ACTS CHAPTER 11 Peter’s Plea

INTRODUCTION

Peter Speak to the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem

1:  Now the apostles and the  brethren who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2:   And when Peter came up to  Jerusalem, those who were circumcised took issue with him,

Peter may have stayed in Caesarea for weeks.

He undoubtedly felt the need to instruct the new Gentile converts.

While Peter was in Caesarea, the news of the Gentile conversion reached the Jewish believers in Jerusalem; who became angered.

3:  saying, “You went to  uncircumcised men and ate with them” 4  But  Peter began speaking and proceeded to explain to them in orderly  sequence, saying, 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object coming down like a great sheet lowered by four corners from the sky; and it came right down to me, 6  and when I had fixed my gaze on it and was observing it I saw the four-footed animals of the earth and the wild beasts and the crawling creatures and the birds of the air.

Far to often we hear half of the story and draw wrong conclusions.

Peter, who in the past, was of an impatient nature, now took the time to explain his actions.

  Now Luke could have just said “ Peter explained” and left it at that. 

He must have felt this story was important because he repeats the entire story again.

And indeed! it is important for us as well as the ancient Gentile.

This story shows that God loves all his children not just a chosen few.

The Jewish Christian’s, as with their brothers, were totally hung-up on the old testament law concerning the sign of the covenant between God and the Jews.

The circumcision of each male was a permanent physical sign of this covenant.  

7  “I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’   8  “But I said, ‘By  no means, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’  9:  “But a voice from heaven answered a second time, ‘What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.’  10:  “This happened three times, and everything was drawn back up into the sky.

Note how Luke made sure to mention that this story of the unfolded sheet was told three times.

The number three being the number of completion according to Jewish tradition.

From this point on we will see if this tradition holds true.

11 : “And behold, at that  moment three men appeared at the house in which we were staying, having been sent to me from Caesarea.  12  “The Spirit told me to go with them without misgivings. These six brethren also went with me and we entered the man’s house.

The total number of travelers were seven; another significant number in Jewish traditions.

We will soon see the significance of Peter bringing six brethren with him.

Peter entered the house of a Roman centurion, a Gentile up to this point considered as unclean.

There was no need to mention Cornelius’s name or position for it was already known.

Because of the vision Peter no longer saw the Gentile as unclean; and his actions were validated by the six witnesses.

The total number of travelers were seven; another significant number in Jewish traditions.

In Egyptian and Roman law to prove a witnesses account it required 6 additional witnesses.

This means the total number of witnesses would then be seven.

“7-Seven is one of the greatest power numbers in Judaism, representing Creation, good fortune, and blessing. A Hebrew word for luck, gad, equals seven in gematria. Another Hebrew word for luck, mazal, equals seventy-seven.” [6]

Romans denoted something was important by putting 7 marks in the margin

13  “And he reported to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and have Simon, who is also called Peter, brought here; 14:  and he will speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’

I found the follow commentary interesting:

“The historian makes the angel express this much more generally ( Acts 10:6 ). So also the subsequent report of it by the deputies and by Cornelius himself to Peter ( Acts 10:22 Acts 10:32 ). But as Peter tarried with Cornelius certain days, and they doubtless talked over the wonderful scene together, perhaps this fuller and richer form of what the angel said was given to Peter; or the apostle himself may have expressed what the angel certainly designed by directing them to send for him. Observe, "salvation" is here made to hang upon "words," that is, the Gospel message concerning Christ. But on the "salvation" of Cornelius, and that of his "house,“ [2]

15  “And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning.  16:  “And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

By this statement Peter was pointing to the fact that God had placed the Gentiles on the same equal plane as they.

The first Baptism was in the name of Jesus, and was accomplished to ordain and sanctify the recipient(s) into the new church.

The second baptism was of the Holy Spirit; who would fill them completely; giving them power and useful gifts.

These gifts of course, were to be used for the betterment of the new church.

17 “Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” 18: When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.”

“To "grant repentance unto life"--that is, "such as issues in life" (compare 2 Corinthians 7:10 , "repentance unto salvation")--is more than to be willing to pardon upon repentance [GROTIUS].” [2]

We see that Paul records the phrase “repentance without regret” in 2 Cor 7:10

A person must regret his/her sin in order to repent and seek forgiveness.

The Church at Antioch

19:  So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone.

