Southern Christian University
Acts Class
Session #06
James A.
Turner
Please turn to Acts chapter nine. We will begin with verse twenty-two. We are down to verse twenty-three, but we will
back up to verse twenty-two. Acts 9:22 beginning, "But
Paul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews that dwelt at Damascus,
proving that this is the Christ." Now,
whether Paul was speaking entirely by inspiration or whether he had such
knowledge of the Old Testament scriptures, that once he learned that Christ was
not an imposter that he could use the Old Testament scriptures to show that
Jesus was Christ, I do not know. The
Holy Spirit would need to give him what he already had, but surely he knew
how. If he did not already know the Old
Testament scriptures, then he was guided by the Holy Spirit to speak those
things that he needed to speak. And so
he confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is
the Christ. "And
when many days were fulfilled." Now, why
does Luke say when many days were fulfilled?
If we had only this account we would conclude that Paul stayed at Damascus until they were ready
to kill him, but we know differently from the reading from Galatians chapter
one. Let us read a few verses. "And when
many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates also day and night
that they might kill him. But his
disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall lowering him in a
basket."
Please turn to Galatians chapter one, and we
learn from this reference that Paul went away into Arabia and then back to Damascus. And that must be the reason why Luke says,
and when many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him. That would allow for what we will read here
from Galatians chapter one. Galatians
chapter one, beginning with verse fifteen, he is talking about that he received
the gospel by revelation of Jesus Christ.
"But when it was the good pleasure of
God, who separated me even from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles;
straightway I conferred not with flesh and blood."
Meaning that he did not confer with any person as to what he needed to
teach that it was given to him by the Holy Spirit, by revelation of Jesus
Christ as he has already said. Going
back to verse twelve, "For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I
taught it, but it came to me through the revelation of Jesus Christ." Back to verse sixteen, "To
reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles; straightway I
conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem
to them that were apostles before me; but I went away into Arabia, and
again I returned unto Damascus."
It looks like that would be when he returned to Damascus that we are reading
about in Acts 9:23. "Then
after three years I went up to Jerusalem
to visit Cephas, and tarried with him fifteen days. But other of the apostles saw I none, save
James the Lord's brother." And then
in II Corinthians chapter eleven, the latter part of that chapter where he
talks about many things that he had suffered for the cause of Christ. Verse thirty-two reads, "In
Damascus
the governor under Aretas the king guarded the city of Damascenes
in order to take me: And through a window was I let down in a
basket by the wall, and escaped his hands." Some
of the walls of the cities back in that day were wide enough that people built
houses, or part of their houses, on the wall.
Sometimes the houses would extend out even over the wall. So they let him down in a basket, through a
window. They let him down in a basket by
the wall as stated here. So we will read
those verses again, twenty-three and twenty-five, "And
when many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel together to kill him: But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates also day and night
that they might kill him. But his
disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. And when he was come to Jerusalem." That must be the same time that is spoken of
there in Galatians 1:17-18, when he went up
and visited with Peter. But the only
other apostle that he saw was James the Lord's brother. "And when
he was come to Jerusalem,
he assayed to join himself to the disciples.
And they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple." I believe we can well understand that. Think how that he sought to destroy the
church. Saul had made it his business to enter into all of the
synagogues and bind those that were of the Christian way and put them in
prison, and when trial came, he gave his voice against them. "But
Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how
he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus
he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus."
Please remember from verse twenty-seven that
Saul and Barnabas had had some association prior to the time that the gospel
was preached to the Gentiles at Antioch of Syria and Barnabas goes to Tarsus to seek Saul to help
him. Verse twenty-eight, "And
he was with them going in and going out at Jerusalem." And so Barnabas did a good job in presenting
Saul to the apostles. And he brought him
to the apostles and declared unto them, how he had seen the Lord in the way,
and how at Damascus he preached boldly in
the name of Jesus. "And
he was with them,
(The disciples at Jerusalem) going
in and going out at Jerusalem,
preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.
And he spake and disputed against the Grecian Jews." The Grecian Jews would be Jews from Gentile
territory. "But
they were seeking to kill him. And when
the brethren knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent
him forth to Tarsus." Now Tarsus of Cilicia was Paul's home, so
they sent him home. They brought him
down to Caesarea and sent him forth to Tarsus. So he was at Tarsus when Barnabas went over
there to get him to assist him in the work at that first Gentile church of Antioch of Syria. "So the
churches throughout all of Judaea
and Galilee
and Samaria,
had peace being edified; and walking in the fear of God, and in the comfort of
the Holy Spirit, was multiplied."
You might want to underscore was multiplied. Remember how that we have already called
attention to the fact that there must have been at least twenty thousand Jews
that obeyed when we read from that last reference in Acts 6:7, "And
the word of God increased; and the number of disciples multiplied in Jerusalem
exceedingly." Remember Acts 4:4, "And
the number of men came to be five thousand."
Let us look at verse thirty-one again, So the church
through out Judaea and Galilee and Samaria. had peace, being edified; and walking in the
fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit was multiplied. The
second part of the orders of Christ were carried out when Philip went to preach
to the Samaritans. "And
he said you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,
Judaea
and Samaria
and to the uttermost parts of the earth."
And so two of them were already fulfilled. "And the
disciples being edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and comfort of
the Holy Spirit was multiplied See how those things
go together. Christians can have that
inward peace that surpasses understanding that Paul speaks of in the Philippian
letter. They were edified, and walked in
the fear of the Lord. They were being
taught, and they were living according to the teaching, because it says walking
in the fear of the Lord. "And
in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, was multiplied. And it came to pass, as Peter went throughout
all parts,
he came down also to the saints that dwelt at Lydda. And there he found a certain man named
Aeneas, who had kept his bed eight years, for he was palsied." He had a severe case of palsy, and was so
afflicted with palsy that he had been bedridden for eight years. "And Peter
said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ healeth thee: Arise, and make thy bed. And straightway he arose. And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw
him, and they turned to the Lord."
Remember that one of the primary purposes of
them having the miraculous power to perform miracles was to verify that they
were from God giving the word of God to them.
That passage in Hebrews chapter two, how that their messages were
confirmed by signs and wonders and by gifts of the Holy Spirit. And so this is such a great miracle that the
news spreads quickly. The people at
Lydda and Saron saw AEneas who had been bed ridden for eight years healed, and
they turned to the Lord, which means that they
were converted.
Acts 9:36, "Now
there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is
called Dorcas: This woman was full of good works and
almsdeeds which she did. And it came
to pass in those days, that she fell sick, and died: And when they had washed her, they laid her
in an upper chamber. And as Lydda was
nigh unto Joppa, the disciples hearing that Peter was there, sent two men unto
him, entreating him to delay not to come on to us."
Those disciples must have been reasoning that if he healed Aeneas, that
he can raise Dorcas from the dead? It
looks like to me that is the way they are reasoning. And so they send to Joppa to have Peter to come
to the upper chamber where they had laid Dorcas. "And Peter
arose and went with them. And when he
was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: And all of the widows stood by him weeping,
and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with
them." It looks like that Dorcas was such a woman
that did all of her good works in a very humble manner, and probably the people
did not recognize all that she had done until she died. It is probable that one widow did not know
that Dorcas had made coats for all of those other widows until Dorcas had died.
. But after her death, they were
standing around weeping and talking about the garments that she had made for
them. Let us read that verse again. "When
he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: And all the widows stood by him weeping, and
showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled
down, and prayed; and turning to the body he said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: And when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand, and raised her up,
and calling the saints and the widows, he presented her alive." It does not mean that they thought that she
was dead when she was not dead. Luke, the
beloved physician, is the writer, and he has already stated that she had died,
and here he states that she is made alive.
When she saw Peter, she sat up. "And
he gave her his hand and raised her up, and when he calling the saints and the
widows, he presented her alive. And it became
known throughout all Joppa; and many believed on the Lord." So there is another increase. "Many
believed on the Lord. And it came to
pass, that he abode many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner."
