BIBLE IN TEN

Acts 10:46

Saturday, 15 October 2022
 
For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.Then Peter answered, Acts 10:46
 
The previous verse told of how astonished those of the circumcision were when the Holy Spirit had been poured upon the Gentiles at Cornelius’ house. A verbal manifestation accompanied the pouring out. As it says, “For they hear them speak with tongues and magnify God.”
 
The NKJV has the wrong tense for the verbs. It more correctly reads, “For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and magnifying God” (BLB). It is this translation that will be used. First, “they were hearing them speaking in tongues.”
 
Being an imperfect verb, it means that they heard them speaking in tongues and this continued on. It was a display probably not unlike that which occurred in Acts 2 –
 
“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:4
 
This was the sign to those who were there at the first, and it is a sign to them now that the same Spirit had approved of these Gentiles in the same way. It is to be remembered that the word glóssa, or “tongue,” simply means a known language. It is normally a language naturally acquired, so these Gentiles were speaking as if the languages they were uttering were commonly known to them.
 
The symbolism is that of the reversing of the dividing of languages at Babel in Genesis 11. Not only had the Jews spoken in various tongues as the Spirit gave utterance, but even these Gentiles had now been imparted this gift.
 
Along with that, it says they were “magnifying God.” The word is megalunó. It was used in Acts 5:13 where it noted that the people held the apostle in “high esteem.” It signifies to make great or to declare great. Thus, a word such as extol would be fitting. With this noted, the verse ends with, “Then Peter answered.”
 
It is a Hebraism already seen in Acts. It is a way of saying that Peter then spoke. He is not answering a question, but he is responding to a situation. Peter has seen the display of the Spirit as poured out on the believers, and so he will next answer with a question for the Jews who are present to consider.
 
Life application: It is to be remembered that in Acts 2, tongues were spoken. Nothing is said of anyone speaking in tongues since then. As Jews were added to the number, nothing is said of this. In Acts 8, all it notes when the Samaritans had hands placed on them by Peter was that they “received the Holy Spirit.” However, nothing is said about what that meant. Later, when the Ethiopian eunuch believed and was baptized, it said nothing about the Spirit interacting with him.
 
These are internal clues that the accounts are descriptive and are not to be taken as normative. They simply tell the story concerning the development of the early church. The signs, including the tongues now, are given to confirm acceptance by God in Peter’s presence. With him are a suitable number of witnesses to confirm that the event took place.
 
As this is the case, there is no reason to assume that anyone after these events recorded in Acts would ever need to speak in tongues. The confirmations have been received, they are recorded in the word, and we now have to accept or reject these things based on faith. When we have sight, faith is excluded. But God expects us to have faith. Hence, we can logically conclude that signs are not needed, nor are they given any longer.
 
The sensationalism of charismatic churches is just that, sensationalism. It is not grounded in sound theology, and it is harmful to a proper walk with the Lord right from the outset of being told about Jesus.
 
Lord God, help us to be clear in our thoughts concerning our relationship with You. Why should we need sensational theology when what Jesus has done is the very essence of what is sensational! Thank You for Jesus who has done the incredible to reconcile us to You. Amen.
 

Acts 10:45

Friday, 14 October 2022
 
And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. Acts 10:45
 
The previous verse said, “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.” With that, a response from the Jews who had come with Peter comes forth. Luke records, “And those of the circumcision.”
 
The meaning is, “the Jews who believed.” Being circumcised was not the only requirement to being a Jew, but it was one that could not be overlooked. That goes all the way back to Exodus –
 
“And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘This is the ordinance of the Passover: No foreigner shall eat it. 44 But every man’s servant who is bought for money, when you have circumcised him, then he may eat it. 45 A sojourner and a hired servant shall not eat it. 46 In one house it shall be eaten; you shall not carry any of the flesh outside the house, nor shall you break one of its bones. 47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. 48 And when a stranger dwells with you and wants to keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as a native of the land. For no uncircumcised person shall eat it. 49 One law shall be for the native-born and for the stranger who dwells among you.’” Exodus 12:43-49
 
These believing Jews, meaning believers in Christ had witnessed both the circumcision of and a partaking in the Passover by these Gentiles –
 
“Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?” Romans 2:26
 
“Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.” 1 Corinthians 5:7
 
Though these Jews probably did not even consider the coming of the Holy Spirit in this light, it is exactly what has transpired. These strangers from Israel had now become as natives of the land, having been brought into the commonwealth of Israel by a mere act of faith. In the coming of the Holy Spirit upon them, it says they “were astonished.”
 
A short questionnaire to consider:
 
Were any of these Gentiles circumcised before this? Probably not, but that is not even a consideration in Luke’s narrative.
Had any of these Gentiles observed a single precept of the Law of Moses prior to the coming of the Spirit? Probably not, but that is not even a consideration in Luke’s narrative.
Did these Gentiles eat their regular, non-kosher, food before hearing Peter? It is certainly the case.
Did any of these Gentiles go through the purification process outlined in the Law of Moses to be cleansed according to the law for having eaten defiled food? See answer to second question above.
Were any of these Gentiles of illegitimate birth according to the law, or were any of them descendants of Ammon or Moab? Who knows! But that is not even a consideration in Luke’s narrative.
 
Such questions could go on and on. But the obvious answer is that these people received the Spirit regardless of those points of law or any other points of law found in the Law of Moses. They simply believed and were accepted. They joined the commonwealth of Israel apart from the Law of Moses. This explains the words of Paul from Romans 2 above –
 
“Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law.” These Gentiles, by faith in Jesus, had kept every precept of the Law of Moses through His fulfillment of it. As Leviticus 18:5 promises life to the man who does so, it means that they have now attained that life, proven by the coming of the Holy Spirit. And the astonishment of these Jews wasn’t just one or two of them but “as many as came with Peter.”
 
This was so unexpected that every single Jew who was in attendance was utterly floored at what had transpired. The word translated as amazed has been seen several times in Acts already. It signifies “remove from a standing position.” Today we might say (as just noted) that they were utterly floored. The thought is the same. They were beside themselves at the event their eyes had beheld, “because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.”
 
Note the choice of wording, “the gift of the Holy Spirit.” A gift cannot be earned. This does not mean there might be conditions in receiving it, but it is something granted apart from any sort of merit.
 
There may be a condition that everyone who receives a new car must show up at the ribbon cutting ceremony. That is not a work. Rather, it is a necessary condition. A person may need to be over 55 in order to receive a certain gift. Again, that is a necessary condition. The gospel says, “hear, believe, and you will receive.”
 
The Spirit is not given apart from hearing. There must be a transmission of the message. The Spirit is not given apart from believing the gospel. There must be an inner acceptance of the message that has been spoken. These are necessary conditions. These Gentiles met the necessary conditions, and they were given the gift of the Holy Spirit.
 
