These small group Bible studies of Acts 10 contain commentary, discussion questions, and practical application. Visit our library of inductive Bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the Bible you can use in your small group.
Acts 10 Bible Study Guide – Cornelius’ and Peter’s Visions
Outline
I. Cornelius’ vision (1-8)
II. Peter’s vision (9-16)
III. A divine appointment (17-23)
I. Cornelius’ vision (1-8)
Discussion Questions
• What kind of man was Cornelius?
• Why did God respond to Cornelius’ prayers, though he was a Gentile?
• Was Cornelius already saved?
• What do we learn about how God reveals Himself to those who are seeking Him?
• How did the Holy Spirit aid the church in fulfilling the Great Commission?
• What do we see in this passage about God’s heart for the lost?
• Why did the angel connect Cornelius to Peter instead of directly sharing the gospel with him?
• Why was Cornelius afraid?
• What can we learn from Cornelius’ response to the angel’s instructions?
Cross-References
Isaiah 56:6-7 – And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant— these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”
Psalms 34:15 – The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.
Joel 2:28 – And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. God reveals Himself to Cornelius –
Cornelius was a Roman centurion over the Italian Cohort. A cohort was a unit of six hundred men. He is described as a “devout man, who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people and prayed continually to God.”
Cornelius had given up his pagan religion and placed his faith in Yahweh. While he believed in the God of the Bible, he had apparently not yet heard the gospel of salvation through Jesus.
From this account, we clearly see God’s purposes. He desires to save all people, including Gentiles. If a person believes what he knows about God, God will reveal more to that person.
Knowledge of God is often progressive. God gives some knowledge. If it is rejected, He does not give more. Jesus talked about this idea when He told His disciples not to throw pearls before swine.
The religious leaders rejected what Jesus had shared with them. Jesus responded by communicating more through parables. On the other hand, the disciples believed. Because they believed what they knew, Jesus shared more deeply with them, explaining the parables to them.
Luke 16:10 – One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.
If a person is faithful to respond positively to the little that they know of God, He will make a way to ensure they know more.
God finds a way to reach those who will respond positively to the gospel call.
Many ask, “What about the person who lives on an island? Does he have hope to hear the gospel?”
If there is a person on a deserted island who believes what he knows about God and seeks after Him, God will reveal more of Himself to that person. God might send a missionary or He might send an angel, but He will send someone.
God is sovereign. He knows what He is doing. He cares for the lost far more than we do. Let us trust in Him to do what is right.
Application – We should follow God’s example. Invest your time in reaching out to those who are faithful, available, and teachable. If people have responded well to what you have already shared, continue. But if someone is hostile to the Word, you don’t have to push the issue. Move along to the next person. Search for a person of peace who will welcome God’s Word (Luke 10:6).
2. God involves people in His work.
Acts 10:5 – And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter.
The Lord miraculously gave Cornelius a vision. God could have told the angel to directly share the gospel with Cornelius. The message could have been communicated without the time and effort of sending people to another city to get Peter and troubling him to travel there.
Reflect – Why did the Lord connect Cornelius to Peter? What lessons can we learn from this?
It was important for Cornelius and his family to connect to the wider church at large. This was important for both sides. It was vital that the church accepted Gentiles without discrimination, understanding that the Lord was bringing Gentiles in. At the same time, it was essential for Cornelius’ growth, and others like him, to be connected to other believers.
Legit visions generally point people to the church, apostles, or other believers. We are not to learn all by ourselves. Christianity is not for “lone rangers.” The Lord wants us to fellowship with other believers.
It is increasingly common for believers to say, “I don’t need the church. I can grow on my own.” How would you respond to that idea?
There have been cases where people have said that they communicated with angels and studied directly with them. These have resulted in false religions and cults. Muhammad and Joseph Smith are prime examples.
If there has ever been a case of a legit Christian fellowshipping or studying with an angel who didn’t direct him to the body of Christ or another believer, I have never heard it. God’s modus operandi is to send believers to fellowship with other believers. He might make the initial connection through an angel, but that angel passes off the contact to the church for follow-up!
For more on this, read Dreams and Visions by Tom Doyle.
Reasons for fellowship instead of “lone ranger” Christianity.
• God commands it.
• It protects us from heresy.
• It protects us from drifting away from God.
• It provides accountability.