Chapter Ten
Chapter ten is about the conversion of Cornelius
and his kinsmen and near friends.
Cornelius is set forth here as a centurion of the band called the
Italian band. This means that he was
over a hundred soldiers of the Italian band.
And this means, of course, that he was a Gentile person. In the gospel books and in the book of Acts,
we read about several centurions, and all of them are spoken of in a favorable way. Cornelius is spoken of in a very favorable
way. And notice that he says that he was
a devout man, verse two.
"One that feared God with all of his house, and one that gave
much alms to the people, and prayed to God always." If a person is saved just by being a very
religious man and by the giving of alms and praying to God, then Cornelius would
have already been a saved man! But this
chapter shows that he was not saved, that he needed to send to Joppa to fetch
Peter who would tell him, words whereby he and
his house could be saved
(Acts 11:14). That particular statement is in chapter eleven
rather than in chapter ten, but chapter ten shows that Peter spoke to them
words, whereby they were saved. "A
devout man, one that feared God with all of his house, which gave much alms to
the people, and prayed to God always. He
saw in a vision openly as it was about the ninth hour of the day." Luke wrote before the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. and he is using Jewish time, and so that would be three
o'clock
in the afternoon. And that is the time
that the Jewish people prayed. And do
you remember from Luke chapter one about Zacharias in the temple, and the
people were outside praying while Zacharias was offering incense in the temple. I believe I am right. Maybe I better check it. I am reading from Luke 1:8, "And
it came to pass, while he executed the priest's office before God in the order
of his course, according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to
enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying
without at the hour of incense. And
there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the
altar of incense. And Zacharias was
troubled." Well, it says that the time of the burning of
incense, but that evidently was three o'clock in the afternoon
because they were praying. The people were
waiting without, and they tarried. Verse
twenty-one, "The people were waiting for Zacharias,
and they marveled while he tarried in the temple." Maybe I was wrong on that.
But, anyway, Cornelius is set forth as being a
very fine person, and a very religious person.
And so he was praying at three o'clock. He saw in a vision openly. Verse three.
"As it were about the ninth hour
of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying, Cornelius. And he fasted his eyes upon him, and being
affrightened, said, What is it, Lord?
And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are gone up for a
memorial before God. And now send men to
Joppa, and fetch one Simon, whose surname is Peter." You see Peter is at Joppa. Remember Jesus changed Simon's name to
Peter. So Simon was staying with another
Simon who was a tanner at Joppa. "And
he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before
God. And now send men to Joppa and fetch
one Simon, whose surnamed Peter. He
lodgeth with one Simon a tanner."
And it is in the first chapter of John, where it is stated, that Jesus
changed his name to Peter. Reading from John 1:40, "One
of the two that heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's
brother. He findeth first his own
brother Simon, and saith to him, We have found the Messiah, which is, being
interpreted, the Christ. And he brought
him unto Jesus. And Jesus looked upon
him, and said, Thou art Simon the son of John: Thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by
interpretation, Peter." And so I
did remember that one right. So Jesus had
changed Simon's name to Peter.
Acts 10:5, "And
now send men to Joppa, and fetch one
Simon, whose surname is Peter. He
lodgeth with one Simon a tanner whose house is by the seaside: And when the angel that spake unto him was
departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout
soldier of them that waited on him continually; and having rehearsed all
things unto them, he sent them to Joppa."
And so Cornelius is a very sincere man as shown by the fact that he
immediately calls two of his household servants and a devote soldier that
waited on him and rehearsed to them the story and sent them to Joppa to fetch
Peter. "And
on the morrow, as they were on their journey, and drew nigh unto the
city."
Now, notice how the Lord times everything
correctly for them to be knocking on the gate, just after Peter had received
that vision from heaven. They left
immediately at around three o'clock in the afternoon, and
they get there at dinnertime the next day.
"Now on the morrow, as they were
on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop
to pray about the sixth hour: And he became hungry, and desired to eat: But while they made ready, he fell into a trance." It sounds like the ladies were a little late
in getting dinner ready! And Peter went
upon the housetop, he is hungry, but they were late with dinner. And he fell into a trance and received a
vision. "And
behold the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as it were, a great
sheet, let down by the four corners, and upon the earth: Wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts
of the earth, and creeping things of the earth, and birds of the heaven." Do you remember the rule for four-footed
beasts as given in Leviticus 11:1-8 that whether they were clean or unclean. The
clean parted the hoof and chewed the cud. Any other animal was unclean,
creeping things were unclean and any bird that lived on prey or any kind of
bird that eats dead animals was unclean.
Acts 10:13, "And
there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have
never eaten any thing that is common or unclean."
Mark said that Jesus made all meats clean (Mark 7:19), when he said not that
which goeth into a man defileth a man.
Reading from Mark 7:18. Jesus is talking to his disciples explaining
what he had said to the multitude. "And
he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Perceive ye not, that whatsoever from without
go into the man, it cannot defile him; because it goeth not into his heart, but
into his belly, and goeth out into the draught.
This he said, making all meats clean." So Jesus made meats clean. At least he showed that they would be made
clean. They had been made clean, but it
looks like from this that probably most of the Jewish people were still living
by the Old Testament standards of the clean and the unclean of the animals, or fish and foul. So Peter responds, when a voice says, "Rise,
Peter; kill and eat." Unclean animals, and unclean creeping things were
on that sheet sent down from heaven. And
so Peter said, "Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten
any thing that are common or unclean."
Dont you know that those people that had lived
under the law, and then when the gospel of Christ made all meats clean, that
many of them had a problem of understanding that. And I think all of us would have had a
problem if we had been living by the standards of the law, and the law was
changed and everything made clean. That
must have been the problem that Paul was
dealing with in the fourteenth chapter of the book of Romans. In chapters eight and also in part of chapter
ten of I Corinthians, Paul is dealing with the problems of those who thought that
they were well-informed and wanted to go and eat at the feast of the
idolaters. That was the problem, very
similar, but yet very different from the problem that Paul is dealing with in
the fourteenth chapter of the book of Romans.
And let me read a little bit from it.
"But him that is weak in faith
receive ye, yet not for a decision of scruples."
Some of the brethren lacked adequate knowledge. They thought that it was wrong, evidently, to
eat meats after they had been cleansed.
"One man has faith to eat all things,
but he that is weak." I think that is from the standpoint of not
having adequate understanding. "Eateth
herbs. Let not him that eateth set at
nought him that eateth not; and let not him that eateth not judge him that
eateth: For God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest the servant of
another? To his own Lord he standeth or
falleth. Yea, he shall be made to stand: For the Lord
has the power to make him
stand." I like that statement there in verse four,
talking about the weak brother that thought that it was wrong to eat meat when
it was not wrong. But Paul is telling
those who have more knowledge, you receive them, but you do not receive them
for a decision of their scruples. And it
further reads in the chapter that if they ate thinking that it was wrong to
eat, then it would cause them to sin.
Let me read a few verses, beginning with verse nineteen, "So
then let us follow after the things which make for peace, and the things
whereby we may edify one another.
Overthrow not for meats' sake the work of God. All things indeed are clean; howbeit it is
evil for that man who eateth with offense."
Now this principle still holds today. There are people today who think that
something is wrong when it is not wrong.
And these principles are to govern us today. And so Paul is saying to those who have more
knowledge, do not try to make fun of these people. Do not treat them in such a way that would
cause them to eat when they think it is wrong to eat meat. "All things
indeed are clean, howbeit it is evil for that man who eateth for offense. It is good not to eat flesh, nor to drink
wine, nor to do anything whereby thy brother stumbleth. The faith which thou hast have to thyself
before God. Happy is he that judgest not
himself in that which he approveth. But
he that doubteth is condemned because he eateth not of faith: Whatsoever is not of faith is sin." You see if they were to run roughshod and
make fun of them and cause them to go contrary to their conscience and eat, they
would be causing them to sin. And as he
had already stated in the chapter, cause a man to be lost for whom Christ
died. But, anyway, I wanted you to at
least think about it, how that it would be difficult for people who had lived
from childhood, and say a man is fifty years of age and the law is changed, it
would be hard for them to accept the fact that all meats had been
cleansed.