In this case, it was a visible reception of the Spirit. This is not a necessary condition. Rather, it was a sign of confirmation for Peter and those with them to know, with all certainty, that the Spirit had been given. The account is descriptive; it prescribes nothing. It is simply what happened in order for these witnesses to bear this truth to those already in the church.
 
With Luke’s completion of the book of Acts, the witness is now recorded. Such outward displays are not only no longer necessary, they would actually be counterproductive to the normal process of salvation among believers today. Believers are to live by faith, accepting the words of Scripture apart from visible signs and demonstrations of the Spirit.
 
Life application: In response to the short questionnaire above, a note from Paul in Galatians 3 is intended to wake people up to the heresy of the Judaizers and today’s modern Hebrew Root movement adherents –
 
“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? 2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?” Galatians 3:1-4
 
Those in the church in Galatia had believed the gospel and they had received the Spirit. They were saved and they could never get any more saved than they were at that time. And yet, along came the Judaizers telling them that they had to observe Moses and be circumcised in order to be saved. But they already were circumcised by the Holy Spirit! But they had already been saved! But they had already met the requirements of the law through Jesus' fulfillment of it! But they had already observed the Passover!
 
What more could they do? Anything they added to what Christ had done in order to be right with God could only be wrong with God! It would be a flagrant shunning of the work of Christ and an attempt to be more righteous on their own. This is why Paul calls them foolish. They were setting aside the grace of Christ and setting about to establish their own righteousness.
 
Today, consider what things you are attempting to add onto your supposed righteousness before God.. Are you trying to merit God’s favor through tithing? Do you feel that if you don’t tithe you are a bad Christian? Or has someone told you it is so?
 
If so, you are trying to merit what you have already been given when you believed. Think each thing you do through. Determine if it is in obedience to the gospel or is it in addition to the gospel? Those things that will exalt you above the cross are to be eliminated. Those things that glorify the cross are to be held fast to.
 
And how can you tell? You must know the word. Read it! Think on it! And then, apply it to your life! In all you do, do it to the glory of the Lord who saved you through a simple act of faith.
 
Heavenly Father, what heavy burden You have taken from us. We no longer need to wonder if we will stand approved before You or not. We know that because of our faith in Jesus, we are approved. THANK YOU FOR JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD! Amen.

Acts 10:44

Thursday, 13 October 2022
 
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. Acts 10:44
 
Peter completed his words to Cornelius in the last verse with the words, “To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”  The words were direct, and they included nothing else. And yet, it now says, “While Peter was still speaking these words.”
 
There was nothing of what was said to Israel in Acts 2:38 –
 
“Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”
 
Peter was speaking to Israel who had just crucified their Messiah. There was nothing for these Gentiles to repent (meaning change one’s mind). There was no need for these Gentiles to be baptized in water in order to outwardly demonstrate to the nation that they had changed their minds. Instead, the inference that must be derived from the narrative is that when Peter had said, “whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins” that they had, in fact, believed.
 
And yet, it was not a belief that required an outward validation, such as them saying, “Yes, I believe.” Rather, it was an inward belief alone. By simply hearing Peter’s words and then by believing in their hearts (the heart in the Bible is the center of our moral being and the place where our volitional choices are made), it says that “the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.”
 
This means that they heard the word as spoken by Peter. They had faith in what that word said. They then were endowed with the Holy Spirit. This is the process Paul states in Romans–
 
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17
 
From there, the process continues in Ephesians 1 –
 
“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13, 14
 
The process, then, is – hear the word of God, have faith in the word which is then manifest in the heart (trusting), and at that moment, the sealing of the Holy Spirit is accomplished.
 
In the case of Cornelius and those with Him, there is a difference to this process though. As Vincent’s Word Studies rightly notes, “The only example of the bestowment of the Spirit before baptism.”
 
It is the epistles that set doctrine and explain that which is normative for this dispensation. The account now in Acts is a descriptive account. It prescribes nothing, but simply tells what has happened. As the epistles tell what is prescriptive, what is normative, and what can thus be expected, the account now in Acts obviously serves a particular purpose.
 
That purpose is explained in the words of Jesus to Peter –
 
“Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:17-19
 
Peter was the apostle selected by Jesus to confirm that access to heaven is granted to the various people groups reflected in Acts – Jew (Acts 2), Samaritans (Acts 8), and Gentiles (Acts 10). He is the only one recorded as being present at all three instances where the Holy Spirit came upon the believers. Thus, it is he who was given as the witness to confirm the events.
 
He was there in Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit came upon them at Pentecost. He was there to tell those who did not believe what they must do in order to receive the Spirit – repent, be baptized for remission, and then receive. He held the “keys” to heaven in regard to what they must do in order to be granted remission and given access to God’s paradise.
 
He was there in Acts 8. The people had already believed the message, but did not receive the Spirit –
 
“Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” Acts 8:14-17
 
Until Peter came, the confirmation – meaning the coming of the Spirit – was not given. Peter had the “keys” to heaven, meaning the validation that these believers had been received.
 
And now in Acts 10, the process is repeated. Remember that the Ethiopian eunuch had already received Jesus. He was saved based on that faith, but Peter was not present. As such, a demonstration of Gentile salvation was still required for Peter who held the “keys” to heaven. That demonstration is now realized.
 
Acts 2 – for believers: faith in Jesus / visibly receive the Spirit. For nonbelievers: follow the words of Peter concerning repentance and baptism because they had first rejected Jesus. From there, receive the Spirit.
 
Acts 8 – receive the word and believe. Wait for Peter to validate the event. With the laying on of hands, they visibly received the Spirit.
 
Acts 10 – Peter preaches the word concerning Jesus. Gentiles hear the word and believe in their hearts. The Spirit is visibly received.
 
And so, the question is, which of these three accounts is normative? Which one is to be expected in the future? The answer is, “None of the three accounts is normative.” Peter has now validated that all – Jew, Samaritan, and Gentile – have been saved by faith and faith alone in the work of Jesus Christ. He had also told those of Israel who had rejected Jesus that they had to repent (change their minds) about their rejection, openly acknowledge this, and they too would receive the Spirit.
 
That is never needed again except by those who first reject Jesus because only Israel had rejected their Messiah. Now, when a person rejects Jesus and he later changes his mind (repents), he receives the Spirit upon belief. For those who have never rejected Jesus, the formula of the epistles (noted above) is what is normative and what now occurs.
 
No outward display of the Spirit is necessary, nor is it to be expected, because the proof has been provided to Peter, it was witnessed as required by Scripture, and it is now documented in Scripture. Hence, these examples are the recorded proofs necessary for those who believe the gospel to know that they too are saved upon faith alone in the work of Jesus Christ.
 
