 Okay. Good morning and welcome to today's class. We'll continue in the book of Acts. We'll start with a word of prayer and then I'll get into chapter 9 where we were when we stopped last class. So maybe I'll just say a word of prayer and then we'll pick up from there. Heavenly Father, we thank and praise you Lord for this day. Father, we thank you for your grace in our lives. Lord, we thank you for your leading of God. Father, we pray that even as we take time Lord to meditate in the book of Acts that Lord you will give us the understanding that we require and God that each one of us Lord will be equipped in a marvelous way. Father God to serve your kingdom. Thank you Lord. Thank you for Lord this great opportunity where Lord we can focus on your word. Lord, we pray God that your presence will completely take over and minister to each of our hearts in our lives. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Okay. So Acts chapter 9, we started with the portion where we saw how Saul, we went about threatening people and he was moving towards Damascus to cause a lot of destruction for the people of God. And on that road to Damascus was that incredible encounter that he had with Jesus and Jesus asks him about why he was persecuting himself, which is Jesus. So we saw how God feels about the persecuted and then we saw that this was a very real encounter which Saul had and after that he was not able to see, he in Damascus with the believers he was there for some time. There was also a believer by the name of Ananias who God used to minister to Saul so that Saul could be healed of his blindness and then go on with the work that God had called him to do. We saw how God had spoken to Ananias about the destiny of Saul and told him not to worry because Saul was somewhat who had a great purpose as far as the kingdom of God is concerned. And then we went on to observe that Saul tried to launch off his ministry but he was not able to do that because people were not receptive of who he was. We saw how because of his personality or because of his background and being the persecutor to the church even the apostles had such a difficulty in trusting that Saul could be a minister of God. And so we saw that he made a very brief stop in Jerusalem after which he went back to the region of Cilicia which was the original region of Saul and he began to spend time there. So that was how this entire chapter was heading out and then towards the end of the chapter. We saw some ministry happening and this is the ministry of Peter and I kind of rushed through that. So we went through chapter 9 but then once again from chapter from verse 32 where we saw the ministry of Peter in places like Lidda and Jopah. So in Lidda we saw that there was a person by the name of Annius and this person was bedridden for 8 years and was paralyzed. So we know that there were many mighty signs and wonders that were taking place through the ministry of the apostles. Now once again in a place called Lidda, this has happened. Do you know any other place where somebody was able to walk earlier in a miraculous way? In the book of Acts, have you seen anything earlier? Something very powerful and mighty. Chapter 3. Okay, Jafina is saying when Peter went to the gate beautiful and John you said something? I was saying chapter 3, the same Peter and John. Yeah, Peter and John exactly. So the thing for us to notice is that the church, the early church and the apostles, when we say the early church, we'll see later on that it was not just the leaders of the church but even the believers. We already have an example and that example would be Stephen because he was just a volunteer in the church. But he was a man of faith and a man who moved in mighty signs and wonders. Now one thing that I want us to take note of is that in the church, all these supernatural works are so common. It was not a big deal at all. So when Peter goes for ministry, a man who's eight years paralysed, I mean how many times do we see that in our churches today? But it's sort of common. We said earlier that the first eight chapters is roughly about a decade. So in the first decade, there were signs, wonders and miracles. Now we moved on into chapter 9 and we're talking about the next decade of what is happening in the church and these things are continuing. Somebody who couldn't work for 40 years was miraculously healed in chapter 3. And now again in chapter 9 through the ministry of Peter, you observe somebody who's eight years paralysed being able to get up and function normally. So these are all things that we must kind of understand the fact that God was working so powerfully through the early church and these things were normal. So again, I said this earlier that there's nothing really in scripture that says that God has stopped working in this way and that there was a special sort of mandate of God only for the early church for such things to happen. There's nothing like that. So we do can expect God to do these mighty signs and wonders in our lives and trust God for supernatural manifestations, even healings and miracles. So one miracle that we are noting in the ministry of Peter is the rising up of this man and he is who was eight years bedridden. Now I told us last time that there was one more ministry that Peter had to do. So just think about it like you know in their daily ministry, people would