Acts 10:15, "And
the voice came unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, make not
thoucommon." So the purpose of the vision of the sheet let
down from heaven was to show that the Gentile people were not unclean, and that
Peter was to go and preach to the Gentiles.
" And this was done thrice: And straightway the vessel was received up
into heaven." Now, note how the Lord
had timed everything perfectly. "Now while Peter was much perplexed in
himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men that
were sent by Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, stood before the
gate. And called, and asked whether
Simon, who was surnamed Peter, was lodging there."
So while he was thinking about the meaning of the vision, the men are at
the gate and asking if Peter is there.
"And while Peter thought on the vision,
the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. But arise, and get thee down, and go with
them, nothing doubting: For I have sent them."
Now notice that, the Lord had sent them. I can remember the day when many of the denominational
churches, had a mourners' bench. And people
would go up to be prayed for, including the alien sinner, those who had never
obeyed the gospel, and according to the teaching of that day, they would be
saved by prayer. And our brethren knew
that that was wrong, and some of them went to the other extreme and taught that
prayer does not have any part in an alien sinners salvation; and that is as
bad or worse than the other. Now, this
reference in Acts10 and the conversion of Lydia and her household or
Acts 16, and the Corinthians, show that
prayer can very well have a part in one's salvation, but an alien sinner is not
saved by prayer only. Cornelius is a
very sincere man, and God heard his prayer and answered it by sending Peter to
him to tell him and those gathered at
his house what they needed to do in order to be saved. Okay.
So Peter receives instruction, "Get thee
down, go with
them nothing doubting, for I have sent them. And Peter
went down to the men and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: What is the cause wherefore ye are come. And they said, Cornelius a centurion, a
righteous man, and one that feareth God, and well-reported of by all nations of
the Jews, was warned of God by a holy angel to send for thee into his house,
and to hear words from thee." And we
read chapter eleven, words whereby he and his house could be saved. "So
he called them in, and lodged them."
The men left Cornelius house at about three
o'clock
in the afternoon, and they get to Simon the tanner's house and inquired for
Peter at about 12:00 oclock the next day. They spent the night, and then they start to Caesarea from Joppa. So he called them in and lodged them. "And on the
morrow he arose and went forth with them; and certain of the brethren from
Joppa accompanied him." It is a good thing
those brethren accompanied him, whether Peter had them to accompany him on the
matter of his own judgment or whether he was guided by the Holy Spirit to have
them go with him, I do not know, but he
surely would have been in trouble had those brethren from Joppa not accompanied
him. "And
on the morrow they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius was waiting for them, having
called together his kinsmen and his near friends."
Again this shows how sincere Cornelius was. He had been instructed to send to get Peter
who would tell him words whereby he and his house could be saved. Cornelius has gotten together his kinsmen
and his near friends to hear those words whereby he and those present
with him could be saved.
Acts 10:26, "And
when it came to pass that Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell down at
his feet, and worshipped him." Peter did not
think it was the proper thing, and he raised him up, saying, "Stand
up; I myself also am a man." The Catholics
say that Peter was the first Pope. Well, Peter was not like the present Pope. Pope John is ready for men to bow down and
worship him. Did you see how that many
bowed down to him when he visited Canada on Childrens Day
recently. Cornelius was ready to bow down to Peter, but Peter would not allow it. Peter raised him up, saying, "Stand
up; I myself also am a man. Twice as recorded
in the Revelation, the apostle John was ready to bow down and worship an angel,
and each time he was told not to. Turn
to Revelation 19:10. Well, let us read verse nine and ten, "And
he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they that are bidden to the marriage
supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto
me, These are true words of God. And I
fell down before his feet to worship him.
And he saith unto me, See thou do it not: I am a fellow servant with thee, and with thy
brethren and hold the testimony of Jesus: Worship God: For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of
prophecy." John was ready to worship an angel, and the
angel told him not to, that we are fellow servants of God with thee. And then in Revelation twenty-two is the other
reference. Let us pick up with verse
six, "And he said unto me, These words are
faithful and true: And the Lord the God of the spirits of
prophets, sent his angels to show unto his servants the things which must
shortly come to pass. Behold, I come
quickly: Blessed is he that keepeth the words of the
prophecy of this book. And I John am he
that heard and saw these things. And
when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel that
showed me these things. And he saith
unto me, See thou do it not. I am
a fellow servant with thee, and with thy brethren the prophets, and with them
that keep the words of this book.
Worship God." And so each time John
was told when he was ready to worship an angel not to do so, that they were
fellow servants of God and to worship God.
And we know then that in the case of Moses and the
burning bush that was not consumed, he was told to worship. So that person was a divine person. The scriptures teach that Christ was back
there with the people of Israel (I Corinthians 10:4). Again in Joshua chapter five, when Joshua
went to meet the man that had a drawn sword, and asked him, art thou for us or
against us? Joshua was told by the man
that he had come as prince of the host of Jehovah and Joshua was told, Put
off thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place were in thou standest is holy (Joshua 5:13-15). This reference
shows that it was Christ a divine person because he was told to worship. But our time is up for the first period. A brief break was taken.
I believe we were reading from Acts 10:26, "Peter
raised him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man." So men nor angels are not to be
worshipped. "And
as he talked with him, he went in, and finding many come together. And he said unto them, Ye yourselves know how
it is unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to join himself, or come unto one
of another nation; and yet unto me hath God showed that I should not call
any man common or unclean. Wherefore also I came without
gainsaying, when I was sent for: I ask therefore for with what intent ye have
sent for me?"
So why did you send for me? "And
Cornelius said, Four days ago until this hour." It looks like to me that actually it had been
three twenty-four-hour periods. They left Cornelius house at about at three
o'clock
in the afternoon, and they got to Simons house in Joppa the next day at twelve
o'clock. They lodged at Simon's house that night, and
then started on the way the next day. It
says on the morrow, he arose and went forth with them, and they got to Caesarea then at three
o'clock
in the afternoon. So it looks like just
three twenty-four-hour periods, but Cornelius said four days ago. It is just thirty or thirty-five miles from Caesarea to Joppa, so it would
surely be possible for them to make that in three
twenty-four-hour
periods. And if that be the case, how
would Cornelius speak of it as four days ago?
The answer is that the Jewish people counted part of a day as a day, and
that holds in respect to Christ being in the grave three days. He was in the
tomb part of Friday and all day on
Saturday, and he arose from the dead early on the first day of the week. So it is one full day and part of two days,
and it is spoken of as three days.
"And Cornelius said, Four days ago until
this hour; I was keeping the ninth hour of prayer." Well, this must be the passage that I was
thinking about the ninth hour of prayer.
"And so the ninth hour of prayer
in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright apparel. So he stood in the form of a man but in
bright apparel. The angels in Acts 1:10-11 stood by in white
apparel. "And
saith, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard."
Some of our brethren in days past built a case
on what the blind man said when Jesus healed him, that God does not hear a
sinner's prayer (John 9:31). They joined John 9:31, and Ephesians 1:3, and I Peter 3:12, and came with the
false doctrine that God does not hear the prayers of alien sinners. I heard at
least one brother say, if you are not a Christian, it would not do you any good
to pray. Your prayer would not get
higher than the ceiling of this building.
But Cornelius's prayer did! Now,
he was not saved by prayer only, but God saw to it that he got Peter to tell
him words whereby he and his house could be saved. The same thing with Lydia and her household. Paul
was in Troas when he received a
vision in the night of a man in Macedonia saying, Come
over and help us.
