Peter was already a leader in the Church and walked in faith and power with healing miracles happening as he went. But God had a special mission for Peter. One that required preparation because, even Peter, needed to learn something more about God’s plan. This all started because, Cornelius, a gentile, a Roman, a Centurion, a man you might expect to be hardened by his position and experiences, was noticed by God. Cornelius was visited by an angel that said, in Acts 10:4-5 (LEB) “Your prayers and your charitable deeds have gone up for a memorial offering before God. 5 And now, send men to Joppa and summon a certain Simon, who is also called Peter”. These events in Acts 10-11 caused a huge shift in peoples thinking to understand that as it says in Ephesians 2:11-22 we are all “built up together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit”.
What God Has Cleansed
Acts 10:9–17
Peter has been involved in major miracles, his shadow touching the sick in Jerusalem and they were healed, Aeneas had been paralyzed and was healed, and Tabitha (Dorcas) had been dead and she came back and was healed. So, Peter well deserved a few days at the seaside as Simon the Tanner was providing.
In Acts 10:9-10 “Peter went up on the housetop to pray … while they were preparing the food” His mind was on lunch, it was time for lunch. Then in Acts 10:11-13 he has a vision about food. Most of us wouldn’t know this today, but the Jews had specific dietary laws. There were some animals that were OK to eat and others that were unclean and they were not to eat. Peter was a good son of Israel, just as he was a good Christian. But this vision presents all unclean animals to him and a voice saying in Acts 10:13 “Get up, Peter, slaughter and eat!”. Naturally, Peter reacts, in Acts 10:14 But Peter said, “Certainly not, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common and unclean!”. Peter knew the voice was the Lord and he defends himself saying “I have never …”. Then in Acts 10:15 And the voice came again to him for the second time: “The things which God has made clean, you must not consider unclean!”. Then in Acts 10:16 (LEB) And this happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into heaven.
In Acts 10:17 “while Peter was greatly perplexed” What could this vision mean? Can you hear these words ringing out in Peters mind, “The things which God has made clean, you must not consider unclean!” then, continuing in vs 17 “the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having found the house of Simon by asking around, stood at the gate”. These men were not sons of Israel, and they were not disciples, who were they?
Get up, Go Down, and Go With Them
Acts 10:18–24
In Acts 10:18 these men call out from the gate for Peter. And just as Peter might have pulled back, in Acts 10:19-21 (LEB) “the Spirit said to him, “Behold, men are looking for you. 20 But get up, go down, and go with them—not hesitating at all, because I have sent them.””
Peter greets them in vs 21, they announce their reason for coming, they stayed with Peter in Simon the Tanners house vs 23, and all were together in Caesarea the next day vs 24. But why did it happen this way? An angel had appeared to Cornelius, couldn’t the angel have told Cornelius what he needed to know? Well, no, he couldn’t. Cornelius, in Acts 10:22 “was directed by a holy angel to summon you (Peter) to his house and to hear words from you (Peter).” Angels are ministering spirits (a lesson for another day), but the gospel is preached by men.
So, in vs 23 “he (Peter) invited them in” and the two slaves and a soldier Cornelius sent to Joppa, stayed overnight with a Jewish man in a Jewish household. Then vs 23 continues, “and on the next day he (Peter) got up and* went away with them. And some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. This is the first mention of “brothers from Joppa”, but Peter wasn’t alone.
Your Prayer Has Been Heard
Acts 10:25–33
In Acts 10:25-27 Peter greets Cornelius and “found many people gathered”. Then Peter opens the conversation with the group in Acts 10:28-29. Note that it doesn’t say he was filled with the Spirit as he declares the religious law, “You know that it is forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or approach a foreigner” (see Ephesians 2:11-12 to understand how alienated the gentiles were), then he refers to his vision, “to me God has shown that I should call no man common or unclean”. So, Peter has told them it is against the religious law, but God said it was OK, so, vs 29 “without raising any objection—I came”. Let me say this, not raising an objection is not the same as being excited to be there. Then Peter closes his opening comment with this demand, “So I ask for what reason you sent for me.” or in other words, “why am I here?”, or “what do you want from me?” Peter’s opening could have been warmer.
Then Cornelius explains in Acts 10:30-33 saying “Cornelius, your prayer has been heard … so now we are all present before God to hear”. Cornelius, a gracious man, and all he has any influence with, are ready before Peter.
God is Not One Who Shows Partiality
Acts 10:34–43
Peter comes face to face with his own religious prejudice as he begins to speak in Acts 10:36 saying “the message that he sent to the sons of Israel, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ—this one is Lord of all—”. Peter then in Acts 10:37-42 presents the recent history, the gospel of the Kingdom, Jesus Christ, risen, “appointed by God as judge of the living and of the dead”. And finally in Acts 10:43 “that through his name everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins.” Can you feel the change in Peter as he says these words “through his name everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins”, not just the sons of Israel.
The Holy Spirit Fell
Acts 10:44–48 LEB
But Peter wasn’t the only one that had this religious prejudice, OK, maybe you think calling this religious prejudice is extreme, but look at these words. It says in Acts 10:45 (LEB) And those believers from the circumcision who had accompanied Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles,. Doesn’t this comment “even on the gentiles” show their religious arrogance? They are the circumcision, God’s chosen people, not like these unclean gentiles! But vs 45 “the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, vs 46 for they heard them speaking in tongues and glorifying God”. And with, in Acts 10:47-48 “these people … who have received the Holy Spirit as we also did”, then comes baptism and acceptance as disciples.
Those of the Circumcision Took Issue
Acts 11:1–10
What happened with Cornelius and his house was big news, Acts 11:1 and Peter went back to Jerusalem to hear Acts 11:2-3 (LEB) “You went to men ⌊who were uncircumcised⌋ and ate with them!”. So, Peter recounts the vision in Acts 11:5-10 making clear the statement from the Lord, ‘The things which God has made clean, you must not consider unclean!’.
Who Was I to be Able to Hinder God?
Acts 11:11–18
Peter continues to recount the events in Caesarea in Acts 11:11-17 saying in vs 15 “the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as also on us at the beginning”. Then they all responded in Acts 11:18 (LEB) And when they* heard these things, they became silent* and praised God, saying, “Then God has granted the repentance leading to life to the Gentiles also!”.
We don’t always have the full picture, in fact God says in, Isaiah 55:8–9 (LEB) “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways,” declares Yahweh. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Each of us can learn something more from God. Are we willing to look from God’s viewpoint even if that means giving up a doctrine or even a way we want God to be?
Study Verses
- Acts 10:9–17
- Acts 10:18–24
- Acts 11:11–18
Today’s Reading
- Acts 10:9-48
- Acts 11:1-18