have come and ask them to come and minister in certain situations. So right now there is a lady who's passed away, who's dead and Peter has to go there and minister. So it's amazing you know the kind of faith that the early church walked in. Just some time ago there's a paralysed man who's getting healed and now Dorcas who has passed away, Peter goes there to minister and he actually was able to minister to her and she rose from the dead. So he calls out to her, right? In this particular situation it's a command. He says Tabitha arise and she opened her eyes and when she saw Peter she sat up. So in this way there were lots of wonderful and amazing things that kept taking place through the ministry of the early church. So just wanted to kind of go over this portion for us to think. Can we expect this today and is it happening or let's say you know can it happen? What are your thoughts about that? Supernatural ministry like day to day, right? More than just preaching, teaching, there are miracles taking place. Any thoughts? Yeah, actually I asked too many questions at the same time. But the point that I'm making is you see a great manifestation of the supernatural in the early church. So is that something we must expect today? If yes, why not? I think we can expect the same because God has not changed. Okay, that's great. We can expect. All right, all right. Fine. So what was that one factor that probably helped the early church to manifest these miracles? Okay, so Jaffina is saying faith. Okay, that's great. Yeah, anyone else? Because they were with Jesus and they saw Jesus and after Jesus rose from the dead, you know like the Holy Spirit came on them and it empowered them to do all the science wonders and miracles. Yeah, so they observed the ministry of Jesus and they learned from the ministry of Jesus. Okay, great. Yeah, thank you for that. And Jaffina says fellowship of the believers, kingdom mindset, which they had. Okay, great. Yeah, so all these could be the reasons, faith, their desire to pattern the ministry after the ministry of Jesus, their fellowship. And through the fellowship, another important feature that we have seen earlier is that it was a praying church, isn't it? They were all people who got together and prayed about everything. So it was a praying church and another crucial thing that happened in Acts chapter 2 is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. So from that point onwards, flowing in the miraculous was but normal and very common for the early church. So even today when we walk in faith, when we are a prayerful body, when we pattern our life and ministry according to the ministry of Jesus and the teachings of the Word of God and as well as another thing is the baptism in the Holy Spirit. The empowering of the Holy Spirit. When we walk with all of these things, we'll see that today our ministry will be no different. So moment to moment, we can express our faith and that's where all these miracles and healings and things like this take place. So to be full of faith and to carry on with life with faith because we don't know which moment what requirement may come to us. I mean, I think of myself when I read especially this portion about Peter, where he was in Litta and then he went to Joppa. Just imagine, he may not have woken up that day thinking, okay, I could have meet somebody who's eight years paralysed or he would not have woken up thinking, somebody will be dead and I have to go and raise them from the dead. So it's crazy but as we do our ministry day today, we don't know the kind of needs that we may encounter. But the beautiful thing is that the early church knew how to navigate through all these situations and circumstances because of the different factors that we just discussed. So it's an inspiration for us to be the way that they were. Caleb is sharing, they waited upon the Lord and it would listen, evangelized piously. Also after Jesus was taken above and Holy Spirit started to guide the disciples and apostles for the first time like never before. Okay, right. Sure. So I think similar points as we have spoken earlier. But thank you, Caleb, for that. Now, there's another very unique thing that is mentioned in this passage. We find that Peter, he stays, the last verse there, verse 43, he stays in Joppa with Simon a tanner. Now, Simon a tanner, that is a little bit of a shocker because when we think about Peter, he was a very devout Jew. And you know, as far as Peter was concerned, he did not want to associate with non-Jews. Neither did he want to associate with people who were considered somehow lower by the Jews. But after the baptism in the Holy Spirit, after the ascension of Jesus, there were many changes that were taking place in the heart of Peter. God was really working in his heart and in his life, opening him up to the possibility of ministering to all kinds of people, not necessarily the people who are from his own community, the Jewish community. So, when we read here in verse 43 that Peter stays with Simon a tanner. We all know who a tanner is, tanner working with the skin of animals, dead animals. So the Jews those days, they looked out upon tanners and they would not associate with tanners. But as the believing community grew, we find that Peter is not feeling bad about associating with somebody like a tanner. He is even living in the house of a tanner. And