Answers for A Study in the book of Acts: Chapter 10

“Answers For A Study in the Book of Acts” is a weekly post in addition to the regular “Case for the New Testament” posts on the weekend. The original questions are posted on the bottom of the Case for the New Testament” post the weekend before, and the answers appear here mid-week. This gives you time to do your own research and then check your answers here. Keep in mind these will be basic answers with a little depth, but you can go much deeper if you’d like.

Note: The answers will focus on what the text of the Bible says, and commentaries and speculative answers will be noted as such. There are many scholarly commentaries out there but it will be important, as students of the Bible, to keep the text of the Bible as our first source. Commentaries can be used, keeping in mind that they are human thoughts about God’s Word.

Bible Study

Always remember to pray before you study and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into the truth found in God’s Word – pray for protection from the evil one who will try to discourage, distract and deceive us when we commit to growing closer to the LORD.

Read Acts Chapter 10: Then, to the best of your ability, answer the following questions.

NOTE: Questions are taken directly from the chapters, and answers should be found and cited from the Scripture text in order to be Biblically accurate (unless asked to summarize in your own words). Study Bibles, commentaries and your own thoughts can be used for “Discussion” or “Going Deeper” questions. Cite your sources to share with your group.

Peter and Cornelius, the first Gentile convert

1. Read Chapter 10:1-23 with your table group

In the first part of this chapter both Cornelius and Peter have visions:

a. Who was Cornelius and what can we know about him and his job?

Cornelius was a Roman Centurion of the Italian cohort (v. 1)
He was a devout man who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually (v. 2)
A Centurion would have been in charge of 100 men (thus the name centurion)
His home was in Caesarea, but his job allegiance was to Rome and the Emperor because his main purpose was to keep the peace
From the text it seems that he was well respected by Jews who lived in Caesarea and this was probably due to his trust in the Hebrew God thus resulting in an honest, fair and respectful life
He was one of the first Gentile converts to Christianity

b. Describe what happened in Cornelius’ vision.

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 fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial 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.” When the angel who was speaking to him had left, he summoned two of his servants and a devout soldier of those who were his personal attendants, and after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa. Acts 10:3-8

An angel of God came to Cornelius and told him to send for Peter because his prayers and alms had been heard by God.
Cornelius may have not known what would happened because of this, but was faithful to do as he was told.

c. What happened in Peter’s vision? Discuss: How do we know these visions were from God?

On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance; and he saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” But Peter said, “By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean.” Again a voice came to him a second time, “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.” This happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into the sky. Acts 10:9-16

Peter’s vision was a sign that it was going to be alright for him to interact with Gentiles, including having meals – the emphasis on “three times” gives confirmation that it was to be so, or true.
We can be sure this vision was from God because the confirmation comes immediately in the following verses:

Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what the vision which he had seen might be, behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions for Simon’s house, appeared at the gate; and calling out, they were asking whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there. While Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. But get up, go downstairs and accompany them without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself.” Peter went down to the men and said, “Behold, I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for which you have come?” They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, was divinely directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear a message from you.” So he invited them in and gave them lodging. Acts 10:17-23

God will confirm visions like this in many ways, but most importantly today, we must make sure they are Biblically grounded – based on God’s Word; and that they point people to the LORD and give Him the glory, honor and praise.
Remember that Satan is the great deceiver, so we must be certain of our source in these cases and what they will ultimately point us to.

d. Going Deeper: Why did Peter consider the food presented in his vision as unholy or unclean? Site Old Testament Scripture that the Jews would have referred to.

Under the Law of Moses, there were foods that were considered unclean. Today, Jews follow kosher laws in preparation and eating of food.
The Law can be found in detail throughout the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
Specific details for eating can be found in Leviticus with laws about animals sources in Leviticus 11.

2. Read Chapter 10:24-48 with your table group

In this part of the chapter Peter goes to Caesarea (a Gentile area):

a. What happened when Peter met Cornelius; how did Peter respond and why (24-33)?

When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am just a man.” As he talked with him, he entered and found many people assembled. And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean. That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask for what reason you have sent for me.” Acts 10:25-29

Cornelius started to worship Peter, but Peter stopped him saying “I too am just a man.”
It was important for Peter to respond this way so that Cornelius would understand that he and Peter were equals in God’s eye, and to understand what Peter would soon explain, about the Gospel of Jesus.

b. How many times in Peter’s speech to the Gentiles (34-48), is the word “witness” or some form or action of that word, used and how? What was the result of Peter’s speech (47-48)?

You could count 6-8 times if you include “you yourselves know;” preaching: and the various forms of the word witness (depending on the version you are using).
The result of Peter’s speech was those who had received the Holy Spirit were baptized in the Name of Jesus.

c. Discuss: Why do you think the word “witness or eyewitness” is an important apologetic to share with skeptics, or those who question the reliability of the Bible, in our culture today?

Many people who are skeptics, or who question the Bible’s reliability, do not realize that the authors are eyewitnesses or report eyewitness accounts. The Bible as a whole is mainly an historical narrative and records real history with real people, places and events. Many times, antagonists of the Bible will claim that it is made up, or just fables written by men in ancient times. However, this is so far from the truth because of the eyewitness claims in multiple, not to mention outside Biblical support from historians and others. The final point of importance is that we are all “witnesses” for the things that Jesus has done in changing our lives, and the lives of others we might know, for the better!

d. Discuss: Write down and share two or three things that you think are important to remember about chapter ten. (answers will vary…)

The importance of the Great Commission being brought by Peter to the Gentiles (and later by Paul) through their teachings and witness testimony to the truths of the Gospel.
This beginning of the fulfillment of the Great Commission is also the beginning of the fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant in that the “blessing” would be to all nations, and that blessing was in the person of Jesus.

Please continue to join us in making our “A Case for the New Testament” along with a study in the book of Acts, and share it with others!

Note: Class presentation, videos, reflections and Bible study question are posted on the weekend – Bible study answers (like these) posted mid-week.

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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in! Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.

Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.

Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.

Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15