SNT 0219 Acts 10
Acts 10 November 14, 1965
Expository teaching on Peter and the household of Cornelius.
SNT – 219
Format: audio
Publication Date: 11-14-1965
Victor Paul Wierwille was a Bible scholar and teacher for over four decades.
By means of Dr. Wierwille's dynamic teaching of the accuracy and integrity of God's Word, foundational class and advanced class graduates of Power for Abundant Living have learned that the one great requirement for every student of the Bible is to rightly divide the Word of Truth. Thus, his presentation of the Word of God was designed for students who desire the in-depth-accuracy of God’s Word.
In his many years of research, Dr. Wierwille studied with such men as Karl Barth, E. Stanley Jones, Glenn Clark, Bishop K.C. Pillai, and George M. Lamsa. His formal training included Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Theology degrees from Mission House (Lakeland) College and Seminary. He studied at the University of Chicago and at Princeton Theological Seminary from which he received a Master of Theology degree in Practical Theology. Later he completed his work for the Doctor of Theology degree.
Dr. Wierwille taught the first class on Power for Abundant Living in 1953.
Books by Dr. Wierwille include: Are the Dead Alive Now? published in 1971; Receiving the Holy Spirit Today published in 1972; five volumes of Studies in Abundant Living— The Bible Tells Me So (1971), The New, Dynamic Church (1971), The Word's Way (1971), God's Magnified Word (1977), Order My Steps in Thy Word (1985); Jesus Christ Is Not God (1975); Jesus Christ Our Passover (1980); and Jesus Christ Our Promised Seed (1982).
Dr. Wierwille researched God's Word, taught, wrote, and traveled worldwide, holding forth the accuracy of God's "wonderful, matchless" Word.
Act 10:1-48; 11:1-18
Act 10:9-20
Act 10:23, 27, 34, 44-47; 11:12, 16, 17; (Act 2:1-4)
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snt-0219_acts-10(vpw)
SUMMARY KEYWORDS: Peter, God, Gentiles, Cornelius, called, tremendous, received, Joppa, word, man, verse, gate, baptized, chapter, people, Simon, vision, speak, house, preaching
Well bless your hearts Acts chapter 10. Tonight one of the great chapters in the Word of God. And the tremendous truth which is taught here in Acts chapter 10 is frequently bypass because of the lack of unfoldment of the integrity and the accuracy of God's Word with which it operates from the opening day of the church in Acts chapter two. This record here in Acts chapter 10, occurred some 20 to 25 years perhaps after the original outpouring on the day of Pentecost, which is recorded in Acts chapter two. On the day of Pentecost, only Jews received were only Jews were born again of God's Spirit and receive the power of the Holy Spirit.
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Remember, this scripture says unto the Jews first, then on to the Gentiles. Here in Acts chapter 10, we have the record of the first record, by the way, in the Bible, of anyone ever receiving the great things of God without becoming a proselyte, to Judaism, and in therefore, in this tremendous chapter, we have set before us some of the most remarkable truths that you could possibly ever read in the Word of God or learn to understand. So from Acts chapter 10. Tonight, we'll take this chapter, line by line and word by word, and we'll see the greatness of it as I read along. Verse one, there was a certain man intercessory, called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called The itallian band, a devout man, and one who feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people and prayed to God only. He saw in a vision, evidently, clearly, openly, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming into him and saying unto him, Cornelius, and when he looked on him, he was afraid and said, What is it Lord? And he said unto him, thy prayers and dine homes or come up for a memorial before God, and now send men to Joplin call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter. He lodges with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the seaside, he shall tell thee what thou artists to do. And when the angel which spake under Cornelius was departed, he called Two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually. And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa. on the morrow, as they went on their journey and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the house top to pray about the six hour and he became very hungry, and would have eaten. But while they made ready, he fell into a trance, and saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending onto him, as it had been a great feat. nip at the four corners, and let down to the earth. We're in we're all manner of four footed beasts of the earth, and wild bees, and creeping things and fowls of the air, and there came a voice to him, rise, theater, kill and eat. But Peter said, not so, Lord. For I've never eaten anything that is defiled, common, or unclean. And the boys speak unto him again the second time, what God has claimed that call not thou defiled are common. This was done thrice, and the vessel was received up again into heaven. Now while Peter doubted in himself lots this vision which he had seen should be, behold, a man which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house and stood before the gate and called and asked whether Simon which was surname Peter, were lodged there. While Peter thought on the vision, that spirits said unto him, Behold, three men, seek for the arise their friend gets the down and go with them, doubting nothing, for I have sent them. Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius and said, Behold, I am he will you seek? What is the cause? Wherever you are, come, and they said, Cornelia so sanatorium adjust man and one that feareth God in a good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by unholy angel to send for the into his house, and to hear words of the then called ease them in and lodge them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him, and the moral after they entered into sesor, Maria and Cornelius waited for them and had called to gather his kinsmen and near friends. And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and restrictive. But Peter took Him up saying, stand up, I, myself also am a man. And as he talked with him, he went in and found many that were come together. And he said unto them, you know how that is, is an unlawful thing, or a man that is a do to keep company or come unto one of another nation, but God has showed me that I should not call any man defiled, common or unclean. Therefore came I unto you without gains say, as soon as I was sinful, I asked therefore, for what intent you have sent for me, and kurnia sin. Four days ago, I was fasting until this hour, and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, and said, Cornelius, died, prayer is heard and dine arms are head, in remembrance in the sight of God, then therefore, to Joppa and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the seaside, who when he comments shall speak unto thee.
