Peter Cornelius — Acts 10-11

0:00 Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Is this on? Yes.

0:04 It is. Okay. Good. Open your Bibles to Acts chapter 10. Wow.

0:10 You you... Did you set me up already? It's... That was quick. Acts chapter 10.

0:17 And I would like to remind everyone while we're waiting for for this, of the Answers in Genesis conference, if you haven't gone online yet and registered, please do so. On the invitation, there's more in the back table. You can just see the website. Go in there and click and click on all of the different meetings that you're going to come to so that we can have an accurate count of who's going to be coming. So please remember to do so.

0:45 And didn't you think it was interesting that we're going to have vegetables and cookies for snacks in between the conference, you know, the break times? Because you eat your cookies and when your body starts to act up, you get a vegetable and that'll balance you out a little bit. So that'll keep everybody in check. There there was a there was a couple of people who went into Mexico. They were in the San Diego area, and they thought they'd go to Mexico for the day to to do some shopping.

1:23 And on their way back, they looked on the side in like a gully and they saw a little chihuahua. And so they're like, oh, poor thing. And it was really weak and dying. So they they picked it up and put it in in a... In some towels and took it home, and they started to nurture the, you know, the dog.

1:41 And and as it started getting a little stronger, they were giving it food so they take it to the vet. And when they took it to the vet, the the vet tells the two ladies who had found it and were taking care of it, lady, that's that's not a chihuahua. That's a sewer rat. You know, it's like, wow. So they were nurturing a rat that was dying, you know, back to health.

2:13 Acts chapter 10. Acts chapter 10. Keep that in mind. Acts chapter 10. I personally hate dogs, so I'm glad that it was and what...

2:26 And then they got rid of it. Acts chapter 10, we're gonna we're gonna read quite a bit. Normally, when when we preach or you teach the word, you try to read a little bit less and go into more expository. But in this case, we need to read a little bit more in order to be able to capture what's going on because it's kind of related in a story type of way. And so let's just start with verse one.

2:55 Could I ask you to turn the lights up here for a minute till I finish reading? Because I can't see the text. It's behind me? Okay. And then then we'll work on this thing.

3:09 Okay. Now I can see. Alright. Let's read from Acts chapter 10 and verse one. Now there was a certain man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort.

3:24 Notice the description of him, a devout man and one who feared God with all of his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually. About the ninth hour of the day, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God and had just come into him. And he said to him, Cornelius. And fixing his gaze upon him and being much alarmed, he said, what is it, Lord? And he said to him, your prayers and alms have been...

3:57 Have ascended as a memorial before God. And now, dispatch cement to Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter. He is staying with a certain tanner named Simon whose house is by the sea. And when the angel who was speaking to him had departed, he summoned two of his servants and a devout soldier of those who were in constant attendance upon him. And after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

5:06 But Peter said, by no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy or unclean. And again, a voice came to him a second time. What God has cleansed, no longer considered unholy. And this happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into the sky. Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what the vision which he had seen might be, Behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions to Simon's house appeared at the gate.

5:42 And cutting out, they were asking whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there. And while Peter was reflecting on the vision, the spirit said to him, behold, three men are looking for you, but arise, go downstairs and accompany them without misgivings for I have sent them myself. And Peter went down to the men and said, behold, I am the one who you are looking for. What is the reason for which you have come you have come? And they said, Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God fearing man, was spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, divinely directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear a message from you.

6:30 We'll continue some reading in a moment. In a moment. So I want you to notice a couple of the things, the details that the scripture says about Cornelius. We're going to focus on two men today and what they needed to learn. So first of all, Cornelius.

6:48 What do we know about Cornelius? First of all, we read in the scriptures that he was a devout man. He was a devout man. That is it, he was dedicated to God. Notice what it says also, that he was one who feared God with all of his household.

7:04 So not only was he devout, but he feared God in his whole home as they observed him, followed the fathers leading. Also, gave many alms. What that means is he was very generous. He gave money to... If you were living in today's times, he gave money to the goodwill, to...

7:23 What is this? The YMCA and all those kind of things. He was giving money to the needy, to the poor, if you will. We also read that he prayed continually to to God continually, according to the text. He was constantly praying and seeking God.

