Snoopy Approaches Acts

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Was Cornelius or the Ethiopian eunuch the first Gentile convert?

The Ethiopian eunuch was the 1st Gentile Converted with Philip ---Philip was only relating to the eunuch what the Spiritual meaning was from the scroll he had obtained and the eunuch believed what Philip was interpreting Spiritually to him ---and he wanted to be Baptised -----

This Conversion with Cornelius ---is very important because it involves Peter who is now called to Minister to all the Gentile Nation --the Good News --not just to the one person Cornelius and his men but to now graft in all the Gentiles Nation so whoever wants to be saved can be -----

The division between Jews seen as clean and Gentiles seen as unclean has been torn down -----all are Clean and can have the opportunity to have eternal life -----
 
How does this correlate with the change in the circumcision laws? Before or after?
The law of circumcision is no longer required under the New Covenant ---being Baptised by and through the Holy Spirit is what is required under the New Covenant ---

The laws were in Place until the New Covenant came into effect ----

AI

Yes, the physical practice of circumcision, a requirement of the Old Covenant, is not a requirement for believers under the New Covenant
 
Do we have an account anywhere of God directing the people to cancel the circumcision requirement? Any dramatic visions like the sheet from heaven holding the animals?

I know the issue gets debated later in Acts.
 
The text makes it clear that we are not to question who God calls to be included in the community.
What text is that ---can you provide it cause --
there was only one Nation called by God and that was the Jewish Nation ---but this Nation was not Saved in the Old Testament ----God made a Covenant with Abraham ----an agreement ---only

the Gentiles were excluded in that agreement -----until they were grafted in which is happening now
 
I know the issue gets debated later in Acts.
The laws under the Old Covenant are no longer in place -----

Circumcision was an outward Sign for the Jewish Nation only under the Old Covenant --- there was no Faith under the law ----the laws were laid out and they tried to keep them ----

The Gentiles were never circumcised ----ever ------as they were away from God under the Old Covenant ----

Now Under the New covenant ===there is no outward sign ----it is an inward sign --and it comes by way of Faith in Jesus Christ and what He did on the Cross ----it is called circumcision of the Heart

Galatians 5:6

6 For [if we are] in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but only faith activated and expressed and working through love.


Hebrews 8:13 AMP

13 When God speaks of “A new covenant,” He makes the first one obsolete. And whatever is becoming obsolete (out of use, annulled) and growing old is ready to disappear.
 
Acts 10:24-43
Two days later, Peter arrives in Caesarea where Cornelius is waiting.

God has shown him, Peter says, that he should call no person defiled or unclean. Now he understands that God shows no favoritism in dealing with people.

Peter proclaims the good news of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the one appointed by God to judge the living and the dead. Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.
 
Today we see Peter becoming more inclusive and spreading the good news.

Belief in Jesus is absolutely key. Peter does not even mention repentance at this point.
 
Do we have an account anywhere of God directing the people to cancel the circumcision requirement? Any dramatic visions like the sheet from heaven holding the animals?

I know the issue gets debated later in Acts.
Hey All
The dramatic moment I was wondering about is coming up in tomorrow's reading. (Acts 10: 44-48).

The Holy Spirit will fall upon the Gentiles who heard the message.
 
God has shown him, Peter says, that he should call no person defiled or unclean. Now he understands that God shows no favoritism in dealing with people.
This is proof and showing us that the vision Peter had was about people not about food ---as Peter is now Understanding what the vision meant -----

The last part of this statement here is very important to get ----

God does not show favoritism to any Group or persons ----all who want to come back into His Fold must do so by going through the One Door which is by having Faith is Jesus Christ who took our sins upon Himself ---

There is no Favoritism shown to -----The LGBTQ Plus group or any other Group ----to come back into the Sheep fold they have to go through the one door same as everyone else ----

So using Scripture like GordW says they do to justify that they are heaven bound is False Doctrine that some are apparently feeding their Flock and sending them to their eternal death ----sorry to say ---
 
Cornelius shows he has a lot of Faith and Trust in God and that he will do what He says He will do ----

So here we see Peter arrives at Cornelius's who has gathered all his family and close friends -so we see that many here will now Receive the Gospel of the Good News -----

Cornelius bows to worship Peter ----and Peter tells him to get up ---and says he to is only a man -----Peter understands that he should not have given him reverence and Peter should not receive it -----

This is important -----as one could easily get Puffed up in their ego and become full of pride with the Power Peter has ---but he understands that he is only a human vessel that God is using to bring people back to Him ------

Peter after talking with Cornelius Peter enters the house and there he sees a crowd of People --and Peter says -----it is unlawful for a Jewish man to be in the midst of Gentiles but God has shown him that no person is now unclean ----so Peter says he came without objection ----

So Cornelius explains to Peter why he sent for him ------verse 30 -33 and he tells Peter that they are all there to listen to what Peter has to say -----

Now this is interesting to note here ----the Gentiles were away from God and not included in the Old Testament Covenant -----God's Face was turned from hearing from the Gentiles as they did not have a sacrificial system to cover their sins -----like the Jews did ----so they could pray to God -----

Important to get here ----------This shows us that Cornelius was part of God Plan from the very beginning to use him to graft in the Gentile Nation into the Salvation package -----through Peter ----

So God is NOT showing Favoritism ---here -------Folks ---He was already in God's Plan before the Foundation of the world ---Just like others were used for God's plane to work out the way he wanted it to ------Cornelius was the Chosen Gentile to be used by God in His Plan -----


Peter Speaking here --AMP

“Most certainly I understand now that God is not one to show partiality [to people as though Gentiles were excluded from God’s blessing],

35 but in every nation the person who fears God and does what is right [by seeking Him] is acceptable and welcomed by Him.

