- Covered In His Dust
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- Acts Chapter 10 (part 2)
"When disciples followed a rabbi, they followed him closely so they would never be out of his sight, never be someplace where they couldn’t hear him speak. They followed him so closely that his sandals often kicked up dust."
May you be covered in His dust.
If this is your first time getting Covered in His Dust, WELCOME!
👇🏽 Important 👇🏽
👉🏽 Read Chapter 10 before reading my notes. If you don’t, my notes won’t make sense.
You can access previous notes on Acts and Luke here:
Good morning Saints! ☀️
What
a
month!
But I’m back! Let’s dig into the rest of Chapter 10.
This chapter is a key moment when the Gospel starts reaching beyond the Jewish community to Gentiles, beginning with Cornelius, a Roman centurion who wasn’t Jewish.
Through Peter’s vision and his meeting with Cornelius, God shows that the message of salvation through Jesus is for everyone, not just the Jews.
The Jewish people saw themselves as descendants of Jacob’s twelve sons, who formed the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Their ethnic identity was tightly connected to their religious beliefs. Being Jewish meant not only being part of this lineage but also following the Torah and their traditions.
God’s chosen people
Until recently, as in this last week, I believed that God chose the Israelites alone to inherit the kingdom and that the Jews were the ones destined to spend eternity with God.
I used to think that when the Jews rejected the promised Messiah, it made a way for Gentiles, like you and me, to enter heaven.
But that’s not true. Not exactly.
God’s plan from the beginning was to bring salvation to all people—both Jews and Gentiles.
Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.
And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
The Jews were chosen to be a light to the nations, to reveal God’s ways, but His plan always included everyone.
He says:
“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant
to raise up the tribes of Jacob
and to bring back the preserved of Israel;
I will make you as a light for the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
Israel's ultimate purpose was to bring forth the Messiah, Jesus. Jesus, born from the line of David, fulfilled God’s promises to Israel and brought salvation not just to the Jewish people but to the whole world.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
The original twelve apostles were Jewish, descended from the line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. As part of the nation of Israel, they were among the people chosen by God to reveal His ways and, ultimately, bring forth the Messiah.
I love that!
Why Peter and not Philip?
It’s interesting that Peter was sent to Cornelius in Caesarea, even though Philip had already settled there following his mission to preach the gospel (Acts 8:40).
"But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea."
I think God chose Peter because Peter needed his own conversion, much like Saul’s. Even though he followed Jesus, he still held onto old beliefs about Jews and Gentiles being separate. God used this meeting with Cornelius to transform Peter’s heart and show him that salvation was for everyone, not just the Jews.
This moment wasn’t just about Cornelius coming to faith—it was about God changing Peter’s thinking so he could help break down barriers in the early church and spread the Gospel to all people.
And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.
When Peter showed up at Cornelius's house, it must have been shocking for the Gentiles. Peter was a well-known Jewish leader, and for a Jew to visit a Gentile’s home was unheard of.
When Peter stepped into the house,
it
was
a
big
deal.
It was common for the Jewish man to begin his day thanking God he wasn’t a slave or a Gentile or a woman.
The traditional blessings in the Talmud include:
"Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has not made me a slave."
"Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has not made me a woman."
"Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has not made me a Gentile."
Jews didn’t enter Gentile homes because it was considered unclean. So, this seemingly small act showed something important was happening—God was breaking down old barriers.
Walking into that house must have felt like a huge step of faith as Peter realized God was revealing His plan and inviting everyone to be part of it, no matter their background.
And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.
The Gospel is Preached to the Gentiles for the First Time
Remember, by human standards, Cornelius was a good man—he prayed, gave generously, and feared God. We all know people like Cornelius. Maybe WE’RE like Cornelius.
But good works are not enough. Cornelius and his family needed to hear the Gospel.
Cornelius, like everyone else, needed to be saved by grace through faith in Jesus, not by anything he could do.
Even though he did “good things,” his goodness wasn’t enough to save him. It’s not enough to save you or me either.
Salvation is by grace, not works.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
In Acts 10:24-43, Peter delivers a powerful message, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ and proclaims,
“To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
That
Is
Good
News
We are not “saved by grace after all we can do.” That’s not Biblical.
Nor is it true that “God’s grace is the foundation of salvation with works maintaining our position.”
We are saved by grace alone.
Our position is in Christ alone.
Period.
While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word.
Am I filled with the Holy Spirit?
Some people have powerful, life-changing experiences with the Holy Spirit, like what happened at Pentecost or with Cornelius and his family. For others, the Spirit works in a more gradual, ongoing way, building a steady relationship over time.
That’s the way it’s been for me.
Here are some ways I’ve recognized the Holy Spirit working in me.
Transformation:
If you see the fruit of the Spirit growing in your life—like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)—this is evidence that the Holy Spirit is at work in you.
Conviction of Sin:
One of the primary roles of the Holy Spirit is to convict us of sin (John 16:8). Being sensitive to your own sin and feeling the Spirit guiding you away from it is strong evidence of the Spirit's presence in your life. It means God is continually shaping you to be more like Christ.
Comfort and Guidance:
The Holy Spirit is called the "Comforter" (John 14:16, KJV) or "Helper" (John 14:16, ESV). If you feel comforted during tough times or sense God’s guidance in making decisions, that’s the Spirit at work. It might not always come in dramatic ways, but those quiet nudges or encouragement in moments of struggle are signs of the Spirit’s presence.
One of the clearest signs in Scripture that someone is filled with the Spirit is the boldness to share the gospel. In Acts, we see the apostles, who were often timid or afraid, become incredibly bold after being filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:31). If you’re experiencing this kind of boldness, it’s a strong indication that the Spirit is empowering you.
Desire for God’s Word and Prayer:
If you have a growing hunger for the Word of God and a desire to spend time in prayer, these are signs the Holy Spirit is filling you. The Spirit gives believers the desire to know God more deeply and spend time with Him (Romans 8:26-27).
If you don’t see the fruit of the Spirit in your life, pray for it.
If you don’t feel His conviction of sin, pray for it.
If you don’t feel His comfort and guidance in your life, pray for it.
If you don’t feel bold enough to share the Gospel, pray for it.
If you don’t have the desire to read the Bible and be with Him in prayer, pray for it.
But be careful what you pray for. God answers those prayers.
“Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”
Can you feel Peter’s excitement???
Peter witnessed God pouring out His Spirit on the Gentiles, just as He had done with the apostles at Pentecost. At that moment, he realized that God’s plan for salvation wasn't limited to the Jews.
Peter understood that the Holy Spirit’s presence confirmed God’s acceptance of them. So when he asked, "Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" he was saying, “God has clearly chosen them—how could we deny them baptism?”
I love that so much!
One Minute Inspiration
I love you,
George
Uncovering Scripture
In the New Testament, "saint" refers to any Christian believer. It comes from the Greek word "hagios," meaning "holy" or "set apart." Paul often addresses believers in his letters as "saints."
George Sisneros is a full-time missionary in Guatemala and the founder of Ordinary Missionaries and the El Rosario Christian Academy for Boys.
He’s been married to his wife, Vonda, for 26 years. He’s a father to nine children, five adopted.
George and his family are expanding to Cuba in 2024.