7:40 We noticed another thing that he encountered an angel. Now, have any of you encountered angels? Have you? Have you ever done that? Well, you know, the Bible says that sometimes if you invite people over, you can encounter an angel.

7:54 So if you would invite me over, you may have done that. I'm not sure. I said you may have, you know, who knows? Alright. But have I encountered an angel?

8:06 I'm not sure. Could be. Alright. Notice also that his prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God. Wow.

8:18 And so this man is devout. He fears God. He's very generous. He's always praying. He even encountered an angel and and his prayers and all the money he's giving is going up to God and God says, wow, look what this man is doing.

8:32 Alright? Now I'm gonna ask a question. It's a very important question. And at this time, I'm going to ask that when I ask it, you don't look over and say to someone yes or no. Okay?

8:43 So everybody has to look my way. And here's my question. Alright? You're not going to cheat, right? Nobody's going to look at each other.

8:49 Here's my question. Alright. Having having said all this, was Cornelius saved? Was Cornelius saved? Alright.

8:58 Now, let's go back. Notice everything that the Bible says about him. Alright? And so here's my question. Was Cornelius saved?

9:07 In other words, if he died at that very moment, would he go to heaven? If he would have died at that very moment, would Cornelius have gone to heaven? Was this man, according to everything we read about him, was he saved? We also noticed also that Cornelius had faith. He was a man of tremendous faith.

9:26 So having said what I said, don't say it out loud. Don't talk to your neighbor. Was he saved? Yes or no. According to what we just read about him.

9:38 If I were to tell you, I know a man who prays all the time. He even talked to an angel. God listens to his prayers. He's very devoted. He's very generous, always giving.

9:48 Would you say, man, that that guy is going right to heaven. Alright. So we also noticed that he was a man of faith. He was a man of faith. So what do you think?

10:12 Just... We're gonna leave that there for a minute. Just follow me. We turn our focus to Peter. Peter is going up to pray.

10:19 So both of these guys are praying. Right? And he's going up to pray. One guy encountered an angel in his prayer. The other man is going up to pray.

10:26 And suddenly, in his prayer, he sees the sheet coming down because God is speaking to both men. He wants them both to learn something. Now, Peter, you know, is a Jewish man. And if you know some of the old testament, you know that Peter then didn't know... Well, I'm sorry, didn't know.

10:45 He was not allowed to enter into the house of a Gentile and Eve. That is someone who wasn't Jew. And in Peter's mind and in the Jewish mind, God favored the Jewish people, and he looked at everyone else's dogs, as as enemies, as they don't have anything to do with God. And so there was a big prejudice there. And so when he sees a sheet coming down and he sees certain foods, you know, they couldn't eat pork.

11:13 Right? And they couldn't eat bacon. And if you like bacon and ham, well, you couldn't eat lobster. And so there was a lot of restrictions there. There was a lot of things you couldn't do.

11:26 And so he sees that coming down and he says, Lord, I've never done that. And a second time, he says, what I call holy, don't call unholy anymore. And then a third time, and he's kind of perplexed. And so both men encounter through through... The Lord spoke to both men in different ways during their time of prayer.

11:52 Alright. Now, you've been thinking about it for a minute. You've been thinking about it for a minute. Was this man saved? Don't answer.

11:59 Just think about it. Yes or no. Okay. Now, let's look at Cornelius. Cornelius had genuine, sincere faith.

12:09 He believed in God and he prayed to him, but he didn't know what God required. Okay. Follow me now. He didn't know what God required. Now, let's pick up the Bible then and let's continue reading.

12:23 We want the text to speak for itself. Alright. Now, let's start with verse 23. So he invited them in and gave them lodging, that is the men that came from Cornelius to get Peter to take him back. And on the next day, he arose and went away with them, and some of the brethren from from Joppa accompanied him.

12:47 That is, you're gonna see later on, but I'll tell you now, six men, six Jewish men accompanied Peter to Cornelius house. Right. Verse 24. And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them and he had called together his relatives and close friends.

13:12 And when Peter... And when it came about that Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter raised him up saying, stand up. I too am just a man. And as he talked with him, he entered and found many people assembled.

