Peter Sent to the Gentiles

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known
as the Italian Regiment. He and his entire family were devoted to God and feared God. He gave generously to the needy (Psalm 41:1–3 (2–4 in some translations)) and prayed regularly to God. (Acts 10:1–2).

One day at three o'clock in the afternoon he had a vision: He clearly saw an angel
of God, who came to him and said: "Cornelius!" Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked: "What is it, Lord?" The angel answered: "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the Tanner, whose house is by the sea." When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who were of his attendants. He told them all that had happened and sent them to Joppa. 
(Acts 10:3–8).

About noon the next day as they were on their way and approaching the city, 
Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance: He saw the heaven opened and something like a large sheet let down to earth at its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. Then a voice said to him: "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat." Peter replied: "Surely not, Lord! I have never eaten anything impure or unclean." The voice spoke to him a second time: "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. While Peter wondered about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. They called out and asked if Simon, who was known as Peter, was lodging there. While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him: "Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them." 
Peter went down and said to the men: "I am the one you are looking for. Why have you come?" The men replied: "We have come from the centurion Cornelius. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say." Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests. The next day 
Peter went away with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along. 
(Acts 10:9–23).

Most Jews at the time of Jesus were raised with the belief that God only loves the Jews and that the Gentiles weren't part of salvation. The Jews had been occupied by the Romans for hundred years when this occurred. Most of the Jews knew someone who had been violated by the Romans. Jewish tradition, which wasn't based on the Mosaic Laws, was therefore not to enter a Gentile's home. If you did, you were seen as ceremonially unclean, and because of that you weren't allowed to enter the temple to worship with your fellow Jews for a period of time. The early church had to struggle with this belief, because some of the early Christian Jews believed that Jesus died only for the Jews. 

The animals that came down from heaven in the vision included animals that weren't to be eaten according to the Mosaic Laws (Acts 10:10b–16). To eat such an unclean animal made a Jew unclean. The Jews viewed unclean animals and Gentiles in essentially the same way. Both made a Jew unclean.

This vision became a confirmation for Peter to receive these Gentile men. That Peter
came to visit Cornelius was a confirmation for him that his vision was from God.

The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. When Peter entered the house, 
Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. But Peter made him stand up and said: "Stand up, I am only a man myself." While he was talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?" Cornelius answered: "Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me and said: 'Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the Tanner, who lives by the sea.' So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us." (Acts 10:24–33).

Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the
Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who
were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen, by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." (Acts 10:34–43).

Jesus was judged on the cross in our place but will also return to judge. But these Gentiles won't be judged if they believe and trust in him and invite him into their hearts (John 1:12).

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came upon all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said: "Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." So he ordered them to be baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days. (Acts 10:44–48). See also Jesus in the Synagogue of Nazareth.

These people were saved and baptized in the Holy Spirit at the same time, see also Jesus the Light of the World and The Gift of Tongues. In this case, they were baptized in water after being baptized in the Holy Spirit. You can also be baptized in water after being saved even if you are not baptized in the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).

Despite all the good that Cornelius did, he needed to be saved, see Salvation.
If good works get you to heaven, Cornelius would have been fine, but they don't save you. However, God saw Cornelius' heart and arranged for Peter to come to him.

The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him him for going into the house with uncircumcised men and eating with them. (Acts 11:1–3). He was criticized for doing the Lord's will. But righteousness isn't depending on keeping traditions or the Mosaic Laws. 
The righteousness of God is received through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, and are justified by the grace of God as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. (Rom 3:20–24).

Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story: He prayed in the city of Joppa and in a trance he saw a vision. He saw something like a large sheet let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where he was. He looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. Then he heard a voice saying to him: "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat." Peter had then replied: "Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth." The voice spoke from heaven a second time: "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." This happened three times, and then everything was drawn up to heaven again. Just then three men who had been sent to him from Caesarea had stopped at the house where he was. The Spirit told him that he should not hesitate to go with them. Six brothers in Christ also went with him, and they entered the man’s house. The man told them how he had seen an angel appear in his house and said: "Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved." Like Peter
began to speak, the Holy Spirit came upon them as he had come upon the disciples, see The Gift of Tongues. Then Peter remembered what the Lord had said: 
"John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 1:5). 
If God gave them the same gift he gave the disciples who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was he to think that he could stand in God’s way? (Acts 11:4–17).