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Immediately, therefore, I sent to thee and thou hast well done, that's our outcome. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded the of God? Then Peter opened his mouth and said, of the truth, I perceived that God is no respecter of persons, not in every nation, he that feareth him, and work as righteousness is accepted with Him. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ is Lord of all that word, I say, Do you know, which was published throughout all Judy, and began from Galilee after the baptism with John priests? Oh, God, anointed Jesus of Nazareth, with the Holy Ghost, and with power, went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil, for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did, both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem, whom they slew and hanged on a tree. Him, God raised up the third day and showed him openly, not to all the people, but unto witnesses, chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. 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 the living that quick and the dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name, whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sin. I'll Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on them which heard the word and they of the circumcision, which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. Far they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized, whichever Receive the Holy Ghost has well as we and he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord, then pray they him to Terry certain days, the apostles and the brethren that were in Judea, heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, days that were of the circumcision contended with him, saying, that went into men uncircumcised, and it's eat with them. But Peters rehearse the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them say, I was in the city of Joppa prayed, and in a trance, I saw a vision, a certain vessel descend, as it had been a great cheap, let down from heaven by the four corners, and it came even to me on the witch, when I had fasten my eyes, I considered and saw four footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts and creeping things and fowls of the air. And I heard a voice saying on me arise, Peter laity, what I said, Not So Lord, are nothing defiled, how men are unclean at any time entered into my mouth, but the voice answered me again from Heavens What God has claimed that call nuts out, the files are common. And this was done three times. And all were drawn up again into heaven. And behold, immediately, there were three men already come on to the house where I was sent from sensory onto me, and the spirit that may go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover, these six brethren, accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house. And he showed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which students said unto him, send men to jump in call for Simon whose surname is Peter, who shall tell thee whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered i, the word of the Lord, how he said, John, indeed baptized with water, that he shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. For as much then as God gave them the life gift, as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, what was high, that I could withstand God.
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When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God save them, have God also, to the Gentiles, granted repentance unto life. They're my friends is one of the greatest stories, one of the greatest truths and the word of God. And with the understanding of this tremendous truth, as it's set forth here in Acts, chapters, 10, and 11. And you have to read this whole story to get the impact of everything which was involved, you get an understanding that very, very few people have. As I said, at the beginning tonight, when when I said, we were going to teach on this chapter, and so forth, that never before in the history of civilization, as far as the religious teaching was concerned, was anybody able to receive anything from God without becoming a proselyte. With this exception here, here is the beginning of the time when Gentiles walked into the greatness of that which God had made available, and they did not have to become Jewish proselyte, they were able to walk right in on their own. Now, when you really analyze this story, and work it down, there are some tremendous truths in here. Understanding that Peter had been Jewish in background, he still was in background, and no Jew would have any eat meat, or fellowship with a Gentile. And therefore God working this whole thing out. The way it is told here in Acts chapter 10. And 11 is just tremendous. God spoke to Cornelius first. And there is a tremendous truth hidden in here. After when he spoke to Cornelius. He told him to send men to Java, or one called Simon whose surname was Peter, who was lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner. And then there's a very interesting phrase, whose house is by the seaside. Now, there may have been other men whose names were Simon, in that city of Joppa. But there was only one man whose name was Simon, the tanner, like Herman, the carpenter, like Smith, the farmer, like flutter, John, the farmer, or were well the bricklayer or something. So there was only one Simon, the tanner, whose house was by the seaside. Now that is tremendous. Because no Tanner, was allowed to stay within the city limits. They had zoning back in the days of the records, which are written in the Word of God, so zoning is nothing new, because every Tanner had to build his tanning place outside of the city limits. And if the prevailing winds were from the southwest, for instance, he would not dare to build his tanning industry at the southwest corner outside of the city limits, he would have to build it at the northeast corner, so the Southwest prevailing winds would drive away the stink of the tanning business.