Immediately the went to Philippi of Macedonia. Where did they teach? At the
river side where a prayer service was held. The first converts were Lydia and her household who
went there for a prayer service. What are some of the primary things that the
Bible teaches on this subject? Proverbs 28:9, He that
turneth away his ear from
hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination Whether a man is a
saint or a alien sinner that is the case. Proverbs 9:13, He
that covereth his transgressions shall not prosper; But whoso confesseth and
forsaketh them shall obtain mercy. Psalms 66:18. If I regard iniquity
in my heart, the Lord will not hear. So the person who wants to hide his wrong
doing, whether saint or sinner, the Lord will not hear. Isaiah 66:2, but
to this man will I look, even to him that tremleth at my word.
Acts 10:31, "And said,
Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in
the sight of God. Send therefore to Joppa,
and call unto thee Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of
Simon a tanner by the seaside: Forthwith, therefore I have sent to thee; and
thou hast well done that thou art come."
You have done what we wanted you to do, and we are here, ready to hear
what God has commanded. "Now
therefore we are all here present before the sight of God, to hear all
things that are commanded thee of the Lord.
And Peter opened his mouth and said."
So Peter is ready to preach to them about the facts of the gospel. And notice the sincerity of the people that
are at Cornelius's house. I believe
verse thirty-three, the first part of it, would be the equivalent of saying that
we are glad that you have come. "Forthwith
therefore I sent for thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore we are all here present in the
sight of God, to hear all things that have been commanded thee of the Lord." So Cornelius had told his kinsmen and his
near friends the purpose for which they were together. And they were all present to hear what the
Lord had commanded them to do in order to be saved. "And
Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no
respecter of persons."
God is a respecter of the character of men, but as far as the Lord making a
distinction because a person is a Jew or a Gentile or an Irishman or a Chinaman,
it does not make any difference. The
color does not make any difference. And
so God is no respecter of persons. "Of
a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons." Frankly, I think that that is one thing that
separates God from every man. I think
all of us are to some degree respecters of persons, but God is declared in
several references to be no respecter of persons. Romans chapter two is another reference. "Of a
truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh
righteousness, is acceptable to him."
So
just as long as a person meets God's standards, every
nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness is acceptable to him. How do men work righteousness? By doing according to the commandments of God
as given in the New Testament law for us today.
So every person who hears the words of the New Testament and does
according to the instruction, then that person is acceptable to God, and that
person will be saved.
Acts 10:36, "The
word which he sent unto the children of Israel, preaching good tidings of peace
by Jesus Christ: He is Lord of all: That saying, ye yourselves know, which was
published throughout all Judaea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism
which John preached; even Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy
Spirit and with power: Who went about doing good, and healing
all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him." So note how Peter describes Jesus, that went
about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil, for God was
with him. "And
we are witnesses of all of these things which he did both in the country of the
Jews, and in Jerusalem;
whom also they slew hanging him on a tree." I
think we have already discussed why Peter and Paul used the reference hanging
him on a tree. And remember that Galatians
chapter three gives us the answer as to why they used that expression hanging
him on a tree instead of on the cross.
In Galatians chapter three, Paul says that Christ became a curse for us,
as it is written. That is reading
Galatians 3:10, "Cursed is
every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of
the law to do them. But no man is
justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: For, the righteous shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: But, he that doeth them shall live in them." It is 3:13, "Christ
hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us: For it is written, Cursed is every one that
hangeth on a tree." And notice your footnote there, the reference
quoted is Deuteronomy 21:23. Jewish people usually carried out the capital
offenses by stoning the criminal to death, but it looks like in those worst
cases that they would hang a man. And
the Lord decreed that they were not to leave the body hanging, that they were
to take the body down and bury it before dark.
And the statement there is cursed is everyone that hangeth on the
tree. I think we need to turn back and
read that reference from Deuteronomy. It
is Deuteronomy 21:22. Well, let me pick up with verse twenty-one,
"And all the men of the city shall stone
him to death with stones, so that thou shalt put away the evil from the midst
of thee; and all Israel
shall hear, and fear." "And if a
man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be put to death, and thou hang
him on a tree: His body shall not remain all night upon the
tree, but thou shalt surely bury him the same day: For he that is hanged is accursed of God: For thou defile not thy land, which Jehovah
thy God giveth thee for an inheritance."
So Jesus became a curse for us, for it is written, cursed is every one
that hangeth on a tree.
Acts 10:40, "Him
God raised up the third day, and gave him to be made manifest; not to all the
people, but unto witnesses that were chosen before of God, even to us, who ate
and drank with him after he arose from the dead."
That is speaking especially of the apostles that they were the primary
witnesses that God chose to be witnesses of his resurrection to go forth to
preach as witnesses of what -- that they had witnessed Christ during that
forty-day period before his ascension . "And
he charged us (the
apostles) to preach unto the people, and to
testify that this is he who is ordained of God to be the Judge of the living
and the dead." In John 5:22, it is recorded that
God has chosen that Christ would be the judge of all men, that God has given all judgment unto his son! "To him
bear all the prophets witness, that through his name every one that believeth
on him shall receive remission of sins."
There
are a number of references in Acts which speak of believers being saved and
correctly so (Acts 4:4, 5:14, 9:24, 9:42, 17:12, 17:34) but all of those
references are speaking of the kind of faith that causes one to do as he has
been instructed to. Abraham is spoken of
as the father of the faithful, and when
God told him to go out, and if he could number the stars, and said to him, so
shall thy seed be when he did not have a single child, Genesis 15:6. And
Abraham believed God and it reckoned to him for righteousness (Genesis 15:6). Abraham was always ready to do immediately as
God instructed him to. And remember how
James joins Abraham's faith in the offering up of Isaac together. And you
see how that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith. He is not saying that faith is not necessary,
but it takes that active faith to make it saving faith.
Acts 10:44, "While
Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them that heard the
word." Now, notice that the Holy Spirit was not given by the laying on
of Peter's hand, but the Holy Spirit fell on all them that heard the word. That reference has been used to try to teach
that baptism is not essential to salvation.
They would reason that God would not have his Spirit to fall on
unbelievers, on unsaved men. Is it not
strange that such teachers are ready to make God more ignorant and inferior to
man in order to hold on to their false doctrine. Well, now just looking at it
from the human standpoint, verse thirty-three, "Now
therefore we are all here present in the sight of God, to hear all things that
are commanded thee of the Lord." Just looking
at it from the standpoint of a human being, using a little common sense, does
that statement not tell us that they are all sincere people who have assembled
to hear and do as God commanded them to do through the
preaching of Peter. God had answered Cornelius prayer, and sent Peter there
for that purpose, and Peter commanded them to be baptized. Remember it is
stated of Jesus, he needed not that any should testify
of man, for he knew what was in man (John 2:25). And several times in the gospel books, we
read how that he knew their thoughts.
And so God knew that these people were sincere men. And while Peter was still speaking to them,
the Holy Spirit fell on them that heard the word. But those false teachers want
to make God ignorant of what he was doing to try to uphold the false doctrine
that they have espoused. Please let it register with you that Many
false prophets are gone out into the world (I John 4:1). How can men even be
honest after they know all those references which show that baptism is
essential to salvation and come with a quibble like that?
"And they
of the circumcision (the brethren from Joppa)
that believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because on the Gentiles was
poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit."
So it was poured out, poured out from heaven. And remember on Pentecost, that the Holy
Spirit came upon the apostles as a rushing mighty wind filled all the house
where they were sitting. Let us turn
back and read that. Acts 2:1, "And
when the day of Pentecost was now come, they (the apostles) were all together
in one place.
And suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of the
rushing of amighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were
sitting. And there appeared unto them
tongues parting asunder like as of fire, and it sat upon each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy
Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them
utterance." And it came from heaven,
suddenly there came from heaven, and what happens here to
the people in Cornelius's house came from heaven. "While
Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them that heard the
word." And notice how that
those Jewish brethren were amazed. They
were not expecting such a thing. It
looks like the Jews, as a people, had reasoned that we are God's chosen people and
that God has not chosen the Gentile people to be a part of his people, and
evidently the Jewish believers did not understand this until the Holy Spirit
fell on these people at the household of Cornelius. "And they
of the circumcision that believed were amazed, as many that came with Peter,
because on the Gentiles also Notice now. was poured
out the gift of the Holy Spirit. For
they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, can any man forbid the
water?" Who would he be talking to when he asked that
question, can any man forbid the water that these
should not be baptized? Would he not be talking to those six Jewish
brethren that had come with him. "Then
answered Peter, can any man forbid the water, that these should not be
baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?" The we would refer to the
apostles. They were the ones who were
baptized of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.