Hearing this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying:
"Even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life." 
(Acts 11:18). At other times, the people who were saved were baptized with the 
Holy Spirit some time after they were saved. In this case, these Gentiles had been baptized with the Holy Spirit, at the same time as they were saved. The reason was probably to show the disciples that the gospel was also for the Gentiles.  

When we are criticized for doing the Lord's will, we should respond as follows:

• We should respond calmly and gently in an attitude of humility.
• We must respond according to the evidence, share what has happened and not respond with emotion. It's not about feelings or opinions.
• Apply wisdom by referring to witnesses, for example.
• We should respond with the authority of God's word, by showing verses of the Bible that prove our point, or ask them to show verses that prove their point for criticizing.

See also The Book of Acts.

Ananias and Sapphira

All believers in the early church were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions as their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power, the apostles continued to testify about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace worked so powerfully in them all, that there were none needy among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and laid it at the feet of the apostles, and it was distributed to all who had need. (Acts 4:32–35).

The believers in the early church walked in unity (Acts 4:32a). True unity brings 
blessings from the Lord (Psalm 133). 

They shared all they had (Acts 4:32b). There wasn't one needy among them 
(Acts 4:34–35). This lifestyle didn't last very long because of our sinful nature, see The Book of John. There were people who saw this generosity as an opportunity to avoid working. The church couldn't sustain this kind of lifestyle. 
Apostle Paul had therefore to come with a rule about this:
". . . if any would not work, neither should he eat . . ." (2 Thess 3:10–12).

Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold some property. With his wife’s full knowledge, he withheld some of the money for himself, but took the rest with him and laid it at the apostles' feet. Then Peter said: "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God." When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then some young men came forward, wrapped his body and buried him. About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her: "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" She answered: "Yes, that is the price." Peter said to her: "How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also."
At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard of these events. (Acts 5:1–11).

The mistake of Ananias and Sapphira wasn't withholding some of their money.
It was their property and they could use it as they pleased. The mistake was that they lied about it and said that they had given all the money for their sold property. It wasn't correct, they kept some of the money for themselves. They should have said that they gave some of the money and kept some of the money. They lied because they wanted to look good in the eyes of the people, which was their motive for giving. This is an example of hypocrisy.
The principles of proper giving in the New Covenant are described at the end part of
The Book of Corinthians. Ananias and Sapphira pretended to be a generous couple,
something that they weren't. They wanted to be admired for being generous givers without having to pay the price for it, and both lied to the Holy Spirit about it.

Peter probably found this out by using the "the word of knowledge", see
Spiritual Gifts. Peter confronts Ananias about his giving; that he had lied about it to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3). Peter also said that they hadn't demanded that they give all this money (Acts 5:4). When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died, and great fear seized all who heard what had happened (Acts 5:5). Peter then gave Sapphira
the opportunity to do the right thing and confess their lies, but she didn't 
(Acts 5:7–9). She also died, and great fear seized the whole church and all who heard of these events (Acts 5:10–11).

This is an example of a deliberate act of hypocrisy that had serious consequences for Ananias and Sapphira. Many of the other people gave because of the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. It was a sign of the unity among them. That wasn't the reason and motive for the giving of Ananias and Sapphira. They wanted to get personal benefits from their giving and they lied about it.
Their motive for giving was to get something out of it themselves. 

This is one reason why "Seed Faith Giving" is unbiblical. It makes people give with the motive of receiving. See Seed Faith Giving in Word of Faith Movement in the U.S. God sees our motives. When we do something for the Lord, we should do it with the right motive, or perhaps not at all.

