What news did the apostles and brethren in Judea hear?
How did they react toward Peter when he came to Jerusalem?
What was their complaint?
Give a summary of Peter’s recounting of the story to the apostles.
What quote from Christ regarding John the Baptist came to Peter’s mind regarding the situation (vs 16)?
What conclusion did Peter draw from that reasoning?
What was the response of the apostles? What did they say?
After what event were the disciples scattered? Where did they go? Who exactly did they preach to up to this point?
Who spoke to the Hellenists? What city were they in?
What was the result?
When the apostles in Jerusalem heard this news, what did they do?
How did Barnabas react when he arrived in Antioch?
How is Barnabas described?
Who did Barnabas recruit to work with him in Antioch?
How long did Saul and Barnabas work in Antioch? What were these disciples called there?
Where did the prophets come from?
What was the name of one of them? What was his prophecy?
What did the disciples do in response?

Thought Questions

From verse 3, what does it appear that the apostles in Jerusalem had the biggest issue with? Why was this a problem for them? Did they have a good reason for it?
Have you ever had a perfectly logical reason for thinking a certain way, but God overruled it? Why did God overrule Peter’s Jewish way of thinking in this situation?
What can you learn from Peter’s response to their accusation? Would you have explained the situation calmly as he did, or reacted in a defensive, emotional way?
After Peter told the story, how did the apostles react? Did they still have an accusing attitude? Were they still trying to defend their position? What changed?
Why are so many people so unwilling to change their minds? Would you have praised God in this situation, or stuck to your original position?
What is the first word in verse 19? What is the connection of verse 19 and 20 to the rest of the narrative in the chapter? Do you think that there was a connection between Peter’s situation and the fact that the disciples started preaching to the Greeks at that time?
How did the church in Jerusalem react this time when they heard that the Gospel was being preached to the Greeks?
What were the three characteristics of Barnabas? Do they describe you?
What can you learn about how your church can work toward its goals from verses 19-26? What are some key components for church growth found here?
What was the purpose of Agabus’ prophecy?
Could the gift of prophecy spring from a well-established church that is filled with the Holy Spirit and is doing its job of preaching Christ to others? What would be the result?
Does a prophecy do any good if the church doesn’t react accordingly?

My prayer is:
that, like the apostles, I would always be open to God’s working, even when it contradicts my prejudices;
that I would be willing to share Jesus Christ with people that I don’t naturally think would be “His people” (because I might be surprised);
and that I would pray for the Holy Spirit, be willing to work with others, and listen to prophecy as the church in Antioch did, in order to more effectively work for God.

Who was waiting for Peter and the servants in Caesarea? Who else had he called together?
How did Cornelius greet Peter?
How did Peter respond to that?
What did Peter explain to Cornelius, first thing?
What did Peter ask Cornelius?
In his explanation, when was Cornelius visited by the man in bright clothing?
What was Cornelius doing at that time?
What did the man say to Cornelius?
What specifications did the man give to Cornelius regarding how to send for Peter?
What did Cornelius say they were all present for?
What remark did Peter make about God’s character?
What are the qualifications for being accepted by God?
What word did God send to the children of Israel? Through whom might they have peace?
Where was that word proclaimed? Where did it begin? Who preached it there?
Describe Jesus’ anointing. What did He do? Why?
What were they witnesses to? Who killed Jesus? How?
Who raised Him on the third day?
Who was He shown to?
What did Jesus command them to do?
What did the prophets witness? How do people receive remission of sins?
What happened while Peter was still speaking?
Who was astonished at this? Why?
How did they know that the Gentiles had received the Holy Spirit?
What did Peter propose?

Thought Questions

Why was Peter’s arrival such a big occasion for Cornelius? If a preacher was coming to your home to preach the Gospel to you, who would you invite? Or would you invite anyone?
Why did Cornelius fall at Peter’s feet? Whose feet would you be tempted to fall at? Why?
Could God give an angelic vision to someone who was not of your religion? Why?
Are you willing to immediately do what God might ask of you? Would you be willing to search out someone who could explain God to you more fully than your current comprehension?
Do you think Cornelius knew he lacked some knowledge of God? Do you?
Summarize Peter’s sermon in verses 34-43. Who is the Gospel for? What is the Gospel, according to these verses? How did Peter know all this?
How does a person receive the Holy Spirit? Is it just by hearing God’s Word? What is the difference between Acts 10:44 and Acts 7:54?
Is baptism important? Review our discussion of baptism from chapter 8.

My prayer is:
that I would be receptive to any further knowledge of the truth as it is in God’s Word, and would have the desire to share it with others as well;
that God would lead me to an authoritative source of that truth;
and that I would be willing, as well, to share the truth that I know with any fellow humans, without prejudice.

Where did Cornelius live? What was his position?
How is Cornelius described spiritually? What two actions did he do that supported his devotion?
When did he see a vision? Who came in and called him?
How did Cornelius initially feel about the vision? What did he ask?
Why had the angel come to Cornelius?
Who was Cornelius to send for? Where was he staying?
How many people did Cornelius send on his errand?
Meanwhile, as the servants were traveling, who went up to the housetop to pray? When?
How was Peter feeling as he fell into a trance?
What opened to him in vision? What came down?
Describe the animals in the sheet.
What were the instructions to Peter? What was his response?
What did the voice say the second time this happened?
How many times did this happen?
Who arrived at the gate as Peter was contemplating his vision?
Who did they ask for?
Who told Peter that the three men were looking for him?
What else did he tell him to do? Who sent them?
How did Cornelius’ servants explain their errand? What was Peter supposed to do?
How did Peter show hospitality to the guests?

Thought Questions

Can a person be a good person and do good things without a relationship with Christ? Is that enough from life? Even though he gave alms, and even prayed to God, why was Cornelius shown that he must meet Peter and learn more from him?
How would you respond if an angel came into your room and basically told you that you needed to learn more to complete your religion? Would you welcome him and do what he said, or argue that your religion was fine the way it was?
What was the message of Peter’s vision? Considering the context of the chapter, was it about food?
Why do you think God pronounced certain animal foods unclean in Leviticus 11? Was it simply a cultural, ceremonial regulation only for the Jews? (Read Genesis 7:2.) What does science know now about the health of using many of those animals for food? Do you think they were only unhealthy in Old Testament times, and something has changed since then?
What was Peter’s background? (Think about his upbringing as a Jew, his experiences through his discipleship with Jesus, including Jesus’ trial and crucifixion, and then his experience after the Pentecost.) Why would he protest associating with Gentiles?
Why were Jews so prejudiced against everyone else? (Read Deuteronomy 12:20, 30.) Is there a time to mingle with those who don’t follow God, and a time to avoid their influence? How did the Jews take this idea too far, and refuse all contact with them?
How can we, in our own lives, reach out and show love and Christ’s gospel of life to “Gentiles,” while avoiding being influenced by their actions?

My prayer is:
that I would look upon all of God’s children as equally worthy of receiving the gospel of Christ, and not show racial or nationalistic bias;
that, no matter what good works I might do, there is probably still more that I can learn about Christ, and that I would be open to learn from others about how to grow in my relationship with him.