13:36 And he said to them, you yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him. And yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean. That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for you. So and so I asked, for what reason have you sent for me? And Cornelius said, and he goes on to explain what happened.

14:09 And so as the stories unfold and we noticed then that even though Cornelius was a man who prayed, a man who was very devout to God, a man who was very generous, a man who encountered an angel. He was a man, nevertheless, who needed some instruction because even though he was sincere, there was a lot of things he didn't understand about God. Now, let's notice in a couple of things. First of all, even though he was sincere, he was totally confused and he tried to worship Peter. And notice that Peter says, get up, don't worship me because I am just a man like you.

14:51 By the way, there's a whole religion built on they think that Peter was greater than he was. Peter right here, by his own admission, is just a man. Just a man saved by grace. Saved by grace. But Cornelius didn't know that.

15:07 And in his sincerity, as God has sent him to bring him, when he saw him, he throws himself down to worship and he was corrected immediately. This is not right. You never worship a man. The second thing that he needed to do is he needed to understand that he needed to be saved. Does that make sense?

15:27 He needs to understand that he needed to be saved. Now, I want you to pick up your Bibles and look with me in chapter 11. And I want you to notice something. Verse 14. Let's read thirteen and fourteen.

15:43 And he reported to us how he had seen he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, send to Joppa and have Simon, who is also called Peter, brought here. And he shall speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all of your household. So was Cornelius saved? Now you can answer. Was he saved?

16:08 No. He just said right there. He wasn't saved. But how in the world can a man not be saved if he prays to God and God is listening to his prayers? How can he not be saved if he's so generous?

16:21 And how can he be not be saved if he even encountered an angel? Because it doesn't matter how devout he was and how sincere his faith was and how much he prayed and how dedicated he was to his family, that doesn't save a man. Doesn't save a man. And Cornelius had to understand that truth. And so God, the same time, knowing that this man wasn't saved, but he was a sincere man, sends and and supernaturally is working behind the scenes so that Peter can come and express to him how he needs to be saved or what he needs to do to be saved.

17:02 The... You know why I I say this? Because I was just speaking to someone this week. The the the general public... Is that a good way of saying it?

17:13 The majority of the people believe that you're going to get to heaven by being good and that most people are good. And they're saved because they're good or somehow they're going be good enough to get there. And you can read Cornelius' life and you would have assumed this man knows the Lord. But the Bible clearly states to us as we read, he needed to be saved, and Peter was gonna tell him what he needed to do to be saved. Very important that we understand this.

17:44 Notice, his good works were not getting them right with God. He also had to repent from his sins. Now you say, well, wait a minute. Wait. Repent from his sins?

17:57 He's a man who's devoted to his family. He's a man who who who seeks God. He's devoted to God, and he prays, and he's so generous. What do you mean repent from sin? He's not some evil guy, but he's born in sin.

18:10 He still has sin. We're gonna see that also in a minute. Follow with me. He had to acknowledge Christ as the only way to heaven. He didn't know this.

18:37 Now, let's... Let me go back to chapter 10 on my own where I was at. Okay. Now, let's look at what he's gonna say. Verse 34.

18:51 Right? And just to set the scene, Peter comes, he enters the house. Cornelius was anxiously anticipating his visit. He was so excited that Peter was going to come that he invited relatives and friends. Hey, come on.

19:05 Some man is going to come sent from God. He's going to speak to us God's message. God's message. So he was eager to hear. And I want you to notice and speak, starting with verse 34.

19:17 And opening his mouth, Peter said, I must certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality. Alright. We'll stop right there. See, Peter thought that God favored only the Jewish people. Peter, if you will, was prejudiced.

19:39 Have you ever looked down on someone? Have you ever thought, oh, look at that person? And Peter had that image and so did many of the Jews. In fact, as I said earlier, they they called the Jewish person a dog. That that's that's quite the insult.

19:54 You ever been called one of those? I think somebody called me that before and... But I I chose to forget about it. I don't even remember who did it. Right?

20:03 But, you know, growing up in the hoods and people insult each other and say, hey, you're a dog. Nobody but... Have you ever done that to someone? That that's quite the insult, isn't it? And and so Peter had to understand.

