Session 9: The Change

Session Overview

Creedal Statement

I believe in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ
his only begotten Son our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;
he descended into hell [to the dead];
the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven, and
sits on the right hand of God
the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge
the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit;
the holy catholic church;
the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body; and
the life everlasting.
Amen.

Key Elements

• Key Passage - Acts 10:1–11:18
• Scripture Memory - For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8–9
• Catechism - Q: What do humans need most of all? A: Salvation.

Introduction

But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This is the Spirit He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we would become heirs with the hope of eternal life.

Christians are not born but made.

The human predicament is dire outside of God’s gracious salvation. Born into this fallen world, humans are enslaved to sin, corrupt in nature, encumbered by shame, oppressed by darkness, guilty before God, and doomed to eternal punishment. The only hope for humanity is to be rescued. Unable to save ourselves, we look for true and decisive rescue that only comes from God. God’s rescue plan—his redemptive mission—involved sending his Son, Jesus, to deliver his people. On the cross, Jesus purchased salvation for humanity. Jesus’ death and resurrection is good news because it freely brings salvation to all who believe in him. Jesus’ once-for-all sacrifice years in the past can save believing humans living across generations and cultures.

While Jesus’ work on the cross achieves salvation, the saving work needs to be applied to human lives. As we will learn, this salvation is not something that a human can earn or deserve. It is a gift which must be freely received. By faith in Christ and repentance of sin, receiving the promises of the gospel is the only way in which humans can be free from shame, cleansed from sin, liberated from fear, and delivered from eternal judgment. To be established in our faith, we must understand how salvation works and how it gets applied to our lives. But knowing about salvation is not enough; we need to experience God’s saving rescue in our lives. After all, the Christian life is a life we live in the freedom of God’s redemption. A true experience of salvation is when we undergo a complete change—a genuine conversion—in our lives as we fully surrender to Christ.

In the biblical narrative of Acts 10:1–11:18, we witness the conversion of Cornelius and his household. While the specific circumstances of his conversion are unique to him, his story teaches us about the application of salvation: common factors and dynamics when anyone comes to faith in Christ. God’s calling on Cornelius drew him to salvation. Peter—who underwent his own transformation in this story—bore responsibility to share the gospel with Cornelius and those gathered in his house. When given an opportunity to speak, Peter announced the gospel message: the saving work of Jesus’ prophesied coming, righteous life, vibrant ministry, sacrificial death, victorious resurrection, and promised return. Upon hearing this message, the Holy Spirit came upon the group, and they experienced a dynamic change. Seeing that their transformation was real, Peter baptized the people in Cornelius’s house. He then reported on this event to the believers in Jerusalem and told them how God called him to share the gospel with Cornelius. An act of God, the salvation that came upon Cornelius and his house could only be received by faith and repentance.

Like Cornelius, we each have our own unique story of salvation. Although God saves each disciple of Christ in the unique circumstances of their lives, the core dynamics of salvation are common to all believers. Through the power of the Holy Spirit and the sovereign calling of God, the work that Jesus accomplished on the cross (in his suffering, death, and resurrection) thousands of years ago is being applied to human lives today. The dynamics of conversion in Cornelius’ story, even though unique to his own story, highlight commonly shared aspects of conversion when Jesus’ saving work is applied to any person in any culture or generation. As we journey with Peter and Cornelius in this powerful story, may we come to understand and celebrate God’s saving work in our own lives!

Biblical Interpretation: Hearing the Word

Study the Text: The Bible is God’s inspired word to his people. Christian disciples mature in the faith when they are grounded in God’s word. In this movement, you will study the basic details of the biblical text.

Observation Questions

Read (or listen to) the whole passage of Scripture. Discuss the questions below for each section of the story. Pay attention to the details of the text to recall what the passage is saying. Use the focus verses to guide your conversation.

Storycraft

Retell the story in your own words, recounting the overall flow of the narrative, the main segments of the story, and the major developments that take place.

Narrative Elements

Story Retell

Theological Dialogue: Discussing the Plot

Explore the Text: God’s word is his trustworthy and sufficient revelation to his people. We grow as Christ’s disciples by rooting our lives in God’s unchanging truth. In this movement, you will explore vital teachings of this biblical passage.

Discussion Questions

Summarize the biblical story. As a community, discuss the following questions. Be attentive to the truths taught in this text. Use the commentary on the next pages to uncover core principles this passage teaches about the Christian faith.

Biblical Commentary

Use this commentary to help you understand the meaning of the text. Refer to the infographic on the next page to think through how narratives work.

