The Church in Caesarea Acts 10: 1: 48 – JSS3 Christian Religious Studies Lesson Note (First Term)

The church in Caesarea was the first Gentile Christian community, founded when Peter preached to the household of Cornelius, a God-fearing Roman centurion, and the Holy Spirit came upon them (Acts 10:1-48).

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. describe the vision of Cornelius at Caesarea;
2. describe the vision of Peter and state its meaning;
3. narrate how Peter preached to Cornelius’ household and how they were converted;
4. explain why racial discrimination has no place in Christian communities.

What are the key terms in Acts 10?

These words appear often in the story and must be understood first.

Who was Cornelius?

Cornelius was a Roman centurion of the Italian Cohort who lived in Caesarea and feared God.

• Devout: he feared God together with his entire household.
• Generous: he gave alms liberally to the people.
• Prayerful: he prayed to God constantly.
• Gentile: he was a Roman, so the Jews saw him as an outsider.

What was the vision of Cornelius?

The vision of Cornelius was an appearance of an angel of God who told him to send for Peter at Joppa.

1. Cornelius saw an angel of God clearly at about the ninth hour of the day (three o’clock in the afternoon).
2. The angel told him that his prayers and alms had ascended as a memorial before God.
3. The angel told him to send men to Joppa to bring one Simon, who was called Peter.
4. The angel said Peter was staying with Simon, a tanner, and would tell him what to do.
5. Cornelius obeyed. He sent two servants and a devout soldier to Joppa.

What was the vision of Peter?

The vision of Peter was a trance in which he saw a container of unclean animals let down from heaven and was told to kill and eat.

1. Peter went up to the housetop at Joppa to pray at about noon and became hungry.
2. In a trance he saw heaven opened and a large sheet-like container let down.
3. It held four-footed animals, reptiles and birds that the Jewish law counted unclean.
4. A voice told him to rise, kill and eat.
5. Peter objected that he had never eaten anything common or unclean.
6. The voice replied that he must not call unclean what God had cleansed.
7. The vision was repeated three times, and then the container was taken back to heaven.

What did Peter’s vision mean?

• Invitation: Peter would soon receive an invitation from a Gentile.
• Obedience: he should have no scruples about obeying God’s instructions.
• Acceptance: God had cleansed the Gentiles, so no person should be called common or unclean.
• Timing: as Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit told him that three men were looking for him and that he should go with them.

How do the two visions compare?

How was the church established in Caesarea?

The church was established when Peter accepted Cornelius’ invitation, preached Christ to his household, and the Holy Spirit came upon them.

1. Cornelius’ messengers reached Joppa and Peter received them as guests.
2. The next day Peter went with them, taking some believers from Joppa.
3. Cornelius had gathered his relatives and close friends to wait for Peter.
4. Cornelius received Peter with respect and humility, and told him why he had sent for him.
5. Peter realised the meaning of his vision and began to preach.
6. The Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the message.
7. Peter ordered that they be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ.
8. They asked Peter to stay with them for some days.

What did Peter say in his sermon?

• Impartiality: “God shows no partiality, and anyone who fears Him is acceptable to Him.”
• Ministry of Jesus: Jesus went about doing good and healing, because God was with Him.
• Death: the Jews hanged Jesus on a tree.
• Resurrection: God raised Him on the third day.
• Witnesses: the apostles were witnesses to all these things.
• Forgiveness: everyone who believes in Jesus receives forgiveness of sins through His name.

How did the Holy Spirit come on the household?

• Timing: the Holy Spirit fell on them while Peter was still speaking.
• Who received: Cornelius and all the members of his household.
• Sign: they spoke in tongues and praised God.
• Reaction: the Jewish believers with Peter were amazed that Gentiles also received God’s gift.
• Baptism: the whole household was baptised, and the church was established in Caesarea.

What lessons does the church in Caesarea teach?

The story teaches that God accepts people of every race who fear Him and do what is right.

• No partiality: race was not a barrier to the coming of the Holy Spirit.
• No discrimination: racial segregation, discrimination and apartheid have no place in any Christian community.
• Obedience: like Peter, we should obey God even when His instruction changes our old habits.
• Sharing the gospel: like Peter, we should be ready to share the message of Christ with others.
• Prayer and giving: Cornelius shows that prayer and generosity please God.
• Humility: both Cornelius and Peter showed respect to each other.

Evaluation

1. Describe the vision of Cornelius at Caesarea.
2. How did Peter react to the vision he received?
3. What is the meaning of Peter’s vision?
4. Narrate the conversion of Cornelius.

General evaluation and revision questions

1. Narrate the healing of Aeneas.
2. Describe the vision of Peter in Joppa.
3. Describe the life of Joseph in Potiphar’s house.
4. Describe the skills of Joseph as governor of Egypt.

Assignment

Reading assignment

Comprehensive Christian Religious Knowledge for SS 1-3 by Martins I Amaechi, pg 210-215.

Weekend assignment

1. The following are qualities ascribed to Cornelius except ______.
   1. Devoted to God
   2. Feared God
   3. Prayed constantly to God
   4. Collected alms from people

   A. I and IV B. IV only C. II and III D. I and II

2. “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God…” Who said this, and to whom? (a) Peter, Cornelius (b) The tanner, Peter (c) An angel, Cornelius.
3. Another name for Dorcas is ____. A. Naomi B. Salome C. Jael D. Tabitha.
4. One of the following did not happen while Peter was preaching to Cornelius and his household. A. He perceived that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears Him is acceptable to Him B. The Holy Spirit fell on them C. They started healing the sick D. The household of Cornelius gathered.
5. Peter was told not to call unclean what God had cleansed. This implied that ____. A. He should exercise no scruples to heed the divine instruction B. He should exercise some scruples to heed the divine instruction C. He should obey Mosaic law as a Jew D. He should not enter a Gentile house.

Theory

1. Describe the qualities of Dorcas.
2. Describe the event that took place in Lydda as a result of Peter’s visit.