STUDY VIII.-The Gospel is Extended to the Gentiles

FIRST DAY: PETER AT LYDDA AND JOPPA

While Paul sojourned at Tarsus, the Church was prepared for his labors by a step of the greatest importance. That step was the extension of the Gospel to the Gentiles, and was due to the work of Peter while engaged in a preaching tour of Palestine.

1. Read Acts 9:32-43.

2. The phrase "throughout all quarters" (or "parts") seems to indicate that Peter had been traveling about, in order to preach and to strengthen the churches. When Paul visited Jerusalem a little before this time, how many of the apostles did he find in the city? See Gal. 1:18 and 19. Where were the others? 3. Locate Lydda on your outline map, and mark it with a cross, for there were "saints" at Lydda.

4. Æneas (Eneas) is a Greek name. Probably this Æneas was a Greek Jew.

5. Sharon, not indicated on the map, was a fertile plain lying between

Joppa and Cæsarea along the sea.

6. Locate and mark Joppa on your map.

7. Verse 36: The woman named in this verse seems to have been a Greek-speaking Jewess. Her Greek name Dorcas (gazelle) is a translation of her Hebrew name Tabitha (gazelle).

8. The fact that Peter lodged in the house of a tanner (verse 43) is significant. The trade of tanning was an abomination to the Jews. Peter sets aside this prejudice to lodge with Simon. It was no great step to go next into the home of the Gentile Cornelius.

LESSON THOUGHT: Little did Peter know, when he went out on his preaching tour, that in the providence of God he would be the means of extending the Gospel to the Gentiles, and that this step would prepare the Church for the still greater labors of St. Paul.

STUDY VIII.-The Gospel is Extended to the Gentiles SECOND DAY: PETER AND THE GENTILE CORNELIUS There was in Cæsarea a devout Roman centurion named Cornelius, who was seeking the favor of God. By means of a vision Cornelius was instructed to send messengers to Joppa for Simon Peter, who should tell him what he ought to do. While the messengers of the centurion were on their way to Joppa, Peter was made ready for his visit to Cornelius by a special revelation that taught him to set aside his Jewish scruples.

1. The vision of Cornelius: Read Acts 10:1-8.

2. What is the character of the centurions mentioned in the New Testament? See Matt. 8:5; Luke 23:47; Acts 27:1-3.

3. Cornelius was probably a proselyte. He attended the synagogue services, but was not circumcised, nor had he adopted the peculiar ceremonial rules of the Jews.

4. Many Gentiles had become dissatisfied with their religion. Heathen worship was not only superstitious, but also at times, and in some places, grossly immoral. The comparatively pure worship of the Jews was attractive to many thoughtful Gentiles, who as proselytes (or "comers") attended the synagogues.

5. The vision of Peter: Read Acts 10:9-18.

6. The Jews felt that physical contact with the Gentiles resulted in moral contamination. To enter the house of a Gentile, to eat with him, or to have any social relations with him, rendered a Jew ceremonially unfit for worship. A special revelation, therefore, was necessary to enable Peter to set aside his Jewish prejudices and go to the home of the Roman centurion. PRAYER: "Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth. Grant us ears to hear, eyes to see, wills to obey, hearts to love; then declare what Thou wilt, reveal what Thou wilt, command what Thou wilt, demand what Thou wilt." Amen.

STUDY VIII.-The Gospel is Extended to the Gentiles THIRD DAY: PETER AND THE GENTILE CORNELIUS (CON

TINUED)

When the messengers of Cornelius came to Joppa, Peter readily consented to accompany them back to Cæsarea. As soon as he had arrived at Cæsarea, Cornelius made known to him his vision, and begged him to declare fully the will of God.