Passage Introduction

Key Idea

God prepares and calls his people to himself; upon repentance and faith in the gospel, believers are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit to a new life in Christ.

Passage Overview

The saving work of Christ can bring about a change in the lives of the lowliest of sinners. If even a righteous man like Cornelius could not find favor with God based upon his own merits, then all humans are in certain and unmistakable need of divine mercy. God expressed his mercy toward sinful humans through the sacrificial work of Christ on the cross. God applies his merciful salvation to humans when they respond to Christ in faith and repentance. To believe the gospel is to enjoy the free blessings of salvation. In Cornelius’ story, God prepared, initiated, and orchestrated the details of Cornelius’ conversion. Upon hearing the gospel, Cornelius and his household responded with faith in Christ and repentance of sin. This humble reception of the gospel brought forgiveness of sin, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the promise of eternal life. We should observe and remember that Peter, an apostle who had already been saved, experienced an ongoing transformation in his life as well. The gospel brings both dramatic change in the moment and ongoing change throughout our lives. Use the following commentary to help elucidate the nature of conversion for those who come to faith in Christ.

Passage Outline

Coming to Faith in Christ

This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.

Conversion is a great and glorious work of God’s power, at once changing the heart, and infusing life into the dead soul.

Introduction

Humans need salvation. No matter our pedigree, ethnicity, accomplishments, or wealth, no one can secure his own salvation from sin. Our need is desperate, more desperate than we realize. Our sin needs to be cleansed. Our guilt needs to be taken away. Our shame needs to be removed. Even as we seek God and his blessing, we cannot be religious enough to bring about our own salvation. Christ’s work on the cross—his suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection—is the only means of salvation. Yet, the historical fact of Jesus’ redemptive work does not mean an automatic reception of salvation. Jesus’ work of salvation is applied to a sinner’s life through faith in Christ and repentance of sin. One particular biblical story narrates this saving effect in the lives of sinners.

In Acts 10:1–11:18, the chronicle of Cornelius’ conversion powerfully recounts the gospel’s ability to bring dynamic, dramatic, and enduring transformation to sinful humans. A man of societal influence, religious devotion, and liberal generosity, Cornelius was yet to experience the saving work of Christ in his life. Cornelius sought God’s favor, but his sins were not yet forgiven. His religiosity was earnest, but (as is the case with all sinful humans) no measure of sincerity could bring him into favor with God. Additionally, as a Gentile (a non-Jewish person), he was seen as an ethnic outsider to God’s covenant promises. Helpful to establish believers in the faith and call unbelievers to salvation, this biblical passage narrates how a devout (yet sinful) man experienced God’s gracious salvation.

At the beginning of the narrative, God sent a heavenly messenger to Cornelius and told him to call for Peter. Meanwhile, Peter was undergoing his own experience of transformation. Peter had already come to faith in Christ. In fact, Peter was a bold apostle who had recently testified about the gospel in the surrounding regions. Nevertheless, Peter needed to know that the gospel of forgiveness was offered to all people (even Gentiles) who repent and believe. Regardless of one’s ethnicity, salvation was possible for those who humbly received Christ. At the time Peter arrived, Cornelius gathered with his family and friends to hear what the apostle had to say. Peter preached the gospel to the household gathering. Mirroring the events of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon this Gentile gathering, and the people came to faith in Christ. Afterward, they were baptized. When Peter returned to Jerusalem, he reported this dramatic transformation and recounted how God’s saving work had come upon Gentiles in the same way it had come upon the Jews.

In this story, Christ’s work on the cross (his suffering, death, and resurrection) was applied to a household gathering of Gentiles. Inasmuch as this narrative establishes our understanding of conversion, it also summons us to receive God’s offer of salvation. Corrupt and defiled by sin, humanity can only experience favor with God when the work of Christ is applied to their own lives. Although some details in Cornelius’ story do not exactly mirror our own conversion narratives, the story of this God-fearing Gentile offers a basic framework of God’s saving work in human lives. Jesus did not simply provide the possibility for salvation on the cross; he achieved salvation for his people. This salvation takes effect when it is applied—by faith and repentance—to our lives. As you journey with Cornelius through his conversion narrative, take time to consider God’s transforming work in your own life.

