NICOLE STEPHENSON | Co-Host, Former Adventist Podcast |
In Acts 8-9, Luke showed us that the gospel moved beyond Jerusalem into Judea and Samaria by the sovereign work of the risen Lord. Through a series of divinely orchestrated events, we saw that the disciples obeyed, but Christ directed the spread of the gospel and the growth of His church. Luke ended Acts 9 with Peter remaining for many days in Joppa at the seaside home of a tanner named Simon. It is here that God will prepare him to bring the gospel to the Gentiles.
In this article we will cover Acts 10–12, where Luke records the next stage in the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise that the apostles would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Luke will continue to show us that the gospel moving into the Gentile world does not occur through apostolic planning, but by God working according to His will, as His disciples respond in obedience.
Once again, I hope you will read each chapter on your own. Then, join me as we notice together what Luke’s careful record reveals about the growth of the church and the sovereign God they worshiped. In addition, we will notice the places where the assumptions and expectations of God’s people are challenged by the irrefutable work of God as it unfolds.
Acts 10:1–8 Cornelius in Caesarea
After leaving Peter at Simon the tanner’s home, Luke takes us north to a grand coastal city called Caesarea, the Roman capital of Judea built by Herod the Great. There we meet a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian cohort. Luke describes Cornelius as a devout man who fears God with all his household.
One day, while in prayer, an angel of God appeared to Cornelius and told him that God had heard his prayers and that his alms had ascended before Him as a memorial. The angel then instructed Cornelius, “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,” (Acts 10:5,6). Immediately Cornelius did as the angel instructed.
Luke describes this Gentile centurion as actively worshiping the God of Israel. It is striking that though he lived in a deeply pagan city and had a successful career working for Rome, Cornelius was not an idolater. He was a man who worshiped and feared the God of Israel—along with his household— even though he was uncircumcised and outside of Israel’s covenant people.
Cornelius’ worship was real, but his reverence and devotion did not remove his need for Jesus. He needed the gospel of Christ. Rather than telling him the gospel then, the angel told Cornelius to send for Simon Peter who was staying at the home of Simon the Tanner. Meanwhile, God was preparing Peter to answer this call.
Acts 10:9–23 Peter in Joppa
Luke returns our focus to Peter. The next day, as Cornelius’s men were approaching the city of Joppa, Peter went up on Simon’s housetop to pray. It was on this seaside housetop that the Lord gave Peter a vision that prepared him to bear witness to Christ in a Gentile household:
And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of animals and 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. — Acts 10:10–16
Peter’s objection to the Lord did not come from a rebellious heart. God-given laws that set Israel apart from the Gentile nations shaped Jewish life and customs for generations. Peter’s identity as a set-apart man of God had been shaped by a lifetime of faithfulness to God through obedience to these laws. But now God was calling Peter to something he didn’t yet fully understand. Luke tells us that Peter was inwardly perplexed about the meaning of the vision. Here we see our first example of a believer confronted with the need to let God’s revealed instruction reshape his understanding of faithfulness. It was in this moment, set by God’s perfect clock, that Cornelius’s men arrived at the gate:
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 out 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.” — Acts 10:17–20
Even in the midst of confusion, Peter obeyed. Peter may not have understood the vision, but he acted on the Spirit’s revealed instruction. He went down to the men, introduced himself as the one they were looking for, and asked them for the reason they came.
The men explained to Peter who Cornelius was and that he had been instructed by a holy angel to send for Peter to go to Cornelius’s house so they could hear what Peter had to say. Peter responded by inviting the men into Simon’s home to be his guests. In this act, Peter was already taking a step toward the boundary God was calling him to cross. On the following day, along with some of the brothers from Joppa, Peter accompanied the Gentile men to the home of Cornelius.
It is worth observing that while both Peter and Cornelius experienced private visions, these visions were not used to demand unquestioning obedience from others.
It is worth observing that while both Peter and Cornelius experienced private visions, these visions were not used to demand unquestioning obedience from others. They involved personal commands given only to the men who received them, and they were accompanied with unfolding public confirmations that only God could provide.
While the commands were personal, their obedience held consequences for innumerable others. As they walked in obedience and watched God confirm His word, they were witnesses of His work as it unfolded in unexpected ways.
