Alex Kremer 12-19-2021 // Acts 10:1-23a; God Prepares Hearts

Before the Lord Jesus ascended into heaven, He left His apostles with this charge, beginning with Jerusalem, carry the Gospel message from Jerusalem, then to Judea, to Samaria, and finally the ends of the world.  In the first several chapters of Acts, we witnessed the Gospel exploding in Jerusalem and expanding into Judea.  In Acts 8, using Philip, the Holy Spirit carried the message into Samaria.  And now we see that the Lord has set His sights on the whole world; demonstrating that His Gospel plan encompasses all nations.

Here in Acts 10, we are introduced to Cornelius, a God-fearing centurion of whom the Jews spoke favorably.  This Gentile devoted himself to the things of the Lord, acting on the revelation he had to reject the polytheistic paganism of the Roman Empire to accept the God of Israel.  Yet, he had no knowledge of Jesus.  But we see the Lord preparing the heart of this Gentile to receive the Gospel.

At the same time we see Peter.  A believer on the Lord Jesus, yet still a devout Jew who would not defile himself by associating with a Gentile.  Despite this, God's sovereign plan is to use Peter to bring the Gospel to Cornelius.  But before he can, the Lord mus prepare Peter's heart to see God's plan of salvation, not only for the Jew, but for the whole world.

Thank you for listening to today's lesson.  May the Lord bless you through the teaching of His Holy Word.