Divine Summons: Acknowledging God’s Call of Salvation

Biblical Narrative (Acts 10:1–8)

In the coastal town of Caesarea there lived “a man named Cornelius” (10:1). Being a military man of influence, he was “a centurion in what was called the Italian Regiment” (10:1). In terms of his religious life, “he and all his household were devout and God-fearing” (10:2). His religious devotion was so great that “he gave generously to the people and prayed to God regularly” (10:2). One mid-afternoon, he had a vision in which an angel appeared to him (10:3). Cornelius “stared at him in fear” (10:4). Cornelius addressed the angel and was told that his prayers and alms “ascended as a memorial offering before God” (10:4). Although he had not yet experienced the forgiveness of sins, all of his spiritual yearnings would be met by the divine instructions that would follow. The angel told Cornelius to “send men to Joppa to call for a man named Simon who is called Peter” (10:5). Cornelius’ men would find Peter “staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea” (10:6). After these instructions, the angel departed (10:7). After the angel left, Cornelius acted in faithful submission. He “called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among his attendants” (10:7), told them about the vision, and sent them to fetch Peter from Joppa (10:8).

Biblical Principles

Divine Initiation in Salvation. In this story, God called Cornelius to himself. God sent an angelic messenger (10:3–4) and gave Cornelius specific instructions to follow (10:5–6). Although Cornelius is depicted as a God-fearing man, God proactively pursued and summoned Cornelius to himself with “a clear vision” (10:3). In this spiritual revelation, Cornelius was to seek Peter, an appointed messenger who would tell Cornelius all that he needed to know about God’s salvation. In response to this divine encounter and revelation, Cornelius responded in trust and obedience. He relayed the angelic message to his men, telling them about his experience and their instructions to summon Peter. In this story, God called out to Cornelius by name (10:3); in response, Cornelius was to call for Simon Peter (10:5, 18). Although many of the circumstances surrounding Cornelius’ conversion are unique, it is common to all salvation that God initiates, pursues, and proactively draws his people to himself. As God calls people to himself, humans are responsible for responding appropriately to this divine call by calling out to God for salvation.

Insufficiency of External Piety. A pious man, Cornelius humbly and earnestly desired for God. Cornelius was God-fearing, generous, religious, prayerful, and devout (10:2). It is clear that Cornelius was not an “egregious sinner” in the way that we normally think. He was a God-fearer who needed repentance (cf. 11:18). He was an almsgiver who needed salvation (cf. 11:14). Although he acted in righteousness, he still needed to receive the gospel message because his works had not made him fully acceptable to God (cf. 10:15; 11:14, 17). The fact that Cornelius was told to call Peter to hear the gospel (10:5) shows that his piety was lacking and insufficient to bring about his own salvation (cf. Isaiah 64:6). Moreover, later in the story we have Peter’s review of Cornelius’ conversion in which we learn that Peter must come to “convey to you a message by which you and all your household will be saved” (11:14). Only after they responded did people recognize that “God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life” (11:18). Neither Cornelius’ piety (10:2, 4) nor social status (10:1) could gain him salvation.

Epitomized in Cornelius, all humans need God’s salvation (cf. Romans 3:23). If an earnest and spiritually oriented person such as Cornelius could not earn salvation, then all humans stand in desperate need of God’s mercy and forgiveness. External acts of religious devotion cannot gain salvation from God, forgiveness of sin, or escape from judgment. Only when we count our most spiritual efforts as tainted and insufficient can we come to realize the nature of God’s salvation: graciously cleansing sin and sparing from condemnation all who place faith in Christ. Whether through visions, messengers, or divinely orchestrated circumstances, God pursues his people, calling them out of their sin (and religious accolades) to faith in Christ.

Providential Preparation: Being Receptive to God’s Plan of Salvation

Biblical Narrative (Acts 10:9–33)

After Cornelius sent his men to get Peter, they came near the city of Joppa (10:9). It was noon, and Peter “went up on the roof to pray” (10:9). At this time, Peter “became hungry and wanted something to eat” (10:10). While food was being prepared, Peter “fell into a trance” (10:10) and “saw heaven open” (10:11). In his vision, Peter saw “something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners” (10:11). The sheet “contained all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, as well as birds of the air” (10:12). With this extraordinary vision before him, Peter heard a voice that commanded, “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” (10:13). Peter refused to follow these instructions and explained that he had “never eaten anything impure or unclean” (10:14). In Peter’s mind, eating an animal from this sheet of mixed animals would have contaminated him and made him impure. To Peter, the instruction amounted to a breach of Jewish law. Correcting Peter’s misconception, the voice spoke to him a second time and said, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean” (10:15). After this happened three times, the sheet was taken up to heaven (10:16).