Life application: What has been presented in Acts concerning salvation clearly demonstrates that there is one (and only one gospel). It also clearly demonstrates that this gospel is open to all, Jew and Gentile, through faith alone.
 
Now, our doctrine is to be obtained from the epistles. The varied descriptive accounts in Acts are intended to lead us to the stabilizing instructions found in the epistles. The words of Jesus in Acts 1 are being realized with the reception of the Spirit by Cornelius and those with Him –
 
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8
 
The word went first to Jerusalem, then to Judea and Samaria. Now, it begins to go “to the end of the earth” with the inclusion of these Gentiles in the presence of Peter. With this baseline established, the word will continue to go forth, but without the necessity of Peter verifying what has occurred. The “keys” to heaven have been used for Jew, for Samaritan, and for Gentile.
 
Lord God, what a marvelous thing You have done through the giving of Jesus! Thank You that we can be included in Your family through a simple act of faith in His completed work. How grateful we are. And we shall praise You forever and ever because of what You have done. Glory to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! Amen. 
 

Acts 10:43

Wednesday, 12 October 2022
 
To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” Acts 10:43
 
In The last verse were Peter’s continued words to Cornelius, saying, “ 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.” Peter’s words now continue with, “To Him all the prophets witness.”
 
It is referring to Jesus, and it is something that Scripture elsewhere explicitly teaches. For example, there is the account after the resurrection where Jesus spoke to the two as they walked on the road to Emmaus –
 
“’O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?’ 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” Luke 24:25-27
 
Likewise, in Acts 3, Peter said to the crowd gathered before him –
 
“Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.” Acts 3:17, 18
 
These are just a few of the references to this, both from Jesus’ words and from those of the apostles. One important point from the witness of the prophets is that of Gentile inclusion in the work of Messiah. Though Peter does not express the thought at this time, it is a truth that both points to the work of Jesus and the calling of the Gentiles –
 
“Indeed He says,‘It is too small a thing that You should be My ServantTo raise up the tribes of Jacob,And to restore the preserved ones of Israel;I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles,That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’” Isaiah 49:6
 
Of these words of the prophets, Peter next says, “that, through His name.” The translation is correct. The word dia, or through, is used. It signifies that what will next be said will come about based on an action that is “through” the name of Jesus.
 
Of this, Vincent’s Word Studies says, “As in the Lord's prayer: not simply the title, but all that is embraced and expressed by the name: Christ's ‘entire perfection, as the object revealed to the believer for his apprehension, confession, and worship’ (Meyer).” Peter next says that the means of this “through” action is based upon “whoever believes.”
 
The Greek reads “everyone believing.” Notice that Peter, who is now speaking to Gentiles who are outside of the covenant people Israel, does not say “who observes,” “who is circumcised,” “who joins himself to,” or any other prescription where some type of self-expressed work must be performed. Rather, Peter levies upon these people an act of faith alone, saying, “everyone believing.” And the object of this faith is, “in Him.”
 
This is just what Jesus says in John 3:16. It is what is repeated time and time again in Acts and in the epistles. There is no other requirement levied upon the individual than belief in Jesus. If giving up a certain diet was required, Peter would have stated this now. If observance of the Law of Moses was required, Peter would have stated this now. And so on. But he does not. He simply says that everyone believing in Him. With that, and based upon believing in Him, the words are completed with “will receive remission of sins.”
 
The word is aphesis. It signifies “something sent away.” As such, it is a note that the sins of the believer are “sent away” and thus they are pardoned, forgiven, let go, and so on. This is the heart of the gospel. It is a note that God has entered into the stream of human existence and, through the giving of His Son, has allowed those who accept the payment to be given remission of sins. This allowance is appropriated by faith in Jesus, and it is granted to everyone who is believing in Him.
 
Life application: What is the common denominator concerning these Gentiles gathered together? For the sake of the narrative, it is that they are all sinners. Peter implicitly tells them this by saying that they need to believe in Jesus in order to have remission of sins. In his words, he carefully explains how this remission is provided.
 
Again, as noted above, Peter said nothing of law observance. He said nothing of actively working out a set plan that must be pursued by the sin-laden soul. Rather, the set plan is one that calls out for belief in the Person of Jesus who had accomplished the work of God, who had then been hanged on a tree, and who was then raised by God on the third day.
 
This is what God requires. Nothing more. This will be perfectly evidenced in the next verse. Peter does not say, “You must believe in Jesus and turn from your sin.” That cannot even be inferred in his words. He says that remission of their sin comes through faith. Thus, turning from sin is an act that is to be based upon remission, not for remission. If this were not true, then it would be the act of the individual that brought about the remission. This would then totally destroy the purity of the gospel and it would negate the idea of Ephesians 2:8, 9 –
 
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
 
Paul places the “good works,” which would include turning from sin, after the belief, not before. Be sure to get this, remember it, and properly present it when speaking to others about their need for Jesus. This is the gospel. Come to Jesus, believe in Him, and be saved.
 
Lord God, help us to remember to keep ourselves and our actions out of the gospel message. It is all about Jesus and what He has done. May we never presume to add to this wonderful message, but to maintain its purity when we speak to others. It is about Jesus, it is through Jesus, and it is by faith in Him that the gospel is realized in us. Thank You, O God, for Jesus Christ our Lord! Hallelujah and amen. 

Acts 10:42

Tuesday, 11 October 2022 
 
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. Acts 10:42
 
The previous verse conveyed Peter’s words, saying, “to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.” Peter will now explain what that thought means, tying the two verses together. The resurrection proves that Jesus was (and is) sinless. This is because, as Paul says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
 
As this is an absolute truth concerning all of humanity who descend from Adam via a human father, then it secondly proves that Jesus is truly God, born of God the Father. He is the God/Man. We may not think this through to its logical end when we consider the resurrection from the dead, but it is clearly implied. Jesus is both without sin and He is God. With that understood, Peter says, “And He commanded us to preach to the people.”
 
Peter is surely noting what Jesus said after the resurrection, such as that found in Mark 16:15 –
 
“And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.’”
 
Such verses ast that, and even just prior to the ascension in Acts 1:8, indicate that the apostles were given a commission to convey what they knew, and it was to extend beyond the borders of Israel. As Jesus said in Acts 1:8, “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” In this preaching, Peter continues that it was to include more than just the simple gospel, but what the gospel implies. As Peter next says, “and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.”
 
The word translated as “testify” is stronger than to simply witness or testify (marturomai). Rather, it is a word already used twice in Acts which goes a step further, diamarturomai. By adding the prefix dia (through), it means to thoroughly testify and to even solemnly charge. In other words, conveying the gospel also conveys the necessity to further explain what accepting or rejecting the gospel implies, if the situation so requires it.
 
