–18). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[8] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 448). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

• With Paul home in Tarsus, the narrative focuses once more on Peter.
• He last appeared in connection with the Samaritan mission (8:14–25).
• 1) Someone being healed is a pretty big deal!
• 2) Someone raising from the dead is even a bigger deal.
• 3) Someone coming to salvation in Christ is the biggest deal!

 
Acts 9
THE HEALING OF AENEAS
32 As Peter was traveling from place to place (itinerant ministry), he also came down to the saints who lived in Lydda.

• Believers in Lydda possibly because Phillip passed through to Caesarea. (Acts 8:40)
• The Christians are referred to as “saints” in both accounts (vv. 34, 41), a point the NIV obscures by using “believers” in v. 41.
• “Saints” is a rather rare designation for believers in Acts.[1]

33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. 34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed,” and immediately he got up.

• Peter took the initiative.
• Peter’s first miracle was healing a crippled man in Acts 3.
• Who healed Aeneas? Jesus
• What healed Aeneas? Faith in Jesus
• “make your bed” – Couch or mat – Similar to what they would have prepared for dining at the table.
• Indicating Aeneas had retained enough sustenance to regain his strength.

35 So all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

• Lydda was located in the fertile coastal plain of Sharon, which extends north from Joppa to Mt. Carmel.[2]​

 
DORCAS RESTORED TO LIFE
36 In Joppa

• modern Joffa in Tel Aviv, 10 miles west of Lydda)
• Same place Jonah fled to when escaping God after he was told to go to Ninevah.
• But also the same place Peter receives his calling to go to the Gentiles.

there was a disciple named Tabitha = Gazelle (which is translated Dorcas). She was always doing good works and acts of charity.

• When the Church body loses a helpful saint, it greatly impacts the fellowship.
• Today, marks the month of one year without Todd Dolbeer.

37 About that time she became sick and died. After washing her, they placed her in a room upstairs.

• It was Jewish custom to wash the body and prepare for with spices for burial.

38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him who urged him, “Don’t delay in coming with us.”

• At this point, the apostles had never raised anyone from the dead… only Jesus.
• So why call Peter? Because of their faith in Jesus.

39 Peter got up and went with them.

• Who had the greater authority? The people? Or Peter?

When he arrived, they led him to the room upstairs. And all the widows approached him, weeping and showing him the robes and clothes that Dorcas had made while she was with them.

• Tabitha/Dorcas cared for the widows.

40 Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down, prayed, and turning toward the body said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. 41 He gave her his hand and helped her stand up.

• The account of Peter’s raising of Dorcas should be compared with the account of our Lord’s raising of Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:34–43).
• In both cases, the mourning people were put out of the room; and the words spoken are almost identical: “talitha cumi: little girl, arise; Tabitha cumi: Tabitha, arise.”
• Jesus took the girl by the hand before He spoke to her, for He was not afraid of becoming ceremonially defiled.
• Peter took Dorcas by the hand after she had come to life.
• In both instances, it was the power of God that raised the person from the dead, for the dead person certainly could not exercise faith.[3]
• Peter copied exactly what Jesus had taught him.

He called the saints and widows and presented her alive.

• The distinction between saints and widows is only the fact that Tabitha/Dorcas ministered specifically to the widows and they were the most grateful of all the saints.

42 This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 Peter stayed for some time in Joppa with Simon, a leather tanner.[4]

• It is significant that Peter stayed in the home of a tanner, because tanners were considered “unclean” by the Jewish rabbis (see Lev. 11:35–40).
• God was moving Peter a step at a time from Jewish legalism into the freedom of His wonderful grace.

