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ACTS 10

PETER SHARES THE GOSPEL WITH GENTILES

God appears in a vision to a devout, faithful man named Cornelius. In this vision, God instructs Cornelius to find Peter in Joppa and have him return to Caesarea. Meanwhile, Peter also has a vision from God, which is repeated three times. In this vision, God shows Peter animals and tells Peter to eat. At first, Peter refuses because these animals are considered unclean, but God says that nothing He created is considered common or unclean.

Cornelius’s men find Peter and bring him to Caesarea. Peter explains his vision and knows that he is called to share the gospel with Gentiles, people who the Jews typically saw as unclean.

Through this vision, Peter gains understanding of and realizes that God does not show partiality or exclude people from the message of Jesus. Peter continues preaching, sharing the good news of the gospel with all people. While Peter is speaking, the Holy Spirit falls upon the Gentiles and they believe in Jesus and are baptized. This momentous event signified God's acceptance of the Gentiles into the community of believers because of their response through belief and baptism.

STUDY QUESTIONS

What is the significance of Peter’s vision in Acts 10:9-16? How did this affect his message to the Gentiles in Acts 10?