Opened Scriptures Bible Studies

  We studied through the conversion of Cornelius, his family and friends coming to Christ. In acts eleven, Peter returned to Jerusalem and he has to explain to the other apostles why he went into the home of a Gentile. It is helpful to remember Peter's words to Cornelius. Jews did not interact with Gentiles Acts 10:28  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.  He told Cornelius that it was unlawful for him to have personal interactions with Gentiles. The words "unlawful thing" refer to rules imposed by Jewish rabbis and the Sanhedrin. Rabbi's regulations prohibited Jews from going into the home of a Gentile. News about Gentiles hearing the gospel traveled fast Acts 11:1  And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.   N...

We have taken time to carefully consider Peter's use of the keys of the kingdom of heaven in the life of Cornelius. God was sending His gospel to Gentiles as well as to the Jewish people.  We have processed most of Luke's outline of Peter's preaching that day and are ready to see the results of his faithful ministry. Peter faithfully preached truth. Acts 10:42-43  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.  The Holy Spirit prompted Peter to bring his sermon to a close. He told Cornelius that God commanded the apostles to preach this gospel of Christ to the people, and to show how Jesus Christ is the focus of all the prophetic writings. As Jesus Christ was the substance of the law, so all the prophets wrote directly or indirectly, about Him. Without Chr...

The apostle Peter is using the keys to the kingdom of heaven to open the door and sending the gospel to Gentiles in the world. Jesus entrusted those spiritual keys to Peter along with the responsibility of using them according to the will of God.  God sent Peter a vision of unclean animals let down from heaven three times to show that unclean animals (the Gentiles) were going to be accepted by God. Peter's vision from God was followed by the Holy Spirit speaking directly to him, telling him to go to the home of Cornelius. Now we get to the heart of Peter's message to the Gentiles, Cornelius and his household.  It helps to understand that Luke is not giving us Peter's sermon word by word. There can be no doubt that Peter preached much more than what we find here.  Rather, Luke is giving us an outline and key points preached by Peter.  Jesus Christ is Lord of all! Acts 10:36  The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ...

We stopped in our last post, with Peter traveling to the home of a Roman Centurion named Cornelius. God had prepared this soldier's heart to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ, and he called family and friends to his home to hear Peter preach. We noticed that Peter told Cornelius how God showed him that he should not call someone unclean, when God has cleansed them of their sins. Unclean people in this context, refers to non Jewish people, generally known as "Gentiles." The vision God showed to Peter meant that He was going to cleanse those whom most Jews viewed as unclean heathens.  God does not regard a Jew, because he is Jewish, nor does he detest Gentiles because they are not of Jewish descent.  The Jewish people clung to a deeply rooted opinion that God never would extend His grace and salvation to the Gentiles. They  strongly  believed that only the descendants of Jacob could be blessed. This is a fallacy that God exploded when Peter preached the gospel to a Ge...

This is a December Missionary Update from a wonderful young couple supported by our church and many others. They have a growing ministry in Chile. Please read this note and pray for their specific needs. Bob Soul Health The apostle John opens his brief but tender epistle to Gaius with this prayer, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth” (3 John 2). What a remarkable prayer for a Christian brother, wishing that he could be as physically healthy as he is spiritually! Would that we all were so spiritually vigorous, and would that prayer requests for physical illness were accompanied by the same fervent desire for spiritual health. This past month our city spent two weeks in a different “phase” that lowered the occupancy limits of all buildings significantly, so we went back to the beach for our Lord’s Day meetings. It was windy and cool, but we enjoyed a good time of fellowship singing, praying, and reading Scripture ...

Luke introduced a certain Roman centurion named Cornelius. He was a "God-fearer" and an angel of God appeared to him in a vision.  Cornelius obeyed the instruction he was given and speedily sent trusted men to Joppa, to find the apostle Peter. Meanwhile, the Spirit of God prepared the heart of Peter with a sign of unclean animals being dropped down from heaven.  Peter was told to rise up, kill the animals and then eat them. This sign was repeated three times to emphasize that a change in gospel ministry was eminent.  The Spirit of God told Peter that unclean animals cleansed by God were no longer unclean. This is a beautiful picture of the gospel reaching the Gentiles, instead of bring preached to only the Jewish nation. Peter finds a crowd of eager people waiting for him. Acts 10:23-24  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 mor...

In our last lesson, we stopped when Cornelius sent his trusted assistants to go to Joppa and ask for Peter. A vision of unclean animals show to Peter.  Acts 10:9-12  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.  We see the providential and sovereign hand of God working out all the details in bringing Peter to Caesarea to witness to Cornelius.  The trusted servants of Cornelius were drawing close to the city of Joppa where Peter was staying. Meanwhile, the Spirit of God was preparing ...