NOTE:  Interactive map link of this time line: http://www.biblemap.org/#Acts_11

These people evidently had not yet heard of Peter’s apostatizing of Cornelius a Gentile.

They considered the Gentile as unclean in accordance with Jewish customs of that time, and therefore did not associate with the Gentile.

Church planting and mentoring would be given to Paul a Roman citizen and Jewish Christian.

20:  But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and cayenne, who came to Antioch, and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord  Jesus.

In  Acts 13:1 we see Lucius spoke to the Greek (Gentiles)

“The Gospel had, from the first, been preached to "the Grecians" or Greek-speaking Jews, and these "men of Cyprus and Cyrene" were themselves "Grecians." How then, can we suppose that the historian would note, as something new and singular ( Acts 11:22 ), that some of the dispersed Christians preached to them?” [2]

21:  And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.  22:  The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch.

We see now that Cornelius was not the first uncircumcised Gentile to be welcomed into the church.

The important thing to remember here as far as we know Cornelius was the first Roman officer to be baptized into the church

In verse 22 we see Barnabas being sent to Antioch.

According to Acts 4:36 Barnabas was a Cypriot Jew.  Which is to say he was from Cyprus, and therefore spoke Greek. 

He was a disciple living in Jerusalem.

It is interesting to note here that in both the basic Bible and King James translation use the term “as far as Antioch”

This indicates that perhaps he was to stop at and establish or report on churches along the way.

In verses 22-24 we no sense of anger from the Jews in the Jerusalem church.

I believe that Barnabas was sent out as an emissary of the Christian Jews in Jerusalem to Antioch and to bring back a report as to what was happening in Antioch.

23:  Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord; 24:  for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord.

Barnabas rejoiced when he arrived at Antioch for what God was doing there.

Barnabas lived up to the meaning of his name (one who encourages)

Many people were brought to the Lord.  Although Barnabas did not need to teach the believers; it is evident that he did preach to those who were not believers; “for many were brought to the Lord”.

25:  And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul; 26:  and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an Entire year. They met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were 1st called Christians in Antioch.

At this time Saul had already had been dispatched to Tarsus.

He soon realized that Antioch was ready for a rich harvest of believers and proceeded to Tarsus to ask Saul to chair as a co-pastor.

“Barnabas was the first to take the converted persecutor by the hand and procure his recognition as a disciple by the brethren at Jerusalem ( Acts 9:27 )” [3]

The name Christians (‘Christianoi’ in Greek) did not come from within the new church, but rather was coined by the heathens in Antioch and not by their Jewish rivals who called them simply, Nazarenes. 

They called the believers Christians’ at first not to honor them nor to honor the new church but rather it was out of contempt, as reported in  Acts 26:28 , and 1 Peter 4:16 .

However over the years this name has become synonymous with our Lord and savior.

 The new church proudly retained the name Christians’ because it brought honor to Jesus.

27:  Now at this time some Prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28:  One of them named Agabus stood up and began to Indicate by the spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world. And this took place in the region of Claudius.

There was an order or class identified by Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:28 1 Corinthians 12:29 , Ephesians 4:11 ). Which placed Prophets second only to the apostles.

These prophets often told of things yet to come.

Teachers were third. 

The gift of various kinds of tongues surprisingly was listed as last.

“Verses 27-30 Claudius was the Emperor from AD 41-54. During this time, there were 5 famines in the*Roman empire. They happened in different parts of it. Actually, 5 writers recorded that they happened. One was the Jewish writer Josephus (AD 37-100). He wrote about a *famine in Judea. It happened between AD 44 and 48. But the believers in Antioch knew that it would happen. They knew because Agabus had told them about it. So, they could prepare for it. They had not met the believers in Judea. But the believers in Antioch knew that both the groups belonged to God’s family now. So, they helped the believers [2]

28. In that there should be great drought throughout all the world--the whole Roman empire. 
which came to pass in the days of Claudius Cæsar--Four famines occurred during his reign. This one in Judea and the adjacent countries took place, A.D. 41 [JOSEPHUS, Antiquities, 20.2,5].An important date for tracing out the chronology of the Acts. (But this subject is too difficult and extensive to admit of being handled here) [2]

Judea.

29:  And in the proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them Determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea.  30:  And this they did, sending it in charge of Barnabas and Saul to the elders.

This was the second visit to Jerusalem by Saul after his conversion.

This was a clear example of Christian love.

Note here that each giver was to give according to his ability to do so.