"And he commanded them to be baptized in
the name of Jesus Christ." And that
would be by the authority of Christ John 16:7-14). Preachers who make quibbles like the one
referred to do not want the authority of Christ to prevail. They also try to do
away with Mark 16:16. But mark it down
that after they make their quibbles, the old country boy, can get up and read
Mark 16:16 and sincere people
can see the difference. Some preachers need to be reminded of Romans 3:4, Yea, let
God be found true but every man (every man that says to
the contrary) a liar as it is written, That thou mightest be
justified by thy words, and mightest prevail when thou comest into judgment. Acts 10:48 says, "Then
prayed they him to tarry certain days." And
again that shows their sincerity. They
were ready to hear and to do as Peter had commanded. And do you not think they want to know more
about how they were to live as New Testament Christians? And so they wanted him to tarry with them
certain days, and he tarried with them certain days. And it looks like the news got to the Jewish
brethren before Peter went to Jerusalem. You see that there would have been plenty of
time for the news to get from Caesarea to Jerusalem before Peter went to Jerusalem. He tarried certain days with these new
converts at Caesarea in Cornelius's
house.
Chapter
Eleven
"Now the
apostles and the brethren that were in Judaea heard
that the Gentiles also had received the word of God." Now, they had heard. "And when
Peter was come to Jerusalem,
they that were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest in
to men uncurcumicized, and didst eat with them."
What do they mean by that statement? Peter, you have done wrong, you went into the house
of Gentile people and ate with them. Do you not know we have counted that as being
wrong for these many years. It is a good
thing he had those six brethren with him, or he would have been in big trouble! But he expounded everything in order, and
then, of course, those six brethren could back him up. "But Peter
began and expounded the matter unto them in order, saying, I was in the city of
Joppa praying: And in a trance I saw a vision, a certain
vessel descending, as it were a great sheet, let down from heaven by four
corners; and it came even to me:
upon which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw the four-footed
beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things and birds of the
heavens."
The wild beasts and creeping things were unclean
by the law (Leviticus 11:1-8). Evidently a part of those four-footed beasts
were also unclean animals. Remember the
hog was unclean even though it parted the hoof because it did not chew the cud.
"And
I heard also a voice saying unto me, rise, Peter; kill and eat, but I said, Not
so, Lord: For nothing common or unclean hath ever
entered into my mouth." Peter affirmed, I have kept the law
sincerely, I have lived by the law. "But
a voice answered the second time out of heaven, What God hath cleansed make not
thou common. And this was done thrice: And all were drawn up again into heaven. And behold,
forthwith three men stood before the house in which we were, having been
sent from Caesarea
unto me. And the Spirit (the Holy Spirit) bade me go
with them making no distinction." Now
remember that this is during the miraculous days of the church, and so the Spirit
is giving Peter instruction to go and teach these people at the household of
Cornelius. "And
these six brethren also accompanied me and entered into the man's house." And so if they are going to contend with
Peter, they will have to contend with those six brethren, right? "And he
told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying, Send to
Joppa, and fetch Simon, whose surname is Peter
Now, please highlight verse fourteen.
who shall speak unto the words, whereby
thou shall be saved, thou and all thy house." I had at least one brother try to reason that
Cornelius was already a saved man, that he was a Gentile and doing the very
best that he knew, and therefore a saved man.
Well, why then this reading? He is
told to send to Joppa and fetch Peter, who shall
speak unto the words whereby thou shalt be saved, thou and all thy house. Every person today must hear words whereby they
may be saved. They have to know about
the facts of the gospel. And consider
how Peter preached to them about the facts of the gospel, the death, the burial
and the resurrection of Christ, and those facts must be obeyed in a form. Romans 6:3-7 shows that baptism,
is a form, of the death, the burial and the resurrection of Christ.
Acts 11:15, "And
as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on
them, even as on us at the beginning." The beginning of what? The beginning, of the fullness of the kingdom of God on that first Pentecost
after the ascension of Christ. And, of
course, he is referring to what we read from Acts two. "Even
as on us, (the
apostles) at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he
said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized in the Holy
Spirit." Matthew 3:11-12 tells us about
John saying that, I indeed baptize with water, he that
cometh after me is mightier than I, and he shall baptize you with the Holy
Spirit and with fire. And remember Acts 1:5, where just before his
ascension, Jesus said to his apostles that John
indeed baptized with water, but ye shall
be baptized in the Holy Spirit, not many days hence. And they were told to wait in Jerusalem until they received the
Holy Spirit. "But
ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit."
So the household of Cornelius was baptized like the apostles were on
Pentecost. "If
then God gave unto them the like gift as he did also unto us, when we believed
on the Lord Jesus Christ; who was I, that I could withstand God?" And so Peter, in substance, is saying that if
I had not commanded them to be baptized in the name of Christ, I would have
been going contrary to the will of God.
I saw that God meant for these people to be saved, and so I told them
that they needed to be baptized. "If
then God gave unto them the like gift as he did also unto us, when we believed
on the Lord Jesus Christ; who was I, that I could withstand God?" Peter surely did not want to withstand God. There
are many preachers who try to with stand God on the subject of baptism. They
tell people that you are saved when you believe instead of commanding them to
be baptized like Peter did in Acts 10:48. "And
when they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God,
saying, Then to the Gentiles also God granted repentance unto life." It is by the grace, or unmerited favor or
kindness that God gives sinful men the opportunity to repent and obey
Christ. And so when they heard the full
story, those six brethren were there, and they knew that Peter was telling the
truth, and so their attitude changed immediately and rightly so. When they heard these things, they held their
peace and glorified God. And that means
that they were glad that God had given the Gentile people a way of salvation as
well as them. "Then
to the Gentiles also hath God granted repentance unto life."
And let me emphasize
again that there is special significance that the Lord gave Peter the keys of
the kingdom of heaven as recorded in Mathew 16:16-19. He was the first one to declare God's law of
pardon to the Jewish people on that first Pentecost. In Acts eight, he is one that declared the second
law of pardon for Christians when they sin. They are not to be baptized again,
but they are to repent and pray for the forgiveness of sin (Acts 8:14-24), and here he is the
first one to tell the Gentile people what they needed to do to be saved. Is there any difference between the baptism
of the Holy Spirit for the apostles and the baptism of the Gentiles here? Well, I think at least there was a big
difference in respect to purpose. A
primary purpose of the apostles being baptized in the Holy Spirit was to aid
them in the giving and confirming of the New Testament. The matter of being
able to speak in tongues that they had not learned to overcome the language
barrier was a great advantage in their being able to get the gospel to the
world in less than thirty years (Mathew 24:14, Colossians 1:4-6, 1:23). And, of course, they were guided into all
truth by the Holy Spirit. And they had
all those wonderful things that they could do as spoken of as signs and
wonders, and gifts of the Holy Spirit to confirm the word (Hebrews 2:3-4). And so it made it
possible that within a period of about thirty years the gospel was preached, as
Paul put it, it had come to the Colossians as it had come to people in all the
world, bearing fruit and increasing, (Colossians 1:5). And in verse twenty-three, It has
been preached in all creation unto heaven whereof I Paul am made a minister. So in about thirty years' time, those
abilities given the apostles made it possible.
And by the laying on of their hands, they could give nine miraculous
gifts to others (I Corinthians 12:4-11: II Timothy 1:6), but those on whom
they laid their hands on could not transfer those gifts to others as shown by
the case of the Samaritans. Philip could
not transfer the gifts that he had by the laying on of his hands, only by the
apostles were the miraculous gifts given.
