1. Cover Picture

2. Acts 10:24-28
24 On the following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am just a man.” 27 As he talked with him, he entered and found many people assembled. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean.

3. Acts 10:29-33
29 “That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask for what reason you have sent for me.” 30 Cornelius said, “Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour; and behold, a man stood before me in shining garments, 31 and he said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 'Therefore send to Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you; he is staying at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea.' 33 “So I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

4. Thought
We must guard ourselves against any attitudes that see sharing the gospel with someone as beneath us because we might regard them as unworthy, unloving, or unapproachable.

5. Outline of Text A Hungry Hearer (24-33) A Potent Preacher (34-43)
The Spirit-filled Saints (44-48)

6. I. A Hungry Hearer (10:24-33) Key Point:
Those whom God draws to Himself, He infuses with a fervent hunger for knowing the truth.

7. Three Characteristics of God’s Working in Cornelius
1. Preparation (24)
“waiting” - means to be in either hopeful or fearful anticipation.

8. 2 Peter 3:11-14
11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. 14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless…

9. Thought
When we come to the Word preached, we come to a matter of the highest importance; therefore we should stir up ourselves and hear with the greatest devotion.
-Thomas Watson

10. Three Characteristics of God’s Working in Cornelius
2. Humility (25-29)
3. Obedience (30-33)
Key Point:
Those whom God draws to Himself, He infuses with a fervent hunger for knowing the truth. A characteristic of one within whom God is at work, is a voracious appetite for the Word of God.

11. 1 Peter 2:2-3
…like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it [the Word] you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.

12. Acts 10:34-38
34 Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, 35 but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him. 36 “The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all) — 37 you yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. 38 “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

13. Acts 10:39-43
39 “We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. 40 “God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 “And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. 43 “Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

14. II. A Potent Preacher (10:34-43)
Potent – effective, efficient, obedient
Key Point:
Those whom God draws to Himself, He infuses with a fervent desire to make the truth known.

15. Two Testimonies 1. The Testimony of Peter (34-36)
2. The Testimony of the Gospel (37-43)

16. 1 Corinthians 15:3-8
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, [the Person and Work of Christ] 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. [those who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead] 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.

17. 1 Corinthians 15:9-11
9 For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. [Paul’s person testimony] 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. [proclamation and response].

18. Acts 10:44-48
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. 45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, 47 "Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?" 48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.

19. III. The Spirit-filled Saints (10:44-48)
Key Point:
Those whom God draws to Himself, He indwells with His Spirit giving them a fervent passion to exalt God with their lives.

20. God at work in Acts 10:24-48
Those whom God draws to Himself, He infuses with a fervent hunger for knowing the truth.
Those whom God draws to Himself, He infuses with a fervent desire to make the truth known.
Those whom God draws to Himself, He indwells with His Spirit giving them a fervent passion to exalt God with their lives.

21. Cover Picture