20:15 Peter, you have to understand from this moment on that the gospel is going to be preached to all the world. And if you're going to be used by God, the first thing you need do is stop looking down on people. Stop thinking that you're better than they are. Stop having this arrogant attitude. What I call holy.

20:35 Don't call it unclean. Don't call it dirty. Don't insult them anymore. That's the end of that. And as the church is transitioning, it has to learn one thing, that God loves all people regardless of their color or where they're from or what their language is or what their economic status is or how educated they are.

20:55 God doesn't care because every person matters to God and has been created by God. Amen? Alright. So he goes, I must certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality. He's not impressed with anyone with their education or what they've accomplished in this world.

21:14 He looks at an individual as a soul that needs to be saved. Notice also then, and we'll go through here, number one, Cornelius. Peter had to learn this and so did Cornelius. But more than anything, Peter, that God does not show partiality. Aren't you glad God is that way?

21:35 God never looks down on you. Never insults you. Never says, why are you that color? Why are you that size? Why aren't you more educated?

21:42 Or why are you so... He... Does... Doesn't matter to him. We all are an equal standing before God.

21:53 You know, because many times we we feel inferior. We've been insulted. We've been crushed. Praise God that God never does that. That comes from man and not from God.

22:04 Alright. So notice the next verse. But in every nation, the man who fears him and does what is right is welcome to him. Now, some more clarification. The universalist would jump on this verse and see, hey, God welcomes everybody, whoever comes in.

22:22 It doesn't matter. See, it's not teaching that everybody is saved. It's not teaching that God welcomes anybody, but but what it's saying is that God is working behind the scenes, and when a man seeks God, God draws him to himself. Notice, the man who fears him and does what is right is welcome to him. And the idea behind this verse is exactly that.

22:50 Cornelius was a man who was fearing God and seeking God. And when God saw that he was drawing them then and drawing them and he starts working behind the scenes. He says, now your salvation is getting close. You're seeking me. I'm going to send for the man who's going to tell you how to be saved.

23:08 Very important that we understand this principle too. For the man who seeks, God will reveal himself. Many of you can say and testify that before I was saved, said, God, if you're real, show yourself to me and God reveals himself to us. Doesn't he? He makes it clear who Jesus is and how to be saved.

23:29 Verse 36. He starts then to preach to him the gospel. First of all, he clarifies, I understand now, Cornelius, that God doesn't show partiality, and I am no longer looking down on you. I'm no longer insulting you. I'm no longer going to call you a dog or anything of that nature that's wrong.

23:50 God doesn't do those things. The second thing I understand is that when no man is seeking God, God will draw him and he will put those people in front of you so that you can be saved. Now, as he starts to preach the gospel to him, here's the very first thing he says. Verse 36, the words which he sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ. Notice, he is Lord of all.

24:15 See, Cornelius knew about Jesus. He was a centurion. Of course, knew that where he was stationed was only a day's walk from Jerusalem where everything happened. He knew everything that happened. He knew about Jesus.

24:33 But to simply know about Jesus doesn't save anybody or make you in right standing with him, does it? So he knew about him, but he didn't know this, that Jesus Christ is Lord of all. He is God. He's above all. He is the one.

24:48 And he didn't know that. He thought he was just another man who died for his cause, whatever that may be, and that he was crucified, but he had no clue that he was the Lord of all. In order to be saved, you have to understand this fundamental principle that Jesus is lord. So the Israelites started with this message, and they were preaching priests... Peace through Jesus.

25:13 And here's what they were saying. He's the Lord. Verse 37. Notice, and you yourself know the things which took place throughout all Judea. He knew that he was crucified.

25:25 He knew it. Of course, he was informed. He was one of the leaders of the Roman armies. Starting from Galilee and after the baptism, which John proclaimed. So we know that Jesus started preaching in Galilee.

25:38 That was near his hometown. That was at first where he started preaching, and he was preaching all the area. And so he's basically giving him a little bit of a of a background showing him where he was. But notice the next thing he says, Verse 38, and you know of Jesus of Nazareth. Now he keeps saying you know because because he knew about him, but he didn't knew that he was the Lord.

