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."

Don’t 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 sinner’s 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 o’clock 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 Children’s 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 Simon’s 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