7. . Appreciate the Inter-cultural

10:1-48

Caesarea

Peter & Cornelius

10:1-48 There was a certain man in Caesarea whose name was Cornelius. He was a centurion of what was called an Italian cohort. He was a devout man and feared God along with all his household. He gave many donations to the people and petitioned God continually. (One day) at about the ninth hour (c/f 3 p.m.) an angel of God entered him and said to him "Cornelius." He looked at him (the angel) and becoming terrified he said "What is it Lord?" He said to him. "Your prayers and your alms have gone as a memorial before God. And now send to Joppa and ask for Simon, the one who is surnamed Peter. This man is lodged with a tanner named Simon. He has a house by the sea." As the angel who was speaking to him went away he called two of the household slaves and a devout soldier who were in attendance. He explained all this to them and sent them to Joppa. On the next day as they journeyed and drew near to the city Peter went up onto the roof to pray at about the sixth hour (midday). He became hungry and wanted to eat. While they prepared (the meal) an ecstasy came upon him. He saw heaven being opened and a certain vessel, like a great sheet held by four corners` appeared to be let down onto the earth. In it were all the quadrupeds and reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. Then there came a voice to him saying "Get up Peter. Kill and

eat." But Peter said " Not at all Lord. I have never eaten anything that is common and unclean." Again a second time a voice came to him "What things God has cleansed, you cannot treat as being unclean." This happened on three occasions. (Then) immediately the vessel was taken up into heaven. Now Peter was doubting within himself what the vision that he saw actually meant. Then the men who had been sent by Cornelius (arrived) asking for the house where Simon was. (Peter was) standing at the porch. Calling out to him they asked if Simon, surnamed Peter was living here. Peter was there pondering about the vision. The spirit said "Look at the two men who are looking for you. Get up and go down with them. Doubt nothing because I have sent them." (And so) going down Peter said to the men "Look, I am the one you are looking for. Why are you here?" They said "Cornelius, a centurion who is a just man and fears God and who respected by all of the Jews, was told by a holy angel to summon you to his house so that he can hear from you." Therefore he invited the men in to stay there. The next day, getting up he went off with them. Some of the brothers from Joppa went with him. The day after that he (Peter) went into Caesaria. Cornelius was waiting for him. He had called together his relatives and close friends. Now when Peter

entered Cornelius came to meet him. Falling at his feet he worshipped him. But Peter raised him up saying "Stand up I am only a man." And so talking with him he came in and found that there were many people together there. He said to them "You understand that it is not lawful for a Jew to belong with or to approach an outsider. (But) God has shown me not to call anything common or unclean , including people. And so I came when asked (by you) without question. I am therefore asking why you summoned me?" Cornelius told him "Four days ago at about this time I was praying at the ninth hour and lo and behold a man stood before me in bright clothing. He said "Cornelius your prayer and your alms have been remembered before God. Therefore send to Joppa and ask for Simon who is surnamed Peter. This man is lodged in the house of Simon, a tanner and it is by the sea." Therefore at once I sent messengers to you and you have done well in arriving. Now therefore all of us are present here to hear what has been commanded to you by the Lord." Sunday Start And so Peter opening his mouth said "In truth I perceive that God is not a respector of person. But in every nation there are people fearing him and doing works that are acceptable to him. The word which he sent to the sons of Israel preaching peace through Jesus Christ. It is this one which is Lord of all.

10:37 You know what took place throughout all of Judea beginning with Galilee after the baptism proclaimed by John. (You know) how Jesus from Nazareth was anointed by God with the power of the Holy Spirit and (you know) how he went about doing good and curing all those oppressed by the Devil. This was because God was with him and we are witnesses of all the things he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. The latter indeed killed him by hanging him on a tree. It was he (Jesus) that God raised on the third day and made him visible, not to all the people,

but to the witnesses who had previously been appointed by God, that is ourselves. We ate and drank with him after he rose again from the dead. And he (God) commanded us to proclaim to the people and to solemnly witness that this man (Jesus) is the one who has been designated by God to be the judge of the living and of the dead. It is to this man that all the prophets witness. It is through him that everyone believing in him can obtain forgiveness of their sins. Finish While Peter was still speaking these words the Holy Spirit fell on all those who were hearing his discourse. Also were amazed,

those who were faithful to the circumcision and who accompanied Peter. (They saw) the gift of the Holy Spirit was also being poured out upon the nations (non-Jews). They heard these people speaking in tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter answered. Nobody can forbid any of these (non-Jews) baptism by water as they have received the Holy Spirit like ourselves. And he commanded that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain with them for some days.

The way in which the last sentence reads in Greek is that it is the Word which is Lord of all. This point is to be developed further.

8. . Be ready to adjust

11:1-18

Jerusalem

Ones of circumcision & Peter

11:1-18 Now the apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the non-Jewish people ('the nations') also received the word of God. When Peter went up to Jerusalem those people who stressed the need for circumcision disputed with him. They were saying. "You went into the houses of people who were uncircumcised and ate with them." Peter began to explain why he did this saying "I was in the city of Joppa praying. And I saw in an ecstasy a vision. It was coming down as a kind of vessel in the shape of a great sheet. The four corners were as though they were being let down out of heaven. It came up to me. Looking into it I perceived the quadrupeds of the earth and the wild beasts and the reptiles and the birds of heaven. I also heard a voice saying to me. "Get up Peter. Kill and eat." I said "Not at all Lord because a common or unclean thing has never gone into my mouth." A second time a voice out of heaven answered. "What God has cleaned, you are not to regard as common." This took place on three occasions and again all the things were

pulled back up to heaven. And behold at once there were three men who stood at the house in which I was staying. They had been sent down from Caesarea to me. The Spirit told me to go with them and doubt nothing. Also there were six brothers who came with me. We entered into the house of the man. He reported to us how he saw the angel in his house standing there and saying. "Send to Joppa and summon Simon who is surnamed Peter. He will speak words to you by which you and all your household may be saved." As I began to speak the Holy Spirit descended on them just as it did onto us at the beginning (of our ministry). Then I remembered the word of the Lord and how he said "John indeed baptized you with water. But you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit." If therefore God gave them a gift equal to what was given to us on believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who I was I to be able to hinder God?" And so on hearing these things they (the ones supporting circumcision) kept silence. They glorified God saying "Then God has also given to non-Jews his repentance into life?"