26:03 And he didn't know that through him is the only way you can be saved. How God anointed him, that is Jesus, with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil for God was with him. And so he basically says, Cornelius, you know that Jesus was from Nazareth? You're not ignorant of these things. And you know that that God was with him and he anointed him with power.

26:29 And look at all the great things he did. He he was... The whole time of his ministry, basically, was a battle with the devil. I love the way he expresses it right here. He was taking those demons out of people.

26:42 How many times in the gospels do... Don't we read that the demons fled in the presence of Jesus? And in that one case, we're over a thousand in one shot. Get out of them. And they left them.

26:58 So what a powerful testimony to the power of Jesus, how he was doing good and he was healing, and he was taking those demons out of people who were possessed. And he did so many great things that proved that he was the Messiah, that he was empowered by God, that he was the one. Verse 39. So you have to understand that God anointed Jesus with power. He did God's will.

27:24 The next thing he didn't know that he need to understand that that we were witnesses, Peter and those who were with him. Notice the text then. And we are the witnesses of all these things he did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, and they also put him to death by hanging him on the cross. I was witnessing to a man, and he says, I'm an engineer. And in order for me to believe, I need proof.

27:49 I need I need to see it in black and white. And I said, okay. If someone shoots someone and murders someone, how many witnesses do you need for you to be convinced that that person is guilty? Well, I guess two or three. I said, alright.

28:03 The Bible says that all 12 disciples saw him, plus the apostle Paul, plus his half brothers, and it says 500 other men saw him alive. But these men witnessed his power. They witnessed his healings. They saw what he was doing. Eye to eye witnesses, more than 12.

28:24 I said, is that enough for you to be convinced? So we are witnesses. Peter said, I saw him. I was with Jesus. I saw what he did.

28:33 First John chapter one says the same thing. We tell, we touched him, we beheld him. We witnessed everything he did. We know who he is. And notice the next thing he says.

28:47 And they also put him to death by hanging him on a cross. Cornelius knew that. He knew that. He knew exactly what happened. And so the next thing you need to understand was this, that they, the Jews and the Romans, put him to death on a cross.

29:10 He knew he died. This wasn't new to Cornelius, but he just reminded them, remember what you guys did, not only the Jews, the Romans. You all put him to death on a cross by hanging him on a cross. Verse 40, but notice, and God raised him on the third day and granted that he should become visible. So what's the next thing that he need to understand was this, that God raised him on the third day, the resurrection, and many saw him, specifically his disciples.

29:42 Now, here's the thing. The Bible is very clear on this, that Jesus, when he raised from the dead, he was a literal physical resurrection. He wasn't a ghost. It wasn't a spirit. He resurrected in body.

29:59 And so he said to the disciples, listen, put your hand right there and touch me. I'm not a ghost. He said to Thomas, the doubter, put your hand on my side and your fingers in there and quit doubting. Then later, he says, I am flesh and bone. And Luke.

30:19 And so in order to be saved, you have to understand and to have correct doctrine that Jesus Christ, when he rose from the dead, he rose in bodily form. And when he ascended on high, he's up in heaven right now in a body. For the Bible says in Revelation chapter one, that when he returns, every eye shall see him. And then it says in Zechariah thirteen and fourteen, they're going to see his side that was pierced, and they're going to mourn. They're going to repent because they had not believed in him.

30:49 So where is Jesus now? He's in heaven. What is he doing in heaven? He is interceding for us, but he is up there in a body. Because when he took on man, humanity took it on for all eternity.

31:03 And so Cornelius didn't understand this truth that God raised him from the dead, the resurrection. The resurrection. And this was... The core of their message when they were preaching was, we have a risen savior who rose from the dead and we saw him. Many people saw him.

31:55 So again, he was eating because he rose in a body form as a man. And he ordered to us to preach to the people and suddenly to testify that this is the one who had been appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. Listen. When when when a person dies, he's going to stand before Jesus Christ, who's the judge. Every one of us will stand before the Lord Jesus.