1. Read Acts 10:19-33.

2. What have you inferred concerning the personal influence of Cornelius? See verses 7 and 24.

3. Why was it an "unlawful thing" for a Jew to keep company with a man of another nation?

4. Do you think that Peter knew why he had been sent to visit Cornelius?

5. Has the Gospel been preached as yet to the Gentiles?

In view of the subject of to-day's lesson and that of to-morrow, consider briefly the standpoint of the Jewish Christian: The Jews were the chosen people of God; to them God had revealed Himself through prophets and holy men of old; to them Jesus, the Messiah, was sent. The Jews were bidden to keep themselves pure from Gentile defilernents. Proud of the favor of God in the past, and proud of their superiority to the despised Gentiles, the Jewish Christians looked upon the Christian Church as the consummation of the Jewish Church. The first Christians were all Jews; what more natural than for them to think that a Gentile, to become a Christian, must first become a Jew, be circumcised, and keep all the Law of Moses? They were slow to see that the Gospel was for all, without the trammels of the Mosaic Law. Peter was taught this truth by a special revelation; yet the remaining apostles were reluctant to accept it, and a strong party soon formed of those who believed in Christianity for Jews only, or for Gentiles who had become Jews in all outward respects. This latter party bitterly opposed Paul in his work of extending the Church to the Gentiles.

STUDY VIII.-The Gospel is Extended to the Gentiles FOURTH DAY: CORNELIUS AND HIS HOUSEHOLD ARE CON

VERTED

As soon as Peter had heard the words of Cornelius, he uttered a momentous saying which clearly indicated that he for the first time saw the scope of the plan of salvation: "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons, but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him." Peter then preached a brief sermon, after which the Holy Spirit descended with power upon all present.

1. Read Acts 10:34-48.

2. Why was it important that the recognition of the right of the Gentiles to salvation should come first from Peter?

3. Verses 44-46: The Pentecost of Acts, chapter 2, was a Jewish Pentecost. This is a Gentile Pentecost, accompanied, like its great predecessor, with a gift of tongues.

4. In the Old Testament the promise was made that Salvation should come to the Gentiles:

(a) At the time of the call of Abraham: Genesis 12:3.

(b) In the time of Isaiah: Isaiah 52:10.

(c) By the prophet Zephaniah: Zeph. 2:11.

In the New Testament similar promises are found:

(d) In the words of Simeon: Luke 2:32.

(e) The words of Jesus: John 10:16.

5. How do you suppose Peter spent the time while he tarried in the house of Cornelius?

PRAYER: "O Lord, grant all who contend for the faith, never to injure it by clamor and impatience; but, speaking Thy precious truth in love, so to present it that it may be loved, and that men may see in it Thy goodness and beauty." Amen.

STUDY VIII.-The Gospel is Extended to the Gentiles FIFTH DAY: PETER CRITICISED FOR HAVING EATEN WITH GENTILES

Before Peter returned from Cæsarea, it became known in Jerusalem that he had not only been associating with Gentiles, but had actually eaten with them. On his arrival at Jerusalem those Jewish Christians who were most zealous for the ceremonial law criticised him for his conduct; to justify himself, therefore, Peter rehearsed the whole story from the beginning.

1. Read Acts 11:1-18.

2. Verse 2: "They of the circumcision." Already the Jewish Christians had begun to divide into a conservative and a liberal party. The conservative party—they of the circumcision-while adopting Christianity, still clung tenaciously to the ritual and ceremonial laws of Judaism. The liberal party, consisting chiefly of Greek Jews, were less tenacious of those laws, and were more ready to recognize the claims of the Gentiles.

3. Verse 18: The conservative party was silenced for a time, but before long they were at work again, trying to prevent the free extension of the Gospel to the Gentiles. They held that all Gentiles, in order to embrace Christianity, must first become Jews. This party bitterly opposed the Apostle Paul, and tried repeatedly to kill him, as will be learned in later lessons. THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Do you ever think what a virtue it is to be free from prejudice in religious matters? Men differ honestly and conscientiously regarding religious rites, ceremonies, and doctrines. Do you have charity enough to regard those men who do not belong to your own church or creed as your Christian brethren?