That which is to be testified is explained by the next words of the clause. It is Jesus who was ordained by God to be the Judge of both the living and the dead. This was stated clearly by Jesus in John 5 –
 
“For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.24 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. 25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.” John 5:22-27
 
This thought is expressed elsewhere in the epistles and in Revelation. Jesus, because He came into the world without sin, lived without sinning, died for the sins of the world, and rose again (proving that He remained sinless), is given the authority to judge both the living and the dead. His life gives Him the authority to judge all sin and His death gives Him the ability to extend that to those who are dead.
 
In saying that Jesus died for the sins of the world, it means this is true potentially. Any sin that has been committed is potentially atoned for by His death. However, it only actually applies to those who come to God through faith in His provision which is found in Jesus. As Jesus said in John 5, those who believe in Him shall not come into judgment. Their sin has been judged in Him. In this, they have passed from death into life.
 
However, those who fail to believe remain dead in their trespasses. As such they will be judged for condemnation. It is Jesus who holds the authority to conduct this process because it is Jesus who has prevailed over death. He is the God/Man.
 
Life application: Some may hear the simple gospel and readily accept it. Others may have questions or simply reject what is presented. In such a case, the one who tells about Jesus should be ready to fully testify to what it means to turn from Jesus. One cannot come to God apart from Jesus. Those who come to Jesus will come to God covered by His atoning sacrifice. They will be found acceptable before God.
 
But even those who don’t come to Jesus will still come to God before Jesus. This is because Jesus is the One ordained to judge all humanity. When they are raised and stand before the Great White Throne, it will be with Jesus as the witness that they rejected Him. And in the rejection of Him, they will be found guilty and judged as such.
 
People need to understand this. When Jesus said that He is the Way, He meant it. No human will come before the Father without coming through Jesus. The terms have been set, the Standard has been given, and if a person does not meet that Standard (meaning Christ’s perfection), he is a goner. Only in being imputed Christ’s righteousness can eternal life and reconciliation be provided. This is what we need to be prepared to tell those we speak to. In Jesus is life. Apart from Him is death. He is the God/Man.
 
Glorious God Almighty, how grateful we are for the offer of reconciliation You have provided for us in the giving of Jesus. May we be willing to always open our mouths and speak out the good news to those we come to meet. And, Lord, may we be ready and willing to tell what a rejection of the gospel means to those who turn it down. Help us to be bold in our proclamation, O God. Amen.

Acts 10:41

Monday, 10 October 2022
 
not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. Acts 10:41
 
With Peter continuing his explanation concerning Christ Jesus to Cornelius, he just said that God had raised Him from the dead on the third day and caused Him to be seen. With that, he now clarifies what that means, saying, “not to all the people.” 
 
To be seen by all the people was neither necessary nor would it be in accord with their conduct toward Him, having nailed Him to the cross (see Acts 2:23). Further, it would not be in line with Jesus’ words to the leaders as recorded in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. That parable ended with –
 
“But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’” Luke 16:31
 
Further, He had told them directly that they should not expect such a sign as is recorded in Luke 11:29-32. They had asked for a sign, but He had told them that no sign would be given “except the sign of Jonah.” The sign of Jonah was his preaching to the Ninevites.
 
In other words, for Jesus to reveal Himself to the entire nation would then exclude what God desires from His people, meaning faith. If one has sight, then faith is excluded. Jesus even told this directly to the apostles when speaking to Thomas –
 
“Jesus said to him, Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’” John 20:29
 
And even with the sight of their eyes, Jesus told them (in Luke 16:31 above) that in His resurrection, they would still not be convinced. Therefore, it would have served no purpose for Him to reveal Himself to the people openly. In fact, it would have been counterproductive. Instead, He was seen only by a select few. As Peter says, “but to witnesses chosen before by God.”
 
It is a word found only here in Scripture, and it is a perfect participle, “having already been chosen.” The word is procheirotoneó. It signifies extending out the hand before. HELPS Word Studies says, “(‘God's hand extended before’) illustrates how God, the Creator, plans out all the physical scenes of our lives before the foundation of the world (cf. Ps 139:16; Is 43:13 - 45:7). For example, the Lord’s hand determined who would be the initial witnesses of Christ’s resurrection.”
 
The idea of those select people seeing Jesus is that of being preordained to do so. For whatever reason, He determined these people, and no others, would be actual witnesses of the resurrection. But it was a sufficient number (see 1 Corinthians 15:3:3-8) to accomplish His purposes. Along with this thought, Peter continues with specific details concerning his words, saying, “even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.”
 
There are three instances noted concerning this, Luke 24:30; Luke 24:42; John 21:13. The result of these occurrences is to absolutely solidify that Jesus Christ rose as a tangible, physical person. He was not an apparition, a spirit, or a hallucination of the mind. Rather, He ate with these people, they handled Him, and they spoke with Him.
 
Along with these instances are those of the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 (more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time) and the words of Luke in Acts 1 at the ascension. Such occasions provided enough substance to validate Christ’s resurrection and ascension while still leaving the matter to require faith by the nation of Israel. And from there, the testimony of those who saw Jesus after the resurrection now extends to all people of the world. The faith of Cornelius is an early testimony to this.
 
Life application: The note concerning those who ate and drank with Jesus is an important one. It was first documented in the gospels, and then it is repeated in Acts. Jesus physically and bodily arose from the dead. It is rather incredible to believe that there are people who claim that Jesus did not rise as a physical being even though they claim to believe in the Bible.
 
The Jehovah’s Witnesses, for example, deny a literal, physical resurrection of the Lord. They say, “Jesus’ own words showed that he would not be resurrected with his flesh-and-blood body” (JW.org). This is completely contrary to the words of the gospels, such as –
 
“And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, ‘Peace to you!’ 27 Then He said to Thomas, ‘Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.’” John 20:26, 27
 
In order to deny this, they submit the following commentary. Take time to carefully go through their words and see how many errors in thinking and in theology you can find. The analysis is a typical example of taking verse after verse out of context in order to deny the fundamental truth of who Jesus Christ is:
 
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After Jesus’ Resurrection, Was His Body Flesh or Spirit?
 
The Bible’s answer
 The Bible says that Jesus “was put to death in the flesh but made alive [resurrected] in the spirit.”​—1 Peter 3:​18; Acts 13:34; 1 Corinthians 15:45; 2 Corinthians 5:​16.
 
Jesus’ own words showed that he would not be resurrected with his flesh-and-blood body. He said that he would give his “flesh in behalf of the life of the world,” as a ransom for mankind. (John 6:​51; Matthew 20:28) If he had taken back his flesh when he was resurrected, he would have canceled that ransom sacrifice. This could not have happened, though, for the Bible says that he sacrificed his flesh and blood “once for all time.”—Hebrews 9:​11, 12.
 
