Acts 10:1–33: Removing Barriers to the Gospel
Introduction
Before Jesus ascended to heaven, he gave his apostles clear marching orders. Their mission was to be his “witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). So far, we have seen the expansion of the gospel to Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and we have seen at least one significant encounter with a Gentile who lives at the end of the earth. Now is the time, then, when the gospel will begin to move to the ends of the earth in the Gentile mission. Here, the Lord removes barriers to the spread of the gospel by drawing together a Gentile named Cornelius and the Apostle Peter. As we study this story, the Lord challenges us also to follow the Spirit beyond barriers to the gospel.
Discussion Questions
1. What barriers had kept Cornelius from fully seeking the Lord? In spite of those barriers, what do we know about his faith? How has his faith produced the fruit of good works? How does the Lord prompt Cornelius to reach across a barrier in order to hear the gospel? What barriers keep you from wholehearted pursuit of the Lord? How eager have you been to follow the Holy Spirit beyond those barriers? What does that say about the condition of your faith?
2. What barriers had kept Peter from preaching the gospel among the Gentiles up to this point? How legitimate were those barriers? Why had God established those barriers for the nation of Israel? Why does removing the barrier of food laws remove the barrier for Peter to go to the Gentiles? What kind of barriers keep you from sharing the gospel? How eager have you been to follow the Holy Spirit beyond those barriers? What does that say about the condition of your faith?
3. How eager is Cornelius to hear the gospel that Peter will preach? How do we see his eagerness in the many people whom he gathers for Peter’s arrival? Why does Peter make such a point about the fact that Jews were not supposed to visit Gentiles (vv. 28–29)? How do we see the Holy Spirit at work to remove the barriers that have kept Gentiles like Cornelius from hearing the gospel preached by the apostles of Jesus?
4. What barriers keep you from seeking the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength this morning? Are you burned out with pain? Are you controlled by fear and anxiety? Do confusion and doubt trouble your soul? Are you caught in the snare of sin and temptation? What has Jesus done to remove those barriers between you and God? What kind of barriers keep you from sharing the gospel? What does the Holy Spirit do to remove barriers from sharing the gospel?