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That's good zoning. Why sure? Boy, you ought to live out here I'm free with us. Tremendous.
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Especially with these new hogs setups, that God they feed them, you know. And then finally they pump it all out and haul it all out at once. The prevailing winds. So, real refreshing. But I want to tell you something didn't smell as bad or doesn't smell as badly to me, as it did coming through Chicago last week on my way back from Minnesota. So that's Chicago, and this place in Fort Wayne, when you go up here in Fort Wayne, and come in from this side? I don't know we used to call it the stinky inky. So why do they make up their elbow? Oh, that's the dump. Oh, anyway. You should know you drive past it every day, don't you?
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Oh, it is? Well, perhaps Joppa had a better zoning system at the time because they put the fertilizer industry or the tanning business on the outskirts of the city. And this is a tremendous Orientalism because this is exactly what they did then. And this is exactly what they do in the Far East today. These are tremendous little insights. And it's always wonderful to see that God has these things put in the word of God, these little lights that just make it bubble, it just make it glow for you. Here this was posed to Cornelia, why did he do? Did he carry out the word of God? Literally? Definitely. God told him to send the job. So when, immediately when this had finished, or Helios got a group of men to go to Jerusalem? Nope. Why not? Because the word of God was to get men to go where the job. So where does it go? Why? Because the word of God is the will of God. It means what it says. And it says, what it means is that every place in the Bible, every place in the Bible, where you read about anybody getting anything from God, they always got it when they literally carried out the word of God, when they literally carried it. God said, send somebody to Joppa. And so to Joppa he sent and the synchronization of these watches, you know, clocks time. 60 seconds. minutes, is a tremendous thing in this stuff. Peter went up on the house top to pray at the noon hour, while Peter was up there. The verse here in verse 10 of chapter 10 says, While Peter was up on the house top and they were getting soup and crackers ready for him and so forth. It says he fell into a wad trance. Now this is not a spiritualist trend. Because verse 19, of the same chapter, he says, while Peter thought on the lot that try this has no bearing upon devilish spiritualism, nothing whatsoever. Peter was wide awake, wide awake. But he was given a vision. A picture should be no problem. You sit at your TVs and pick up pictures 2030 4050 100 miles away, some of them even from outer space on almost this communication satellites, certainly, you pick up pictures, no problem there, well, perhaps God can do a few things to and here he was. Just I know exactly how it was. Have you ever gotten to the place that you just had your mind on one thing and one thing alone? All the rest of the disturbances were closed off and closed out? And there you were you had your mind state on God. And all at once? There it is. That's what's the vision? That is mind stayed on God and all at once. There it was the sheet let down from heaven, and had in it all these things that were defined three times, three times this was occurred and each time God told him that which I have plans, don't you dare to call defiled. Why did Peter need all this schooling because of his background? And I see the love of God, the mercy of God and the grace of God in dealing with men. In this tremendous story. How loving God is to teach us is how patient he is with us even today, a patient he's been with me a patient, he's been with you. He's a loving God. He's a patient God, and he always deals with us in our understanding so that we can tap through The Infinite greatness of that which he has to say, now, just at the time when this vision had terminated, and while Peter thought on this vision, the whole the man which Carl Linnaeus had said, we're standing outside of the gate Collie. That's what I meant by getting their watches synchronized. God certainly had this thing all worked out, didn't think that they should be there at the exact moment. And they were standing outside of the gate, not knocking because in the east, you do not knock on a door.