See also the following answer if they lost their salvation:

• Time 26:33–28:35 in Bible Q&A With Pastor Paul │ May 2023.
• Time 39:06–40:28 in Bible Q&A with Pastor Paul │ November 2023.
• Time 11:39–14:16 in Luke 13 (Part 1) :1-17 • A time to repent.

The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Portico. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly esteemed by the people. Yet more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people took the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow could fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds also gathered from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all were healed. (Acts 5:12–16).

See also The Book of Acts.

The Gift of Tongues

Content:

• Gain power to be witnesses for Christ.
• To be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
• Is the gift of tongues biblical?
• Is the gift of tongues for today?
• Why is there so much controversy surrounding this gift?
• What is the gift of tongues?
• Why should I care about this gift?
• How should speaking in tongues be used?
• Is speaking in tongues for everyone?
• How does someone get this gift?
• Was Jesus born with the Holy Spirit?
• References.
  
  

Gain power to be witnesses for Christ.

After Jesus' resurrection, Jesus told his disciples to stay in Jerusalem until they
were clothed with power from on high (Luk 24:46–49). Jesus told them to be
baptized with the Holy Spirit for power and to be his witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the Earth (Acts 1:3–8). See time
11:20–13:26 in Bible Q&A with Pastor Paul │ October 2023.

Jesus used the phrase "baptized with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 1:5). John the Baptist
also used this phrase (Mat 3:11, Mark 1:8, Luk 3:16, John 1:33). The reason for this was that the disciples needed power (Acts 1:8, Eph 3:20, 2 Cor 12:9). 

The terms; baptized with the Holy Spirit, filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:31, 9:17), and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:45) describe similar events. 

To be filled with the Holy Spirit is consistent throughout Scripture as the work of the Holy Spirit to empower a believer supernaturally, sometimes to prophesy, sometimes to act on behalf of the Lord. John the Baptist was filled with the 
Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb (Luk 1:15b). His mother Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit (Luk 1:41b). His father Zechariah was filled with the 
Holy Spirit and prophesied (Luk 1:67). This also happened in the Old Testament (Micah 3:8). It can occur repeatedly (Acts 4:8, 31, 13:9, 52). It's always connected with power to do. It's not the same as being indwelled by the Holy Spirit, which occurs once when being saved, see this explained in Jesus the Light of the World.

To be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

The disciples had already been saved and were born again Christians when they gathered to be baptized with the Holy Spirit, see The Great Commission
in The Great Commission. They were born again when they received the indwelling Holy Spirit after Jesus' resurrection. It happened earlier when Jesus breathed on them and told them to receive the Holy Spirit (John 20:22).

When the day of the Jewish Pentecost came, all the disciples were gathered in one place. Suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Holy Spirit
gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from several nations. At this sound the people gathered together, and they were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
And they were amazed and astonished, saying: "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues God's mighty works." 
And they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another: "What does this mean?" But others mockingly said: "They are filled with new wine." (Acts 2:1–13).
See time 14:36–17:43 in 1 Corinthians 14 (Part 1) The Gift of Tongues Explained.

The Galileans weren't known for high academic knowledge and shouldn't know all these languages by themselves that were suddenly spoken when the Holy Spirit
fell upon them. Some of the people responded with mockery (Acts 2:13).

The gift of tongues in this event was a sign not to believers but to unbelievers
(1 Cor 14:22a, Acts 2:41). It's one of the gifts given to the disciples when the 
Holy Spirit came upon them and they were baptized with the Holy Spirit, see 
Spiritual Gifts. These gifts of the Holy Spirit began to operate when and after they were baptized with the Holy Spirit. The gifts are centered around empowering the believers with boldness to witness, preach the gospel, and to share the love of Jesus. They don't make a person more holy.

Being baptized with the Holy Spirit is separate from becoming a born again saved Christian. It can occur some time after a person is saved, or at the same time the person is saved, see Jesus the Light of the World. 

