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In this eleventh installment, expounding the tenth and eleventh chapters of the book of Acts, John Ritenbaugh explores the conversion of Cornelius, a Gentile. This event is nearly as pivotal a benchmark as the original Pentecost because the Gentiles at this point are given the same portal of salvation (repentance , belief in Christ, and receipt of God's Holy Spirit) originally offered to Israel. This portion of Acts highlights: (1) The church's initial resistance to Gentiles fellowshipping in the church, (2) God's leading the church into the right understanding of Gentile conversion, (3) God's using Peter (originally relatively rigid and unyielding in his scruples) instead of Paul (more cosmopolitan), and (4) Jerusalem's acceptance of Gentiles (originally considered ceremonially unclean from the Jewish point of view) apart from the influence of Judaism. Peter's vision about the unclean beasts is to be interpreted metaphorically or symbolically rather than literally: Gentiles are not to be regarded as impure or ceremonially unclean.

Aqueducts Baptism of Holy Spirit Caesarea Centurion Cohort Ceremonially defiled Ceremonially unclean Common Conversion of Cornelius Conversion of Gentiles Favoritism Gospel to Gentiles Herod Partiality Peter's scruples Peter's Vision Respect of persons Righteousness of Jesus Christ Simon the tanner Stability Unclean Uncleanness of the Gentiles Joppa Scruples

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