Sermon Tone Analysis

Jonah and Nineveh

 

Nineveh’s historical situation during this period may explain the readiness of the king and his people to accept Jonah’s message.

* Assyrian power was a at a particularly low point during the reign of Assur-dan III (773-756 B.C.)

* They had suffered military reverses, diplomatic setbacks, famine and domestic uprisings.

* An Eclipse had taken place on June 15, 763 B.C. and this would have been regarded as a terrible omen.

* With all this going on it is not surprising that the Ninevites would have been especially jittery and ready to pay attention to a foreign prophet who suddenly appeared in their city.

Peter and Cornelius (chap.

10).

The importance of this event is seen in the fact that Luke recounts it three times—here in *Acts 10*, again in *chapter 11*, and finally in *15:6-9*.

The geographic extension of the gospel in Acts is an initial fulfillment of Jesus’ words in Matthew 8:11: “Many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places . . . in the kingdom of heaven.”

Peter had used “the keys of the kingdom” to open the door of faith to the Jews (*Acts 2*) and the Samaritans (*Acts 8:14ff*), and now would complete his special ministry by opening the door to the Gentiles (see *Acts 15:6–11*).

Caesarea was a Roman city, the Roman capital of Palestine.

* Cornelius was a God-fearing Gentile who did not know the truth of the Gospel.

* He was devout, honest, generous, and sincere; but he was not a saved man.

* It is possible to be very religious but still be lost!

* Were it not for the fact that God in His grace spoke to Cornelius, he would never have become a believer.

* An angel spoke to him and told him to send for Peter.

* Why did not the angel give Cornelius the message himself?

* Because God has not given to angels the ministry of sharing the Gospel with sinners.

* What a privilege we have in telling the Gospel to lost souls, a privilege angels cannot have!

\\ ----

chap.

chapter