Is the gift of tongues biblical?

Speaking in tongues is biblical, it's described in the Bible:

1. The first time speaking in tongues appeared in the Bible was when the disciples were gathered ten days after the Ascension Day (Acts 2:1–13, see above).
   They had been saved earlier before this event occurred. They were baptized by the Holy Spirit and began to speak other languages (Acts 2:4).
2. Another time was when Samaria had received the word of God. Peter and John came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he hadn't yet fallen on any of them, they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:14–17). 
3. Ananias laid his hands on Paul and prayed for him to regain his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17). Paul later said that he spoke in tongues more than the Corinthians (1 Cor 14:18), see The Book of Corinthians.
   Paul also said that we shouldn't forbid speaking in tongues (1 Cor 14:39b).
4. Another occasion was when Peter preached to Cornelius together with his relatives and close friends. While Peter was preaching, the Holy Spirit fell on
   all who heard the word. The gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out upon them.
   They began to speak in tongues and praise God. (Acts 10:24, 44–46).
   See Peter Sent to the Gentiles. See also time 17:46–18:30 in
   1 Corinthians 14 (Part 1) The Gift of Tongues Explained.
5. Another occasion was in Ephesus. When Paul laid hands on the new believers, the Holy Spirit came upon them and they began to speak in tongues and prophesy. (Acts 19:1–7).

Is the gift of tongues for today?

• Cessationism is a doctrine that spiritual gifts such as speaking in tongues, prophecy, and healing ceased with the Apostolic Age, that is, at the death of the last of the twelve apostles.
• Continuationism is a Christian theological belief that the spiritual gifts such as tongues and prophecy have continued into our time.

There is no convincing evidence in the Bible that spiritual gifts have ceased to exist. The Bible says they will cease (1 Cor 13:8–12). They will disappear when
"the perfect comes" (1 Cor 13:9–10): 

1. Then we shall see face to face (1 Cor 13:12a).
2. Then I know as God knows me
   (1 Cor 13:12b, Isaiah 11:9, Psalm 139:1–4).

To be compared with what happens in the article Listen to Jesus.

Spiritual gifts still exist because this hasn't happened yet. We still need God's power to witness of Christ just like believers before us. The spiritual gifts will be there until
Jesus returns, see The Millennial Kingdom and the Great White Throne Judgement.

Why is there so much controversy surrounding this gift?

We have at least the following reasons:

1. Ignorance. But apostle Paul has taught us about spiritual gifts (1 Cor 12:1f).
2. Spiritual gifts have been misrepresented in the Body of Christ.
3. Supernatural things scare some people. It gives a lack of control.
4. It's human nature to reject what we don't understand or can't control.

What is the gift of tongues?

In the first manifestation of the baptism with the Holy Spirit there was a mighty sound that gathered people from different nations. Divided tongues as of fire appeared and rested on each of the disciples. It doesn't say it was fire, but it was like fire. Fire in the Old Testament is a symbol of God's presence. God showed that this was from him. The word tongue means language. The disciples spoke different languages that the gathered people could understand.
They spoke as the Holy Spirit gave them without having knowledge of
these languages.

Speaking in tongues is speaking in a language that isn't my own or that I haven't learned. He who speaks in tongue doesn't understand what he is saying. It may be a known language (tongues of men, 1 Cor 13:1a), or it may be a dialect of God's Heaven (tongues of angels, 1 Cor 13:1b). It's addressed to God 
(1 Cor 14:2) as a praise (1 Cor 14:16–17) or a prayer. If I pray in tongues, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful (1 Cor 14:14–15). He who speaks in tongues builds himself up (1 Cor 14:4a). When a believer speaks in tongues, he becomes an instrument of the Holy Spirit, which means that it's then the Holy Spirit who speaks, although it's the believer who decides when to speak in tongues. It has nothing to do with emotions or ecstasy. For more information, see it explained in 
Speaking in different types of tongues in Spiritual Gifts.

Why should I care about this gift?