If Jesus was raised up with a spirit body, how could his disciples see him?
 
Spirit creatures can take on human form. For example, angels who did this in the past even ate and drank with humans. (Genesis 18:​1-8; 19:​1-3) However, they still were spirit creatures and could leave the physical realm.​—Judges 13:15-​21.
 
After his resurrection, Jesus also assumed human form temporarily, just as angels had previously done. As a spirit creature, though, he was able to appear and disappear suddenly. (Luke 24:31; John 20:19, 26) The fleshly bodies that he materialized were not identical from one appearance to the next. Thus, even Jesus’ close friends recognized him only by what he said or did.​—Luke 24:30, 31, 35; John 20:14-​16; 21:​6, 7.
 
When Jesus appeared to the apostle Thomas, he took on a body with wound marks. He did this to bolster Thomas’ faith, since Thomas doubted that Jesus had been raised up.​—John 20:24-​29.
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What is presented to you in these words by the Jehovah’s Witnesses is a purposeful manipulation of the word of God. Don’t be misled by the verses they cite. Think about what is presented and carefully consider what is said. In the end, either Jesus rose physically from the dead or He did not. And thanks be to God, He did. Jesus defeated death so that we too may live.
 
Lord God, may we be prepared to speak out and correct attacks against Your word. Help us to be sound in our thinking, well versed in Your word, and capable of defending the fundamental truths that it presents. May we do this to Your glory and to the correction of the evil doctrines presented by those who have an agenda to tear people away from the truths You have so clearly presented to us. Amen.
 

Acts 10:40

Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, Acts 10:40
 
Peter just noted concerning Jesus, saying, “they killed by hanging on a tree.” With that, he now says, “Him God raised up on the third day.” The translation of the NKJV does not match the text used by their translators. Rather, they have added in the word “on” without italicizing it. Instead, the Greek of their source text reads “This [One] God raised the third day.”
 
However, some manuscripts include the word en or “in” by saying, “This [One] God raised up in the third day.” Either way, the meaning is obvious. It is not “three and then rise,” as if he rose on the fourth day, but “on the third day.” This is carefully recorded both as Jesus’ word prior to the resurrection and in Acts and the epistles after the resurrection –
 
“Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, ‘The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.’ And they were exceedingly sorrowful.” Matthew 17:22, 23
 
In all, the resurrection on the third day is noted thirteen times. With that clearly and unambiguously stated by Peter now, and with it confirmed in those other instances, Peter next says, “and showed Him openly.” 
 
The Greek implies more than the translation, saying, “and gave Him to become manifest.” The meaning is further explained in the next verse. He was not shown openly, as if everyone would behold Him, but he was made manifest to those whom God determined should see Him. Being manifest means fully presented before them as an undoubtable proof that it was Him, that it was His same body (personage) even if glorified, and that He had prevailed over the agony of the cross. Those who saw him are clearly identified in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (see commentary on the previous verse).
 
Life application: Today, it is as common as snowflakes in a blizzard for people to claim that Jesus rose “after” three days. This is based on a faulty understanding of Matthew 12 –
 
“But He answered and said to them, ‘An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.’” Matthew 12:39-42
 
By misunderstanding of Jesus’ words, it is claimed that Jesus rose after three days. As it is as obvious as lies from a politician that Jesus rose on a Sunday, it has become fashionable to claim that Jesus was crucified on a Thursday. Some even claim it was a Wednesday. First, the “sign of Jonah” is not that Jonah was in the belly of the great fish. The sign of Jonah is his preaching –
 
“And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, ‘Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!’” Jonah 3:4
 
That is stated by Jesus in Matthew 12:41, 42 but it is also more explicitly seen in Luke 11 where the note about the great fish is entirely omitted. Further, the term “three days and three nights” is an idiomatic expression found in Esther 4:16 and it means any part of those days, as the text there clearly indicates. As such, the account of Jesus’ resurrection being “on the third day” as noted thirteen times in the New Testament does not at all contradict Jesus’ words in Matthew 12. Rather, it shows a lack of proper study by those who try to reconcile something that needs no reconciliation.
 
In other words, don’t believe everything you hear until you check things out for yourself. Study, pray, and contemplate. There are no contradictions in the Bible, just issues that are presented for every level of scholarly study. Think of a tall bookshelf. There are shelves where little children can reach and there are shelves that only those who have grown can reach. The Bible presents things easy enough for children to understand, and it presents things so complicated that the smartest scholars still search them out.
 
Revel in the marvel of this amazing treasure, be ready to explore it daily, and then apply its teachings to your life. Do these things for best results! ☺ 
 
Lord God, thank You for this remarkable treasure that we call the Holy Bible. It is a marvel of wonder and delight. May we be willing to expend the necessary time to understand its every detail and nuance. Give us the desire to devote our days to seeking out its treasures. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.

Acts 10:39

Saturday, 8 October 2022
 
And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. Acts 10:39
 
The presentation concerning Jesus Christ by Peter to Cornelius continues with these words, saying, “And we are witnesses of all things.”
 
Peter explains that those who were with Jesus now stand as witnesses to the events that occurred. This was what was stated by Jesus just prior to His ascension –
 
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8
 
This is also a part of Paul’s presentation of the gospel, noting it as a confirmation of the events that occurred –
 
“For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-8
 
Peter acknowledges this fact to support his words concerning the life and work accomplished by the Lord. With that noted, he continues, saying, “which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem.”
 
The point of stating this is that Jesus’ ministry clearly fulfilled the messianic expectation of the Jewish people. Peter was a Galilean and a large portion of Jesus’ ministry, as recorded in the synoptic gospels, is focused on the area of Galilee. John’s gospel gave a much greater amount of detail in the land of Judea and especially in Jerusalem.
 
Despite having been clearly presented to the Jewish people as their Messiah, they rejected Him. As Peter says, “whom they killed by hanging on a tree.” The second verb is an aorist participle, and the clause more correctly reads, “whom they killed, having hanged upon a tree.”
 
Two technical points about this clause should be noted. The first is that the KJV unjustifiably adds in the word “and,” saying, “whom they slew and hanged on a tree.” That causes it to read as two separate actions, something that is not supported by the text, nor by the gospels. However, some older manuscripts (and thus some translations) have the word “and” prior to the two actions, saying, “And they also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross” (NASB 1977). In this, an increased force is placed upon the entire clause. As Vincent’s Word Studies says, “They added this crowning atrocity to other persecutions.”
 