After the revelatory event subsided, Peter was “puzzling over the meaning of the vision” (10:17). As he pondered the significance of this vision, Cornelius’ men arrived at the house, approached the gate, and called for Simon Peter (10:17–18). Meanwhile, Peter “continued to reflect on the vision” (10:19). During this contemplation, the Spirit told Peter that three men were looking for him (10:19). The Spirit commanded Peter to “get up,” “go downstairs,” and “accompany them without hesitation” (10:20). The Spirit provided a reason Peter should go with the men: “because I have sent them” (10:20). Peter went to the men and asked about the reason for their visit (10:21). The men described Cornelius as “a righteous and God-fearing man with a good reputation among the whole Jewish nation” (10:22). They also explained to Peter that Cornelius had a vision and was told to send for Peter to “hear a message” from him (10:22).

The men stayed with Peter, and the next day they all (including Peter) left Joppa and went to Caesarea (10:23–24). Cornelius had gathered together “his relatives and close friends” (10:24). In the group, “many people gathered together” (10:27). Peter had nearly entered the house when Cornelius “fell at his feet to worship him” (10:25). Lifting him up, Peter told him that he was only a man (10:26). Even though Jews did not associate with Gentiles—because of “how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with a foreigner or visit him” (10:28)—Peter explained that he came to them “without objection” (10:29) because God had now shown him (through his earlier vision) that he “should not call any man impure or unclean” (10:28). Then, Cornelius explained his vision from the angel and how he was told to send for Peter (10:30–32). He expressed that Peter was “kind enough to come” and they were all gathered “in the presence of God” to listen to the message that “the Lord has instructed [Peter] to tell [them]” (10:33).

Biblical Principles

Divine Sovereignty in Salvation. This section of the story is filled with many specific details. Left to human ingenuity or planning, the meeting of Cornelius and Peter—an encounter that turned out to be monumental for Cornelius, his household, Peter, and the history of Christianity—would not have occurred. Too complex for any human orchestration, it is clear that God sovereignly arranged the meeting between Cornelius and Peter. Two visions (10:3–6, 10–16) given to two men from two different ethnicities (10:28) who were staying in two separate cities (10:1, 8) and who came to meet after two two-day journeys (10:3, 8–9, 23–24, 30) and who were accompanied by two groups of associates (10:7–8, 23, 24) all came to fruition. The hand of God had prepared and arranged this encounter. Remembering how we came to faith in Christ, we must admit that, had certain circumstances or details not aligned, we might not have heard the gospel. From our family of birth, to relationships we formed, to the timing when we heard the gospel, God was at work in the particulars of our life situations. Even if we are not privy to heavenly visions (as in the case of Peter and Cornelius), we know that God is orchestrating his saving purposes among humanity. The conversion story of each disciple is a testimony to this reality.

Humility, Receptivity, and Submission. In response to this belief in God’s sovereign plan, Cornelius and Peter responded in humble compliance. Peter, Cornelius, and each of their associates yielded their lives to God’s leading. The perspectives of Peter and Cornelius confirmed their own awareness that God was arranging this divine appointment. Peter explained how God had changed his perspective of what was clean and unclean (10:28). In fact, being told to go to Caesarea “without hesitation” (10:20), Peter later explained that he went “without objection” (10:29). Although it is recorded that Cornelius had sent for Peter (10:5, 8, 17, 29, 32, 33; 11:11, 13), it was really God who was sending for Peter (10:5, 20, 22, 29, 32; 11:13). Moreover, Cornelius responded promptly to the instructions of his own vision (10:7–8). Cornelius used the time during which he was waiting for Peter to be retrieved to gather his family and friends at his house, ready to hear Peter’s message (10:24, 27, 33). Salvation is applied to lives based on God’s call and his sovereign arrangement of particular circumstances in our lives. It takes a response of receptivity, openness, and submissive yielding for us to be open to what God has to say. In this way, these factors prepare us to hear and receive the gospel: the core message of salvation.

Gospel Proclamation: Tuning Our Hearts to the Message of Salvation

Biblical Narrative (Acts 10:34–43)

With a gathering of people eager to hear Peter’s message, the apostle—newly transformed in his own understanding of God’s character, purposes, and activity—delivered the gospel with bold public proclamation. Peter told the gathered crowd that he had come to a true understanding that “God does not show favoritism” (10:34). Unprejudiced and impartial, God requires all humans to come to him the same way. Peter explained that “God welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right” (10:35). Importantly, Cornelius himself had feared God, lived an upright life, and enjoyed a positive reputation among his people (cf. 10:2, 22). Yet, even if Cornelius assumed (at least, to some extent) that he was already acceptable to God, his response of faith and repentance (cf. 11:17–18) is a clear indication that he came to the eventual realization that he needed God’s salvation and thus was not acceptable to God because of his righteous deeds. Despite all his piety and religiosity, Cornelius would come to learn what it means to be saved.