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Don't happen. Outside of the gate, it's fan stem. So therefore, you can't knock on the door if it's the gate. Talking about gates, you know, among some of the Amish, Mennonite groups in the east, whenever they have gates around their little houses and stuff. Whenever there is a young lady who is of marriageable age, they paint the gate blue. Rhoda told me that she lived among that right road there. My cooperation over here. She was born and raised in that Lancaster, Pennsylvania area. But really the gates. That's what reminds me of these silly stories or something. But they stood outside of the gate. And they would call the man's name. They do this in the East day yet. In India, for instance, if they wanted to see us, they'd come outside of the door and they'd say, Dr. Wierwille, Dr. Wierwille, they don't knock on doors. We go out and press a doorbell or we knock on a door but not in these stood outside and they called that's what the verse says. That's literally what it means. They called him by name. He said, Hey, Peter. Peter was on the house top praise, just coming down. That's something. Sure. And it says in verse 19, that wild Peter thought on the vision, one more thing occurred to Peter what was that? The spirits said unto him, that spirits said unto him, and when the spirits said unto him, this was revelation, word of knowledge. And last word of wisdom, word of knowledge, told him the score, where the wisdom told him what to do about it. So first God gives him a vision, gives him a picture, shows it to him in a picture, and then he collaborates it by giving him word of knowledge and word of wisdom. He told him to rise, get the down, go with them, doubting nothing, for I have bought Bentham. Now there were other things told to Peter, which are not specifically stated in the verse or in the chapter here. But they were told him because when Peter went down, he took some men with a verse 23. And on the model, Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa, did what accompanied him. And in chapter 11, when Peter later on is called on the carpet in Jerusalem, in verse 12, he says, Moreover, the six rather and did was accompanied with he, he took six men of Jewish background, who were born again and filled with the Holy Spirit and operated manifestations. He took these six along with him when he went to assessories. And so what he comes to sesor he currently has has everything arranged, it says he had called in all of his kinsmen, and close neighbors and his friends, and had them already when Peter arrived. And the first thing that occurs after Peter begins to speak, is that Peter in verse 34, sets of a truth I see, I perceive that God is no respecter of law. And boy, that some here before Peter had always thought God was a respecter of the Jews first, and only the Gentiles if they became proselyte. Not here for the first time in the history of the Christian church. A man of Jewish background, Peter has had this revelation and this information from God and he gets into the household or community. And he, the first thing he says, when he begins to teach them the greatness of God's word is that he now knows, God is no respecter of all. That's a tremendous when you get to the realization that God is no respecter of person, that you're just as good in God's sight as any other person. That's just tremendous.
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When you've come to the realization that our God will do for every believer what he has promised to do for anybody, and that you are all special to him. He is no respecter of persons, God will not do more for VP where will and He will for Mr. Beck, or Mr. Paul, God will do for every person that which our believing makes possible for him to do here in the household occurred as Peter said, of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons. And he preaches that's tremendous sermon and verse 34. Says, wild Peter yet space. Wild Peter Yep, speak these words. The Holy Ghost fail on them which heard the word, Peter never got to finish his sermon. He had, he was teaching the Word of God and preaching to them the greatness of God's word, and Cornelius and the people in his household believe what tears spoke, and as they believe they were born again of God's Spirit and God filled them with His Holy Spirit. Many times you hear about people talking that talking about that if anybody receives the Holy Spirit, Jeff lay hands on ministry to what do you do with a verb like this? Not that nobody laid hands on anybody. I think God had enough to do to get Peter inside the house without getting him to put his hands on a Gentile. It really had to do something new then again, right. So while Peters preaching Cardinia fan, his people are believing, and boy, something happened. While Peter yet speak these words, the Holy Ghost fell on them which heard the word verse 45. And they have the circumcision. The six which believe, who had accompany Peter were astonished. They were flabbergasted they were shocked. Why? Because that on the Gentiles Oh, so that on the Gentiles also. They had already received the for the day of Pentecost or sometimes shortly thereafter. And watch the mother astonish them what's flabbergasted them was that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift. Not the giver, but was poured out was the gift, the gift from the giver, the gift of the Holy Spirit. And people verse 46, whether we like it or whether we don't as in the word of God, and it's the only thing that would have ever convinced a Peter, or the six brethren who accompanied him, that this which the Gentiles had to receive without becoming