But with them having all that miraculous ability and then by the laying
on of their hands giving others miraculous ability, that surely facilitated in
the giving and confirming of the word of God very quickly, and thus the gospel was preached in all the
world in about thirty years. It is reckoned
that there was seven years or more after
the gospel was preached to the Jews on Pentecost, before it was carried to the
Gentiles at Cornelius house. The Holy Spirit had to be poured out on those in
Corneliuss house to fulfill the prophecy of Joel that it would be poured out
on all flesh (Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:17-21). Another purpose
was that it was to show the Jewish Christians that the gospel was to be
preached to the Gentiles.
Acts 11:19, "But
there were of them men of Cyprus
and Cyrene,
who, when they were come to Antioch,
spake unto the Greeks, also preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: And a great number that believed, and
turned unto the Lord." Believing is one
part and turning by obedience is another part. They believed and turned unto
the Lord. "And
the report concerning them came to the ears of the church which was at Jerusalem. And they sent forth Barnabas, as far as Antioch." Boy, they made a good, wise choice when they
sent him to Antioch. The apostles had changed his name from Joseph
to Barnabas because of his ability to exhort and comfort people, so they sent
the right man over there. "They
sent forth Barnabas, as far as Antioch." This is Antioch of Syria. Do not get Antioch
of Syria confused with Antioch of Pisidia as given in Acts thirteen. "Who, when
he was come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and he exhorted them
all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy
Spirit and of faith: And much people were added to the Lord." But Barnabas sees that the work is too much
for him, that he needs help, and he goes to Tarsus to seek for Saul. Remember the apostles had carried him to Caesarea, and sent him to his
home at Tarsus of Cilicia (Acts 9:27-30). As Paul tells us
when he was making his defense before the Jewish people, that the Lord told him
that the people in Jerusalem would not hear him
(Acts 22:17-21). And as we have read, they carried him to Caesarea, and he went from there
to his home in Tarsus of Cilicia.
Acts 11:25, "And
he went forth to Tarsus
to seek for Saul. And when he had found
him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that even for a whole
year they were gathered together with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians
first in Antioch." Now some have tried to reason that the name
Christian came from their enemies. No
such thing! The Holy Spirit through
Isaiah had spoken of the time that was coming when God would give his people a
new name. Please turn with me to Isaiah
chapter fifty-six, and highlight part of verses five and six. "For
thus saith Jehovah of the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things
that please me, and hold fast of my covenant; and even unto them will I give
in mine house and within my walls a memorial and a name better than of sons and
of daughters: And I will give them an everlasting name,
that shall not be cut off." So notice that a new name was going to be
given to those that were faithful as spoken of in this reference as being
eunuchs. And that statement, I think,
means that those that are faithful that control themselves and do the will of
God and keep the commandments of God, that he is going to give them in my
house. And what is God's house? I Timothy 3:14-15, Paul said, "These
things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly, but if I tarry
long that men may know how to behave
themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the
pillar and the ground of truth." So Paul wanted
Timothy to know what was to be done in the house of God, and so the church is God's house. And in his house God would give, a
memorial and a name better than that of sons and daughters. And I will give them an everlasting name that
shall not be cut off. So the name Christian is an everlasting name
that will not be cut off. Turn next to Isaiah
62:2, "And
the nations shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory. And thou shalt be called by a new name,
which the mouth of Jehovah shall give." Do you see why they are called Christians
first at Antioch. Antioch of Syria is the first church made up
of Gentile people, and so the fulfillment of Isaiah 62:2. But our time is up for this second period. A
brief recess was taken.
We were reading from
Isaiah 62:2, "And
the nations shall see thy righteousness and all kings thy glory: And thou shalt be called by a new name, which
the mouth of Jehovah shall name." So that new
name was given by the mouth of Jehovah.
And you need to write down by Isaiah 62:2, Acts 11:26, and by Acts 11:26, you need to write
down Isaiah 56:4-5 and Isaiah 62:2 and also Isaiah 65:15. The old Israel of God would leave her name
for a curse, but the new Israel of God would be given a new name. It reads, "Ye
shall leave your name to my chosen for a curse: And the Lord will slay you, but his
servants he will call by a different name." Many confuse fleshly Israel with spiritual Israel. Fleshly Israel is a goner! She has
left her name for a curse (Isaiah 65:15; Matthew 23:26-39). Spiritual Israel today is made up of
Jews and Gentiles who obey Christ. I
think we have already turned and read references from Isaiah about the new
Israel of God, how that the family would be greatly increased by the bringing
in of the Gentile people. And remember
the words of Roman 2:28-29, He
is not a Jew, who is one outward in the flesh, neither is that circumcision
which is outward in the flesh; but he a Jew who is one inwardly; and
circumcision is that of the heart, whose praise is not of men, but of God. I do not have it quoted
exactly, but anyway that is the meaning of it.
And in Philippians chapter three, Paul is warning against the teachers
who were still trying to teach that false doctrine and trying to bind
circumcision and the keeping of the law on Gentile converts when he said, Beware
of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the circumcision (or the mutilators). For we are
the circumcision who glory in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the
flesh. So Christian people, whether Jews or
Gentiles, constitute God's circumcised people today. They make up the new Israel of God.
So back now to Acts 11:26. Paul and Barnabas taught the church at Antioch for a whole year. Verse twenty-six, "And
the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. And in these days there came down prophets
from Jerusalem
unto Antioch." Youngs Analytical Concordance gives the
Greek word for called To declare by an oracle meaning an oracle or decree of
God. And remember that by the laying on of the apostles' hands, the gift of
prophecy was one of the nine miraculous gifts (I Corinthians 12:4-11). . "And there stood up one of them named
Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be a great famine
over all the world: Which came to pass in the days of
Claudius. And the disciples, every
man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren
that dwelt in Judaea: Which also they did, sending it to the elders
by the hand of Barnabas and Saul." Think
what a wonderful spirit -- the Gentile disciples of the Lord at Antioch manifested. The prophet Agabus signified that a famine
was going to come, and I guess he emphasized how that it was especially going
to hit the disciples in Judaea, and before the
famine came they sent relief! "And
the disciples every man according to his ability determined to send relief unto
the brethren that dwelt in Judaea,
which also they did, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and
Saul." Notice they did not send it to the deacons,
but they sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. Remember that elders of the church are
overseers of the church, and that includes money matters as well as other
matters. Deacons are assistants to the
elders, but the elders have that overall responsibility for the church, and so
they sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. And you remember when the disciples back
there were having all things common and some were selling houses and lands, and
they brought the money and laid it down at the apostles' feet. So the apostles
must have been the first elders, and then here is the first mention that we
have of elders is that the brethren at Antioch sent the contributions
to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Chapter Twelve
Notice also that
Barnabas and Saul must have been in Jerusalem at the time that James
was beheaded, and surely they were there at the time that Peter was released
from prison. So in chapter twelve, we
read about Herod the king killing James the brother of John, and this is
reckoned as being about 40 AD. When
James the brother of John was put to death there was already another James that
was very prominent in the church, as we will notice from this chapter. He is considered by many, and I think rightly
so, that he is the James mentioned in Acts 12:17 and as James the Lord's
brother in Galatians 1:17. "Now
about that time Herod the king put forth his hands to afflict certain of the
church. And he killed James the brother
of John with the sword." And do you remember the thirteenth chapter of
the book of Romans where the writer is talking about the Christians'
relationship to civil authority, and how he mentions that he bears
not the sword in vain? The Romans for most crimes used the sword for
a capital offense. Romans chapter
thirteen, beginning with verse one, "Let
every soul be in subjection to the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: The powers that be are ordained of God. Therefore he that resisteth the power,
withstandeth the ordinance of God: And they that withstand shall receive to
themselves judgment." So God has ordained
civil authority, and as long as that civil authority is in harmony with the
will of God, we are to obey all of the civil requirements. "For
rulers are not a terror to good work, but to the evil." The overriding rule is that they are not a
terror to good works but to evil works.