The donations were given to the elders by Saul and Barnabas so the donation would be blessed and distributed as needed.

By this example of love we all are guided to give money, talents, and devotion as we are able.

[1] – Cross wire

[2] -  commentaries by /jamieson-fausset-brown

[3] – Commentaries By Marion Adams

[4] – Wikipedia. Org

[5] – The student Bible dictionary – Karen Dockery, Johnnie Godwin, Phyllis Goodwin

[6] – Jewish tradition values some numbers

        By Rabbi Geoffrey Dennis

ACTS CHAPTER 10 First Fruits Of The Gentiles

INTRODUCTION

In chapter nine we saw the man Saul who’s hatred of Jesus and His followers drove him to persecute the new church; blinded to world so he could see the truth.  We learned how fear and ignorance spawned hatred.  In Chapter 10 we will see A Roman Centurion, a friend to the Jew and a believer receive a vision.  We will see Peter receiving a vision which would change his and other Jewish followers view of the Gentile.  We will learn how God showed Peter that He loved all man kind.

Cornelius’s Vision

Verse 1: Now there was a man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort, verse 2: a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish People and prayed to God continually.

Cornelius commanded a cohort (about 600 men) of Italian soldiers quartered at Caesarea the capital of Syria.

  Caesarea was located approximately 65 miles NW of Jerusalem.

An ancient coin makes express mention of such a cohort in Syria.

Cornelius was a devout man, a friend to the Jew, he contributed to the local Synagogue and offered  helped the poor, and kept the regular observance of the Jewish principal seasons of worship.

 

Verse 3: About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, “Cornelius!” verse 4: And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God.

The ninth hour is three o’clock in the afternoon; stated as such in  Acts 10:30.

Both his prayers (a spiritual offering) and his alms ( a physical offering ) were pleasing to God.

The term memorial is used in V4 which means it was well pleasing unto God a sweet smell to Him. ( Revelation 8:4 ).

Verse 5: “Now dispatch some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter; verse 6: he is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the sea.

We don’t know why the angel did not ask Cornelius to go himself to find Peter AKA Simon.

Once again we must point out that Cornelius knew of Jewish customs and must have known that the tanners house was considered unclean by the devout Jew.

We learned in our previous studies in Acts the tanners house was not located in the city but rather by the ocean because tanning animal skin was an unclean business.

Verse 7: When the angel who was speaking to him had left, he summoned two of  his servants and a devout soldier of those who  were his personal attendants, verse 8: and after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Cornelius obeyed by faith and immediately called for the men as directed.

He chose those men who were closest to him including a soldier who was his aid. 

Just like the centurion at Capernaum had. ( Matthew 8:9 )

Verse 9:  On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray.

This would have been the heat of the day (or about noon).

 Peter may have gone to the roof top to take advantage of the cooler easterly breeze. 

Verse 10:  But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance; verse 11: and he saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, verse 12:  and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air.

This vision has significant meaning at this time.

The vision of ceremonially clean animals and unclean animals mixed together was a fore shadowing of the mixture of Gentiles and Jews; who would soon come together in the new church.

It also prepared the way for Peter to accept Cornelius not only a Gentile but a Roman as well.

Verse 13:  A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” verse 14:  But Peter said, “By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean.”

Was the Lord just talking about food?

On the surface verse 13 sounds like the Lord wanted Peter to go on a indiscriminate killing spree. 

Looking into this further we know from Leviticus 11 there were certain animals and birds which were described as unclean.

  The list found in Leviticus 11 is very clear on what animals and birds could be eaten and which could not.

Jews would never have eaten anything found on the do not eat list.

Was the Lord overturning centuries of tradition and beliefs concerning food?

Verse 15: Again a voice came to him a  second time, “What God has  cleansed , no longer considered unholy.” verse 16: This happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into the sky.

The number three is very significant in Jewish lore and it is not for redundancy sake this message was repeated three times.

The number three is the number for completeness.

It takes at least three straight lines to completely encompass anything.

God is complete: Father Son and Holy Spirit.  Although at this time the concept of three in one was not accepted, we can see that the number three has spiritual meaning.

For more information on this subject go to ( Numbers in Scripture ).

The Jewish people did not enter the homes of Gentiles because they considered them to be unclean.

  Could the message to Peter serve to reassure Peter about the request he was about to  hear from Cornelius?  