In this, the KJV is to be wholly rejected as a failed translation, but the NASB and other such translations are quite possibly the correct renderings of the clause, assuming the Greek text they use is the original.
 
The point of either Greek text is quite clear though. Jesus was anointed by God with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil. There were sufficient witnesses concerning Him and His deeds in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem to testify to the people of His rightful claim to being the Messiah. And yet, despite these things, they killed Him by hanging Him on a tree.
 
Peter has not yet explained what Jesus’ death signifies, but he has stated it as a fact. If the account were to end there, Cornelius would have to say, “What a sad story. Another failed Messiah.” But this is not the end of Peter’s discourse. More is to come.
 
Life application: Crucifixion is how Jesus was killed. He did not die as the kings whom Israel fought in the book of Joshua. At times in that book, it says that they were put to death and then hanged. For example –
 
“And afterward Joshua struck them and killed them, and hanged them on five trees; and they were hanging on the trees until evening.” Joshua 10:26
 
In Jesus’ case, he died while being hanged on a cross. It is the instrument of His death. In that death, He fulfilled the final portion of the law and the prophets, setting it aside and ushering in the New Covenant. It is for this reason that Paul says –
 
“But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Galatians 6:14
 
The cross death of Jesus was considered a shameful death. And yet, Paul says that it is his only point of boasting for righteousness. Let us consider that and remember it as we interact with others. We should be willing to bear the disgrace of Jesus’ death so that others may bear the glory of His resurrection. May it be so today and always in our lives.
 
Lord God, surely the story of the cross of Jesus is the most wonderful story of all. Thank You for what transpired there and what it means to the people of the world. Today, we pray that we will be able to properly represent our Lord Jesus in all we say and do. Help us in this, O God. Amen.

Acts 10:38

how 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. Acts 10:38
 
Peter is in the middle of his explanation to Cornelius about the coming of Jesus, the Messiah. He continues now with, “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth.”
 
In these words, there are a couple of intentional connections to the previous verses. The word “anointed” is the Greek word chrió. It is the root of the word Christos (Christ) used in Acts 10:36. Thus, Peter is making a verbal confirmation that Jesus is the Christ because he was anointed by God as such. Further, Ellicott notes the grammatical parallel between the words “Jesus of Nazareth” in this verse and “word” in verses 10:36 and 10:37 –
 
The word [logos, divine utterance] which God sentThat word [rhéma, the contents of the utterance] you knowJesus of Nazareth
The utterance of God and the meaning that it conveys is parallel with the Person of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Again, as has been seen in previous verses in Acts, the location is affixed to His name because Jesus was not an uncommon name. To define who is being referred to more explicitly, the name of His town, Nazareth, is affixed as a part of the title.
 
Of the anointing received from God by Jesus of Nazareth, it was “with the Holy Spirit.” In the Old Testament, the act of anointing a priest or a king or even an object (such as the pillar Jacob raised in Genesis 31) was accomplished to signify being set apart to God. It would also typologically anticipate the spiritual anointing of God upon Christ.
 
In the prophets, the noting of being anointed becomes a point of messianic anticipation as the words obviously point to One who was yet to come and who would accomplish marvelous things or fulfill promises made by the Lord to the people. This is the idea that carried on to the time when Jesus came and fulfilled those prophecies, such as –
 
“So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:18 ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,Because He has anointed MeTo preach the gospel to the poor;He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,To proclaim liberty to the captivesAnd recovery of sight to the blind,To set at liberty those who are oppressed;19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.’20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, ‘Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’” Luke 4:16-21
 
The gospels clearly tie the baptism of Christ in with this anointing. He was already holy and sinless, but the act of baptism became the visible and explicit act of God acknowledging Him as the One especially set apart and anointed to fulfill the messianic promises.
 
With this noted, Peter continues with, “and with power.” The power here obviously refers to more than just something a person might be born with or that a person might develop through exercise. It is referring to abilities that are clearly divine in nature, being bestowed by God, such as healing the sick, opening the eyes of the blind, and even raising the dead. With this anointing, and with this power, Peter next says, “who went about doing good.”
 
The words “went about” are literally “went through.” It signifies the scope of His ministry, going through the land in order to do that which was for the benefit of those whom He encountered. There was never a secondary agenda to profit, gain fame, or wield authority over others. Rather, He carefully demonstrated an attitude of selfless care for those around Him, tending to them as a Shepherd over His flock. Also, Peter says, “and healing all who were oppressed by the devil.”
 
The layout of the words is explained by Vincent’s Word Studies, saying, “The and (καὶ) has a particularizing force: doing good, and in particular, healing.” In other words, the healing was a particular point of the “doing good” that highlights the ministry of Jesus. And this is well described throughout the gospels.
 
Peter’s note of the healings being for those “oppressed by the devil” shows that the troubles of this life find their root in his crafty works against man. The word translated as “oppressed” is found only here and in James 2:6. It is a word that signifies “powerfully bringing someone down (denying them the higher position or blessing they should enjoy)” (HELPS Word Studies).
 
The point is that if the devil has the ability to oppress man, and Jesus has the ability to heal them, then Jesus has power over the afflicter of man, meaning the devil. This now ties the thought of Jesus’ baptism into His anointing. At the time Jesus was baptized, it said in Luke –
 
“When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. 22 And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, ‘You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.’” Luke 3:21, 22
 
After that was recorded, the genealogy of Jesus, going all the way back to Adam, and then to God who created Adam, was given. Thus, it was a confirming note that this Person was to be the One to restore what was lost through the devil’s cunning, but who was promised at that time (see Genesis 3:15). Immediately following that, in Luke 4, the account of the devil tempting Christ was given as is recorded in Luke 4:1-13.
 
The devil could not deceive Christ Jesus the way he had deceived Adam. Christ had gained mastery over the devil and was thus able to heal those oppressed by the devil, as Peter next notes, “for God was with Him.” This is exactly what is recorded by Luke –
 
“Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 being tempted for forty days by the devil.” Luke 4:1, 2
 
God’s Holy Spirit filled Jesus, demonstrating God’s approval of Him and His being with Him. Peter is clearly revealing the interactions of the Godhead in his presentation of who Jesus is.
 
Life application: The power that man needs to be free is found in Jesus. The devil already has authority over all people as is stated in Scripture. But Jesus overcame the devil, defeating Him for any and all who will simply come to Him by faith. It was in violating God’s law that the devil gained authority over man. The introduction of the Law of Moses highlights this fact. But in Christ’s fulfillment of the law, a New Covenant was introduced.
 
In this New Covenant, there is freedom from the imputation of sin (2 Corinthians 5:19) and the bestowal of God’s grace upon us. The Bible gives only two positions for the state of man, we are born under the authority of the devil, and we stand condemned. It is our default position. Jesus offers humanity to receive what He has done and move back to God through Him. Once that occurs, it becomes man’s new default position.
 