the scripture also says he stayed many days in Jobah with Simon. So it's showing us that Peter who is known for his Jewish, you know, his pride in the Jewish traditions and culture. He is also opening himself up to ministering to any kind of a person. So, you see, so far what we've seen till Acts chapter 9 is that the gospel and the ministry of the early church, it is more focused towards the Jews. You remember, even when Jesus ministered as part of the covenant, he ministered to the Jews. But there's something dramatic that is going to happen from Acts chapter 10. Remember that very key scripture that we all talk about, John 3.16, what does it say? God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, isn't it? So God so loved the world. So far the promises, the blessings, the covenant, all of that is for the Jews. But from Acts chapter 10, God will do something historical as far as the church is concerned. And what is that? We will see that the gospel will now be taken to the Gentiles by the church. And who is God going to use to do this? He's going to work through Peter, the same person or the same individual who's not very open to ministering outside of his own Jewish community. So that is incredible that God would use a person who was earlier unwilling to do a work for the kingdom. So the work of God in people's hearts is so evident. Let's move now to Acts chapter 10 here. We'll start from verse 1 and we could read till verse 6 to begin with. If someone can, please unmute and read that would be very helpful. Acts 10, 1-6. There's a certain man named Caesar called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave our centristly to the people and prayed to God always. About the ninth hour of the day, he saw clearly an ambition, an angel of God coming in and saying to him, Cornelius. And when he observed him, he was afraid and said, What is it, Lord? So he said to him, Your prayers and your arms have come up for a memorial before God. Now sent men to Job and sent for Simon whose surname is Peter. He is lodging with Simon at London whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do. Okay. So in this case, we see that Cornelius receives a message from God. Who is this man Cornelius? A centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment. So he's a man of influence and a man of authority, a centurion who commands 100 soldiers under him. But what is the specialty as far as his character or his devotion towards God is concerned? He also teaches us that he was a devout man, a man who feared God and gave arms. He prayed always and he also gave arms generously. So notice this. There is a man who is devoted to God and he's trying to follow God by serving him. And God has taken notice of this particular person and God wants him to know about what Jesus has done so that he too can walk in salvation. So then what happens at the night hour? We are told he saw clearly the vision and angel of God coming in. In the book of Acts, there are very many communications of God and in various ways. We've seen earlier, you know, you saw an angel just showing up for Peter and John, right? Like the initial time when they were caught. At that time also you have a message through an angel coming through to them. We are now seeing that in the vision, there is an angel of God coming and bringing the message to the people. So in various ways, people are hearing from God. And in Acts chapter 8, we saw how Philip was receiving the prophetic word. We saw pieces of the message of God. He first heard like a small, he heard a phrase and then he heard a sentence. He followed through with it and then he was able to minister to the Ethiopian unit. He was able to move on in his journey. So God has communicated in various ways. Now in this particular chapter, God is communicating to a devout man called as Cornelius and God is speaking through an angel in a vision. So these are all ways in which God speaks to us and we must be open to that. So what did he tell him? He told him your prayers and your arms have come up for a memorial before God. Now notice that also, that's also really beautiful. Prayers and arms, sometimes we feel like our prayers or our giving has not really broken through before God. But think about this, God is taking notice of everything. A devout man Cornelius, he does not even know the gospel. He does not even understand the gospel but he is just trying to be devoted towards God and follow the right actions. But God is taking notice of that. God is saying, look Cornelius, whatever you have done, your prayers, your giving, isn't that so comforting that even our prayers are giving. It doesn't go waste. God notices and God has taken notice of such a man known as Cornelius. Even earlier, we saw about Dorcas, her good life and she was a good woman. God had taken notice of the way people were actually living their lives. And notice how each one is from a different community, each one is from a different class and section. Now we are looking at somebody like Cornelius, who is a pretty person of authority in the Italian regimen. So no matter who they are, God is taking notice of their acts of devotion. And then it says that it has come up for a memorial before God, meaning God has remembered you. And instruction is given to Cornelius that you need to send some men to Jobah and exactly where. Remember we talked about