• It provides opportunities for service.
• We can learn from other believers and their perspectives.
• We can pray for, support, and encourage each other.
• We can comfort other believers in times of trial or discouragement.
• Other believers can correct or rebuke us when we go astray and vice-versa.
• It gives an example to the world of Christlike love.
• It helps to keep us warm and on fire for the Lord. Several pieces of coal close together stay lit much better than if separated.
• To worship together.
• To practice many traits that we wouldn’t be able to do on our own, such as generosity, hospitality, forgiveness, and conflict resolution.
• To worship together.
• To help each other resist temptation. Two are stronger than one.
• To provide financial or emotional support. To carry each other’s burdens.
God wants us to be connected with other people. Books, screens, and online sermons can all be helpful, but they are not a replacement for real human interaction with other believers.
Application – Are you connected with other believers? Do you have a high view of fellowship? Consider the above list. Which one of these do you need to focus on more, and how will you do it?
3. Cornelius immediately obeyed –
Acts 10:7-8 – When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
Cornelius wasted no time. He did not let the grass grow under his feet. He immediately set a plan into motion and sent his servants, plus a devout soldier to Joppa to fetch Peter.
Reflect – Why do you think he sent a soldier with them?
It shows how seriously Cornelius took this mission. He did not want his servants to get waylaid, harassed, or worse. God was clearly in this and yet Cornelius still did everything he could to ensure the plan was carried out. God’s sovereign power does not mean that we can be lazy or complacent. Our goal should be to carefully obey all of God’s instructions to the best of our ability. Let us take his commands seriously and obey without delay.
II. Peter’s vision (9-16)
Discussion Questions
• What is the relationship between Cornelius’ vision and Peter’s?
• What do you learn about God as a strategist?
• What was Peter doing before he saw the vision? Why is this important?
• Why did Peter refuse to eat the things shown? Was he wrong to answer “By no means, Lord?”
• What message was the Lord conveying to Peter through the vision?
• What are the differences between how Peter, as a Jew, approached food and how we do?
• How does his vision apply to us today?
Cross-References
Leviticus 11 – Here is a list of the unclean animals Jews were not allowed to eat.
Matthew 16:22 – And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.”
Isaiah 66:18 – For I know their works and their thoughts, and the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and shall see my glory.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. When you seek the Lord, He answers –
Peter was seeking the Lord when he had this vision. It was noon and Peter went to the rooftop to pray. Why the rooftop? It was a place where he could have some alone time. He had learned the importance of private prayer both from Jesus’ example (Luke 6:12) and His teachings.
Matthew 6:6 – But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
When you seek the Lord, you will find Him.
Jeremiah 29:13 – You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
Application – How is your prayer life? Are you earnestly seeking to spend time with the Lord?
2. God ends dietary restrictions –
Peter’s vision has two clear lessons. The first is that foods which were declared unclean in the Old Testament (Leviticus 11) were now clean and could be eaten.
Jesus also taught that all foods were clean.
Mark 7:18-19 – Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.)
Under the New Covenant, believers are free to eat pork, shrimp, and the like while at the same time remembering other Biblical principles such as taking care of our bodies and being a good testimony to others.
Some people attempt to bring back rules-based religion. They believe it is spiritual to religiously avoid certain foods.
Paul warned believers not to go back to this type of system.
Colossians 2:20-21 – If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch.”
3. God establishes a unified church –
The vision is about more than food. Within the context of the story of Cornelius, God is clearly showing Peter (and by extension the church) that Gentiles were to be welcomed into the body.
Believers were not to discriminate against Gentiles in any way. They could eat together, serve together, and worship together. Jesus had united the two hostile groups into one family. It is a beautiful thing.
Galatians 3:28 – There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:14-16 – For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
Application – Do not discriminate within the body of Christ. Look for an opportunity to reach out to someone outside of your normal group who may be less popular or well well-received.
4. Peter declines to eat the food –
The vision must have been a shock to him. Those foods were repulsive to a Jew. They would have associated those foods with sin, paganism, and uncleanness. Peter grew up in a culture where eating these foods would result not only in defiling oneself, but also in being shunned socially by your family and people. It was ingrained in his core values that being a good follower of God required saying, “No” to such food indulgences.
Now the Lord was telling him to eat food that was disgusting to him.