Yes indeed. Not only was the food shown on the sheet made clean but also the Gentiles who God made clean by circumcising them in spirit.

This command revealed to Peter, the inclusion of the Gentiles in the church possible. 

Verse 17:  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 for Simon’s house, appeared at the gate; verse 18:  and calling out, they were asking whether Simon, who was called Peter, as staying there.

Peter could not understand the total meaning of the message.

Also Peter more than likely wondered about the timing of the message.

However the Holy Spirit had Prepared Peter for the visit of Cornelius’s emissaries.

   

Verse 19:  While Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. Verse 20:  “But get up, go downstairs and accompany them without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself.”

The emissaries of Cornelius waited outside; because Jews would not allow Gentiles to enter a Jewish home.

The Holy Spirit quitted Peter’s heart, telling him of the three visitors waiting outside.

That God sent these men; and to go with them without trepidation.

Peter now began to understand the vision from God. He was not just talking about birds and animals when He said  “What God has  cleansed , is no longer considered unholy.” He was also talking about the Gentile and the Jew worshiping together.

Verse 21:  Peter went down to the men and said, “Behold, I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for which you have come?” verse 22: They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, was divinely directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear a message from you.”

Peter was told The Holy Spirit that these men would be waiting for him.

We see in the next verse Peter invited these men to stay the night, thus showing full acceptance of these Gentiles by this show of hospitality.

Peter at Caesarea

Verse 23: So he invited them in and gave them lodging.  And on the next day he got up and went away with them, and some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

Peter slept and eat with the Gentiles.

This is significant because Peter would not have done this prior to his vision.

The following day Peter along with six believers began their 9-10 hour journey ( Acts 11:12 ), North along the coast, and arriving on the following day at Caesarea.

Verse 24:  On the following day he entered Caesarea.  Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends.  Verse 25: When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him. 

Cornelius knew Peter to be a man of God and fell to his knees to worship him as a god.

Cornelius wanted all his friends to share in the message Peter was to give him.

Gods word is not meant to be hidden away but rather to be told to all who will listen.

What was Peter’s response to Cornelius’ attempt to worship him?

We shall see his response in the next verse.

Verse 26:  But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am just a man.”

Peter was quick to deny any glory from Cornelius but rather told him that he was no god; he was just a man.

Verse 27: As he talked with him, he entered and found many people assembled.

In defiance of Jewish rules; Peter entered a Gentiles home in obedience to God.

Returning once again to verse 15 we now see the significance of Peter’s vision.

The vision was more than God allowing Peter to eat even those animals and creeping things, which were once unclean now made clean by God.

God was showing Peter that He made the Gentile clean, so that both Jew and Gentile could worship Him together as a body of believers.

Verse 28: 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.

Peter explains his actions and at the same time shows that God’s will for man supersedes that of man.

This statement of acceptance from a Jew must have shocked, and at the same time pleased all who heard his words.

We too must be reminded from time to time that God created man in His image.  Who then are we to say that this one or that one is unworthy of our attention.

Verse 29: "That is why I came without even raising any objections when I was sent for. So I ask for what reason you have sent for me.”

Peter was not given details; being told only that Cornelius was awaiting his message.

This alone was all Peter needed to know to obey God. 

Peter knew that if God sent him to a Gentiles house; God had His reasons and would put the words in Peters mouth.

Peter’s message to Cornelius and his guests was the same message he had given to the Jews.

This faithful obedience by Peter is reminiscent of the faith Abraham had when he was told only to leave his home.

Verse 30: Cornelius said, “Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour; and behold, a man stood before me in  shining garments, verse 31: and he said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God.

Cornelius wanted Peter to know why he sent for him, that it was not at his biding but that of God.

Notice how Luke repeated the story already told in verse 3,4.

When something is repeated twice we should pay attention because this story is important.

We have seen the importance was God did not consider the Gentiles as unclean, thereby opening the door for Peter to baptize the gentiles into the church.

Verse 32: ‘Therefore send to Joppa and invites Simon, who is called Peter, to come to you. He is staying at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea.’ “ Verse 33: So I sent for you immediately and you have been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.

Cornelius expected Peter to come and in anticipation of his message; he had invited guests to his home.

Cornelius, a gentile, and a believer was surprised to see Peter enter his house, knowing the customs and traditions of the Jewish culture.

Gentiles Hear Good News

Verse 34: The opening his mouth Peter said:  "I must certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, verse 35: but in every nation. The man who fears him and does what is right is welcome to him.