It's biblical and from God. It's a way of building myself up in the Lord (1 Cor 14:4a).
We need the power of the Holy Spirit to be effective for Jesus Christ (1 Cor 4:20). God isn't weird. If God wants us to speak in tongues, we should be open to it.

How should speaking in tongues be used?

On a person's own devotion there is no limit to the use of this gift. A person who has this gift can use it as much as he wants (1 Cor 14:18). But in the church it's better to speak five words with your mind to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue (1 Cor 14:19). This means that in services there are restrictions and regulations on how it should be used. If there is no one to interpret, people shouldn't speak loudly in tongues, but do it in silence and speak to themselves and to God
(1 Cor 14:28). If there is anyone to interpret, only two or at most three, and each in turn, shall speak in tongues and someone shall interpret it (1 Cor 14:27). We aren't to forbid speaking in tongues (1 Cor 14:39b), but it must always be done decently and in order (1 Cor 14:33a, 40, Col 2:5).

Is speaking in tongues for everyone?

The promise to be baptized with the Holy Spirit is addressed to all believers, but we can't assume that every Christian receives the gift of tongues (1 Cor 12:7–11,
28–31). It's therefore not the primary evidence of being baptized with the 
Holy Spirit. A person can have other spiritual gifts without having this gift, see time 14:41–15:18 in Bible Q & A With Pastor Paul │December 2023. But for most people, speaking in tongues is the evidence of being baptized with the Holy Spirit.

How does someone get this gift?

You pray and ask God and receive it by faith (Luk 11:13). However, God is a perfect gentleman. He won't force any spiritual gift upon a person against that person's will. A person who doesn't want to speak in tongues won't receive that gift. A person may also have intellectual difficulties that prevents him from receiving it by faith. Some persons don't think they are worthy to receive it, but no one is, we can still receive it by faith. I can't earn it, I don't deserve it, but I can still receive it as a free gift through faith, but not for being good enough or as a reward for long and faithful service.

Some people need something to activate their faith. It can be a word, laying hands on them (Acts 8:17, 9:17, 19:6), being anointed with oil, repeating words from elders, or something else, something that triggers their faith to receive this gift. Some will receive it directly when they ask God for it, for others it takes years before they receive it, and others may never receive it, see
The Parable of the Persistent Widow. 

See also the video How do I Activate the Gift of Speaking in Tongues? Receive Now.

Was Jesus born with the Holy Spirit?

Jesus was born the Son of God, see The Trinity. He has always been connected with the Holy Spirit, see time 28:55–30:31 in Bible Q&A with Pastor Paul │ October 2023.

References.

See The Book of Acts.

See also Some stories close related to the gospels at the end of
The Four Gospels.

The Death of Lazarus

Lazarus of Bethany who was the brother of Mary and her sister Martha was ill. It was Mary who later anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, see Why Judas betrayed Jesus. The sisters sent to him and said: "Lord, he whom you love is ill." When Jesus heard that, he said: "This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it."
Jesus loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus. When he heard that Lazarus was ill,
he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. Then he told the disciples to go to Judea again and said to them: "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him." Because his disciples didn't understand, he told them clearly: "Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." (John 11:1–16). 

When Jesus stated that Lazarus' illness didn't lead to death, he was already dead. He would have been in the tomb for four days when Jesus gets there. What Jesus meant is that he would raise him from the dead. 

Martha and Mary expected Jesus to come immediately when they sent for him, but he stayed two more days before traveling to them. They didn't expect a delay from a person who loved them so much, but that's what they got. We must understand that Jesus loves us (John 3:16), even when there are delays in the answers of our prayers (Psalm 13). We must trust God even in such situations. The reason why Jesus waited two days is described at time 20:05–21:42 in 
John 11:1-27 – Opposed by Grief.

When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away, and many of the Jews
had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother. When Martha 
heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him, but Mary stayed in the house. 
Martha said to Jesus: "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you." Jesus said to her: "Your brother will rise again." Martha said to him: "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." Jesus said to her: "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" She said to him: "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world." (John 11:17–27).