Acts 10:24–48 Peter Preaches; the Spirit is Given to the Gentiles
According to Luke’s narrative the journey between Joppa and Caesarea required travel over parts of two days. The day after leaving Joppa, Peter and those who were with him entered Caesarea. This detail may seem insignificant but here again we see Luke’s reporting aligning with geography. The distance between Joppa and Caesarea was about 40 miles and would have required two periods of daylight travel time.
Cornelius was expecting their return when they arrived and had already called together his relatives and close friends. What happened next reveals that while Cornelius was a God-fearer, he did not yet have the gospel. Luke writes, “When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him” (10:25). Immediately Peter called him to his feet and clarified that he, too, was only a man.
As Peter spoke with Cornelius he became aware that many people were gathered to hear from him. Upon seeing this he said, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation…” (10:28a). Notice that Peter did not merely say his presence there was unlawful; he spoke of how unlawful it was. This language may reveal the weight of the moment for Peter as he scanned the room.
Peter’s next words show his faithful obedience to God even in the midst of the surprising situation he found himself in, “…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…” (10:28b–29a).
Peter stated that his reason for being there lay fully upon the revelation that God had given him. By his own testimony Peter only stood in the home of this Gentile because God had directed him to do so. He then asked Cornelius to tell him why he had sent for him.
Cornelius proceeded to explain to Peter the vision that he had been given. He told Peter that they were all gathered to hear all that the Lord had commanded Peter. What is striking is that in his vision Peter had not been given direct commands by the Lord for what to say. Yet Peter knew the assignment:
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), you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed…” — Acts 10:34a–37
Before teaching the people in the room, Peter confessed his new understanding that God has not excluded the Gentiles from the gospel of salvation and forgiveness through Jesus. Peter then proceeded to remind those present of all that had occurred throughout Judea and bore witness to Jesus’ ministry, death, resurrection, and the command He gave to His people to proclaim Him as the appointed judge of the living and dead.
As Peter was saying, “To Him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name” (10:43), the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. God’s timing could not have been more perfect. With those words, the Jewish believers who came with Peter from Joppa stood as witnesses that the “everyone” who receives forgiveness through Christ included Gentiles. Luke tells us they were amazed. Here we see another group of believers confronted with the need to expand their understanding as they witnessed the irrefutable work of God.
As Peter and the other circumcised believers witnessed the Gentiles speaking in tongues and extolling God, Peter declared, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” (10:47). Peter commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and Cornelius’s household asked him to remain for some days.
Peter’s response to baptize these new believers aligns with the Biblical teaching on baptism. It is an outward symbol of an inward reality.
Peter’s response to baptize these new believers aligns with the Biblical teaching on baptism. It is an outward symbol of an inward reality. This act of baptizing these Gentile believers publicly identified them with Christ and acknowledged the inclusion God had already confirmed by giving them the Holy Spirit.
What happened on that day in the city of Caesarea was not the product of human orchestration—the circumcised believers there were amazed. It was the result of the sovereign work of the Lord Jesus in the building of His church and the expansion of the gospel into all the world. All His people could do was witness and obey.
Acts 11:1–18 Peter Explains in Jerusalem
Word of what happened in Caesarea spread throughout all Judea. Luke does not report that they knew about the Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit or being baptized. He tells us only that the apostles and the brothers heard that the Gentiles also received the word of God.
While Peter had come to understand that the Gentiles were included in the church, he was now tasked with bringing this news to the leaders in Jerusalem. Upon his arrival, Peter was met with criticism from the circumcision party. They were concerned that Peter had gone to uncircumcised men and had eaten with them.
Peter told them how the Lord addressed this concern before sending him to Caesarea. He told them about his vision on the roof at Simon the tanner’s home and how the voice from heaven said, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” He told them that the vision occurred three times and then immediately the men from Cornelius’s house arrived and the Spirit told Peter to go with them, “making no distinction” (11:12).
After Peter detailed his vision he told them that he brought six brothers from Joppa with him to Caesarea. This detail revealed there had been Jewish witnesses to all he was sharing. Peter then told them about Cornelius’s vision and that God had commanded Cornelius to send for Peter.
As Peter told them how the Holy Spirit fell upon the Gentiles as he began to speak—just as He fell upon the Jewish believers at Pentecost—Luke records Peter’s testimony of what went through his mind as he watched what God was doing:
“As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ’John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave the same gift 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?” — Acts 11:15–17
Luke tells us that when the Jewish believers heard Peter’s testimony they fell silent. Then, they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life” (Acts 11:18). With that, we see our next example of God’s people responding to God’s irrefutable work with surrendered trust and public confession.