Peter now realized that God loves all people not just the Jew.

Jesus was, and is,  God’s sacrificial Lamb for all of man kind.

Luke uses the word “fear” which in Greek is phobeo fob-eh'-o from 5401; to frighten, i.e. (passively) to be alarmed; by analogy, to be in awe of, i.e. revere:--be (+ sore) afraid, fear (exceedingly), reverence.

God’s love is not restrictive and transcends all racial, ethnic, and political barriers.

Verse 36: "The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all) – verse 37: You yourselves know the things which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee after the baptism which John proclaimed.

The message to the Gentiles was the same as it was for the Jew; that message being peace and salvation through Jesus.

Jesus was not sent just for the Jew but for anyone who would believe in him and follow His teaching.

The news of Jesus spread like wild fire throughout all Judea, and many believed in Him.

Sin had separated man from God and Jesus came as the perfect sacrifice which could bridge this separation.

38  "You know of Jesus of Nazareth how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power and how he went about doing good and healing all were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”

“Peter called Him ‘Jesus of Nazareth’, fully identifying Him as the One spoken of.

But Peter also said that Jesus is ‘the Lord over all’ (verse 36).

That is a name that we give to God only.

Jesus is a man and He is also God.

Even when He lived on earth, God’s power was in him.

Peter said that ‘as He (Jesus) went about, he did good things’ (verse 38).

Peter also told these Gentiles that Jesus cured people.

Jesus had power over the devil.

He freed people from evil spirits, and banished the evil spirits.

Verse 39: "We are witnesses of all the things He did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging him on a cross.“

The apostles were a living testimony of Jesus and His ministry.

Peter was telling the Gentiles the same message he gave the Jews.

Peter told them of who Jesus was, what He did, and how he died (in detail) at the hands of the Romans.

This must have had a huge impact on Cornelius a Roman soldier and commander.

Verse 40: "God raised him on the 3rd day and granted that He become visible, verse 41: Not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.

Peter told them the same truth he had told the Jews, giving them hope in the risen savior.

The apostles knew He was alive, because they could touch Him and they saw him eat and drink, Even though He had no need for either food or drink.

Verse 42: "And he ordered us to preach to the people and solemnly to testify that this is the one who has been appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead.“

The good news that Jesus delivers sinners from their sin having paid the price on Calvary.

God the Father had given Jesus the authority to judge the living and the dead.

Of those who are alive in Christ Jesus, even though they may be dead will be judged according to their good deeds.

Those who deny Jesus whether now living or dead have already judged and condemned themselves to an eternity of torment by their denial.

It is not the desire of Jesus to see any person condemned to eternal darkness and torment. 

See verse 43 and following

Verse 43: “Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sin.”

Verse 44:  While Peter was still speaking these words the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message.

Unlike others who received the Holy Spirit by a specific act and prayer of the apostles the Gentiles received the Holy Spirit while Peter was still speaking to them.

The Holy Spirit came upon them because of their willingness to believe God’s message.

Today, when we as Gentiles accept the Lord Jesus as our savior asking and receiving forgiveness for our sins; the Holy Spirit will fall upon us and dwell within us. 

Verse 45: All circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed because of the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.

We see the Jews (the circumcised believers) believing they were the chosen, and as such would be the only ones to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

This act served to strengthen, that which Peter had seen in his vision of the mixture of clean and unclean animals and crawling things.

Verse 46: They were hearing them speak with tongues, and exalting God and Peter  answered,

The Jews at Pentecost received the gift in the same manner.

This surely was recognized as God’s acceptance of the Gentiles, who no longer should be considered as unclean.

Verse 47: "Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be at baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he.“ Verse 48: And surely he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ then they asked him to stay on for a few days.

This is the baptism in the name of Jesus the Christ.

This baptism was performed to bring the Gentiles into the church family.

Today we baptize in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit; which is done after the persons profession of belief in Jesus as Christ and Lord.

Peter did not hesitate in accepting Cornelius’s hospitality entering his home and fellowshipping with him.

CREDITS, LINKS, AND CITATION [ ]

[1] – Cross wire

[2] -  commentaries by /jamieson-fausset-brown

[3] – Commentaries By Marion Adams

[4] – Wikipedia. Org

[5] – The student Bible dictionary – Karen Dockery, Johnnie Godwin, Phyllis Goodwin