Peter Heals the Paralytic and Tabitha
Verse 31
characterized the growing church as a time of peace. It was strengthened and encouraged by the
Holy Spirit. It grew and lived in fear
(wisdom) of the Lord.
What would it
take for the church today to look like the 1st century church?
Is your
church at peace and growing?
Do you
complain about trivial things and cause dissention and agreements in the
church?
As Peter
traveled and spread the good news and healed many. He healed a paralytic who had been bedridden
for 8 years. A disciple named Tabitha
was sick and died. Peter prayed and she
lived again. Many believed as result of
this miracle.
Two miracles of
physical healing tell us at least 2 things:
1. Only through faith in Jesus can the
apostles heal and only through faith in Jesus can we be healed (Mark10:52, Luke 7:50, 18:42).
2. Just as Jesus can bring us comfort by physical
healing here on earth, He can bring spiritual healing. Without Him all are spiritually dead.
Cornelius the Gentile
Cornelius was a
Greek and a good and religious man. We’re
told he was devout and God-fearing. He
was highly respected by the Jewish people.
He and his whole family worshiped God, but he didn’t know Jesus. He was constantly praying and helping the
poor. One day he had a vision and an
angel of God told him to send men to Joppa and bring back Peter.
Meanwhile, Peter
was praying and had a vision. Heaven
opened and it looked like a large sheet coming down to earth filled with all
kinds of animals. A voice said, “Get up,
Peter. Kill and eat.” Peter thought these were unclean since Old
Testament law had strict rules - to not eat unclean animals and birds (Lev. 11, 17:10-14, 20:25) and to eat
food with non-jews, but now God said nothing He made was impure or unclean. This happened 3 times and Peter wondered what
this meant. Then men sent by Cornelius
asked Peter to go back with them as Cornelius had asked.
In those days
God often spoke to people through visions, because they didn’t have the
complete written Word as we do today.
Today we have access to His written Word, the Bible. However God sometimes does reveal His will to
people by dreams or visions.
Jesus’ death
changed the Old Testament law. Peter now
realized that God does not show favoritism and accepts men from every nation (Acts 10:35) - Jew or Gentile. Does this mean that God accepts people
from every nation in His family without belief in Christ? No. He
is saying everyone is eligible. (John 14:6) - Jesus said He is the only
way. (Acts 4:12) – Salvation is
found in no other.
How do you
show prejudice?
Do you pass
judgments on someone by how they look?
Peter went
knowing he would be criticized for eating with Gentiles and not obeying the
Jewish traditions. He knew God was
guiding him and that it was God’s will so he went without fear.
Peter arrived at
Cornelius’ house where his friends and family were waiting. They expected something exciting to happen
and it did. Peter’s shared the gospel
with them. He told of Jesus’ life,
death, resurrection and His forgiveness of sins for anyone who repents and
believes. He told them he and the other
disciples were witnesses of Jesus’ death and resurrection. While he was speaking, the Holy Spirit came
down on them. They were astonished that
the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles. “For they heard them
speaking in tongues and praising God.” - Acts 10:44. This was like a
confirmation of the Holy Spirit which was important in that day and time. Also note, the Holy Spirit came prior to
baptism confirming baptism does not save, but is an outward sign of the
beginning of a new life.
Principle:
Salvation is not based on national identity or good works.
How available
are you to the Holy Spirit?
Do you
understand why you find it hard to get alone to do Bible study? (The enemy, Satan doesn’t want you to.)
What do you
need to change in your life to be available to Jesus Christ?
Peter Criticized
The well-meaning
church criticized Peter for what he had done for the Gentiles, but Peter said
who am I to go against the Lord (Acts
11:16-17). Then there were no
further objections.
Antioch was the capitol of Syria. It was a city of sin. It was corrupt with pagan influences and
desperately needed the cleansing power of Jesus. There are 4 events in the early history of
this important church at Antioch:
1. They told the Greeks (Gentiles) about
Jesus
2. Barnabas and Saul taught great numbers of
people.
3. Disciples were called Christian for the
first time.
4. Prophets came to Antioch and prophesied
The Lord’s hand
was on them because a great number of people turned to the Lord (Acts 11:21). The news reached Jerusalem and the church sent
Barnabas who had the biggest heart in the church. He believed in Saul and wasn’t afraid when
others were. We all need a Barnabas in
our lives. He wouldn’t care what
background we came from or if we shown up on Sunday at church wearing holey
jeans. He wouldn’t look at the
external, but the internal. The name
Barnabas means son of encouragement.
Do you have a
Barnabas or are you a Barnabas?
Barnabas brought
Saul to help teach in Antioch. When they
arrived in Antioch there was evidence of God’s grace (Acts 11:23-24). Barnabas
was full of the Holy Spirit and faith and great numbers of people were brought
to the Lord. More and More people were
converted.
Principle:
People come to God only through faith in Jesus Christ.
The gospel was
first preached to the Jews and then to the Gentiles as God’s grace to save all
who repent and believe in Jesus Christ.
There are prejudices all around us, but the lesson here is we need to
put away any prejudice and put on love for all people. God shows no favoritism. He loves and wants to save everyone.
Join me here
next week for our next study in the book of Acts. -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.
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