awful like, without all of the fanfare, and the paraphernalia the ordinarily went through. There had to be something which is indisputable and undeniable, something that is so absolute, that once you have seen it, once you have done it, then you know that you know that you know that you know that you know that you're really born again of God's Spirit and have the power of God. Verse 46, or they heard them speak with what? They hurt someone who did the speaking that people did by the power of God that was in them. God didn't possess them. God didn't use them as mediums. Nah, not accidentally stuff. By the freedom of your will. You accept the Lord Jesus Christ, by the freedom of your Will you speak in tongues and interpret like we did here in the auditorium again tonight. By the freedom of your will never possess, any possession is always satanic always. These Gentiles, when they were born again of God spirits up first thing they did was they spoke with us. And as they spoke in tongues, this is what convinced the six Reverend to accompany Peter. And it convinced Peter that the Gentiles also had received also had received the same gift that they had received some 1520 years 25 years before, because this is exactly what Peter reported in Acts chapter 11. We read it this evening. Verse 17, of chapter 11, for as much them as God gave them the life gift as he did unto us who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Who was I or what was I that I could withstand God? At some they heard them lots. speak with tongues and magnify. So every time a person speaks in tongues it's the magnified God's and it's the proof in the senses word of the internal reality and presence of His Holy Spirit. You can't see spirit you can't smell it, you can't taste it can't touch it. But one Spirit, the power of that spirit is manifested in the senses world, you can see it you can hear. That's why the speaking in tongues was the proof in the senses world that the Gentiles had received the life gift that they had received. Because according to Acts chapter two, verses one to four, when they receive the Holy Spirit, it says they stay with you could have taken these people baptized him in water, backwards, forwards upside down, day in and day out, week in and week out, that never would convince the reader that they had the like gift. Oh, no. There had to be something here, which is absolutely indisputable, and undeniable, something which is so concrete and so certain that there can be absolutely no count. Ladies and gentlemen, the only thing that is that they've heard them speak with nobody. Nobody can speak with tongues, until they are born again of God's spirits, having received the power of hope. Out Peter being Jewish and backgrounds, and all of this, you know, God was wonderful to go to him, the sheep gave him revelation. Peter goes down and he preaches to them. He sees them. BORN AGAIN of God's Spirit, because they're speaking in tongues. He knows they've got the real McCoy. But Peters has man Oh, man, I better get him water baptizing. I just better do this real quick. That's why it says very sporty seven, Can any man forbid watch water that these should not be baptized, which have Lombardo manifest, received in a manifestation, the gift of the Holy Spirit as well as we that's something you would have thought that after all of this, Peter would have been pretty well schooled. But Peter could only walk in the light he hadn't according to his renewed mind. Right. And so Peter, having come out of the background of John's baptism with these Gentiles walking in, you know what he wanted to do? He says, Boy, we better get them waterbed. And to this verse, most Protestants still hold. Why don't they ever read the 11th chapter and put it together with your That's what Peter wanted to do. But verse 16, of the 11th Chapter sales, then remembered i, the word of the Lord, how that he said, John baptized with love. But he Sal, absolutely no ifs, ands, or buts, no probability to it. But he shall not you will not he will grammatically challies accurate, hear both Greek Aramaic and all the rest, ye shall absolutely be baptized with numa howgill. And for as much then as God gave them the like gift is unto us who believe, who was I that I could watch? He wanted to water baptize him, but God told me what not to do it. And he said, Who was I to withstand God? So he never was water baptize him. He didn't have to you know why? Because they were baptized with something infinitely bigger than all the water in the world. They were baptized with the internal presence and power of God's Holy Spirit. It is Christ in you, the hope ago. And people that's a lot better than all the water on the outside. This is what occurs to people on the inside. And there is a law involved, that with the coming of the greater the lesser harmony. This is why John the Baptist himself said that, when he met the master that they he said, He must increase thought I must plus. Amen. You see the greatness of. So that's the wonderful presence of this. And for this, of course, we thank our God for the greatness of that which is written in here regarding these tremendous truths. And I trust that this teaching here from the 10th and 11th chapter on the Gentiles walking in, there's a greatness of this power will just bless your soul. Let's bow our heads for a word of prayer.
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Our gracious and loving Heavenly Father, we thank you tonight for divine presence and Power in for thy love and father for letting this word of God leave and for all the good things that thou has brought for us through Christ Jesus and for filling us with thy Holy Spirit Amen