A Study of the Book of Acts

Part 2: Transition — Gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 8:5-12:25)

Lesson Twenty: Peter Preaches to Cornelius

Acts 10:24-48

Key Verse

"Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him."
— Acts 10:34-35 The Barrier Falls: In this lesson, the momentous event prepared for in Acts 10:1-24

Lesson Questions

Read Acts 10:24-48 carefully before answering these questions.

1. What had Cornelius been doing? What did he do when Peter arrived? 10:24-25
2. What did Peter do? What did Peter say? 10:26
3. What had God shown Peter? What did Peter want to know? 10:27-29
4. What answer did Peter receive? 10:30-33
5. As Peter began his lesson, what is the first thing he told them? 10:34-35
6. Of what had the apostles been witnesses? 10:36-41
7. What had God commanded them? Who would receive remission of sins? 10:42-43
8. Then what happened? 10:44
9. How did the Jews who accompanied Peter react? Why? 10:45-46
10. What did Peter ask? What did Peter command them to do? 10:47-48

Thought Questions

A. ​ What does it mean that God is "no respecter of persons"?

Supplementary Materials

Peter's Arrival at Cornelius's House (10:24-29)

Event Significance
Cornelius gathered relatives He expected something important and wanted others to hear.
and friends (10:24) A ready audience!
Cornelius fell at Peter's feet Excessive reverence — perhaps seeing Peter as more than
to worship (10:25) human after the angelic message.
Peter lifted him up: "I myself Peter refused worship — contrast with Herod (12:22-23).
also am a man" (10:26) Apostles were servants, not objects of worship.
Peter entered and found A large group — this was not a private conversion but a public
"many" gathered (10:27) declaration.
"Ye know how that it is an Peter acknowledged the Jewish taboo against Gentile
unlawful thing..." (10:28) association — but God had shown him otherwise.
"God hath shewed me... not Peter now understood the vision's true meaning — it was
call any man common or about PEOPLE, not food. unclean" (10:28)

Cornelius's Explanation (10:30-33)

Cornelius recounted his experience and declared his readiness to hear:

"Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God." — Acts 10:33

What a perfect audience! They were:

  • "All here" — Everyone gathered, ready to listen
  • "Present before God" — Aware of the solemnity of the occasion
  • "To hear ALL things" — Open to the complete message
  • "Commanded thee of God" — Recognizing Peter spoke with divine authority

"God Is No Respecter of Persons" (10:34-35) Peter's opening statement was revolutionary: "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him."

What Does "No Respecter of Persons" Mean? It Does NOT Mean It DOES Mean All religions are equally valid All people have equal access to the ONE true gospel Everyone is automatically saved Everyone who fears God and works righteousness is accepted — in EVERY nation Obedience doesn't matter God judges by character and conduct, not by nationality Jews lose their opportunity Gentiles now share the opportunity Jews always had

Key Point: Being "accepted" (10:35) does not mean "saved without obedience."

Cornelius feared God and worked righteousness, yet he still needed to hear words

whereby he would be saved (11:14) and be baptized (10:48). "Accepted" means God receives those who seek Him — and then brings them to the gospel.

Peter's Sermon: The Gospel for Gentiles (10:36-43)

Peter's message covered the essential facts of the gospel:

Verse Content Significance
10:36 God sent word to Israel — peace Jesus is Lord of Gentiles too! through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of ALL
10:37-38 Jesus's ministry: baptism by John, Jesus's life and works anointed with Holy Spirit, doing good, healing
10:39 "We are witnesses" — they killed Jesus's death — eyewitness
Him, hanging Him on a tree testimony
10:40-41 God raised Him the third day; He Jesus's resurrection —
appeared to chosen witnesses who physical, verified ate and drank with Him
10:42 Jesus commanded them to preach; Jesus's authority — universal
He is ordained by God to judge the judgment living and dead
10:43 All prophets witness: whoever The offer of salvation believes in Him receives remission of sins through His name

Comparing Peter's Sermons: Acts 2 and Acts 10 Element Acts 2 (Pentecost) Acts 10 (Cornelius) Audience Jews from every nation Gentiles (Roman household) Jesus's life & ministry "Approved of God" (2:22) "Went about doing good" (10:38) Jesus's death "Ye have crucified" (2:36) "They slew... on a tree" (10:39) Resurrection Emphasized (2:24-32) Emphasized (10:40-41) Witnesses "We all are witnesses" (2:32) "We are witnesses" (10:39) Lordship of Christ "Lord and Christ" (2:36) "Lord of all" (10:36) Forgiveness offered "Remission of sins" (2:38) "Remission of sins" (10:43) Response commanded Repent, be baptized (2:38) Be baptized (10:48)

The same gospel was preached to both Jews and Gentiles — and the same response (baptism) was required of both.