There are some few exceptions from time to time. "Wouldst
thou have no fear of the power to do that which is good. And thou shalt have praise from the
same. For he is a minister of God to thee
for good." All of the civil officers of the government
are to be for our good.
"But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth
not the sword in vain: For he is a minister of God; and an
avenger of wrath for him that doeth evil."
And God expects the civil government to exercise this penalty for
murderers and others. And here he says
that he bears not the sword in vain, for he is a minister of God, an avenger of
wrath for him that doeth evil.
So Herod killed James
the brother of John, those two sons of Zebedee.
Remember that this James is one of those three inner circle disciples,
Peter, James and John, so one of the most important apostles was killed by
Herod. Now, you need to think of that in
respect to Romans 8:28, "All
things work together for good, to them that love the Lord, to them who are
called according to his purpose." When we think
of that reference, we need to include life beyond the grave. James did not deserve to die, but Herod
killed James the brother of John with the sword. "And when
he saw that it pleased Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also." And these were the days of unleavened
bread. "And
when he had taken him, he put him in the prison and delivered him to four
quarternions of soldiers to guard him; intending after the Passover to bring
him forth to the people." The King James says
Easter there. Reading from the King James
verse on four, "And when he had apprehended him, he put
him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternion of soldiers to keep him;
intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people." As I understand it there no proper place for
the King James Version having Easter there.
I guess that came from Catholic input.
But anyway I think you will find that all of the other versions will
read the Passover instead of Easter in Acts 12:4. "Intending
after the Passover to bring him forth to the people. Peter therefore was kept in prison." Notice also that they delivered him to four quaternion
of soldiers, so that would make sixteen soldiers to guard Peter. "Peter
therefore was kept in the prison. But
prayer was made earnestly of the church unto God for him." Were they praying for him that he might be
released? The rest of the context shows to the contrary. They were praying for him, but they may have
been praying for him that his faith would remain strong and that he would die
in faithfulness. At least they were
surprised when he was released.
Acts 12:5 "Peter
therefore was kept in the prison: But prayer was made earnestly of the church
unto God for him. And when Herod was
about to bring him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two
soldiers, bound with two chains: And guards before the door
kept the prison." Would that not mean that
four guards at that time were guarding
Peter? He was chained between two of them, and then two guards at the
door. And evidently they changed the guards every six hours and that would be
sixteen in all who guarded him. "And
behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shined in the cell: And he smote Peter on the side, and woke him,
saying, rise up quickly. And his chains
fell off from his hands." This is another reference that you need to
think about where the Bible makes a distinction between men and angels. I regret that some of our brethren are
referring and saying that angels are messengers and that they can just be men
carrying the gospel. That is absolutely
wrong! Do you think a mortal man can do
what was done here, go in without the guards that were guarding the door,
knowing it, and the chains falling off from Peter, while he was chained between two, and those guards did not know
anything about it? "And
behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him.
And a light shined in the prison: He smote Peter on the side, and raised him
up, saying, rise up quickly. And his
chains fell off from his hands. And the
angel said unto him, gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And he did so." Now, why didnt those two soldiers stop
him? Evidently they continued to sleep. They did not know anything about it. "And he
said unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. And he went out, and followed him; and he
knew not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a
vision. And when they were past the
first and the second guard, they came unto the iron gate immediately unto the
city; which opened to them of its own accord." Like an automatic door, and do you not know
that that door was not supposed to be opened by any ordinary means. "And
they went out, and passed on, one street; and straightway the angel departed
from him. And when Peter was come to
himself, he said, Now I know of a truth, that the Lord hath sent forth his
angel, and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation
of the people of the Jews.
Acts
12:12And
when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of
John, whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together and were
praying."
We have already read that prayer was made of the church to God for Peter. Verse five, "Peter
therefore was kept in the prison, but prayer was made earnestly of the church
unto God for him." That may include more than those that were
gathered together at Mary's house. But
at least it looks like there are a number gathered together at her house. Her house must have been large enough to
accommodate quite a few people, for they were at her house, gathering together
and praying. "And
when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of
John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together and were
praying." So her house must have been a pretty large
house, plus she has at least one maid. "And
when he knocked at the door of the gate, a maid came to answer, named Rhoda. And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened
not the gate for joy, but ran in, and told how Peter stood there before the
gate." Now, if they were praying for his release,
then they did not have much faith that their prayer would be answered. So I take it that that was not what they were
praying for. "And
they said unto her, Thou art mad. But
she confidently affirmed that it was even so and then they said, It is his
angel." "But
Peter had continued knocking: And when they had opened, they saw him and
were amazed." They were not expecting him to be released
from prison. "But
he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them
how the Lord had brought him forth out of the prison. And he said, Tell these things unto James,
and to the brethren." Now would not
verse seventeen, in light of the reference that we read from Galatians 1:17-18 about when Paul
three years after his conversion went up to Jerusalem and saw Cephas and said, of
the other apostles, saw I none, save James the Lord's brother, would this reference
here not be referring to James the Lord's brother when he says tell these
things unto James and to the brethren?
It looks like to me that he is referring to those other half-brothers of
Christ. I think we turned and read about
those brethren in John 7:5. And another thing that indicates that it is
James the Lord's brother is I Corinthians chapter fifteen where Paul makes
mention of some of the appearances of Christ after his resurrection from the
dead. Picking up with I Corinthians 15:5, "And
he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve: Then he appeared to above five hundred
brethren at once." That must have been that Galilean
appearance. Remember how he told them
before his death that he would go before them into Galilee. Then after he was raised, he told the women
to tell the apostles that he was going before them into Galilee. And so he appeared unto five hundred brethren
at once. And that is one of the
references that you need to think of to show people that those who were
baptized of John, that they and those who were baptized by Christ and the
apostles during that limited commission and kept their faith that they were charter
members of the kingdom of God. "And
then he appeared to James." He is talking about appearances that Christ made during that
forty-day period before his ascension.
"Then he appeared to James; then to all
of the apostles. And last of all he
appeared to me as unto achild untimely born, he appeared to he also." It was several years later before he appeared
to Saul of Tarsus and made him an apostle, but see the context. He appeared to Saul to make him an apostle
(Acts 9:15-19, 22:12-15, 26:15-13). And he appeared to James during that
forty-day period then to make him an apostle.
And so Paul then rightly speaks of him as an apostle, when he says in Galatians 1:17-18, "Other
of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother." It is thought by many that Peter is telling them
to tell this to James the Lord's brother.
"And he departed and went to another
place.
Acts 12:18,
As soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers what was
become of Peter. And when Herod had
sought for him, and found him not, he examined the guards and commanded that
they should be put to death." Now think about
what kind of man king Herod was. He had
killed James the brother of John with the sword. And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he
was ready to kill Peter. He certainly
must have known that these soldiers were not unfaithful men, but that he had
been released by an angel of the Lord, but yet he has those sixteen men put to
death. Verse nineteen again, "And
when Herod had sought for him, and found
him not, he examined the guards, and commanded that they should be put to
death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea and
tarried there. And he was highly
displeased with them of Tyre
and Sidon: And they came with one accord to hear him,
and, having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, they asked for
peace; because their country was fed from the king's country. And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal
apparel, sat on the throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people shouted saying, the voice of a
God, and not of a man. And immediately
an angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: And he was eaten of worms and gave up the
ghost." Well, verse twenty-three has got to be the
truth that the Lord smote him because he did not give God the glory. He was ready to take the glory to himself
when they said the voice of the God and not of a man, but think what else he
had done that he had killed James the brother of the Lord and he had those
sixteen guards put to death. And so he
received according to his works when the Lord smote him and he was eaten of worms
and died. "But
the word of God grew and multiplied. And
Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem
when they had fulfilled their ministration, taking with them John whose
surname was Mark." So this is John Mark
that Paul and Barnabas carried with them on their first journey, but when they
get to Perga of Pamphylia, he goes back to his home at Jerusalem. When Paul and Barnabas decided to go and
revisit those churches that they had established on that first journey, they
separated because Barnabas wanted to carry John Mark with them again, and Paul
did not have enough confidence in him to carry him. Which one did wrong,
Barnabas or Paul? The answer is neither. They just differed on a matter of human judgment, and
they separated. Barnabas chose John Mark, and they sailed to the Isle
of Cyprus like they did on that first journey.
