The
American
Wisdom Series
Presents
Pamphlet #4521
Acts 10:1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a
centurion of the band called the Italian band,
2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which
gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day
an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is
it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up
for a memorial before God.
5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname
is Peter:
6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea
side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.
7 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed,
he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that
waited on him continually;
8 And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent
them to Joppa.
9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh
unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth
hour:
10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while
they made ready, he fell into a trance,
11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto
him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down
to the earth:
12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth,
and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air
'13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing
that is common or unclean
My
highlighted verses: Acts 10:15 And the voice spake unto him again
the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common
16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again
into heaven.
17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which
he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius
had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,
18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter,
were lodged there.
19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him,
Behold, three men seek thee.
20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting
nothing: for I have sent them.
21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from
Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore
ye are come?
22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one
that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews,
was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and
to hear words of thee.
23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow
Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied
him.
24 And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius
waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.
25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down
at his feet, and worshipped him.
26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am
a man.
27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that
were come together.
28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful
thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another
nation; but God hath shewed me that
I should not call any man common or unclean.
29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I
was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?
30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this
hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood
before me in bright clothing,
31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are
had in remembrance in the sight of God.
32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname
is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side:
who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.
33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done
that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to
hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive
that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness,
is accepted with him.
36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching
peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout
all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and
with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed
of the devil; for God was with him.
39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the
land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of
God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the
dead.
42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify
that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name
whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on
all them which heard the word.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished,
as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured
out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then
answered Peter,
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized,
which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.
Then prayed they him to tarry certain days
Acts 11:1 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard
that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of
the circumcision contended with him,
3 Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat
with them.
4 But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded
it by order unto them, saying,
5 I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a
vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down
from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:
6 Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered,
and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things,
and fowls of the air.
7 And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and
eat.
8 But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath
at any time entered into my mouth.
9 But the voice answered me again from heaven,
What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
10 And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again
into heaven.
11 And, behold, immediately
there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from
Caesarea unto me.
12 And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover
these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house:
13 And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which
stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname
is Peter;
14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house
shall be saved.
15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on
us at the beginning.
16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said,
John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy
Ghost.
17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto
us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand
God?
18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified
God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto
life.
19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution
that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch,
preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when
they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord
Jesus.
21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number
believed, and turned unto the Lord.
22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church
which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go
as far as Antioch.
23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad,
and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto
the Lord.
24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith:
and much people was added unto the Lord.
25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And
it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church,
and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first
in Antioch.
27 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified
by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world:
which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined
to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:
30 Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands
of Barnabas and Saul.
To
all those Christians who think it is now not only all right but healthy
to eat pork; take note to two things. #1. In verse 28 it is written "God
has shown me I should not call any man unclean". #2. Peter didn't rush
out to the nearest tavern and order a pork sandwich; he went to Caesarea
and preached the gospel to Gentiles.
To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits;
to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy
Spirit, you accomplish both.
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