Luke’s account does not allow us to reduce the growth of the church to mere human strategy or even religious excitement. God is the one who sovereignly broke the barriers between people groups and drove the gospel into all parts of the world. It was He who initiated the giving of the gospel to Cornelius and to his household. He is the one who acted in ways that forced the recognition of the inclusion of the Gentiles.
The apostles and disciples stewarded the spread of the gospel as they responded to the Lord in obedience. It was not something they were controlling. They preached where God sent them, but God directed them, gave the growth, and added to the number of those who were being saved. In the next portion of Acts 11, Luke brings the city of Antioch into view where we see another example of the expansion of the gospel by God’s hand.
Acts 11:19–30: The Gospel Reaches Antioch; The Church Unites
To begin with, Luke provides context. Believers who had been scattered following the persecution that arose over Stephen had traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. Interestingly, we learn that they only shared the gospel with other Jews. Some men from Cyprus and Cyrene preached the Lord Jesus to the Hellenists (Greek-speaking Jews) in Antioch. The Lord’s sovereign hand was at work in Antioch. The ministry of the believers there was bearing fruit just as it had among the apostles. Luke tells us that a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
News of the growing church in Antioch reached the church in Jerusalem, so they sent Barnabas. In this provision for Antioch, we see God’s faithful leaders in the church recognizing the work God was doing. They were not manufacturing church growth; they were responding to it. In sending Barnabas, they were providing for the spiritual strengthening of God’s people.
While there, Barnabas exhorted the church “to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose” (Acts 11:23). Luke’s descriptions of Barnabas thus far are consistent. Here he describes him as “a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith” (11:24). With this reintroduction, Luke begins to bring Barnabas forward as one whom the Lord will use greatly in the spread of the gospel and the care of His people.
With the growing number of believers, Luke tells us that Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul and bring him back to Antioch. It is here in Luke’s record that we see the beginning of the missionary partnership between these two men. Barnabas and Saul met with the church for a full year, and we are told they taught a great many people. It was here that the disciples of Jesus were first called Christians. With Saul quietly back in view, Luke prepares us for the missionary expansion to come.
Luke then shifts our attention to an important event that took place during this year of ministry in Antioch. He writes that prophets from Jerusalem came to Antioch, and among them was a prophet named Agabus. By the Spirit, Agabus foretold a great famine that would come upon the world. Luke interrupts the narrative to provide a detail anchoring the prophecy in history. He notes that the famine took place during the days of Claudius.
As a result of this news, the believers arranged to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. The gift was sent to the elders through Barnabas and Saul. With this act of service, we see the provision of God’s people for one another extend beyond local borders.
The church was growing in number, and in these accounts of brotherly love we see it was also growing in maturity. Jerusalem provided spiritual strengthening for Antioch by sending Barnabas, and Antioch provided material relief for the brothers in Judea. They belonged to one another in Christ, and their unity revealed to all that the church was more than a local movement.
Acts 12 Herod Strikes; Peter is Rescued; the Word Multiplies
In Acts 12, Luke records events that begin with tribulation and deep loss, but through them God displays His sovereign power even over earthly rulers. Turning our focus back to Judea, Luke places these events at about the same period in which the church was growing in Antioch and the Gentiles had received the Holy Spirit. Luke tells us that Herod “laid violent hands” on some who belonged to the church:
He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to 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. — Acts 12:2–5
Luke doesn’t tell us what began Herod’s pursuit of the believers, but we do see that the approval of the Jews spurred him on. Peter was arrested and placed under the guard of four squads of soldiers. In the Roman military system at this time in history, one squad was a four man unit. This means Herod had sixteen soldiers involved in guarding one man. We do not know if he had heard about Peter’s previous escapes from prison, but clearly Herod was concerned with keeping Peter in his custody.
Luke tells us that Peter slept, bound with two chains between two soldiers, and that sentries stood before the door guarding the prison. A sentry’s entire purpose was to keep watch for any approaching enemies and to sound the alarm. These men were trained to prevent escape and invasion. They were trained by Rome, the strongest military power at that time. Even so, they could not stop God.