In his speech, Peter continued “proclaiming the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ” (10:36). This gospel was a “message to the people of Israel” (10:36), but was also the way of salvation for all peoples. God’s Son, Jesus, came to earth as a fulfillment of God’s promises and prophecies for a deliverer. He explained that “all the prophets testify about [Jesus]” (10:43). The prophet John the Baptist prepared his way (10:37). During his earthly life, God anointed Jesus “with the Holy Spirit and with power” (10:38). In his life and ministry, Jesus “went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil” (10:38). It was evident that “God was with Him” (10:38). Even more, being God himself, Jesus was the “Lord of all” (10:36). Despite all this, people “put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree” (10:39). This death was a sacrificial payment for sin in which Jesus took the punishment for sin that humans rightfully deserved.

Jesus secured the effect of this payment by rising again to life on the third day (10:40). There were many witnesses “of all that [Jesus] did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem” (10:39). Also, there were many witnesses of his resurrection from the dead (10:40–41). Appearing to many people after his resurrection, God “caused [Jesus] to be seen” (10:40). In his appearances, Jesus was not seen “by all the people, but by the witnesses God had chosen beforehand, by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead” (10:41). When he appeared to his disciples, Jesus commanded them “to preach to the people” (10:42) this message of salvation. He also told them “to testify that [Jesus] is the One appointed by God to judge the living and the dead” (10:42). Jesus would bring his salvation to the believing (and judgment to the unrepentant) to full fruition when, one day in the future, he returns to earth. This saving work of Christ is applied to humans who respond in faith. Peter ended his sermon affirming that the gospel message is an invitation for sinful humans to receive God’s offer of salvation: “everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name” (10:43).

Biblical Principles

Gospel Preaching. At this divinely appointed gathering, Peter declared a Christ-centered, gospel message of salvation. Peter and Cornelius were both aware that Peter would come to deliver an important message (10:22, 33; 11:14). It was clear what message Peter would speak. Given the opportunity, Peter explained the path to salvation available in Christ’s saving work (10:34–43). This message of salvation is “the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all” (10:36). As Christians, God invites us to share this message with the world (10:36, 42–43). As humans, he calls all people to respond to this offer of salvation by faith (10:43). The act of salvation having been accomplished by Jesus in his death and resurrection, it was essential that there be a proclamation of salvation for people to come to know and receive God’s gracious rescue for themselves.

Gospel Message. Peter’s speech is a helpful snapshot of the core content of the gospel message. Peter told of Jesus’ prophesied coming (10:36, 43), his divine-human nature (10:36, 38), his righteous life (10:38), his miraculous ministry (10:38–39), his sacrificial death (10:39), his victorious resurrection (10:40–41), his post-resurrection appearances (10:40–42), his global mission (10:34–36, 42), and his future return (10:42). In this summary of Christ’s work—a narrative of redemptive events—Peter summarized God’s saving work in the gospel. Christ’s prophesied coming highlights God’s promise for a deliverer coming to fruition in his Son, Jesus. That Jesus came as a human and is identified as Lord highlights his divine-human nature, fully able to provide forgiveness of sin and to be a fitting substitute for humans. Jesus’ life shows that Christ was the ultimate fulfillment of God’s righteous standards. Jesus’ ministry also epitomized God’s vocational calling for humanity in the world. Jesus’ death achieved payment for sin as a sacrificial substitute. His resurrection secured victory over sin, Satan, and death. His appearance to and commissioning of his disciples gives confidence that Jesus is vindicated as the rightful king of the world and should be announced to all peoples as such. His future return means that he will bring all his saving work to completion and will exact judgment on the whole world. Consequently, the gospel is an urgent appeal to respond in faith before death and judgment seal one’s eternal fate.

