What do I know with Isaac Carroll
What do I know with Isaac Carroll
Today's Bible Reading: Acts 10-12 - Visionary Encounters, Divine Judgments, and the Unstoppable Spread of God's Word
What if a vision could change everything you thought you knew about your faith? Join us as we explore the transformative story of Cornelius and Peter from Acts 10, where divine visions challenge deeply ingrained customs and lead to a groundbreaking meeting. Cornelius, a devout centurion, receives a heavenly instruction to seek out Peter, while Peter himself has a vision that redefines purity and inclusion. As these two paths converge, witness the powerful collapse of barriers between Jews and Gentiles, culminating in the Holy Spirit's embrace of new believers. Peter's recounting of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection not only enlightens but also unites different communities in a shared faith journey.
In the second chapter of our discussion, we shift our focus to the dramatic downfall of King Herod and the unstoppable spread of God's message. After a political clash with the people of Tyre and Sidon, Herod's hubris leads him to a fatal mistake—embracing the title of a god. His failure to honor the true God results in a swift and divine judgment, showcasing the futility of human pride against divine will. Yet, amid this dramatic turn of events, the word of God continues to flourish. We wrap up with the return of Barnabas and Saul from Jerusalem, accompanied by John Mark, signaling the continuity of their mission. Don't miss this episode as we prepare to venture into Acts 13 and uncover even more compelling stories.
May God bless you and lead you always.
Welcome to the podcast. I'm Isaac Carroll, and this is what Do I Know. Alright, in today's Bible reading we're going to be picking back up in Acts 10. If you're ready, let us begin. At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian cohorts, a devout man who feared God with all his household. He gave alms generously to the people and prayed continually to God. About the ninth hour of the day, he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, cornelius, and he stared at him in terror and said what is it, lord? And he said to him your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa and bring one, simon, who is called Peter. He is lodging with one, simon, a tanner whose house is by the sea. 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 the next day.
Speaker 1:As they were on their journey and approaching the city, peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray and he became hungry and he wanted something to eat. But while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance and he saw the heavens open and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of animals, reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him Rise, peter, kill and eat. But Peter said by no means, lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean. And the voice came to him again a second time what God has made clean, do not call common. This happened three times and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.
Speaker 1:Now, while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood at the gate and called in to ask whether Simon, who was called Peter, was lodging there. 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. And Peter went down to the men and said I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming? And they said Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you had to say. So he invited them in to be his guest.
Speaker 1:The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. When Peter entered, cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshipped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying Stand up, I too am a man. And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered and he said to them For you yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I asked then why have you sent for me? And Cornelius said Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing and said Cornelius, your prayers have been heard and your alms have been remembered before God.
Speaker 1:Send, therefore, to Joppa and ask for Simon, who is called Peter. He is lodged in the house of Simon, a tanner by the sea, so I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come Now. Therefore, we all are here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord. So Peter opened his mouth and said Truly, I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation, anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ, he is Lord of all.
Speaker 1:You yourselves know what happened throughout all of Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism that John proclaimed, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth. With the Holy Spirit and with power, he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him, and we are witnesses of all that he did, both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, not to all the people, but to us who have been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead, and he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one who appointed by God to be judged of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness and everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word, and the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles, for they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit, just as we have? Acts 11 had received the word of God. So when Peter went to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying you went to the uncircumcised men and ate with them. But Peter began and explained it to them in order.
Speaker 1:I was in the city of Joppa praying. In the trance, I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descended, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me. Looking at it closely. I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air, and I heard a voice saying to me rise, peter, kill and eat. But I said by no means, lord, for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth. But the voice answered a second time from heaven what God has made clean, do not call common. This happened three times and all was drawn up again into heaven.
Speaker 1:And behold, at the very moment, these three men arrived at the house in which we were sent to me from Caesarea, and the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinctions. These six brothers also accompanied me and we entered the man's house and he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter. He will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and your whole household. As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as on us at the beginning, and I remember the word of the Lord Now. He said John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. If, then, god gave the same spirit to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could stand in God's way. When they had heard these things, they fell silent and they glorified God, saying then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.
Speaker 1:Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, also preaching the Lord Jesus, and the hand of the Lord was on them and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad and he exhorted them to all remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit, spirit and of faith, and a great many people were added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul. When he found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people, and in Antioch the disciples were the first to be called Christians.
Speaker 1:Now, in these days, prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch, and one of them, namedabus, stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over the world. This took place in the days of Claudius. So the disciples determined everyone, according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea, and they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul, acts 12. About that time, herod the king, laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He killed James, the brother of John, with a sword. When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also this was during the days of the unleavened bread and when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to the four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover, to bring him out to the people. So Peter was kept in prison. Guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.
Speaker 1:Now, when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and centuries before the door, were guarding the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and he woke him, saying Get up quickly. And the chains fell off his hands and the angel said to him Dress yourself and put on your sandals. And he did so. And he said to him Wrap your cloak around you and follow me. He went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
Speaker 1:When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened to them on its own accord and they went out and went along one street and immediately the angel left him. When Peter came to himself, he said Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting. When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer, recognizing Peter's voice. In her joy, she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. They said to her you are out of your mind. But she kept insisting that it was so and they kept saying it is his angel. But Peter continued knocking and when they opened it, they saw him and were amazed. But, motioning them with his hands to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison and he said Tell these things to James and to the brothers. Then he departed and went to another place.
Speaker 1:Now, when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter, and after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death.
Speaker 1:Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent some time there. Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon and they came to him with one accord and, having persuaded Blastus, the king's chamberlain, they asked for peace because their country depended on the king's country for food. On an appointment day, herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne and delivered an oration to them, and the people were shouting the voice of a god and not of a man. Immediately, an angel of the Lord struck him down because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last. But the word of God increased and multiplied and Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark Alright. That's all the time I have for today. Tomorrow we'll pick back up in Acts 13. Until then, you guys, have a great day and goodbye.