Lord of All

Jesus is Lord of all

ACTS 10 COMMENTARY ◄
Acts 10:34-35 Fear of God

Acts 10:36-41 Lord of All

ACTS 10:36 36 “The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ - He is Lord of all -

Why does Peter say Jesus is "Lord of all" (Acts 10:36)?
The people Cornelius had gathered at his house were gentiles. Peter is telling them that in one sense, Jesus is Lord of both Jews and gentiles, but in the more general sense that He is Lord of all human beings.

How can Jesus be the Lord of Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and atheists who don't believe in Him?
He is their Lord too because all of them were created by Him and for Him: "For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him" (Colossians 1:16).

What if some of them don't acknowledge that?
All of them will end up acknowledging Jesus is Lord. The only question is from where they will acknowledge it: "10 ... at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10-11).

What is meant by "under the earth" (Philippians 2:10)?
In context, καταχθονιων (katachthonion), the original Greek word translated "under the earth," refers to the underworld. The knees of those in the underworld belong to those who have died and are in hell.

Of the three places referred to in Philippians 2:10 - heaven, earth and hell - which is the least desirable place from which to recognize and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord?

ACTS 10:37-38 37 “that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

How does Peter know that those gathered "know" (Acts 10:37) about Jesus and His earthly ministry?
Peter had just "talked with" (Acts 10:27) Cornelius (see Peter and Cornelius), as well as with his emissaries since he met them two days earlier.

ACTS 10:39 39 “And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree.

How is Peter's knowledge of Jesus different from theirs?
While they had only heard about Jesus, Peter and the brethren who accompanied him were witnesses: "we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem" (Acts 10:39).

ACTS 10:40-41 40 “Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.

To how many people did Jesus appear after His resurrection?
Over 500: "After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep" (1 Corinthians 15:6).

Were they over five hundred random people?
Jesus appeared "not to all people, but to witnesses chosen before by God" (Acts 10:41).

Is it true that they even "ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead" (Acts 10:41)?
See Peace be with you and Jesus.