Video Discussion Q+A

1) How does Luke describe Cornelius? Why did Cornelius need to send for Peter? (see Acts 4:12)

– He’s a Roman Centurion who righteously feared God, gave generously, and prayed continually. Cornelius needed Peter to tell him the good news, the Gospel, of how Jesus rose from the dead. Now that Christ had resurrected, faith in his name is what brings salvation.  

2) What did Peter see in his vision coming down from Heaven and how many times? What was his reaction?

– He saw all kinds of different animals coming down in a sheet from Heaven and heard a command to kill and eat all of them without choosing between what was clean or unclean. Peter said no as strongly as he could because it would be breaking the law of Moses. This happened 3 times.

3) Why would Peter have hesitated to go with the men if the Holy Spirit did not command him to? (see Acts 10:28-29) What did Peter realize about the vision and what did it reveal to him about God (see Acts 10:34)?

– It was against the Jewish Law to go and enter into and eat with gentiles. They would have been made ceremoniously unclean by the kinds of foods they ate and the way they lived. Here Peter now understands the vision and that it was really about not calling people unclean. This shows that God doesn’t show partiality to anyone. Anyone can come to him, receive salvation, and become a part of his covenant people. Through Jesus, they are fully forgiven and cleansed (1 Cor 6:11)!

4) What did Cornelius already know about Jesus? (Acts 10:37-38) What news did he not already know? (Acts 10:39-43)

– He already knew about Jesus’ life and ministry. He knew the miracles, he knew the teachings, he knew the Spirit of God was upon Jesus. What he did not know was that Jesus rose from the dead after being crucified. Here Peter tells Cornelius the full message of the Gospel, and its now through Jesus that we have access to God the Father.

5) What was the sign that the Gentiles are now included as God’s people? (See Acts 10:44-48)

– The Holy Spirit fell on everyone that heard Peter’s words. The same Holy Spirit that fell on the Jewish disciples back in Acts 2 now fell on these Gentile Romans. This is without question, the sign that shows the gentiles have equal status among God’s people. They received the Holy Spirit as well, they are baptized into the people of God. This has been God’s plan from the very beginning (Genesis 12), now fulfilled in Christ.

6) Why was it important to the Holy Spirit that Peter bring news about what happened to the church in Jerusalem?

– It was important that the disciples bring news of this back to the church headquarters in Jerusalem so they would believe the gentiles receive the same salvation that they do. Jesus is not just the jewish messiah, he’s the messiah for the whole world.  What God was teaching Peter, he’s teaching his whole church. God shows no partiality. We should live in this same way (James 2:1), knowing that Jesus can save, forgiven, and adopt anyone he wants into his family. Praise God he’s received us into his family through belief in Jesus, risen from the dead!