Acts - Week 35

Week 35 Acts 10 

Day 1 

READ 

Acts 10:30-33 

30 Cornelius replied, “Four days ago I was praying in my house about this same time, three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, a man in dazzling clothes was standing in front of me. 31 He told me, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been noticed by God! 32 Now send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here, waiting before God to hear the message the Lord has given you.” 

After Peter asked why he had been sent for, Cornelius rehearsed what had caused him to do so. Cornelius described the angel as having appeared in “dazzling clothes” and standing in front of him. No wonder Cornelius “stared at him in fear” (see verse 4). Verse 24 says Cornelius had gathered his relatives and close friends and now they all waited to hear the message the Lord had given Peter. This is a situation where God had opened hearts to hear the gospel. 

REFLECT 

Perhaps someone you will meet today has had the heart opened by God to hear what you have to say. Are you prepared to talk about Jesus? 

RESPOND 

With your disciple, pray that people will come to services with the desire to hear what God has given the speaker to present. Pray for open hearts and open minds. 

Day 2 

READ 

Acts 10:34-36 

34 Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. 35 In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. 36 This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.” 

Peter—a Jewish man who grew up showing favoritism opposing Gentiles—now sees God has no favorites. The word translated “nation” is the one from which the word “ethnic” is derived. God wants the gospel to go out to every ethnic group. Notice Peter’s admission that Christ is “Lord of all” not just the Jewish people. This was a world-changing concept for Peter. God had changed his heart and perspective. 

REFLECT 

Have you thought about that Jesus died for all and not just for one ethnic group? Does this motivate you to tell others about Jesus? 

RESPOND 

Read Matthew 28:18-20 to see that God wants believers to make disciples baptize and teach those in all ethnic groups. You and your disciple need to pray for this outreach.  

Day 3 

READ 

Acts 10:37-38 

37 “You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism. 38 And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 

Peter reminded Cornelius and the others of things he assumed they likely knew. He began with the ministry of John the Baptist and told of Jesus’ public ministry. Peter emphasized that Jesus was anointed of God and went around doing good and healing those oppressed by spiritual powers. He said that “God was with him.” Cornelius had seen an angel but Peter makes it even more significant by saying God was with Jesus. 

REFLECT 

Think on this review Peter gave about the ministry of Jesus. Let it be a reminder of rereading the gospels to learn about Jesus.  

RESPOND 

Remind your disciple that one will never know any more about Jesus that what is known from the Bible. This should encourage each believer to be diligent in reading the Scriptures. 

Day 4 

READ 

Acts 10:39-41 

39 “And we apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him to life on the third day. Then God allowed him to appear, 41 not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 

It was one thing to tell about the events in Jesus’ life, but Peter adds, “We apostles are witnesses of all he did.” This is testimony that could not be refuted. Peter told also of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Peter said that Jesus had actually appeared to the apostles and they ate and drank with Him after His resurrection. Imagine what the listeners must have been thinking at this point. How is this possible?! But they had an eyewitness telling them these things. 

REFLECT 

Think how special it is that there are accounts in the Bible written by eyewitnesses. A bystander cannot get closer than that to the actual happenings. 

RESPOND 

Just as there were eyewitnesses to events in the Bible, believers today have eyewitnesses to the way they live. Read 1 Thessalonians 2:9-11 for what the apostle Paul told others in this regard. Could others say this about you and your disciple? 

Day 5 

READ 

Acts 10:42-43 

42 “And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. 43 He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.” 

Peter told Cornelius and his relatives and close friends what Jesus had instructed the apostles to do. They were to preach everywhere, letting others know that God was the judge of the living and the dead. This would have been a serious statement to Gentiles as well as Jews. Peter referred to the Old Testament as he gave the good news that everyone who believes in Jesus will have their sins forgiven through His name.  

REFLECT 

Be amazed at how New Testament believers like Peter were able to use the Old Testament to tell others about Jesus.  

RESPOND 

Use some time for you and your disciple to read the 12 verses in Isaiah 53. This passage has been used often to witness to Jewish people about Jesus and what is revealed about Him in the New Testament.