And Paul chose Silas, one of those two that the church at Jerusalem had sent to the church
at Antioch to tell them in person
that circumcision and the keeping of the law was not
binding on the Gentiles. Paul and Silas
went by land back to those churches that they had established on that first
journey. I do not have any maps in here
tonight, and we will go ahead and read awhile.
If you do not understand the importance of these missionary journeys,
let me try to impress on your mind that you will do well to get in mind these
missionary journeys as to what Paul and his company did on each of these
journeys. And here in chapters thirteen
and fourteen, we will be reading about the first missionary journey of
Barnabas, and Saul, as mentioned here in the beginning, and Saul and later Paul
and Barnabas, and of their success on this first missionary journey. In these two chapters, we will be reading
about the establishment of the churches of Galatia. If these churches were not the churches of Galatia, then Luke does not
give us an account about the establishment of the churches of Galatia. It has been
well-established that these churches were in the Roman province of Galatia which is Asia Minor. There is not much room for doubt that these
churches that we will be reading about
here in chapters thirteen and fourteen constitute the churches of Galatia that the letter to the
churches of Galatia is written to.
Chapter Thirteen
"Now
there were in Antioch
in the church that was there prophets and teachers." They would be, of course, inspired prophets
and teachers. "Barnabas
and Simeon that was called Niger,
and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch, and
Saul. And as they ministered to the
Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for
the work whereunto I have called them." So
they were ministering to the Lord and fasting when the Lord said, separate me
Barnabas and Saul, for the work whereunto I have called them. And remember that Paul had been called
primarily as an apostle to the Gentiles.
"Then when they had fasted and
prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away." Now the laying on of hands here would just be
showing their approval, and that they wanted God's blessing to be upon
them. These prophets would not have had
the power to lay their hands on other disciples and give them any miraculous gifts. But they showed their approval, and notice
that they fasted and prayed. And we will
read about when Paul and Barnabas revisited these churches that the brethren
fasted and prayed when they appointed elders in the churches. "And
then when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent
them away. So being sent forth by the
Holy Spirit."
In other words, the Holy
Spirit was commanding them to go. And
part of the time, we will notice that chapter sixteen especially, that the Holy
Spirit forbid Paul to go into Asia and forbid him to go into Bithynia. And so they are being directed by the Holy
Spirit to go on this journey. "And
so they being sent forth by the Holy Spirit went forth to Seleucia;
and from thence they sailed to Cyprus." Look on your map and see Seleucia and then the Isle of
Cyprus. They go through the island of Cyprus. "And
when they were at Salamis,
they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogue of the Jews: And they had also John as their
attendant." Salamis is near on the east
side of the island. They preached the word in the synagogue of
the Jews at Salamis, but evidently without
any real success. Dont you think that
Luke would have given us an account if they had met with any success, that he
would have recorded it? But they did speak
the word of God in the synagogue of the Jews.
And they had also John as their attendant. "And when
they had gone through the whole island unto Paphos." So they go from Salamis, which is on the east
side of the island to the west side of the island unto Paphos. "They
found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet a Jew, whose surname was Barjesus who
was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding." So this Jew, a false prophet, is with a prudent
man who is an officer of the government, a proconsul. Sergius Paulus is a man of understanding, and
this false prophet tries to prevent him from hearing Barnabas and Saul. "The
same (Sergius
Paulus) called unto him Barnabas and Saul, and
sought to hear the word of God. But
Elimas the sorcerer, for so is his name by interpretation, withstood them,
seeking to turn aside the proconsul from the faith." So this false prophet, the devil worshiper, tries to prevent this wise man, Sergius
Paulus, from hearing the word of God.
Acts13:9, "But
Saul who is also called Paul." And I believe
I am right that from here on he is called Paul.
"Filled with the Holy Spirit
fastened his eyes on him, and said, O full of all guile,and all villainy thou
child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to
pervert the right ways of the Lord? And
now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not
seeing the sun for a season." So remember
that we saw where Paul is an apostle, that the Lord appeared to him to make him
an eyewitness and chose him to be an apostle to carry the gospel, especially to
the Gentiles, but not limited to the Gentiles.
And so here he uses that miraculous power given by the Holy Spirit and
strikes this old prophet Bar Jesus blind.
"And immediately there came on him
a midst and a darkness: And he went about seeking some to lead him by
the hand. Then the proconsul." Now notice that these miracles had an
influence on others. "Then
the proconsul when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at
the teaching of the Lord." That miracle verifies that they were from
God, speaking to him the way of salvation, and so when he saw what was done, he
believed. He was astonished at the
teaching of the Lord. "Now
Paul and his company." So Paul is in the leadership now. He started out, separate
me Barnabas and Saul. And as Barnabas and Saul, verse seven, the
same called unto him Barnabas and Saul. And
after this miracle of the Holy Spirit through Paul striking this false prophet
blind, it is pretty well Paul from here on that Paul is in the leadership.
Acts 13:13, "And
Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, and came to Perga of Pamphylia: And John departed from them and returned
to Jerusalem." Do you see how that ties back to chapter twelve? Mary is the mother of John Mark, and they
were gathered together at her house in Jerusalem, praying. John Mark must have decided that things were too
difficult for him. When they go up to
Perga of Pamphylia, he decided he would go back home. But they
passing through from Perga came from Antioch
in Pisidia, and they went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat
down." Now anytime Paul and those that in company
with him went to a city, and there was a synagogue there, they went to the
synagogue first. It is generally thought
that if there were as many as ten Jewish families in the city, they would have
a synagogue. So there was a Jewish
synagogue at Antioch of Pisidia. Now
remember these journeys all go from Antioch of Syria, but remember that this is
Antioch of Pisidia. And they went into
the synagogue on the sabbath day and sat down.
"And after the reading of the law
and the prophets." And this was a pattern
in the synagogue that they would be reading from the law and the prophets. Do you remember from Luke chapter four when
Jesus went to Nazareth where he was brought up?
He went in the synagogue at Nazareth and stood up to read. And there was delivered to him the book of
Isaiah. He read from it and told them, today
is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
Acts 1315, "And
after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent
unto them saying, Brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people,
say on." Now whether they had requested to be able
speak to the people in the synagogue or whether the rulers of the synagogue
just reasoned on their own that they might have a message for the people, Luke
does not tell us. Verse sixteen, "And
Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said."
I get the idea that Paul was a master of assemblies, that he could just
beckon with his hand and get the attention of the people. He could beckon with
his hand in such a way as to come across to the people that I have something
important to say to you. And remember as
recorded in Acts twenty-one, as Paul was going up the castle steps, he asked
the chief captain if he could speak to the people. And the chief captain gave him permission to
speak to those who had been trying to kill him.
And notice 21:40 reads, "And
when he had given him leave, Paul standing on the stairs, beckoned with the
hand unto the people. And when there
was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew language,
saying." And so you see there that he beckoned with
his hand and got the attention of those who had been trying to kill him. "So
Paul stood up and beckoning with the hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear
God, hearken." The men of Israel would be the Jewish
people, and ye that fear God hearken evidently would be referring to the
Gentile people that were worshiping with the Jews in that synagogue. "The
God of this people of Israel
chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they were sojourners in the land of Egypt,
and with a high arm led he them forth out of it." God had promised Abraham how that they would
enslave his descendants, that he would judge them and bring them out with a high arm (Genesis 15:12-16). And they came out, with a lot of the wealth
of Egypt when they came
out. "And
for about the time of forty years as a nursing father, he beared them in the
wilderness." So I know that our time is near up, so we will
count chapter thirteen and verse nineteen as the beginning place for our next
Class Session. Thank you.