Commentary on Acts 10:36-43

By Bob Myhan

³⁶The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ--He is Lord of all-- ³⁷that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: ³⁸how 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.

Interestingly, Peter begins the main body of his sermon with information of which Cornelius is already aware: “that word you know.” In other words, Cornelius already knows the facts of the gospel. Peter is probably rehearsing these facts to put into context that which Cornelius and his household “must do.” Thus, he quickly reviews the respective missions of John and Jesus. These words, alone, are not the words whereby Cornelius and his household “will be saved.”

³⁹And 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.

Pete is emphasizing that which few others could—he and the other apostles were eyewitnesses to the facts of the gospel. He, John and James, in particular, were given privileges that were not extended to the other nine. Peter accentuates this in his second epistle.

Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease. For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. (2 Peter 1:15-18)

Though the apostles had miraculous power to confirm what they spoke as the truth of God, there was no need for Peter to use such power on this occasion, because Cornelius had already been informed by the angel that Peter would tell him what he needed to know.

⁴⁰Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, ⁴¹not 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.

Some have argued that Jesus should have shown Himself openly “to all the people” but this would defeat the purpose of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection being the focal point of faith (see 1 Cor. 2:1-5). Those who knew Him best would obviously make the best witnesses to His resurrection.

Notice the following conversation between Jesus and Thomas.

Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord." So he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe." 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!" 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." And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" 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 20:24-29)

Those who would believe on the basis of apostolic testimony will be blessed above those who had ocular and manual evidence.

⁴²And 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.

It has been noted that no angel in the New Testament ever proclaimed the gospel to alien sinners because Jesus had entrusted the gospel firstly to the apostles and secondly to the disciples whom they made and baptized.

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. (Matt. 28:18-21)

You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. (2 Tim. 2:1-2)

The apostle to the Gentiles also stated that Jesus would one day judge the world.

“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead." (Acts 17:30-31)

⁴³To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins."

Many believe and teach that the Christian (or church) age was not foreseen by the Old Testament prophets. Peters exposes this doctrine as false both here and in the second gospel sermon recorded by Luke in the third chapter of this, his second treatise.

“Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.' (Acts 3:24-25)

He accomplished His purpose for coming the first time, in setting up the kingdom; and He will accomplish His purpose for coming the second time in delivering up the kingdom.

 (To be continued)

What Does Religion Mean to You?

By Bobby Robinson

To some people religion is only for the weak, sickly, crippled or distressed. Some seem to think that religion is only for times of disaster or trouble of some kind. Maybe a storm strikes and destroys our house and all that we have. Suddenly we become very religious. We expect God to hear us when we call upon him. Before the disaster we never even thought of God, but all of a sudden we expect God to forget that we never have served him before and pretend that we are a part of his faithful family. We are taught to remember our creator in the days of our youth. (Eccl. 12:1) The Bible shows that Jesus is the author of eternal salvation to all who obey him. (Heb. 5:8, 9) We are only his friend if we keep his com­mandments. (Jno. 15:14)

When do you want religion? Do you want it while you are alive and doing well, while you can serve God and dc his will, or do you only want it when it becomes your time to die? If I don't serve him while I live then, I cannot expect him to own me when I die. (Matt.7:21) tells me that one obeys the will of the Father is the one who enters the kingdom. According to (Matt. 25:31-46) we will all be gathered before the Lord, and a separation will be made of the good and bad. Only the good will enter Heaven, while the bad will be cast into the place of punishment.

What does Religion mean to you? Is this only something for women and children? You fathers who aren't members of the body of Christ, do you think it is just the Mother's respon­sibility to train the children? Oh you may say, "I insist on my children going to church every Sunday," maybe so, but what kind of example are you putting before them? One of these days your children will grow up, and be out from under your control, then what do you suppose they will do? They may say "well daddy never did go and I won't either." (Eph 6:4) Fathers are told to bring up their children in the discipline and in­struction of the Lord. Many hearts have been saddened as they watch their children slowly drift away from the Lord, and ask themselves, "Where did I go wrong?" Grand-children come along and it bothers you that they are not being taken to worship services of the church, and then you remember they are only following the example that you set for them. You remember that you didn't take yours to worship either. Now you wish that you had. Oh how you wish that you could change a few things in your life, but it is to late now.

Mothers and Fathers if your children are still young and still at home under your care, won't you listen to me? Worldly goods, entertainment or negligence will not save our children or us either for that matter. The time to act is now! Maybe your children are already gone from home, and have families of their own. You might be able to influence them yet. If not you might be able to lead your grand-children, or someone else’s children to the Lord. Nothing else could be worth more. You never know who you might be able to lead to the Lord until you try. There may be someone in the community that is watching your every move. Your step forward for the Lord may be all that he is waiting for. I know that the Lord is waiting for you, for Jesus said, “Come unto me all ye that labor and heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Religion should be the most important thing in our life. It is not just for the weak, the depressed, or just for the women and children, Jesus died for us all. (Via The Somerset Sower, Vol. 8, Number 8, February 15, 1982) &