Mission to the Gentiles II SS3 Christian Religious Studies (CRS) Lesson Note

The Mission Of Peter In Lydda and Joppa (Acts 9:32 – 42)

Peter went to visit the Christians at Lydda, there, he met one of them called Aenas. He was paralysed and for eight years he had lain in bed. Peter had compassion on him and said to him “Aeneas, Jesus heals you, rise and make your bed.” Immediately, Aenas rose from his bed and was well again. The news of Aena’s healing soon spread throughout the town of Lydda and the neighbouring village. Sharon and many people believed and were converted to Christianity.

Peter in Joppa (Acts 9:36 – 43)

Joppa was a town on the sea coast, not far from Lydda. Among the members of the church, there was a woman called Tabitha (or Dorcas). She was kind, generous and devoted. She spent all her time helping the poor and the needy. But while Peter was in Lydda attending to the Christians there, Tabitha fell ill and died. When other disciples heard that Peter was at Lydda, they sent two members to him to come at once, Tabitha was dead.

Peter immediately left Lydda and went to Joppa. He went to the room where the body was lying in state. He saw many weeping. They showed him the coats and other dresses that Tabitha had made for them while she was alive. Peter asked them all to leave the room, and then he knelt and prayed. After praying he turned to the body and said, “Tabitha rise”.

The dead woman opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. Peter took her by her hand and lifted her. He called other Christians to her room to see her alive and well. There was great rejoicing in Joppa. The news spread once again many of the people in Joppa who heard it believed and became Christians.

Effects of the Mission of Peter in Lydda and Joppa on the Spread of Christianity

1. The healing and raising of the dead through the Holy Spirit performed by the land of Peter in Lydda and Joppa caused many people to believe and become Christians. Miracles are therefore one of the strongest means of the church in winning people to Christianity.
2. Peter’s visit to Lydda and Joppa enabled him to learn of the believer’s problems and was able to solve them with the help of the Holy Spirit.

The Admission of Gentiles into the Church (Acts 10:44 – 48; 11:1 – 18)

After the conversion of Cornelius, the brethren in Judea learnt that the Gentiles had received the word of God through Peter. Because of this, Peter was challenged to mingle and eat with the uncircumcised Gentiles in Caesarea. Peter took time to explain how he was in a trance in Joppa and saw all sorts of animals let down in a great sheet and he was asked to kill and eat. He refused the order three times saying that, nothing common or unclean had ever entered his mouth. He was each time told not to call anything God created common or unclean.

After this, three men came from Caesarea met him and told him that Cornelius had sent them. He was told by the spirit of God to accompany them and not to make any distinction. On their arrival and after Cornelius’ explanation, Peter addressed the audience, declaring that God was no respecter of persons, but those who feared Him and did what was right from every nation would be accountable to Him.

 Hardly had he completed his address when the Holy Spirit descended on Cornelius and his friends and they spoke in tongues. They were baptized. The council of members were perplexed by what they heard and kept silent. They praised God for granting salvation to the Gentiles.

Lessons To Learn

1. God is the God of all flesh, races and men. He loves all men because created us in His image. He wants all men to be saved. Therefore, we should not discriminate against others because they are of different races. We are all equal before Him.
2. The Jews believed that salvation was for Israel only, but God proved them wrong by opening the door of salvation to the Gentiles and also to all races on earth.