The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles (10:44-46) While Peter was still speaking, something dramatic happened: "The Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished... because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God." — Acts 10:44-46

Why Did This Happen? This miraculous outpouring served a specific purpose: Purpose Explanation To convince the Jewish Christians The six Jewish brothers who came with Peter needed proof that God accepted Gentiles (10:45; 11:12, 15-17) To remove any objection to baptizing "Can any man forbid water?" (10:47) — God Gentiles had already shown His approval To parallel Pentecost "As on us at the beginning" (11:15) — the same sign that launched the Jewish church now launched the Gentile mission To provide undeniable evidence Peter could point to this event when defending his actions to the Jerusalem church (11:17; 15:8)

The Holy Spirit Before Baptism? Some use this passage to argue that the Holy Spirit comes before baptism and that baptism is therefore unnecessary. But consider:

  • This was an exceptional case — designed to convince Jewish Christians that Gentiles could be saved
  • The Spirit's purpose was evidential — to demonstrate God's acceptance, not to save them
  • Baptism was still commanded — Peter didn't say "you already have the Spirit, so baptism is optional"
  • Salvation came through baptism — they still needed "words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved" (11:14)
  • This pattern was not repeated — nowhere else in Acts do we see the Spirit falling BEFORE baptism

The Pattern: Normally, the Holy Spirit was received AFTER baptism (Acts 2:38; 5:32). The Cornelius event was a unique, unrepeatable sign to authenticate Gentile inclusion.

Peter Commands Baptism (10:47-48) "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord." Key observations:

  • "Can any man forbid water?" — Baptism requires water; this is not "Spirit baptism"
  • "He COMMANDED them" — Baptism was not optional or incidental; it was commanded
  • "In the name of the Lord" — By Christ's authority, as He commanded (Matt. 28:19)
  • After receiving the Spirit, they were STILL baptized — the Spirit's coming did not replace baptism

Critical Point: If baptism were unnecessary, this was the perfect time to say so. Instead, Peter commanded it. The miraculous sign confirmed God's acceptance of Gentiles; baptism accomplished their forgiveness (cf. Acts 2:38; 22:16).

The Missing Piece: Acts 11:14 When Peter later recounted this event, he added a crucial detail: "Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be SAVED." — Acts 11:14

This confirms:

  • Cornelius was NOT already saved before Peter came
  • His prayers and alms did NOT save him — he needed to hear the gospel
  • The miraculous Spirit outpouring did NOT save him — that came through obeying the "words"
  • Salvation came through hearing and obeying the gospel message, including baptism

Key Cross-References

Reference Acts Verse Connection
Rom. 2:11 Acts 10:34 "No respect of persons with God"
Acts 2:1-4 Acts 10:44-46 Parallel with Pentecost — "as on us at the beginning"
Acts 11:1-18 Acts 10:24-48 Peter's defense of preaching to Gentiles
Acts 15:7-11 Acts 10:44-48 Peter cites Cornelius at Jerusalem council
Gal. 3:28 Acts 10:34-35 Neither Jew nor Greek — all one in Christ
Eph. 2:14-16 Acts 10:28 The wall of partition broken down

Lessons from Acts 10:24-48 1. God is no respecter of persons — race, nationality, and social status are irrelevant to Him. 2. The gospel is the same for all — Jews and Gentiles hear the same message and respond the same way. 3. Good people still need the gospel — Cornelius was devout but unsaved until he obeyed. 4. Miraculous signs confirmed God's acceptance — but did not replace obedience.

5. Baptism is commanded, not optional — even those who received miraculous gifts were still baptized. 6. Salvation comes through hearing and obeying the gospel (11:14) — not through morality alone.