Discussion Bible

As a centurion serving at Caesarea under Pontius Pilate, what might Cornelius have seen and heard about the three years of Jesus’ ministry?

Since Roman officials had to answer to Caesar for what happened in their territories, how much knowledge might Cornelius have had about Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension? Could he have known what happened on the day of Pentecost?

Since Cornelius was Roman, why would he have prayed to God and not Jupiter or one of the other gods? What reason did he have to fear God and give to the Jewish poor people?

What do you think Cornelius was doing when an angel appeared to him?

Why would Cornelius have been afraid of an angel?

What was the angel’s mission?

Why might Cornelius have chosen two servants and a Roman soldier to find Peter? What religious beliefs do you think these three had?

In following their heritage, Jews prayed three times a day, the hours ending at 9:00 a.m., noon, and 3:00 p.m. When Peter went to the rooftop to pray, about how many hours did the travelers take to cover the thirty-mile journey, excluding eight hours to make camp and sleep?

Do you think Peter’s hunger at noon was physically or spiritually inspired? Why?

What was Peter’s objection to the food that God was offering him? Why would it not be proper to do whatever God asked?

What argument did God give to overcome Peter’s objection?

Why do you think the offer was repeated two more times?

If Peter had not seen the vision, how do you think he would have reacted to the Spirit saying he should go with the three foreigners outside the front gate?

From the roof, Peter would have heard a man calling for him. Do you think he looked down from the roof to confirm what the Spirit had told him? If so, what might tell him that the men were not Jews?

In seeing a Roman soldier, what might Peter have imagined the men’s purpose to be?

The men stayed with Peter overnight, then spent two days walking the thirty miles back to Caesarea. What might their conversation with Peter been like during that time?

Why do you think believers from Joppa accompanied Peter? How many do you think there were?

Anticipating Peter’s arrival, Cornelius invited relatives and friends. How long might they have waited, and what would they have talked about during that time?

What might the Roman soldier have thought when he saw his commander kneeling before a Jewish peasant?

Jews saw themselves as God’s special people and others as inferior. Upon what do you think Peter’s humility was based?

How would you describe the attitude of the crowd when Peter walked into the room?

In essence, Peter greeted the people by saying, “You know, a Jew would never agree to come.” How do you think they felt after hearing that God had changed Peter’s mind about them?

Peter asked why he had been called, but he had already heard what the soldier and servants said. Why was it important for him to hear the details, first-hand, from Cornelius?

Cornelius described a man in bright clothes appearing before him. Who might Peter have thought that person was?

What would Peter have thought about the way in which Cornelius received Peter’s contact information?

What was Cornelius expecting to hear from Peter?

What insight did Peter give that he had never preached before?

How do you think Peter felt as he presented to foreigners the message that had been considered only for the Jews?

When the Holy Spirit fell upon the crowd, to what extent do you think this event matched what happened on the day of Pentecost?

Since they had already been filled with the Holy Spirit, why was baptism important?

What do you suppose happened during all the additional days that Peter spent with these new believers?