Acts 10:24-33 Peter Visits Cornelius
“The following day he arrived in Caesarea, where Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet to worship him. But Peter helped him up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”
As Peter talked with him, he went inside and found many people gathered together. He said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with a foreigner or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. So when I was invited, I came without objection. I ask, then, why have you sent for me?”
Cornelius answered: “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this, the ninth hour. Suddenly a man in radiant clothing stood before me and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been remembered before God. Therefore send to Joppa for Simon, who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, by the sea.’
So I sent for you immediately, and you were kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has instructed you to tell us.”
Acts 10:34-43 Good News for the Gentiles
“Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism, but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right. He has sent this message to the people of Israel, proclaiming the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
You yourselves know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee with the baptism that John proclaimed: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.
We are witnesses of all that He did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And although they put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree, God raised Him up on the third day and caused Him to be seen—not by all the people, but by the witnesses God had chosen beforehand, by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the One appointed by God to judge 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 10:44-48 The Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1–7)
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard his message. All the circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and exalting God.
Then Peter said, “Can anyone withhold the water to baptize these people? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have!” So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days.”
Well, Peter has arrived in Caesarea; however, he’s not exactly enthusiastic about this whole process, even though Cornelius has gathered all his friends and relatives to meet Peter. Some circumcised Jewish believer friends have accompanied Peter, and they are also behaving standoffish. Peter’s introductory remarks are quite cold. “You know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with a foreigner or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. So, when I was invited, I came without objection. I ask, then, why have you sent for me?”
Despite Peter’s cool attitude, Cornelius gives a gracious answer, describing his vision and ending by saying, “Now then, we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has instructed you to tell us.”
“Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism, but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right. He has sent this message to the people of Israel, proclaiming the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.” Peter goes on to tell this fascinated audience about the ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But what happens next is something nobody there will ever forget.
“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard his message. All the circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and exalting God.” God doesn’t give Peter a chance to hesitate or deliberate about laying hands on these eager new converts, for the Holy Spirit descends while Peter is still speaking. With no alternatives, Peter proceeds to conduct water baptism for all these new Jesus followers.
God has an incredible sense of humor! First, God sends Peter a vision of a sheet with all kinds of creatures no good practicing Jew will ever eat, telling Peter to “kill and eat.” God knows He has to shake up Peter’s strong prejudices against gentiles. Next, God sends Peter, not just to gentiles, but to ROMAN gentiles. The Jews have a special antipathy towards the Romans, for generally the Romans are arrogant, rude, and obnoxious bullies. Many Romans pursue all kinds of weird cults, are sexually promiscuous, and eat foods no observant Jew will ever touch. The Jews might be a defeated race, but they feel they are morally superior to
the Romans. Now God is shaking up everything Peter thinks he knows, forcing Peter to realize that when Jesus has ordered the disciples to “go into all the world,” he truly means it. To seal the deal, the Holy Spirit descends on all of Cornelius’ family, friends, and household while Peter is still speaking. God is not giving Peter the slightest bit of wiggle room.
While we might read this story and be amused at the way God outsmarts Peter, instead, we should be examining our own hearts. Are there people whom we think are beyond redemption? Youth With A Mission has had a major ministry to prostitutes and drug addicts in Amsterdam for decades. Teen Challenge has successfully ministered to those with drug and alcohol addictions, leading them to new lives in Christ. Prison Fellowship has ministered so successfully around the world that many prisons have closed or have become models of hope.
We need to know two things: 1. We are all sinners at the foot of the Cross, deserving nothing but eternal damnation without the Blood of Jesus 2. No living person is beyond salvation, no matter what he or she has done. Corey Ten Boom tells the story of a time shortly after World War II when she had just spoken passionately on forgiveness. As Corey was shaking hands with audience members afterwards, she cam face to face with one of the former guards at the concentration camp where she and her sister had been imprisoned and where her sister had died. Now this man had gotten gloriously saved and had become a practicing Christian. Corey said that reaching out and shaking that man’s hand was one of the hardest things God ever asked her to do. But when Corey took that man’s hand, suddenly both she and her former captor were in tears, and God healed hurts in both their hearts.
May God help us, so that we will faithfully witness to all those around us, leaving our preconceived notions and cherished prejudices behind.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to follow You and not our prejudices. Help us to obey even as Peter did. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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