the word of knowledge. Even when Ananias got told if you need to go and minister to Saul, how did God tell him to go to this street called Strict? So that's the word of knowledge where facts or information in the natural is provided to us. So even here the address is given. What is the address? Cornelius, you send some men where to send them, send them to Jobah and over there there will be somebody known as Simon, whose surname is Peter. In case obviously they are going to find a man who they don't know. So they need to know God is giving the full name. Don't go and catch some other Simon. Go and meet Simon Peter. And there is the Simon Peter in that city of Jobah. He is lodging in Simon the Tanner's house. So notice very, very clear instruction. Same thing today is God able to even tell us somebody's address if we have to go and minister to them. Why not it happened in the Book of Acts, right? So it can happen even today. These are all examples that should really build expectation in our hearts. So we are seeing people who were sick for so long healed. We are seeing the dead raise. We are seeing people receiving information, communication from God. That's even so specific. The address is being provided. So God is instructing. God is orchestrating. So while we look at the Book of Acts as the Acts of the Apostles. It's really the Acts of God through His people. It's really the Acts of the Holy Spirit through His people. Doesn't it look like God is directing everything? It's almost like one scene is playing out here and another scene is playing out there. It's only because people are willing to listen to God and do what God was telling them to do. So now God is given an instruction to whom? To Cornelius. Now the other very crucial thing about Cornelius is he's a Gentile. Apart from his position, personality, devotion, community. Which community does he belong to? He's a Gentile so far. We have not seen the Gospel being intentionally taken out. And nobody is planning that among the Apostles. But who is planning that? God is planning that because remember Acts chapter 1 verse 8. What did it say? It said that you shall be my witnesses. The final portion of that. In Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. So the Gospel has to go out to everyone and it has started in the book of Acts. So in that second decade, the Gospel is moving out of the community of the Jews. So Cornelius is that first Gentile tomb. The Gospel will be preached to by one of the Apostles. So now let's move on. God, we will read from verse 7 and we can continue till verse 16. And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants. And a devotee shoulder from among those who waited on him continually. So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Japan. The next day, as they went on their journey and journey to the city, Peter went up on the house top to pray for the sixth hour. When he became very hungry and wanted to eat, but while they made ready, he fell into a trance. And so having opened an object like a great ship boat at the four corners descending to him and let down to the earth. In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild bees, gripping things and birds of the air. And a voice came to him, arise Peter, kill and eat. But Peter said, No, so Lord, for I have never eaten anything common or unclean. And a voice spoke to him again the second time, what God has cleansed, you must not call common. This was done three times and the object was taken up into heaven again. Okay, at this point, there is the communication. So I told us that God is orchestrating. So it's like a very good planner. First God speaks to Cornelius. How does he speak to him? He uses a certain method in a vision through an angel. He speaks to him. Now we see that Peter, another crucial person in this particular happening, needs to know what has to be done. So what's happening now? So we find that Cornelius has followed through on what God told him. But Peter is having a vision. So in Simon the Tata's house on the house top, he went up to pray about the sixth hour. So remember, I told us that Peter is a very devout Jew who's proud about his traditions. So he followed the prayer times, just like the Jews, he kept those traditions. And at the time, at the sixth hour, that's around the time that the meal would be served. It says that he became very, very hungry. And he fell into a trance. So think about this. Sometimes the very situation that we are going through, God can use that situation as well to speak to us. Isn't that wonderful? It's not only like, you know, so disconnected from our situation. Now Peter is hungry and that instance, God is using to communicate something to him. But what is the method through which the message comes to Peter this time? It's a trance. What is a trance? Anyone, what is a trance? Vision, okay, we all know vision, what that could be. What is a trance? No idea. Anyone here, would you know what a trance is? It's a vision face. Huh? I just said some vision. Okay, yeah, that's the advantage of being an online student. You can Google anything and everything. Okay, so John Paul is saying a vision completely in an unconscious state. Yes, that would be the description. So a trance is when both in your mind and in your body, right? You just feel weak for a moment where you're no longer functional. Suddenly you kind of