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T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
International Lesson Commentary
Outline and Exposition B. B. S utcliffe Points and Problems H omer A. K ent Golden Text Illustration A lan S. P earce Blackboard Lesson G retchen S ibley Childrens Division M ildred M. Cpok Object Lesson - E lmer L. W ilder '
NOVEMBER 5, i944 \ THE CHRISTIAN AND THE RACE PROBLEM L uke 10:25-37; A cts 10:9-16, 34, 35; 17:22-31
Acts 10:9 On the morrow, as they went on their Journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pr^y about the sixth hour: 10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell Into a trance, l 11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit; at the four corners, and let down to the earth: 12 Wherein were all manner of four- footed beasts of the earth, and wild-beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air, 13 And there came a Voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. 14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; fof I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven. t 34 Then Peter opened hls^ mouth, . and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, see ing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; § 26 And hath made of onv blood all na tions of men for to dwell oh all the face of the earth, and ha'th determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: 28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. LESSON TEXT: Acts 10:9-16, 34, 35; 17:24-28. GOLDEN TEXT: “God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him" (Acts 10:34, 35). DEVOTIONAL READING: Psa. 100. Outline ond Exposition I. R ebuking I solation (10:9-16) B ORNELIUS, a centurion of Cae (cf 11:14). As the men whom Cor nelius sent dame near to Joppa, Peter went upon the housetop to pray. While in prayer, he had a vision of the heavens being opened and of a sheet, filled With all manner of creatures, descending unto him. He heard a voice saying, “Rise, Peter; kill and e a t”
But Peter was still ready to instruct the Lord, and he replied, “Not so, Lord,” which was a great misuse of language. He could have said, “Not so,” or “Yes, Lord,”-but he could not say properly, /‘Not so, Lord.” If to him the Lord was truly- sovereign, the contra diction was unthinkable. Peter, being a (Tew, thought any intercourse with gentiles would make him ceremonially unclean, and at first he refused to obey the voice. But he was taught that the time had come 'When all isolation of this kind must be put aside; when the gospel must break through all limitations of race or nationality, and all men be seen as eligible to receive the gospel. It is true that God isolates the Jews from all others in a national separation, with a view to the fulfillment of all the prophecies centering in that na tion. But from a spiritual point of view all men, Jews and gentiles, are equally in need of the gospel of sal vation. This fact was impressed upon Peter when he saw the sheet being let down three times and “received up again into heaven.” If the things Peter regarded as unclean were;fit to enter heaven, he could be assured that they were fit for him to approach. II. R esponding to ' D esire (34, 35) When Peter arrived at Caesarea, he found Cornelius:' a good man, and' one who feared God and wrought righteousness, yet he needed “words, whereby” he might be saved. God has ordained that only through human instrumentality shall the gospel be preached. Cornelius had gathered a company of people to hear what Peter BLACKBO ARD LE SSON
G ladys B owman , I llustrator Lesson material isphased- on outlines of International Sunday School Lessons, copyrighted by International Council of Religious Education; used by permission. would say. The Lord’s servant de clared that God is np respecter of persons, and that He is the source of all grace, so that all people of whatever nation may be saved. Peter also poihted out that the way of salvation was found first of all in' a desire to have it. Cornelius had proved he possessed this desire even before Peter came. Moreover, Peter _said -that whoso ever “worketh righteousness, is ac cepted” with God. This does not meatt that Cornelius could be saved on the ground of human righteousness, nor does it mean that .only individuals like Cornelius can be saved. If &per son can be saved by fearing God, and working righteousness, there is ho need for the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ,' because salvation would then be obtainable by works instead of by grace. But one who “worketh righteousness” thereby sig nifies a desire to know God’s will and to do it, and to him will be given the needed light and-truth from God. III. R evealing I dolatry (17:24-28) When Paul went to Athens, he found the people to be very religious, having altars erected to many gods. But the people were also very ignorant of true worship. Paul told them they should have known that the true;God is the source of all things; that He is the Creator; and therefore apart from and above all things. He also declared that God is sufficient in Himself, needing noth ing that man has, or can give, and
sarea, was told to send for Peter at Joppa who would tell him words whereby he might be saved
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