An angel of the Lord struck Peter on the side and the chains that bound Peter fell off. The angel led him out of prison without detection. Even Peter was amazed by what had occurred. At first he thought he was seeing a vision, and only after he stood alone in the street did he realize that the Lord had truly rescued him. The Lord’s effortless rescue of Peter reminds us that no earthly power can act apart from God’s permission and purposes.
Immediately, Peter went to the believers gathered in Mary’s home to pray. After no small degree of confusion on the part of those who heard him knocking, Peter was let in and he described all that occurred. He commanded the believers to tell James (likely the Lord’s brother) and the brothers, and then he left.
Luke tells us there was no small disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. This concern was warranted, for as soon as Herod searched for Peter and could not find him, he ordered that they be put to death. Herod then left Judea to spend time in Caesarea, joining the growing number of earthly rulers in Acts who could not stop God’s work among His people.
With Herod in Caesarea, Luke seems to change the subject by mentioning political tensions between Herod and the people of Tyre and Sidon. Yet these details only seem random if we forget that Luke is not inventing narrative. Luke is recording historical events that tie to the purposes of God. In the closing of chapter 12 we read about an arrangement made between the people of Tyre and Sidon and Herod’s chamberlain, Blastus, to bring about peace as their country depended on the king’s country for food. Luke tells us that on an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, sat on the throne, and delivered an oration to the people.
Luke does not tell us what Herod said, but the details he does provide clarify his purpose in including the scene: “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” (Acts 12:22,23).
Even when earthly powers rose up against God’s people and plans, Luke tells us that the word of God increased and multiplied. God’s work could not be stopped. Against all human odds, the gospel continued to spread, the church continued to grow, and it was all through the ongoing work of the risen Jesus.
After recording the death of Herod, Luke turns us back to Barnabas and Saul, who returned from Jerusalem after delivering the material provision from the church in Antioch. He mentions that John, whose other name was Mark, was with them, setting the stage for the first missionary journey.
Conclusion
In the last two articles we covered chapters 8–12. Across these chapters Luke records, with careful detail, the unfolding of Jesus’ words before His ascension, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Luke chose to record events that displayed the Lord directing the spread of the gospel and the growth of the church.
In these chapters we not only saw the church grow in number, we also saw its growth in maturity and understanding as believers obeyed the Lord even when His commands and works were unexpected. We saw them uniting even in the face of opposition and mutually providing for one another. We saw them growing in their understanding of the scope of God’s salvation as they responded to what He was doing. And we saw them loving each other the way Jesus taught them to while He walked among them.
By providing geographical details, names of leaders, contextualizing the timing of events, naming witnesses, and detailing public confirmations, Luke has offered the world a profound gift of evidence worthy of our attention.
While skeptics have surmised that the growth of Christianity was the result of human effort, Luke’s record challenges that conclusion with facts tied to history and geography, and with details that exposed the confusion of believers as the gospel broke into new territories. By providing geographical details, names of leaders, contextualizing the timing of events, naming witnesses, and detailing public confirmations, Luke has offered the world a profound gift of evidence worthy of our attention.
As we walked together through these chapters watching events unfold—often to the surprise of the apostles and disciples—I couldn’t help but relate to their amazement when God’s irrefutable work challenged what His people understood about reality. As Peter was perplexed that God would call him to “rise, kill, and eat”, and as the Jewish brothers stood amazed to see the Gentiles receive the Holy Spirit, and the leaders of Jerusalem fell silent when they learned what the Lord did at Cornelius’s home, I can only reflect on the moments in my life when I have stood amazed as I “saw” God’s work and it challenged my understanding of spiritual reality.
If you relate to the disorienting feeling of being faced with the irrefutable work of God that does not line up with what you have been ingrained to understand, I hope you will remember the example of the believers in Acts. Trust Him, then obey what He has revealed.
In the next article, we will follow Luke as he traces the events surrounding the first missionary journey of Barnabas and Saul. †
Additional Resource
The events in Acts 10–12 bring Caesarea into view in significant ways. This short documentary helps anchor the city in its historical and geographical setting. I am thankful for Luke’s careful details, and I am thankful to God for His ongoing provision of careful students of history and of His word whose work helps strengthen our confidence in the things we have been taught. I hope you will check it out:
- Acts 8–9: Christ Opens the Door to the Gentiles - July 23, 2026
- Christ Directs His Church Planting - June 4, 2026
- Acts Chapters 3–7 - April 16, 2026