Lesson 7

Question 1

Dr. Cara believes that Acts 10:1-11:18 addresses two problems. Give these and their solutions.

Answer 1

1. How should Jewish Christians interact with Gentile converts due to food and hospitality laws?
Peter’s vision declared all people (through implication and confirmed by his interp.) clean and that he can visit them.

2. Many Jewish Christians are not convinced at this point that Gentiles are part of God’s plan
The pouring out of the Holy Spirit proved they were part of the plan.

Question 2

What does Dr. Cara see as the primary reason for the tongues event in Acts 10:45-46?

Answer 2

to confirm by a sign that Gentiles are part of the Church (Acts 10:45; 11:18)

Dr. Cara cites the above as why the Holy Spirit event / tongues events are not normative as they had a foundational function in the early church

Question 3

Compare and contrast either the four Cornelius-Angel events or the three Peter-vision events. Make conclusions from your comparison.

Answer 3

Luke to reader
Peter to Cornelius
Jewish Xns to Jerusalem.

The repeated stories keep adding details
* Three animals (TC) vs. four (Acts 10:12 // 11:16)
* Some brothers vs. six brothers (Acts 10:23b // 11:12)
* Have Peter come vs. household saved (Acts 10:5 // 11:14)
* Go with men vs. no man is impure (Acts 10:20 // 10:28)
* Acts 11:16 adds Acts 1:5 quote that was not in Acts 10:44-48

Peter sees the dream 3 times, Luke is putting emphasis on this section as the HS did (he couldn’t include ALL historical data so is choosing what important)
We hear about God’s plan for the gentiles
Peter reveals to Cornelius God’s plan for him
Peter conveys message to all doubters b/c this is a new thing for all to know that gentiles are “in”.