Reflect – How would you have responded? How would you respond to someone asking you to eat a food that is disgusting to you?
Acts 10:14 – But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”
Peter says, “No, Lord.” It is ironic that he says, “Lord,” while refusing to do what his Lord asked him to do. Although it was very difficult for him and way outside of his comfort zone, Peter should have said, “Yes, Lord,” and obeyed. That is what following the Lord is. It is submitting ourselves to Him as our Master. It is following His instructions even when we do not understand or like them.
This is much easier said than done.
Reflect – What is a command God has given you that is very difficult to follow?
Application – Resolve to obey the Lord and say, “Yes, Lord,” even when He asks you to do something way outside your comfort zone. Do not hold traditions over God’s Word. Be willing to face personal discomfort for the Lord. He never called us to an easy or comfortable life.
III. A divine appointment (17-23)
Discussion Questions
• How did Peter initially respond to the vision?
• Was the timing of the arrival of Cornelius’ servants a coincidence?
• What does this teach us about God’s sovereignty?
• How did the Spirit tell Peter to respond to the visit?
• What was the connection between the vision Peter had seen and this new development with Cornelius?
• What does this passage teach us about God?
• How does it encourage you?
• How can this passage encourage us in our evangelistic efforts?
• Have you experienced promptings of the Spirit? How did you respond?
Cross-References
John 16:13 – When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
Isaiah 46:9-10 – For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning
and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.
Psalms 135:6 – Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. Peter meditated on the meaning of the vision –
Acts 10:17 – Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean…
Acts 10:19 – And while Peter was pondering the vision…
Peter did not immediately understand the whole vision. He knew that it was the Lord and the Lord was communicating an important message to him. He just didn’t know what the whole message was.
There is benefit not only in the end result of receiving the answer, but in thinking it out. If God only cared about the destination, then He would transport us there directly. But the process is also very important. It was beneficial for Peter to meditate on the vision.
Proverbs 25:2 – It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.
Reflect – When you come across a difficult-to-understand Scripture, what do you do?
Many are tempted to skip past it. “Meh, that is hard to understand. I will move on to something easier.” Back in New Testament times, some believers were already dull of understanding and allergic to using their minds (Hebrews 5:11-14). With the advent of scrolling social media, on-demand television, to-your-door food delivery, and instant question-answering AI, it is now an epidemic. It is all too easy to be mentally lazy.
Application – God wants us to diligently use the minds He has given us. Discipling your thoughts to focus on important issues. Meditation on the Word is extremely important. When you have a spiritual question, diligently seek the answer.
2. God’s divine timing –
While Peter was still considering the vision, Cornelius’ representatives showed up.
Acts 10:17-18 – Behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there.
The Lord was providentially arranging every aspect of this encounter. He sent an angel to Cornelius. He gave Peter a vision. He brought the messengers from Cornelius right after the vision. He is the master painter painting a beautiful picture. There is no doubt that the Lord was bringing them together.
That was especially important because what He would ask Peter to do (welcome Gentiles into the church) was not an easy thing for a Jew. Peter needed to know without any doubt that it was from the Lord.
We will see that he clearly realized this in the second half of this chapter.
God doesn’t always work so visibly, but He is still at work.
Reflect – Who has God sovereignly brought into your life? How did He connect you?
We should look deeper. Do not dismiss these meetings as a coincidence, but understand that God is at work to accomplish His purposes. Let us be sensitive to what God is doing and ready to testify, “It is the Lord!”
3. The Spirit’s leading –
Acts 10:19-20 – And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.”
The Spirit left no doubt. He told Cornelius to find Peter and told Peter these men were sent by Him. He confirmed the situation to both sides so that there was no possibility of miscommunication.
I have heard stories of a man telling a woman, “God has told me you are to be my wife.” The woman responded, “God didn’t tell me that!” Awkward!
God is a master communicator. Let us follow His example by being clear in our communications with others.
When the Spirit led, Peter followed. After inviting them to spend the night as his guests, he went with them the next day. Let us be sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 5:19 – Do not quench the Spirit.
Reflect – What are things that quench the Holy Spirit?
Sin is one. Disobedience is another. If we push His calling aside and override it with our own desires, that is quenching the Spirit. Doing that repeatedly will make us less sensitive to His voice.
Share – What are some times when the Spirit has prompted you to pray for or share with someone? How did you respond?
