Acts 9-10 Sermon

Acts 9 and 10 mark a monumental turning point in the unfolding story of the early Church. In chapter 9, we witness the dramatic and divine interruption of Saul’s mission to persecute Christians. On the road to Damascus, Saul—blinded by the glory of the risen Christ—is humbled, transformed, and reborn into Paul, the future apostle to the Gentiles. This conversion is not just personal; it’s prophetic. God calls an enemy of the Church to become one of its greatest builders, reminding us that no one is beyond the reach of grace.

As the Church continues to grow, the narrative shifts in chapter 10 to the Roman centurion Cornelius, a Gentile man who feared God and lived righteously. God responds to his prayers by sending Peter a vision that shatters centuries of Jewish tradition. The message is unmistakable: the Gospel is for all people, not just the Jews. When Peter enters Cornelius' home and preaches Christ, the Holy Spirit falls on the Gentiles just as He had on the Jews at Pentecost. This moment is a divine declaration that God's plan of salvation knows no ethnic or cultural barriers.

Together, these chapters reveal a powerful truth: God is expanding His kingdom. He redeems the persecutor and embraces the outsider. Acts 9–10 isn't just about Saul and Cornelius—it's about the unstoppable, boundary-breaking power of the Gospel to transform hearts, communities, and ultimately, the world.