encountered the spiritual realm and it's almost like as John Paul is saying, unconscious state. Okay, but you're very much alive as far as the spiritual communication is concerned. So though physically you may have fallen down or even there are trances where people don't necessarily fall down. But where I've heard testimonies of people who became like statues for many hours. Okay, and this you can read up the story from the life of Maria Woodworth Etter. And she had these experiences when she used to go and minister in meetings. Apparently she would just freeze for many hours and nobody will know like what's happening. Why are people frozen? But it's a trance. They've just become like unconscious sort of and in the spiritual, God may be imparting many things into their spirit. God may be speaking many things. They may be receiving messages from God. So similarly, when Peter is very, very hungry that day, he goes into a trance. I always imagine it as maybe he just laid down and he was very weak. So he was lying down and unconscious. And at that time in a vision, he saw that there was a sheet that came down and you had all the animals that were shown, which actually according to the law, which was given earlier, those were forbidden for the Jews to eat. But in this particular vision, God is saying Peter, rise up, kill and eat. Okay, and Peter being a faithful Jew says, no God, I will not touch these animals. But God says, what God has cleansed, you must not call common. So basically what God is saying is, there's this whole thing about kosher and non-kosher animals in the Jewish law. Don't even classify. Everything is blessed by God. Everything is cleansed by God. That kind of a message comes to him. Now, what do we understand from this particular vision? We'll see how this vision is actually processed. So maybe we should read a little bit more and then we will have an idea. So we've read till verse 16. Now, let's keep reading on. It's quite long the passage, but let's read till verse 23, 17 to 23. Now, while Peter wondered within himself what this vision is, he had seen men. We hold the men who had been sent from the Cornelius had made enquiry of Simon's house and stood before the gate. And they called and asked whether Simon, whose son name was Peter, was lodging there. While Peter thought about the vision, the spirit said to him, behold, three men are seeking you. Sorry, arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing, for I have sent them. Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius and said, Yes, I am he who you seek. For what reason have you come? And they said, Cornelius the Centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the Jews, nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house to hear words from you. Then he invited them in and lodged there. On the next day, Peter went away with them and some brethren from Job accompanied him. Yes, thank you, John. So we see what's happening. Now, Peter has a vision. Okay. It's a little disturbing for him because it's like God is saying the word that I gave you earlier, like, you know, in the law. Don't go by that. All these animals are clean. So he's wondering what could this vision mean? So he does not even have the interpretation of the vision. He's in that state. But while he's still thinking about the vision, what happens? Those three men remember Cornelius had sent them, those people come to Simon's house and God is speaking another word to him. Now, he has not yet understood the vision in the trans. Before that, one more communication where God is telling him, three men are seeking you, arise therefore, go down, go with them, doubting nothing for I have sent them. So God is clearing his doubts. Okay, but he's still not clear as to what God is doing. So thank God for, you know, somebody like Peter who was sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit. At least he knows what he has to do next. So then, you know, Peter confirms, yes, I am the person that you're all seeking. He tells those three men who came and they introduce themselves. They say, look, Cornelius the Centurion, a just man, one who fears God, you know, man with a good reputation, he's the one who has told us to come here and, you know, to take you. So Peter went with them and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him. So Peter's itinerary, right? Like, God is just making the ministry happen. So there are different, different opportunities coming his way. But how is he going about his ministry following the voice of the Lord? Okay, is he clear about all things by now? Not necessarily. He's still wondering what could that mission lead? By God is saying you can eat all animals, even those forbidden animals. He's wondering about that. And yet the next instruction he follows, which is actually to go to the house of Cornelius. Now, let's read on. Now Peter is going to meet this Centurion by the name of Cornelius. So we'll see that in this passage, there will be a lot of repetition of what that dream was, what God spoke to Cornelius, what God spoke to Peter, so on and so forth. But you'll just bear with me as we sort of go through the entire chapter. So let's quickly read now from verse 24 to verse 33. Acts chapter 10 verse 24. In the following day they entered his area, now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up saying, stand up, I myself am also a man. And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. And he said to them, you know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company without to go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or clean. Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I asked them for what reason have you sent for me. So Cornelius said, four days ago I was fasting until this hour and at 9th hour I prayed in my house and behold a man stood before me in the bright clothing and said Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your arms are remembered in the sight of God. Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here who certainly missed Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner by the sea. Then he comes he'll speak to you. So I sent to you immediately and you have done well to me. Now therefore we are all present before God to hear all the things commanded you by God. Okay, wonderful. So you see now Peter left from Simon the tanner's house and he has come to Cornelius's house in Caesarea and remember we said that Peter didn't understand the meaning of the vision. But when he finally came to Cornelius's house what is Peter doing? He's explaining the vision, right? So it happens to us also. Sometimes we see a vision, we have a dream. We don't know what it means. We just have to keep praying and trusting the Holy Spirit to give us the interpretation of that vision. So thankfully in some time Peter got the interpretation. He understood what was God saying. See how clearly he's explaining what that vision was verse 28. He says, you know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with a go to one of another nation. So he clearly understood basically what that vision meant was it was not just about animals, right? It was about meeting people of another nation or another community as a Jewish person. But what God has shown him, he says, God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. So that is the point which Peter has understood. And he's now open to ministering to Cornelius. And Cornelius now repeats his story of I saw a man with bright clothing meaning an angel came and he told me that somebody will come and he will tell you something. So we are just waiting here to listen to the message Peter that you are going to bring to us. So now what is going to happen in the house of Cornelius? Let's see if this is also like really encouraging to see the response of the family. So we can maybe I will read from verse 34 to verse 43 says that Peter opened his mouth and said, In truth, I perceive that God shows no partiality, but in every nation, whoever fears him and works righteousness is accepted by him. The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ. He is Lord of all that word, you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea and began from Galilee after the baptism with John preached. Now God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both at the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. Him God raised up on the third day and showed him openly not to all the people, but to the witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that it is he who was ordained by God to be judge of the living and the dead to him all the prophets with witness that through his name whoever believes in him will receive remission of sins. So you see how Peter actually preached Christ. So he's preaching from all the incidents that took place in the Judea region that people knew about Jesus and the miracles that Jesus did and all that. But you see what is the point of the preaching? It's always to proclaim Jesus as Christ and that's what Peter is doing towards the end. He's letting God in his snow that this Jesus he says to be judge of living and the dead. Who can that be? It can only be God. So he said Jesus is God. Jesus is dating and you know it is through the work of Jesus that sins are forgiven. Now the message is being preached. Okay, as per the format of the service but something very wonderful happens. I'll quickly read the next couple of verses here that we can go for a break. So while Peter was still speaking these words the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word okay and okay anyway. We don't have time to read other verses. I'll do that later but one point that I want to make very very important point. You see how beautiful it is. The gospel is now being preached to the Gentiles. They just heard the message about Jesus just like moments ago and what does the Bible say? Verse 44 is very special because it says while Peter was still speaking his servant is not over. But what did God do? Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. So they are already being baptized in the Holy Spirit before the servant got over. Is that possible in our churches? Yes, why not? Generally we find that when we lay hands on people they receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit but in the case of Cornelius and his household the Holy Spirit fell even before Peter stopped his message. So it shows how God was eager to touch the nations to touch communities even the Gentiles and to really see the spread of the gospel across. So let's go for a break now. We'll just come back and we'll see the other different things that happen in Acts 10 the last portion as well as Acts 11. Thank you. See you in 10 minutes.