32:27 God appointed him and gave him that privilege and that power that when we die, Jesus is gonna say, either I know you or I don't know you. Either you're saved or you're not saved. And we're gonna stand before the Lord Jesus. He is the one that is going to judge. Wow.

32:47 Wow. So Cornelius had no idea that all of this was true of Jesus. He just thought it was a man who was crucified. That's all he knew. And even though he was sincere, he couldn't be saved because he didn't know all this.

33:01 And you can't be saved unless you place your faith on a specific purpose... I mean, sorry, person. And then he says, verse 43, of him, all the prophets bear witness that through his name, everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sin. There's no other name. It says in acts also chapter four and verse 12, there's no other name in which a man can be saved only through the name of Jesus.

33:36 It's the only way to be saved. And so Cornelius his family and all his friends are listening to this and they're like, wow, I didn't know this. We didn't know this. And notice verse 44 then, and while Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all of those who were listening to the message. Right at that moment, they believed.

34:05 Right at that moment, they were convicted. Right at that moment when when they believed and were convicted, the holy spirit fell upon them immediately. The moment you're saved, the holy spirit falls upon you. So if you don't have the spirit, you're not saved. So immediately then, the holy spirit fell upon them.

34:26 And notice what what it's saying, who were listening to the message, and all of the circumcised believers, verse 45, who had come with Peter were amazed. The six guys that came with Peter, they were like, wow. Because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured upon the Gentiles also. See, they used to think that God doesn't look at Gentiles. He doesn't look at them.

34:53 And then they were stunned. Oh my word. Just as we were saved, they were saved. They heard the message we heard and believed, and the Holy Spirit fell upon them. And notice verse 46, for they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God.

35:10 Then Peter answered, surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who has received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he? Now, let me give some clarification. It says that when the Holy Spirit fell upon them, the reason they knew that they were really saved was because they were speaking in another language. Did you notice that? Did you catch that?

35:35 That's very important. The reason this happened in this particular case, because the Jewish guys didn't believe that they could really be saved. And so God purposely allowed them at that moment when they were saved, when the Holy Spirit came upon them to speak this way so they can say, oh my word, just as it happened to us in chapter two of Acts in in Pentecost, when Peter preached and people were saved, and that was the... That happened, it was exact same thing so that the Jews wouldn't think we... It was different.

36:08 See, they said, wow. Just as it happened to them, it happened to us. And so they couldn't deny the fact that they were truly saved because they believed in the Lord. That's what that text means. That's not the standard.

36:21 If you get saved today, you're not gonna start speaking. You're gonna start getting purified because the holy spirit comes upon you. You're gonna start hating sin. A friend of mine came to Christ not too long ago, and he was a man that did every kind of vice you can think of. And then he says, oh my word, I don't wanna go there anymore.

36:41 You don't believe we're places I used to go. Now I hate it. I feel so dirty. I said, oh, it seems like the holy spirit got ahold of you. And and why is it that I don't wanna do what I used to do?

36:52 I said, because now you're born again. That's why. And of course, when when one is baptized, notice... I'm sorry. When one is saved and the holy spirit comes upon him, verse 47, surely no one can refuse water for these to be baptized who have received the holy spirit just as we did, Kenny?

37:11 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and they... And then they asked him to stay on for a little bit. So what Peter says, look, they're saved. We can see it. It's obvious.

37:21 They all believed in the Lord Jesus. They understand who he is. They they believe in the resurrection. Now, let's baptize them. Now, if you have been saved and you have a spirit in your life and you haven't been baptized, there's no reason why not.

37:38 You're gonna get baptized, talk to the others. Don't warm up that water, tonight we'll be dipping you. There's there's no reason to wait. There's no reason to wait. There's no reason to wait.

37:48 If you're saved, you should be baptized. Why? Because they immediately gave testimony to everybody. I had now identified with Jesus. There's no reason to wait for that.

37:59 It was immediate. They gave testimony that they belong to Jesus. Alright. Now, go to chapter 11. What chapter 11 is all about.

38:34 He came back to Jerusalem to give a report of what God had done. And what what do the Jewish people say, oh my word, Peter. They started reprimanding. You went into their house and you ate? Were those dogs?

