International Sunday School Lesson March 22, 2026
Introduction
Hi, I’m Donnie Bryson. Welcome to another edition of our treatment of the International Sunday School lesson. Today’s lesson is for March 22, 2026. The title of today’s lesson is, “Welcome Others in Christ.” The text is taken from Acts 10:9-15, Acts 10:30-35, and Galatians 3:28-29. Think about the history of the growth of the knowledge of God in this world. Noah and his family naturally knew about God. But it wasn’t long before their descendants backslide and began to worship idols. Years later, God called Abram out of idolatry to have a bloodline to send His son into the world to pay the penalty for our sins. The descendants of Jacob were being sanctified to teach spiritual values through covenant laws. Part of that covenant law was keeping themselves separate from the idolatrous nations around them. This racial segregation ended with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. All peoples are called to Christ. Now the people of God are to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to everyone.
1 Peter Goes Into a Trance
Cornelius was a very important Roman leader in Caesarea. He was a devout Gentile. One day he saw a vision of an angel. The angel told him to send for Peter. He sent servants to Joppa to ask Peter to come. God gave Peter a vision to prepare him for their arrival. We take up our reading with the vision of Peter.
Acts 10:9-10 9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance
A small room on the second floor or the roof of the house was a common place folks went to pray. The sixth hour was around noon. The Greek word translated trance, ekstasis, has another dimension of amazement and astonishment. This wasn’t a quite drifting off to sleep experience with Peter. He was stunned and in amazement at the vision.
2 Animals Descending
Peter sees a stunning wonder in the sky.
Acts 10:11-12 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air.
All types of creatures are on this sheet. Some of the animals are clean and some of them were unclean by Mosaic law.
3 What God Has Cleansed
These events were about eight years after the day of Pentecost. The Gospel was still being shared almost exclusively with Jews. God was giving clear instruction that this must be changed with this vision.
Acts 10:13-15 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.
We know the law was very clear that only some animals were to be eaten. Other animals were to be avoided. Deuteronomy 14:7-8 states, “7 Yet of those that chew the cud or have the hoof cloven you shall not eat these: the camel, the hare, and the rock badger, because they chew the cud but do not part the hoof, are unclean for you. 8 And the pig, because it parts the hoof but does not chew the cud, is unclean for you. Their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch.” God is now telling Peter that all food is clean. This is used to instruct the church to preach and evangelize to ALL people. God is clearly instructing Peter that the wall of partition is now broken down and the Gospel must be preached to all. In the words of Paul to the Ephesians in Ephesians 2:14-16 “14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.” This vision seen by Peter is preparing him for the request to go to the home of the gentile, Cornelius.
4 Cornelius Vision
We take up the narrative of when Peter goes to Cornelius. We take the story up with Cornelius telling Peter about the vision he had.
Acts 10:30-33 30 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”
This shows the faith of Cornelius. He was praying and saw a vision. He is told to send for someone that he doesn’t know at a location he’s not familiar with. He sends his people to this place and asks for Peter. He would have looked so silly if there was not a tanner named Simon who had a guest named Simon Peter. Cornelius reaches out in faith.
5 Peter Understands
After being prepared for the message, Peter understands.
Acts 10:34-35 34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
Thank God the gospel is open to all.
6 All Equal in Christ
Now we come to what Paul told the Galatians.
Galatians 3:28-29 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
We’re all one in Christ. We’re one regardless of what language we speak, our accents, skin color, education, or politics. We all need a savior. After we accept him, we’re one in Christ.
Concluding Thoughts
A concluding thought. We must be one one in Christ. We must love each other. We must be accepting of one another. The dividing lines that existed before salvation vanish. Well friends, good Lord willing, I’ll be back with you next weekend.
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