A God Fearing Gentile Is Directed to Seek the Truth The city of Caesarea, according to Ash, was "an important seaport and the center of the Roman government and militia for the area. Both Greeks and Jews populated the city, often inharmoniously." Luke told Theophilus that in that city was a centuri... [ Continue Reading ]
Peter's Vision On the next day at noon, while the emissaries were on their way, Peter went to the top of Simon's house to pray. He became very hungry while preparations for the noon meal were being made and fell into a trance. He saw something like a sheet being let down out of heaven full of all t... [ Continue Reading ]
Peter Meets Cornelius The following day, Peter arrived at the house of Cornelius, where the God fearing soldier had assembled his kinsmen and friends to hear what God's messenger would say. Upon meeting the Lord's apostle, Cornelius bowed down before him. Rather than accepting such adoration or enc... [ Continue Reading ]
Peter Preached to the Assembled Gentiles The beginning of Peter's sermon makes it obvious that he had learned a great new lesson. As Ash said, "Acceptability to God no longer depended on national descent, but upon character (cf. Amos 9:7; Micah 6:8). Thus one need not become a Jew to please God." S... [ Continue Reading ]
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit A remarkable thing occurred while Peter was speaking. Gentiles, who had never gotten rid of their uncleanness through circumcision and sacrifice, were baptized with the Holy Spirit. The fact that they spoke in tongues and magnified the name of God was clear evidence t... [ Continue Reading ]