Mission to the Gentiles II – SS3 Christian Religious Studies Lesson Note (Second Term)

Mission to the Gentiles II is the study of Peter’s work at Lydda and Joppa, and of how he defended the admission of Gentiles into the church (Acts 9:32 to 43; 10:44 to 48; 11:1 to 18).

Behavioural objectives

1. Narrate how Peter healed Aeneas at Lydda.
2. Describe how Peter raised Tabitha (Dorcas) at Joppa.
3. State the effects of Peter’s mission in Lydda and Joppa on the spread of Christianity.
4. Explain how the Gentiles were admitted into the church.
5. State the lessons to learn from the admission of the Gentiles.

What are the key terms in this topic?

• Gentiles: people who are not Jews, regarded by the Jews as outside God’s covenant.
• Lydda: a town in Judea where Peter healed Aeneas.
• Joppa: a town on the sea coast, not far from Lydda, where Peter raised Tabitha.
• Caesarea: the town where Cornelius lived and where Peter met the first Gentile converts.
• Uncircumcised: a Jewish term for Gentiles, who did not keep the law of circumcision.
• Trance: a state in which a person receives a vision from God.

What was the mission of Peter in Lydda and Joppa?

Peter’s mission at Lydda and Joppa was to visit the believers, heal the sick and raise the dead in the name of Jesus.

How did Peter heal Aeneas at Lydda? (Acts 9:32 to 35)

1. Peter went to visit the Christians at Lydda.
2. He met Aeneas, who was paralysed and had lain in bed for eight years.
3. Peter had compassion on him and said, “Aeneas, Jesus heals you, rise and make your bed.”
4. Aeneas rose immediately and was well again.
5. The news spread through Lydda and the neighbouring village.
6. Many people in Lydda and Sharon believed and were converted to Christianity.

How did Peter raise Tabitha (Dorcas) at Joppa? (Acts 9:36 to 43)

Tabitha, also called Dorcas, was a Christian woman of Joppa who was kind, generous and devoted, and who spent her time helping the poor and needy.

1. Tabitha fell ill and died while Peter was at Lydda.
2. The disciples at Joppa heard that Peter was at Lydda.
3. They sent two members to ask him to come at once.
4. Peter went with them to Joppa and to the room where the body lay in state.
5. He found many people weeping, and they showed him the coats and other dresses Tabitha had made for them.
6. Peter asked everyone to leave the room, knelt and prayed.
7. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, rise.”
8. Tabitha opened her eyes, saw Peter and sat up.
9. Peter took her by the hand, lifted her and called the Christians to see her alive and well.
10. The news spread, and many people in Joppa believed and became Christians.

How do the two miracles compare?

What were the effects of Peter’s mission in Lydda and Joppa on the spread of Christianity?

Peter’s mission increased the number of believers and strengthened the church in both towns.

• Many conversions: the healing and the raising of the dead, through the Holy Spirit by the hand of Peter, made many people believe and become Christians.
• Miracles win people: miracles are one of the strongest means the church has of winning people to Christianity.
• Knowledge of believers’ needs: Peter’s visit let him learn the believers’ problems and solve them with the help of the Holy Spirit.
• Wider spread of the gospel: the news travelled from town to town, so the church grew beyond Jerusalem.

How were the Gentiles admitted into the church? (Acts 10:44 to 48; 11:1 to 18)

The Gentiles were admitted into the church when the Holy Spirit came upon Cornelius and his household and Peter had them baptised.

Why was Peter challenged?

• The news: the brethren in Judea learnt that the Gentiles had received the word of God through Peter.
• The complaint: they challenged Peter for mingling and eating with uncircumcised Gentiles in Caesarea.

What did Peter say in his defence?

1. He told them he had been in a trance in Joppa.
2. He saw all sorts of animals let down in a great sheet and was told to kill and eat.
3. He refused, saying nothing common or unclean had ever entered his mouth.
4. Each time, a voice told him not to call anything God had created common or unclean.
5. The vision came three times.
6. Three men from Caesarea then came to him, sent by Cornelius.
7. The Spirit told him to go with them and make no distinction.
8. After Cornelius explained why he had sent for him, Peter addressed the audience.
9. Peter declared that God is no respecter of persons.
10. He said people from every nation who fear God and do what is right are acceptable to Him.

What happened after Peter’s address?

• The Holy Spirit: the Spirit descended on Cornelius and his friends before Peter finished speaking.
• Speaking in tongues: they spoke in tongues, as the apostles had done.
• Baptism: Cornelius and his friends were baptised.
• The reaction: the brethren in Judea kept silent and then praised God for granting salvation to the Gentiles.

What lessons can we learn from the admission of the Gentiles?

The admission of the Gentiles teaches that God loves all races and offers salvation to everyone.

• God is the God of all people: He loves all men because He created us in His image, and He wants all to be saved.
• No discrimination: we should not look down on others because they belong to a different race or tribe.
• Equality before God: all people are equal before Him.
• Salvation is for all: the Jews believed salvation was for Israel only, but God opened the door to the Gentiles and to all races.
• Obedience to God’s leading: Peter obeyed the Spirit even when it went against his old customs.
• Explaining with patience: Peter answered his critics calmly and gave a clear account of what God had done.

Evaluation

1. Narrate how Peter healed Aeneas at Lydda.
2. Describe how Tabitha was raised to life at Joppa.
3. State two effects of Peter’s mission in Lydda and Joppa on the spread of Christianity.
4. What was Peter’s vision in Joppa, and what did it teach him?

Assignment

1. Explain how the Gentiles were admitted into the church, and state two lessons to learn from it.