As sin is no longer imputed to those who are in Christ, the default position is set forever. The devil can never again break the bonds between God and man. This is the marvelous offer of peace and reconciliation that God presents to man. Be sure to accept this offer and then share what has occurred in you with others. Be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ our Lord today.
 
Lord God, thank You for Jesus. In Him there is hope, in Him there is reconciliation, and in Him, there is peace and fellowship with You once again. May we never take lightly the wonderful thing You have done in the sending of Jesus. Hallelujah for Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  

Acts 10:37

Monday, 3 October 2022
 
that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: Acts 10:37
 
Peter just said in the previous verse, “The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all.” He now continues his words to Cornelius, saying, “that word you know.”
 
It is now a different word than the previous verse:
 
The word (logos) which God sent to the children of Israelthat word (rhema) you know
 
The first is the message (the declaration of God) itself. This now refers to the contents of the message. One can say, “It is the gospel that saves. This is the word God has sent.” The question may then be, “But what is the gospel?” In response, the actual gospel is given – “This is the gospel: Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures, Jesus was buried, and Jesus rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”
 
The first is the message, the second is the contents of the message. In the case of what Peter will next say, the words begin with events prior to the crucifixion, explaining the work of Jesus. From there, they meet up with the culmination of His work. It is this that forms the substance of the gospel. Hence, the gospel is inclusive of the fact that Jesus is God. When saying, “Jesus died for our sins,” it must be rightly understood who Jesus is. One must believe in the right “Jesus” for the gospel to be properly conveyed. Understanding this, Peter continues, saying, “which was proclaimed throughout all Judea.”
 
More precisely, it says, “that came throughout all Judea.” Peter is essentially saying, “Cornelius, surely you have heard what came about in the land of Judea. You may not know all the details, but that’s ok, I’m here to explain them to you.” His words now are the beginning of the explanation of what the message (rhéma) is. From there, he continues with, “and began from Galilee.”
 
Again, more rightly it says, “having begun from Galilee.” Galilee is not a great distance from Caesarea. With so much of Christ’s ministry there, it was likely that Cornelius would have heard something of what had transpired, maybe even from news about the centurion described in Matthew 8. He may not have a full sense of all that transpired, but he must have surely heard some of the events that took place. These things were “after the baptism which John preached.”
 
The word translated as “preached” is not the same as in the previous verse. This means to proclaim or herald a message. John heralded repentance to Israel in preparation for the coming of Messiah. Peter includes John the Baptist’s ministry in his words, clearly assuming that even a Roman centurion in Caesarea would have heard about his proclamation. There would have been a national stir that the Messiah was coming and that His forerunner was telling them that it was so.
 
Peter is ensuring that Cornelius was fully aware of the fact that Jesus was prophesied to come, that He was heralded as that coming One, and then he will next describe the nature of the One who came.
 
Life application: If God united with humanity in order to redeem man. And if that Man, Jesus, went to the cross to die for the sins of humanity, does it make any sense at all that God in Christ would lie when He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”?
 
The answer is, “No.” If God, who cannot lie, has spoken that Jesus is the only way to be reconciled to God, it would make no sense at all for Him to then provide another avenue of reconciliation. In fact, it would be the stupidest thing in the history of creation to have Jesus crucified if there was another avenue available. What would be the point of His death if there was?
 
People who say, “I believe that Jesus died for our sins, but there are other paths to God as well,” are not thinking clearly. We must evaluate the circumstances and decide what is true and what is not true. There cannot be truth in the words of John 14:6 if we believe there is another path available to be reconciled to God. And if the words of John 14:6 are not true, then Jesus isn’t God. The person they say they believe died for our sins is not the Person that uttered His words of exclusivity.
 
Let us always think such matters through to their logical end. God has spoken through Jesus. What He has said is and it will not change. From that, let us consider how very important it is to speak the gospel to others. It is the only message that can save.
 
Heavenly Father, how good it is to know that You have given us a path to reconciliation. It is remarkable that You have done so. Why should we then assume that it is one of many paths? Even one is surprising, and it is the most incredible thing that has ever come about. Jesus Christ died for our sins. How can we shame that act by believing that there is any other path to restoration with You? May we never presume to even consider it. Thank You for Jesus. Amen.

Acts 10:36

Sunday, 2 October 2022
 
The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all— Acts 10:36
 
Peter is responding to the reason why Cornelius had summoned him. He just noted that those who fear God and work righteousness are acceptable to Him. He continues now, beginning with, “The word.”
 
Peter is now going to convey the divine utterance of God, the word, that came to those of Israel. He understands more fully now that this divine declaration was not to be limited to Israel at all but that it is a word that is to extend beyond its borders to all people. With that, Peter continues by sharing what the word is. It is that “which God sent to the children of Israel.”
 
This is exactly what the law and the prophets indicated. There was the law, but it was spoken in a manner that indicated there must be One who would come and fulfill it. From there, the prophets spoke of this coming One, hinting at His ministry and how He would accomplish the things set before Him. Within the prophets was also the promise of a New Covenant. That New Covenant was promised to the people of Israel –
 
 “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—” Jeremiah 31:31
 
In reading this, one might assume that the covenant was limited to Israel and Judah, but that would be a myopic view of the matter. Rather, though it is made with the house of Israel and Judah it was never intended to be limited to them. Rather –
 
“And now the Lord says,Who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant,To bring Jacob back to Him,So that Israel is gathered to Him(For I shall be glorious in the eyes of the Lord,And My God shall be My strength),6 Indeed He says,‘It is too small a thing that You should be My ServantTo raise up the tribes of Jacob,And to restore the preserved ones of Israel;I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles,That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’” Isaiah 49:5, 6
 
This is the word that Peter is now conveying to Cornelius, explaining that God was “preaching peace through Jesus Christ.” The translation is correct, cleaning up the faulty rendering of the KJV which says, “by Jesus Christ.” It is God in Christ who preached through Jesus. Jesus is the means of God transmitting the message. One can see the human united with the divine in this. It is a necessary point of doctrine that Jesus Christ is God rather than a created being. God has accomplished all things through Jesus directly. And thus, Peter says, “He is Lord of all.”
 
The words are their own independent part of the divine declaration. Jesus Christ is not just the Lord over Israel but over all people. The message that God in Christ preached through Jesus is a single, unified message that issues to all people. One must remember that Peter had just said in verse 10:34, “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.” What is being expressed by him concerning the word, the divine utterance of God, is as much of a surprise to him as it might be to Cornelius.
 