Gospel Response. The proper response to this message is faith (10:43), confession (10:42), and repentance (cf. 11:18). Faith places one’s full dependence upon and trust in Christ as Savior. Confession voices the truth—even broadcasting it to the unbelieving world—that Jesus is the only Savior and the coming judge. Repentance is a turning from sin to embrace a whole new way of life. Salvation is received as a free gift of life. But it is not simply blanketed upon the whole of humanity. It demands a response. These responses of faith, confession, and repentance come from a heart of open receptivity to God’s plan and a humble yielding to God’s call. In the plot of this biblical story—and in the lives of those who experience true conversion—we witness God’s proactive calling of sinners to himself, which is made possible by divinely orchestrated events that lead people to encounter the gospel message. We also see the humble, receptive, and open response to God’s leading. God used Peter to proclaim the gospel clearly and unapologetically. However great all these events are, they do not bring about salvation. Each person must receive the message of the gospel with earnest faith, sincere confession, and genuine repentance. When sinners respond in this way, they freely receive divine salvation, and God brings about a clear and dynamic transformation in the lives of his faithful followers.

All Those Who Hear the Word: Enjoying the Transforming Effects of Salvation

Biblical Narrative (Acts 10:44–48)

Upon hearing this gospel sermon (in fact, while Peter was speaking to the people), “the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard his message” (10:44). As happened when the Holy Spirit fell upon the Jews at Pentecost (cf. 2:1–4), these Gentile believers spoke in tongues (10:46). In fact, they were “exalting God” (10:46). Those Jewish believers who traveled with Peter (cf. 10:23) “were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles” (10:45). Seeing that these Gentiles had come to faith in Christ, Peter said that they should be baptized (10:47). Peter explained that this group of Gentiles had “received the Holy Spirit just as” as the Jews (10:47). Consequently, Peter “ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ” (10:48), affirming the genuineness of their faith and their inclusion into the people of God. Eager and hopeful with their newfound salvation, the group of new believers asked for Peter to remain with them for a short time (10:48).

Biblical Principles

Transformation in Christ. In response to the gospel, the Gentile believers experienced transforming effects in their lives. The transformation was so definitive that they underwent the change “while Peter was still speaking” (10:44). By believing the gospel message, Cornelius and his household encountered God and experienced an undeniable life change. Believing the gospel is not simply a matter of changing one’s opinion or adjusting one’s point of view. While such a shift does accompany salvation, conversion involves a distinct and noteworthy transformation in one’s life because they have encountered the power and presence of God.

New Life in Christ. Having responded to the gospel in faith, Cornelius and his associates experienced a whole new life. They received the Spirit, expressed worship to God, were baptized, and enjoyed fellowship as a new family of faith (10:44–48). For all who believe, faith in the gospel of Christ ushers us into a salvation that is dynamic and enduring. More than just a personal transformation of life and character, salvation in Christ reorients our hearts in devotion to God. It offers us a new community in which to belong. The Holy Spirit dwells within believers and, consequently, disciples enjoy communion with God and with one another. Salvation is not a matter of changing our lives for the better. Salvation is a work of God in which he, through the saving work of Christ, brings lasting change into our lives, a full reorientation to our existence. Looking back on our lives, it is clear that what God has accomplished in us has made us different people. And this story of transformation—a retrospective of salvation—is a story worth telling to all the world.

A Retrospect: Bearing Witness of the Story of Salvation

Biblical Narrative (Acts 11:1–18)

After the gathering at Cornelius’s house received God’s salvation, believers in Judea “heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God” (11:1). Therefore, Peter went to Jerusalem and was confronted by the Jewish “circumcision believers” (11:2). As those who maintained strict adherence to purity laws, they challenged Peter’s actions of associating with Gentiles. Specifically, this group “took issue with [Peter]” and criticized that he “visited uncircumcised men and ate with them” (11:3). Recounting to them the story of the Gentile conversion (and his own transformation), Peter “explained to them the whole sequence of events” (11:4).

Peter told them about his vision of the sheet coming from heaven with various animals and a voice that told him to eat (11:5–7; cf. 10:10–13) and how it corrected his understanding of what was clean and unclean (11:8–10; cf. 10:14–16). He told how, when Cornelius’ men arrived at the house (11:11), the Spirit told him to go with them, “without hesitation” (11:12). The vision of the sheet with animals was a means of teaching Peter that God’s salvation was to be offered to all peoples. Peter told how he arrived at Caesarea, and Cornelius recounted his own vision that Peter should come (11:13) to deliver " a message by which [Cornelius] and all [his] household will be saved" (11:14).

