Acts 10, Part 2

Principles of Receiving Revelation

young woman with a book in her lap and holding a candle looking over her shoulder at a bright light

A loving Heavenly Father blessed Cornelius and Peter with revelation to help them better understand His will. As they acted on the revelation they received, they were blessed with additional light and knowledge. This lesson can help you increase your understanding of how Heavenly Father may reveal His will to you.

Inviting students to ask questions. Inviting students to ask questions throughout the lesson can help you adapt the lesson to the students’ needs and make the topic more relevant for the students.

Student preparation: Invite students to identify needs or concerns in their lives that they would like to receive revelation about.

Possible Learning Activities

Sending an important message

Invite a volunteer to come to the front of the class. Give this student the task of getting the message “Heavenly Father loves you” to the other students without speaking. The student could write, gesture, or use any other communication form besides speaking.

Imagine you have to give an important message to someone who is not with you.

What are some ways you could get the message to them?
What are some ways Heavenly Father may get important messages to you?

Heavenly Father has many important messages to share with His children. Some messages are for everyone, while others are personalized just for you. Heavenly Father communicates with individuals through personal revelation. As you study this lesson, look for ways God may reveal His important messages so you will be able to recognize revelation as it comes.

Heavenly Father reveals His will to both Peter and Cornelius

Review the story of Cornelius and Peter in Acts 10:1–28, 44–48 (see also the lesson “Acts 10, Part 1”). As you review, look for how they came to understand what Heavenly Father was revealing to them.

Students could review Acts 10 as a class, reading the account and pausing from time to time to share what they are learning. Alternatively, students could work in pairs, with one student focusing on Cornelius’s experience ( verses 1–8, 44–48) and the other focusing on Peter’s experience ( verses 9–28, 44–48). As they review, students could share with each other what they find.

What did you learn about revelation from this account?

Listen carefully to student responses to be prepared to ask inspired follow-up questions. Consider inviting students to write truths on the board. Some truths about revelation students may identify include Heavenly Father reveals His truth line upon line and Heavenly Father may bless us with additional revelation as we follow revelation we receive. Students could also record these truths in their study journals or scriptures. Consider sharing a personal experience and inviting students to share experiences illustrating the truths identified.
What can you learn about Heavenly Father from the truths about revelation you identified?
What blessings and truths might Peter and Cornelius have failed to obtain if they had not acted on what they received?

Line upon line

Adapt the following discussion based on what students already understand about this truth. If some students already have a good understanding of this truth, consider inviting them to teach the other students about it.

Students may benefit from reading 2 Nephi 28:30 and discussing how Peter and Cornelius received revelation line upon line.

A truth about revelation illustrated in this account is that Heavenly Father reveals His truth line upon line (see 2 Nephi 28:30).

Note that neither Cornelius nor Peter immediately received all the information God had for him. Cornelius was told by the angel to seek out Peter, and “he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do” (Acts 10:5–6). After Peter received his vision, he “doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean” (Acts 10:17). He did not completely understand the meaning of the vision until he met with Cornelius.

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles described what this can be like for us. Watch the video “Patterns of Light: Spirit of Revelation” (3:04), found on ChurchofJesusChrist.org, or read the following statement.

The gradual increase of light radiating from the rising sun is like receiving a message from God “line upon line, precept upon precept” (2 Nephi 28:30). Most frequently, revelation comes in small increments over time and is granted according to our desire, worthiness, and preparation. … This pattern of revelation tends to be more common than rare.

(David A. Bednar, “The Spirit of Revelation,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 88)

How might it be a blessing that Heavenly Father gives us revelation gradually rather than all at once?
What Christlike attributes can this pattern help us develop?

Acting on revelation

Because Cornelius and Peter acted on the revelations they first received, they were blessed with a fuller understanding. This illustrates another truth found in Acts 10: Heavenly Father will bless us with additional revelation as we follow revelation we receive.

Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained the importance of acting on revelation from Heavenly Father. Watch the video “Let the Holy Spirit Guide,” found on ChurchofJesusChrist.org, from time code 14:41 to 15:19, or read the following statement.

If we pay attention to the promptings that come to us, we will grow in the spirit of revelation and receive more and more Spirit-driven insight and direction. The Lord has said, “Put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good” [Doctrine and Covenants 11:12].

May we take seriously the Lord’s call to “be of good cheer, for I will lead you along” [Doctrine and Covenants 78:18]. He leads us by the Holy Ghost. May we live close to the Spirit, acting quickly upon our first promptings, knowing they come from God.

(Ronald A. Rasband, “Let the Holy Spirit Guide,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 96)

How can you prepare yourself to receive revelation?

Revelation for your life

What have you learned about revelation that can help you in your personal circumstances?
What revelation has Heavenly Father given you that you need to act on, and how can you act on it?
What have you learned that can help you see your Heavenly Father’s love for you?

Commentary and Background Information

How can I recognize revelation through the Holy Ghost?

Consider watching the video “Feeling the Holy Ghost” (3:17), found at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, to hear about different ways people feel and recognize the Holy Ghost.

What should I do if I don’t feel like I receive revelation from Heavenly Father, even when I seek it?

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained:

In many of the uncertainties and challenges we encounter in our lives, God requires us to do our best, to act and not be acted upon (see 2 Nephi 2:26), and to trust in Him. We may not see angels, hear heavenly voices, or receive overwhelming spiritual impressions. We frequently may press forward hoping and praying—but without absolute assurance—that we are acting in accordance with God’s will. But as we honor our covenants and keep the commandments, as we strive ever more consistently to do good and to become better, we can walk with the confidence that God will guide our steps.

(David A. Bednar, “The Spirit of Revelation,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 90)

What habits or actions could keep me from obtaining revelation?

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles stated:

In the scriptures, the influence of the Holy Ghost frequently is described as “a still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12; 1 Nephi 17:45; see also 3 Nephi 11:3) and a “voice of perfect mildness” (Helaman 5:30). Because the Spirit whispers to us gently and delicately, it is easy to understand why we should shun inappropriate media, pornography, and harmful, addictive substances and behaviors. These tools of the adversary can impair and eventually destroy our capacity to recognize and respond to the subtle messages from God delivered by the power of His Spirit.

(David A. Bednar, “The Spirit of Revelation,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 88)

What can I do to increase my ability to receive revelation?

President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency stated:

Going forward with our service and work is an important way to qualify for revelation. In my study of the scriptures I have noted that most revelation to the children of God comes when they are on the move, not when they are sitting back in their habitations waiting for the Lord to tell them the first step to take. …

We will get promptings of the Spirit when we have done everything we can, when we are out in the sun working rather than sitting back in the shade praying for direction on the first step to take. Revelation comes when the children of God are on the move.

So we do all we can. Then we wait upon the Lord for His revelation. He has his own timetable.

(Dallin H. Oaks, ”In His Own Time, In His Own Way,” Ensign, Aug. 2013, 22, 24)

For more suggestions on how to increase your ability to feel the Spirit and receive revelation, consider reading “Feeling the Spirit” (Paul VanDenBerghe, New Era, Oct. 2011, 26–29).

Supplemental Learning Activities

Examples of others receiving revelation

Consider inviting students to identify examples from the scriptures of other people who have received revelation (see, for example, 1 Nephi 4:6–18; Enos 1:1–18; Alma 5:43–47). Ask students to list examples on the board. They could then choose one example, locate it in the scriptures, and study it, looking for insights about revelation from Heavenly Father.

Compare the account you chose with Cornelius’s and Peter’s experiences. What similarities did you see? What differences?