Acts 10 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

Acts 10 in 5 Minutes

WHEN:

• The events of Acts 10 probably occurred between 39-40 A.D.

• The Bible doesn’t provide us with enough information to pinpoint exact dates.

CHARACTERS:

• Peter – One of Jesus’ 12 Apostles who helped lead the early Church.

• Cornelius – A roman centurion, “a devout man who feared God.”

WHERE:

• In chapter 10, Peter traveled from Joppa to the city of Caesarea.

OUTLINE:

• CORNELIUS’ VISION (10:1-8):

  • Cornelius was a centurion of the Italian Cohort who lived in Caesarea.

  • An angel appeared to him in a vision and told him to find a man named Peter who was lodging in the city of Joppa.

  • Cornelius obeyed and sent two servants and a soldier to Joppa.

• PETER’S VISION (10:9-20):

  • The next day, as he was praying, Peter fell into a trance.

  • He saw something like a sheet descending from heaven, lowered by its four corners, and it was full of “animals and reptiles and birds.”

  • Peter heard a voice saying, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”

  • But Peter refused because some of the animals were ceremonially “unclean” under the Jewish law.

  • The same thing happened three times and then the trance ended.

  • As Peter was pondering the meaning of the vision, the 3 men from Cornelius approached.

  • The Holy Spirit told Peter to accompany the men to Caesarea.

• PETER MEETS CORNELIUS IN CAESAREA (10:21-33):

  • After spending the night in Joppa, Peter travelled to Caesarea.

  • Cornelius’ whole household was gathered, and they greeted Peter upon his arrival.

  • Jews didn’t typically go into Gentiles’ homes, but Peter concluded God wanted him to visit with Cornelius.

  • Cornelius recounted his vision to Peter.

• PETER TELLS CORNELIUS ABOUT JESUS (10:34-43):

  • Up to this point, the gospel message had only been preached to the Jews, but Peter realized God wanted to include the Gentiles in the Church as well.

  • Peter told Cornelius about Jesus’ anointing by the Holy Spirit, His ministry, His death, and His resurrection from the dead.

  • He told him Jesus had been appointed Judge of the living and the dead, and that anyone who believed in Him received forgiveness of sins.

• THE HOLY SPIRIT ARRIVES AND CORNELIUS IS BAPTIZED (10:44-48):

  • While Peter was speaking, the Holy Spirit “fell on all who heard.”

  • They spoke in tongues and extolled God.

  • Peter baptized Cornelius’ household and they became the first Gentile believers.

APPLICATION:

• God is a patient teacher.

• Evidently, many of the Jews, including the Apostles, were still holding on to some of the practices of the Old Testament Law (namely the restriction of certain foods), up to 10 years after Jesus died on the cross.

• As followers of Jesus, we cannot expect to learn everything we need to know the day we decide to start following Jesus.

• God will teach us progressively as we walk with Him.

• We need to be as patient with people as God is with us.