38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with great power; and He went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.

Note :------Satan causes oppression in individuals -----Folks ---this is not talked about in the main stream churches Folks -----Satan is hardly ever mentioned in Churches today ------

AI

Satan causes oppression by attacking individuals mentally and emotionally through fear, doubt, and torment, aiming to control their lives and hinder their relationship with God. This form of spiritual attack, sometimes called demonic harassment or vexation, can manifest as overwhelming dread, negative influences from media or people, or even physical conditions, and is addressed through faith, prayer, and spiritual warfare.


I say -----These last few verses speak for themselves


42 He commanded us to preach to the people [both Jew and Gentile], and to solemnly testify that He is the One who has been appointed and ordained by God as Judge of the living and the dead.
43 All the prophets testify about Him, that through His name everyone who believes in Him [whoever trusts in and relies on Him, accepting Him as Savior and Messiah] receives forgiveness of sins.”

All come through the One Door -----no exceptions -----
 
It is possible that Peter's vision of the sheet with the animals had a double meaning.
I would say only if your a double minded person maybe you can conjure up worldly thinking and say it is all about food ----but the Scripture counters that theory all on it;s own ----it says it is about People not food ----look at the Context of what this scripture is about ---getting people ----- Gentiles grafted in to the Salvation package ------that gives your your answer

James 1:8 AMP

8 a double-minded man, unstable and restless in all his ways [in everything he thinks, feels, or decides].
 
Noah's ark was the forerunner for the One Door -----all who entered were saved ---all others perished ---same today Folks

1755957299620.png
 
Tee hee. :ROFLMAO:

Is @unsafe calling me double minded, unstable and restless?

Good thing I enjoy having her along for these bible study threads, LoL

Which reminds me. The author Walter Wink suggests a good bible study question is one which has at least two good answers.
 
Acts 10:44-48

As Peter is still speaking, the Holy Spirit falls on all those who hear the message.

The circumcised believers who have accompanied Peter are amazed! These Gentiles are speaking in tongues and praising God!

Peter gives orders to have them baptised in the name of Jesus Christ.

Then Peter is asked to stay for several days.
 
The author of Luke/ Acts uses a few words to describe an absolutely pivotal event.

Interesting that Peter directs his fellow believers to baptise the newest ones.
 
So we see the Gentile Nation now being Grafted into God's Salvation Package in todayd Scripture

So all People Jews and Gentiles now have the Opportunity to Receive Jesus as their Lord and Saviour and have eternal Life when they pass from this Physical world ------

This is a big deal Folks--- as the Gentiles were doomed before but now have the same opportunity to be heaven bound as the Jews do -----Thank God for that -----

So we see in verse 44 ---that while Peter was still speaking the Holy Spirit fell upon Cornelius and his household ----

I say -----so at this moment ---there is a 2 fold occurrence here --they were Baptised by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as well as filled with the Holy Spirit ----

this world Fell here ----means
Strong's Concordance

Lexical Summary
epipiptó: To fall upon, to embrace, to seize

falls upon or seizes one Acts 10:44

Encounters with the Holy Spirit

In Acts 10:44; the Holy Spirit “fell” upon believers with unmistakable effect. “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard his message” (Acts 10:44).

Without human manipulation, God personally and sovereignly sealed Gentile and Samaritan converts, confirming that the gospel transcends ethnic boundaries.

The verb signals a divine initiative that validates faith, accelerates mission, and knits diverse believers into one body. Luke deliberately parallels these accounts with Pentecost to emphasize continuity in the Spirit’s ministry.

I say
We see in verse 45--that the Jew who accompanied Peter who were circumcised were astonished ----as these Gentiles were now being Converted without being Physically circumcised ---and Now they hear them speaking in tongues which is a Gift of the Holy Spirit
This must have been quite a head scratching moment for these Jewish on lookers ---

Cornelius and his household experienced ----an inward circumcision of the Heart by and through the indwelling of Holy Spirit ----

This has now broken the barrier between nations and God's acceptance of only the Jewish Nation ----

These Gentiles who are filled with the Holy Spirit are exhausting --magnifying and praising God ----

Peter then finds no reason why these converts cannot be Baptised by water signifying and validating their Faith in the risen Jesus Christ -----

verse 47----
47 “Can anyone refuse water for these people to be baptized, since they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?”

verse 48
48 ;And he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay there for a few days.

I say ------This is such a pivotal moment here -----as Salvation for the Gentiles came by way of the Jews ----

Glory Be To God For That ---- :angel:
 
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