Then, Peter shared how he was speaking, and the Holy Spirit came upon the Gentile gathering “just as He had fallen upon us [Jews] at the beginning” (11:15). In his report, Peter shared how he “remembered the word of the Lord” (11:16). Peter connected these events to the prophetic teaching of Jesus: “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (11:16). Peter’s conclusion to his retelling of these events was as follows: “If God gave them the same gift He gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to hinder the work of God?” (11:17). In response to this, his critics’ “objections were put to rest” (11:18). In a dramatic turn of opinion, “they glorified God” and confessed that “God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life” (11:18). As a testimony, Peter’s report was so convincing that his fierce critics became convinced of God’s saving work in the lives of the Gentiles.

Biblical Principles

The Testimony of Conversion Stories. Peter’s retelling of Cornelius’ conversion (and the conversion of his household) was a powerful narrative that silenced his critics and stirred them to worship God (11:18). Testimony of Christian conversion is a powerful ministry. Beautiful is God’s plan for our salvation! He turns us into witnesses of the very gospel that has brought a dynamic change in our own lives. Testimony not only serves as an evangelistic tool, but it also edifies the church. This story of conversion became so significant that it is referred to later in the history of the early church (cf. 15:7, 14). When one encounters the saving work of Christ, it is hard to deny its transforming effects. In fact, although Peter himself expressed hesitation, when he saw what happened to Cornelius, he concluded, “Who was I to hinder the work of God?” (11:17). Bearing witness of God’s saving work involves testifying to God’s acts in saving our lives, forgiving our sins, uniting us together in his family, and stirring us to worship and adoration of God. In the end, salvation is not just something that should be received, but (as with Peter’s example) it is a story that should be heralded for all to hear.

Common Elements of Conversion. Although many details will remain unique to Cornelius’ story, there is much in this story that tells us about common components of God’s saving work in the lives of all who believe in the gospel. This story tells us much about salvation. Salvation is offered to all people from all ethnic groups, but it is only granted to those who have faith in Christ. It is both a process and an event: Cornelius and his household experienced conversion in a moment while Peter underwent ongoing transformation in his own life, even though he had already received salvation some time ago. Although each person is responsible for responding to the gospel, groups of individuals can also experience conversion at the same time. The gospel is a promise of Christ’s saving work bringing eternal life, forgiveness of sins, the reception of the Holy Spirit, and righteous standing before God. When this promise is fulfilled, God reconciles our lives to him and to other humans. Moreover, it is through Christ’s saving work that God is forming for himself a people to worship his name and bear witness to Jesus throughout the world. Regardless of one’s specific conversion story, these elements remind us of common ways God has been applying salvation to believing sinners throughout the ages.

Conclusion

Cornelius’ story is an amazing encouragement for us. It shows that salvation is possible for those who humbly receive the gift of the gospel. No one is too sinful to receive this salvation. No ethnicity is excluded. No sinful past is too egregious to be forgiven. No religious practitioner is religious enough not to need Christ. In his death and resurrection, Christ accomplished once-for-all salvation for anyone who chooses to believe. Fulfilling the Old Testament prophecies for a deliverer, the eternal Son of God, Jesus, came into the world as a human, lived a righteous life, ministered against the forces of darkness, died upon the cross, rose again from the dead, and promised to return to earth. By faith in this work of Christ, one can have the forgiveness of sins. As with Cornelius, those who place faith in Christ enjoy freedom from sin, receive the indwelling presence of the Spirit, and gain placement in a new family. Further, our stories of conversion become a powerful testimony—in fact, an evangelistic tool—to share the gospel with others across the world.

The historical reality of Jesus’ saving work requires human reception for salvation to be experienced. That is, Christ’s work on the cross is applied to our lives when we place our faith in the saving message of the gospel. The gift of salvation is a free offer of eternal life for all who believe. The freeness of the gift, however, does not mean it was a cheap purchase. The costly and sacrificial work of Jesus on the cross calls sinful humans to a similar selflessness and commitment. To confess one’s guilt before God, to renounce one’s life of sin, and to surrender to Christ in faith are responses that necessarily require one to deny oneself and devote one’s life to Christ. When we receive God’s free offer of salvation with this response of faith, we enjoy the security and guarantee of salvation. Recipients of God’s saving work, our lives undergo a holy transformation by the presence of the Holy Spirit. Like Cornelius’, our conversion is the result of a merciful act of God’s saving and sovereign grace in our lives, a salvation we could never earn by any measure of religious merit. But also like Cornelius’, our conversion gives us a new identity and community from which we can live lives of worship, witness, and holiness.