38:51 See, they still hadn't learned that lesson, had they? Looking down on people. But Peter began speaking and proceeded to explain to them in an orderly sequence saying, verse five, I I was in a city and he's going to go and explain verse six. And then let's look at verse seven. I also heard a verse, a voice saying to me, arise Peter, kill and eat.

39:12 Verse eight, but I said, by no means, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered my mouth. But the voice from heaven answered a second time and said, what God has cleansed no longer consider unholy. And this happened three times. And everything was drawn back up to the sky. And behold, at that moment, three men appeared to me, as you know verse 12, and the spirit told me to go with them, with the six brethren.

39:39 There it is right there, the six brethren also who went with me. We entered into the man's house. Verse 13, and he reported to us how he saw the angel. Verse four fourteen, and he shall speak these words by which you will be saved, you and all your household. Verse 15, and as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, just as he did upon us at the beginning.

40:03 And that is in Acts chapter two. And I remember the words of the Lord, how he used to say, John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit. If God therefore gave to them the same gift as he gave to us also after being believing in the Lord, Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way? Okay. Jewish people understand that we're preaching the gospel, the good news, and we are not gonna stop God from saving the Gentiles.

40:37 And I wasn't gonna stand in God's way. I couldn't hold back the hand of God because God is a gracious God, and he wants to save people. I was not gonna stand in his way. Verse 18, and when they heard this, they quieted down because they were angry at first. Then the Lord started changing their heart, and they glorified God saying, notice, well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.

41:07 The repentance that leads to life. Notice here, this verse. How can a man be just with God? Or how can he be clean who is born of a woman? If even the moon has no brightness and the stars are not pure in his sight, in the sight of God, how much less man, that maggot, and the son of man, that worm.

41:28 By the way, in case you thought Cornelius was so great, here's how God looks at him, as a maggot and as a worm. No, no, don't get it wrong. His good behavior didn't make him right with God. Jesus made him right with God. His his repenting, repenting of what?

41:46 Here's what he needed to do. Alright? Those who with him believed, the Holy Spirit fell upon him. The physical evidence, believed that. And then they were baptized.

41:57 Right? Now, what does God grant? Repentance that lead to life. Repentance means you change your mind. See, Cornelius and all of those with him thought that Jesus was just another man who died on a cross for a cause.

42:14 But after he heard the message of Peter, they repented. They changed their mind. He is not just another man. He is Lord. He's not just a person who died as a martyr.

42:24 He rose from the dead and he's alive, and he died from my sin. Repentance means you change your mind about who Jesus is. And man, by the time Peter was done with him, he was worshiping the Lord Jesus. He no longer was gonna bother Peter, was he? And so in order to be saved, you need to repent.

42:45 Repent of what? Of thinking that you're good enough to get to heaven. Of thinking that because you pray and God hears your prayer and you saw an angel, you can get to heaven. You have to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the only way and he is the Lord of all. He rose from the dead.

43:02 He's going to judge everyone. And they believe that message, they repented, then they had what? Eternal life. Well, are you saved? See, God wants to grant you repentance that leads to life.

43:19 I I I hope that you're not trying to get to heaven by being good. And if you're not sure, it would be my honor to talk to you about the Lord Jesus and show you how you can be saved today. What do we learn? What do we learn? That the Jewish people, even though they were saved, they were holding down the gospel, and God was eager to get it going throughout all the world.

43:56 He doesn't have to become a Jew. And so Peter had to learn this and he did. That God's gracious hand reaches out to everyone. And Cornelius had to learn that even though he was so good, he still needed to be saved by believing specifically on the Lord Jesus Christ. And he repented.

44:17 He and all those with them, and they trusted the Lord. What a powerful story. I hope you know the Lord, and I hope you're living for him, because he is the one that will give you life if you repent and believe in him and him alone. Father, thank you for your word, and thank you for the marvelous story in the Bible of how two men had to learn two lessons. One man had to learn to stop looking down on others.

44:47 And the other man had to learn that he needed the Lord to be saved. Oh Lord, we bless you, we thank you that you're a saving God, and that you want men to repent so that they can have life. Bless us as we go home and that we appreciate Jesus and his working across evermore. In Jesus name, amen.