Martha told Jesus that if he had been there in time, Lazarus won't have died. Jesus gives no explanation for his delay. When Jesus tells Martha that her brother will rise again, she thinks that he is comforting her and speaking of the general resurrection of the dead that will occur at the end of time, see The Rapture. 

Then Martha went and called her sister Mary to come. Jesus hadn't yet entered the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who were with her in the house, comforting her, saw Mary get up hastily and go out,
they followed her, thinking that she was going to the tomb to weep there. When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said to him: "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. Then Jesus asked them: "Where have you laid him?” They said to him: "Lord, come and see." Jesus wept. So the Jews said: "See how he loved him!" But some of them said: "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?" (John 11:28–37).

Mary also told Jesus that if he had been there in time, Lazarus won't have died. Other Jews also said similar things. Jesus gives no explanation to his delay, but he joins them in their grief. Jesus also wept. Jesus knows that he will raise 
Lazarus from the dead in a few minutes, but he is still with them in their mourning. Jesus is groaning and mourning because what the enemy calls death is still having it's course with God's children, we still have perishable bodies.

Jesus who was again deeply moved then came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said: "Take away the stone." Martha said to him: "Lord,
by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days." Jesus said to her: "Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?" So they removed the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said: "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I know that you always hear me, but I say this on account of the people standing around, so that they may believe that you have sent me." 
When he had said these, he called out in a loud voice: "Lazarus, come out." 
He then came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them. "Unbind him, and let him go." (John 11:38–44).

Lazarus wasn't resurrected, he was revived. When you revive, you will die again. When you resurrect, you never die again. When Jesus resurrected, see
The Resurrection of Jesus, he would never die again. That's why Jesus left his
burial cloths in the tomb. Lazarus didn't.

Martha was a very practical woman who thought about what people woud think about the bad smell due to the decomposition of the dead body. But she accepts to remove the stone because she trusts Jesus and what he will do. Jesus waited for four days to let the decomposition begin, to show that nothing is impossible for God, to show the glory of God. Jesus makes a declaration about who he is by raising 
Lazarus after the decomposition has begun. So that they could believe that it was God the Father who had sent him.

Many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary had seen what Jesus did and therefore believed in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. They realized that Jesus did many signs. But were afraid that if they let him go on like this, everyone would believe him, and then the Romans would come and take away both their temple and their nation.
Then one of them named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said: "It is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish." He didn't say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. From that day they planned to take his life. (John 11:45–53).

Although Jesus had done this great miracle and many other before them, see
Miracles of Jesus, most of the Jews still didn't believe in him something that Isaiah had prophesied would happen (John 12:37–40, Isa 6:9–10), see also Jesus' Parables. Some people walked away unchanged, see The Rich Man and Lazarus. 
This shows that miracles themselves don't necessarily touch the human heart. 
It's not just about believing the facts about Jesus. There is also an element of surrendering one's life to Jesus. If a person has chosen not to, it doesn't matter how many miracles they will see, see Casting pearls before swine in The Sermon on the Mount. These kinds of people need to change their hearts before they can admit that a miracle is from God. The problem isn't lack of evidence, the problem is man's unbelief, choosing not to surrender their lives to Jesus.

This great miracle results in that the religious leaders of Sanhedrin having a meeting about how to get rid of Jesus, how they could take his life. Organized religion has probably many times done more to hurt the cause of Christ than to bring people to Christ, see Confronting Meaningless Religion. Christianity is instead about a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ, see Salvation.

The destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD didn't happen because of the reason that
Sanhedrin feared. The reason for this destruction was the rejection of Jesus by the Jews (Luk 19:41–44, 21:5–6, Mat 23:37–24:2, Mark 13:1–2). The Jews didn't recognize the time of God's coming to them in Jesus Christ.

See also Some stories in the gospels at the bottom of The Four Gospels.