Session Synopsis

SESSION 9 SYNOPSIS
Conversion	In this passage, we learn about the nature of conversion. Along with members of his sphere of influence, an influential man named Cornelius came to faith in Christ and received the gift of the Holy Spirit. God orchestrated a series of events that resulted in Peter meeting Cornelius and preaching to him the good news of redemption in Christ. In individual acts of confession, faith, and repentance, Cornelius and his household received God’s gift of salvation. This biblical narrative highlights God’s divine calling and sovereign activity in the work of conversion. It also emphasizes the content of the gospel and appropriate responses to Jesus. The transformation of this conversion became a testimony for the church and the world. It remains a powerful account for all generations, teaching us about essential elements of salvation and conversion. A summary of this story’s principles is outlined below.
God’s Sovereign Call	God calls people to himself. In his sovereignty and grace, God orchestrates details of our lives (i.e., circumstances, encounters, relationships, spheres of influence, etc.) to draw us to faith in Christ (10:3–33). No one can come to saving faith in Christ on their own.
Good News of the Gospel	The gospel is the good news about Jesus Christ (10:36, 38). The gospel message recounts God’s acts of saving sinners through Jesus Christ (10:38–42).
Content of the Gospel Message	God treats all people fairly (10:34–35). No one can earn acceptance by God through their own righteous works (10:1–4, 15, 34–35; 11:14, 17–18). Jesus is fully God and fully man, powerful enough to save people from sin and able to serve as a substitute for sinful humans (10:36, 38). Jesus came into the world, fulfilling God’s ancient promises to send a deliverer (10:43). He lived a righteous life and had a powerful and compassionate ministry (10:38–39). He died on a cross (10:39) and rose again from the dead (10:40). In his death, Jesus was punished for the sins humans committed. In his resurrection, Jesus triumphed over sin, Satan, and death by coming back to life. Jesus gave evidence of his resurrection by appearing many times to his followers (10:40). Jesus commissioned his disciples to be his witnesses throughout the world (10:41). One day, Jesus will return to earth as judge (10:42). Only those who trust Jesus in genuine faith receive acceptance by God (10:35), the Holy Spirit (10:44–48; 11:15–16), peace (10:36), forgiveness of sins (10:43), salvation (11:14), and eternal life (11:18).
Right Responses to the Gospel	People must respond correctly to the gospel to receive God’s salvation in their lives. This narrative highlights several important responses to the gospel: humble and receptive hearing (10:33, 44), genuine and responsive faith (10:43; 11:1), and sincere and decisive repentance (11:18). Those who have experienced God’s salvation and received the Holy Spirit should publicize this faith by the act of water baptism (10:48), which is a public profession of faith in Christ and a means of being initiated into the church community.
Conversion Testimony	Peter retold the story of Cornelius’ conversion to others (11:1–18). Giving testimony of one’s conversion to the faith is a means of edifying the church (11:1–4), bearing witness to the gospel (11:17), and encouraging worship of God (11:18).
Key Dynamics of Christian Conversion	God offers salvation to people from all ethnicities (10:15, 28–29, 34–36, 45–47; 11:1, 9, 12, 15, 17–18). He treats people impartially. All people must come to God the same way. The work of conversion is both an individual and community work of transformation (10:24, 33, 44–48; 11:14–15). Conversion is also a point-in-time change in a person’s life (10:44–48; 11:14) and also an ongoing transformation in life and faith (10:9–33). Believers in Christ are reconciled to God (10:34–35) and to other believers (11:15–18). When people are converted, it results in worship of God and more public proclamation of the gospel (11:1–18).

Personal Reflection: Entering the Story

Apply the Text: The word of God is binding and authoritative, the only reliable guide for faith and godliness. True disciples submit themselves to God’s word. In this movement, you will apply God’s word to your lives.

Reflection Questions

Encourage one person to share a testimony about how this story has impacted them so far. Use the reflection questions to examine your life in light of this biblical passage.

Spiritual Practice

Ministry Practice: Rehearsing the Script

Minister the Text: God’s word is living and active. Through God’s word, the Christian community is edified. In this movement, you will utilize the biblical passage to minister to other believers and build them up in their faith.

Application Questions

Look at the infographic below. Use the questions to think about how to minister this text to other believers.

Missional Outreach: Publicizing the Truth

Witness the Text: The Bible is a message of God’s gracious salvation to the world. In word and deed, God’s people proclaim the good news of the gospel. In this movement, you will use this biblical passage to reach out to unbelievers.

Strategy Questions

Reflect on the infographic below. Consider how you can use this passage to witness to the surrounding world. Use the suggested ideas to prime your imagination. Then, put together a plan to share this passage with unbelievers, Afterward, reflect on this mission experience.