04-23-2023 A New Vision (Acts 10:1-17, 34-48)

A New Vision Acts 10:1-17, 34-48 Acts 1:8 as an outline for the book of Acts: A. ...you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you (chp. 2) B. ...you will be my witnesses... 1) in Jerusalem and Judea (chp. 2-7) 2) in Samaria (chp 8-12) 3) the ends of the earth (13-20) Three Beginnings in Acts: • A Room (Pentecost) • A Road (Saul's Conversion) • A Roof (Peter's Dream) Acts 10:1-17 1 There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment. 2 He was a devout man and feared God along with his whole household. He did many charitable deeds for the Jewish people and always prayed to God. 3 About three in the afternoon he distinctly saw in a vision an angel of God who came in and said to him, “Cornelius.” 4 Staring at him in awe, he said, “What is it, Lord?” The angel told him, “Your prayers and your acts of charity have ascended as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa and call for Simon, who is also named Peter. 6 He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, he called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, who was one of those who attended him. 8 After explaining everything to them, he sent them to Joppa. 9 The next day, as they were traveling and nearing the city, Peter went up to pray on the roof about noon. 10 He became hungry and wanted to eat, but while they were preparing something, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and an object that resembled a large sheet coming down, being lowered by its four corners to the earth. 12 In it were all the four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, and the birds of the sky. 13 A voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 “No, Lord!” Peter said. “For I have never eaten anything impure and ritually unclean.” 15 Again, a second time, the voice said to him, “What God has made clean, do not call impure.” 16 This happened three times, and suddenly the object was taken up into heaven. 17 While Peter was deeply perplexed about what the vision he had seen might mean, right away the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions to Simon’s house, stood at the gate. Acts 10:34-48 Acts 10:15 Again, a second time, the voice said to him, “What God has made clean, do not call impure.”16 This happened three times, and suddenly the object was taken up into heaven. If the point of the vision was people, why were there animals in the vision instead of people? Acts 10:9-10 9 The next day, as they were traveling and nearing the city, Peter went up to pray on the roof about noon. 10 He became hungry and wanted to eat, but while they were preparing something, he fell into a trance. Acts 10:15 Again, a second time, the voice said to him, “What God has made clean, do not call impure.” • Do we believe God has the power to make clean what was formally unclean? • Do we pray and hunger to see God's transformative power in the lives of others? • Does God have the power to transform someone who is loving the wrong things? Acts 10:19-20 19 While Peter was thinking about the vision, the Spirit told him, “Three men are here looking for you. 20 Get up, go downstairs, and go with them with no doubts at all, because I have sent them.”