God Shows No Favoritism (Acts 9b-11) Outline: A Double Vision Cornelius (10:1-8) Peter (10:9-20) A Double Surprise Jews (10:24-29) Gentiles (10:42-47) Double Lesson God (10:34-35) Church (Acts 11:18) A Double Vision - Cornelius Acts 10:1 (NLT), In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer named Cornelius, who was a captain of the Italian Regiment. 2 He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God. 3 One afternoon about three o’clock, he had a vision in which he saw an angel of God coming toward him. “Cornelius!” the angel said. 4 Cornelius stared at him in terror. “What is it, sir?” he asked the angel. And the angel replied, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering! 5 Now send some men to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter.” A Double Vision - Peter Acts 11:13 (NLT), Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon, 10 and he was hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. 12 In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. 13 Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.”14 “No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.”15 But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” 16 The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven. Acts 10:17 (NLT), Peter was very perplexed. What could the vision mean? Just then the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house. Standing outside the gate, 18 they asked if a man named Simon Peter was staying there.19 Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Three men have come looking for you. 20 Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don’t worry, for I have sent them.” A Double Surprise – A Jew in a Gentile Home Acts 10:24, They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered his home, Cornelius fell at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter pulled him up and said, “Stand up! I’m a human being just like you!” 27 So they talked together and went inside, where many others were assembled. 28 Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean. 29 So I came without objection as soon as I was sent for.” A Double Surprise – A Gentile Pentecost Acts 10:42, “Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all – the living and the dead. 43 He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.” 44 Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. 45 The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. 46 For they heard them speaking in other tongues and praising God. Then Peter asked, 47 “Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” Acts 11:2-3, But when Peter arrived back in Jerusalem, the Jewish believers criticized him. 3 “You entered the home of Gentiles and even ate with them!” A Double Lesson About God: “God shows no favoritism. 35 In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right.” - Acts 10:34-35 For the Church: “God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of repenting of their sins and receiving eternal life.” - Acts 11:18 CONCLUSION God accepts all people who will come to repent/believe. The Christian/church should accept all people who come to repent/believe. God shows no favoritism. The Christian/church should show no favoritism. God does not discriminate. The Christian/church should not discriminate. God is not prejudice. The Christian/church should not be prejudice. Favoritism is widespread and it dies hard. Believers should repent of the sin of favoritism. It is a sin against God, a family, a workplace, a team, and a church.