It may be true that Peter knew there is only one God, but he assumed that the message of peace was one limited to Jews alone. He now perceives that this is not the case. The Mosaic Covenant was with Israel alone but the New Covenant, though being made with Israel and Judah, extends out to all who will accept God’s offer of peace through Jesus.
 
Life application: The substance of the gospel is to be found in Peter’s words of this and the coming verses. It teaches that Jesus is God incarnate. It teaches that Jesus died for sins. It implicitly teaches that Jesus was buried, and it teaches that God raised Him on the third day. This is the exact same message that Paul will express in 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4. It is the reason that Paul then says while speaking of Peter and the other apostles –
 
“Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.” 1 Corinthians 15:11
 
This is the one and only gospel given by which men must be saved. Luke is providing a description of what Peter said for us to understand that what God has determined sets the boundaries for salvation, whether it is for that of a Jew, for that of a Gentile, or for that of national Israel. The message is the divine declaration of God that tells us of His incarnation in the Person of Jesus Christ.
 
Lord God, thank You for the wonderful thing You have done. You have spoken forth Your message concerning the coming of Christ, and He spoke forth the good news to the world. We have a full and complete explanation of this through the hands of the apostles, telling us of this wonderful thing. Thank You, O God, for Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Acts 10:35

Saturday, 1 October 2022
 
But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. Acts 10:35
 
The previous verse said, “Then Peter opened his mouth and said: ‘In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.’” That is immediately followed up by Peter, saying, “But in every nation.”
 
Of these words, Bengel rightly states, “It is not an indifferentism of religions, but an indifferency (impartiality) as to the acceptance of nations, that is here asserted.” What is to be said does not include people simply because they faithfully pursue their personal religion, but it is inclusive of those of any nation who faithfully pursue God as he is revealed to people.
 
Hence, Job can be included in this. Rahab and Naaman likewise are noted in this category in the Bible. However, it cannot be said of someone in Islam or Buddhism today. They are excluded from the thought until a change is made in their mind (a repenting) to turn to the truth of God that has been revealed.
 
It doesn’t matter if it is a person in Pakistan, Tanzania, Russia, Japan, or any other nation – which is the thought that was expressed to Peter in the descent of the great object filled with the various beasts, birds, and so on. With this understood, Peter next says, “whoever fears Him.” To be more precise, it says, “the one fearing Him.”
 
This is an upward acknowledgment of God, and it is an action directed toward Him. God is looking at those who are fearing Him in the knowledge of Him that has been made available to the person. Of Cornelius, it said that he was “one who feared God” (Acts 10:2). Paul speaks of this in Romans 2 –
 
“For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law 13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; 14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.” Romans 2:12-16
 
Job did not possess the Law of Moses, and yet he had a law written upon his heart that led him to seek out the true God as He had been thus far revealed. He anticipated restoration with Him through the promised Messiah, and he was noted as a son of God (Job 1:6) through this. Peter continues with “and works righteousness.”
 
Again, it is a present participle, saying, “and is working righteousness.” This is a horizontal acknowledgment of God, and it is seen in actions directed toward others according to a standard that is pure and faithful. God is looking at those who are fearing Him and who are then expressing that fear of Him in a manner that is appropriate. Of Cornelius, it said that he “gave alms to the people and prayed to God always” (Acts 10:2). Someone may give alms to the people, but he may not be doing it because of an acknowledgment of God. Instead, he may be doing it to simply to get ahead in life. That is self-serving and unacceptable.
 
Likewise, of Job, it says that he was “one who feared God and shunned evil” (Job 1:1). Job confessed that –
 
“I was eyes to the blind,And I was feet to the lame.16 I was a father to the poor,And I searched out the case that I did not know.17 I broke the fangs of the wicked,And plucked the victim from his teeth.” Job 29:15-17
 
Like Cornelius, these things were done because he feared God. And this is the heart of the Law of Moses, as spoken by Jesus –
 
“So he answered and said, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’” Luke 10:27
 
This is the thought now being expressed, with that noted, Peter finishes with, “is accepted by Him.” In the Greek it is an adjective connected to a present tense verb – “is acceptable.” The incorrect translation would cause a rather significant theological problem. Rather, the full clause rightly says, “is acceptable to Him.”
 
John Gill rightly says, “though God accepts of such who fear him, and work righteousness from a right principle, and to a right end, without any regard to their being circumcised, or not circumcised, or to their being of this or the other nation, yet their fear of him, and working righteousness, are not the ground of their acceptance; but are to be considered as descriptive of the persons, who are accepted by him in Christ; for there is no acceptance of persons or services, but in Christ Jesus.”
 
Such a person is “acceptable” to God, but only in Christ can he be “accepted” by Him. One cannot do an end around God in Christ. Job anticipated the coming Messiah through his limited knowledge of what God was doing. Cornelius is now on the “after” side of the coming of Jesus. God has heard his prayers and seen his deeds and has sent Peter to take him the necessary further step to Christ Jesus.
 
The entire account bears this out. It is not that Cornelius was accepted by God, but that he is acceptable to God because of his rightly directed heart and his actions which displayed that heart. Now, Peter has been summoned to take that heart that acknowledges God and direct it to the Messiah, who alone can remove his sin and make him accepted by God.
 
Life application: A wrongly translated word can make a world of difference. The NKJV, following after the KJV, has introduced an error that makes it appear that Cornelius has been accepted by (or with) God apart from Jesus. From there, an explanation of what the true meaning is must be constructed, as John Gill did above.
 
The error of translation can be overcome by a continued reading of the passage which reveals Cornelius was saved after hearing and accepting the gospel. But it is far too often the case that people will take a verse, such as this one now being analyzed, and make up an entire commentary or sermon about how people are saved by their right heart towards God and their good works towards others if they have never met Jesus. And it would all be based on a mistranslation that has been copied again and again from eons ago –
 
Tyndale Bible of 1526is accepted with him.
 
Coverdale Bible of 1535is accepted vnto him.
 
Bishops' Bible of 1568is accepted with hym.
 
Geneva Bible of 1587is accepted with him.
 
King James Bibleis accepted with him.
 
New King James Versionis accepted by Him.
 
As a side note, the word “accepted” can also be an adjective, such as “he is handsome in the accepted sense.” However, the meaning when combined with “is” changes it to a verb. As such the meaning is changed as well. Be studious and be ready to question both people’s commentaries and their translations. In the end, no person will be saved apart from what God is doing in Christ. There are no loopholes, no end-arounds, and no acceptable “Plan B’s.” It is Jesus who saves. Thank God for Jesus!
 
Heavenly Father, thank You for our Lord and our Savior, Jesus Christ. May we never waffle in our convictions or in our proclamations concerning Him. May we take His words of John 14:6 as true, literal, and unchangeable – “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Thank You, O God, that You have made this way possible! Amen.