Acts, Chapter 10

Please, read the chapter.

Verse 1: “At Ceasarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian regiment

All Israel would hate that man. In their land a Roman soldier could not expect any better. BUT GOD would use him to teach Peter an important lesson.

Verse 2: “He and his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.”

What do we learn? There was a Roman military uniform, yes. It was a token of worldly, ungodly power, yes, ungodly power in God’s land, amongst His people, yes.

BUT . . . GOD! Gracious, loving, merciful God! What does He see? He sees only what is inside the shell! God sees and deals with the heart of the man, My heart and yours too. One day the outward appearance will be in a grave, returning to dust. The inward being, the soul is eternally with God, or eternally without God.

Verse 3, 4: “One day, at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw saw an angel of God, who came to him and said ‘Cornelius!’ Cornelius stared at him in fear. ‘What is it Lord?’ he asked.

The angel answered: ‘Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.’ “

Those prayers and gifts to the poor had come from the heart and to God. Let us remember that.

Verse 5, 6 “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.”

There may have been many Simons in town. But the angel of God made it quite specific. The men sent by Cornelius were to go and find the Simon, called Peter. Please let us be very careful when we tell fellow Christians: ‘ The Lord told me’ when in fact it turned out, it was not the Lord, nor His angel.

Verse7, 8 “When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.”

Was the vision a only a dream? Was some evil power deceiving Cornelius? Every Christian is vulnerable! He must seek for confirmation. His servants and the soldier would soon discover whether or not a man named Simon, called Peter, was in the house by the sea. And yes, there was.

Verses 9, 10 “About noon the following day as they were on their journey 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.”

Do you see God in heaven working out what He planned for His children on earth?

While they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter, in the city, went on the roof to pray. There he became hungry but had to wait for his meal and while waiting fell into a trance. In the meantime the three guys were still travelling.

Verses 11, 12, 13 “He saw heaven opened and something like a sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. Then a voice told him: ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat’ “

Peter was in a trance. Was that message true, or false? From his Old Testament Peter knew that many animals in that sheet were not to be eaten because God had declared them to be unclean. Now, was it this God, telling him to kill and eat?

Verses 14, 15, 16 “ ‘Surely not, Lord!’ Peter replied. ‘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.”

Peter had his confirmation but still wondered about the meaning of the message. Soon it became clear to him.

Verses 17,18: “While Peter was wondering 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, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there”.

The three men stopped at the gate. They knew it was the gate to a Jewish home. They would not be welcome, because they themselves were Gentiles, in the eyes of a Jew unclean.

Verses 19, 20: “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 needed no further wondering or thinking. He had his answer. When he came downstairs he discovered that three Gentiles were calling for him and he must go with them.

Verse s 21, 22 “Peter went down and said to the men: ‘I am the man you are looking for. Why have you come? ‘ The men replied: ‘We have come from Cornelius, the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to have you come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say’ “.

Peter had learned what God wanted him to know. Now he knew that His Lord and Master no longer desired any discrimination.

Verse 23: “Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests”.

From the gate the three men moved into the house. God’s attention was moving away, temporarily from Israel, to the world of Gentiles.

Verse 23 (cont.) “The next day Peter started out with them and some of the brothers from Joppa went along.

Verses 24, 25, 26: “The following day he arrived in Ceasarea. Cornelius was expecting him and had called together his relatives and close friends. As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. But Peter made him get up. ‘Stand up’ he said, ’I am only a man myself’ “.

Cornelius, a Gentile, was a devout and God-fearing man. In reverence he fell at Peter’s feet, as if Peter was a divine wonder-worker.

Verses 27, 28, 29: “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 a Gentile or visit him. BUT GOD has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?’ “.

What did God do? Not only did He teach Peter. He also encouraged a large gathering of Gentiles. People who knew about Israel’s ages-old privileged position before God. And who now were to learn that the same God, in grace and the Name of Jesus, was accepting them as well,

Cornelius answered, telling about his experiences. He concluded with

Verse 33: “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.’ “

In the presence of God and expecting to hear from Him. Not feeble, but strong faith, in the God of faithfulness.

Verses 34, 35 “Then Peter began to speak,’ I realize now how true it is that God does not show favouritism, but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right’ “.

I don’t know about you. I myself am convinced that Peter spoke in accordance with the culture of his days. If today Peter would write again, he would write about men and women from every nation.

Verses 36 – 40 “You know the message God sent to THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL, telling the Good News of peace through Jesus Christ, Who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee and 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 tree, but God raised Him from the dead on the third day and . . . caused Him to be seen.”

Peter stressed the facts. It was peace through Jesus Christ, sent to the people of Israel, the country of the Jews and Jerusalem.

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and, not with fire, but with power. One day, now still in the future, a large section of the sinful nation of Israel, will be baptized with fire, the horrendous judgment from a holy God.

The power of the devil in human beings was, is being and will be defeated by God’s power in Jesus.

Verses 41, 42, 43 “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.”

How did Peter’s message affect his gentile audience? EVERYONE who believes in Him, every one, Gentile as well as Jew, receives forgiveness of sins.

Verses 44, 45, 46: “.While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.

The circumcised (Jewish) believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.

For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God”.

For the benefit of Jewish Christians, not for their self-gratification, Gentile Christians were speaking in tongues. Jewish Christians must learn and appreciate that the grace of God no longer applied to Jews only, but that the grace and glory of God had become available to the Gentiles. No longer was the Church of the Lord Jesus a ‘Jews only’ church. It had started with Jews and for a little while continued as such. There was a time of transmission. That was now on the way to its end.

Verse 47: “Then Peter said: ‘Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.”

Verse 48: “So he ordered that they be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few says.”