 
CORNELIUS’S VISION
Acts 10

• We see Peter using “the keys of the kingdom” for the third and last time.
• He had opened the door of faith for the Jews (Acts 2)
• and also for the Samaritans (Acts 8),
• and now he would be used of God to bring the Gentiles into the church (see Gal. 3:27–28; Eph. 2:11–22).
• This event took place about ten years after Pentecost. (Roughly 40 AD)[5]
• The Gentile mission was not an easy step for the Jewish Christians to take.
• It involved two major issues.
• 1) The question of whether Gentiles had to become Jews in order to become Christians, i.e., should they undergo Jewish proselyte procedure when they were converted to Christianity?
• This would have required the circumcision of male converts and the adoption for all converts of such Jewish legal distinctives as the kosher food laws.
• Because God granted the gift of the Spirit to the Gentiles in Cornelius’s home without their subscribing to proselyte procedure, Peter became convinced that such Jewish conversion procedures were not necessary for the Christian mission to the Gentiles (cf. 15:7–11).
• The second major issue involved the question of table fellowship between Jewish and Gentile Christians.
• Since Gentiles did not follow kosher practices, Jewish Christians like Peter were exposed to a real situation of compromise when they associated with them.
• Both questions were answered for Peter in the experience with Cornelius because he was convinced that God accepted Gentiles without circumcision and that he could himself in good faith enjoy table fellowship with his Gentile-Christian brothers and sisters.
• The issues were not, however, fully settled for the Jewish Christians as a whole.
• Both issues resurfaced at the Jerusalem Conference (chap. 15) after Paul and Barnabas’s successful mission to the Gentiles, and a compromise solution was agreed upon at that time.

 

• Acts 10:1–11:18 is the longest single narrative in all of Acts. This in itself witnesses to the great importance Luke placed on the incident.

1 There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment. 2 He was a devout man and feared God along with his whole household. He did many charitable deeds for the Jewish people and always prayed to God.

• Caesarea is sixty-five miles northwest of Jerusalem and thirty miles north of Joppa (Jaffa).
• At that time, Caesarea was the Roman capital of Judea and boasted of many beautiful public buildings.
• Caesarea was a Hellenistic-style city with a dominant population of Gentiles.
• Originally a small town named Strato’s Tower, it was rebuilt on a grand style by Herod the Great, complete with a man-made harbor, a theater, an amphitheater, a hippodrome, and a temple dedicated to Caesar.[6]
• Show 1st minute of Israel ’18 Video.
• Cornelius, the Roman centurion, whose heart had tired of pagan myths and empty religious rituals, and who had turned to Judaism in hopes he could find salvation.
• Cornelius was as close to Judaism as he could get without becoming a proselyte.[7]

3 About three in the afternoon he distinctly saw in a vision an angel of God who came in and said to him, “Cornelius.”

• Cornelius was keeping one of the three traditional Jewish times of prayer, the afternoon hour of 3 p.m., which coincided with the Tamid sacrifice in the temple.[8]

4 Staring at him in awe (fearful respect), he said, “What is it, Lord?”
The angel told him, “Your prayers and your acts of charity have ascended as a memorial offering before God.

• Cornelius’ sacrifice of prayer & charity were pleasing to the Lord.

5 Now send men to Joppa and call for Simon, who is also named Peter. 6 He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, he called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, who was one of those who attended him.

• Somewhat secretive but also needed men he could trust.

8 After explaining everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
 
PETER’S VISION
9 The next day, as they were traveling and nearing the city, Peter went up to pray on the roof about noon. 10 He became hungry and wanted to eat, but while they were preparing something, he fell into a trance.

• Noon was not the normal eating time, mid-morning and mid-afternoon were.
• So Peter might have missed the mid-morning brunch.
• 3 meals a day was not normal until the industrial revolution (1700’s)

11 He saw heaven opened and an object that resembled a large sheet coming down, being lowered by its four corners to the earth.

• Roofs were often covered with awnings. Perhaps that or the glimpse of a distant sail at sea provided the vehicle for the vision Peter had.

12 In it were all the four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, and the birds of the sky. 13 A voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.”
14 “No, Lord!” Peter said. “For I have never eaten anything impure and ritually unclean.”

• What the voice requested was strictly against the law.
• Never had he eaten anything defiled and unclean.

15 Again, a second time, the voice said to him, “What God has made clean, do not call impure.” 16 This happened three times, and suddenly the object was taken up into heaven.

• The voice ignored his protest, reissuing the command and adding, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
• The command came three times; each time Peter objected and fell into further confusion.
• It is simply not possible to fully accept someone with whom you are unwilling to share in the intimacy of table fellowship.
• The early church had to solve the problem of kosher food laws in order to launch a mission to the Gentiles.[9]

[1] Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 246). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[2] Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 246). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[3] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 444). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[4] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ac 9:1–43). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 444). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[6] Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 252). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[7] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 444–445). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[8] Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, pp. 252–253). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[9] Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 256). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.