Acts 10

And Gentiles Will Seek Him

Acts 10 signals a major change in how the gospel will be spread going forward. Until this moment, everything has been about spreading the gospel within the Jewish community. All 12 of the apostles are Jewish. All 7 of the deacons are Jewish. All the converts, thus far, are Jewish. The major conflicts are between the Hellenistic Jews and the Hebraic Jews. So, when Peter begins his journey to Joppa, the journey to extending the gospel beyond the box they had built around them was about to begin. In some ways, this change should have been expected. Isaiah 42:6-7 says, “I, Yahweh, have called You for a righteous purpose, and I will hold You by Your hand. I will keep You and appoint You to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations, in order to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon, and those sitting in darkness from the prison house.” Even more pointedly, this same proclamation is found in Isaiah 49:6-7, “It is not enough for you to be My Servant raising up the tribes of Jacob and restoring the protected ones of Israel. I will also make you a light for the nations, to be My salvation to the ends of the earth.” This is what the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, his Holy One, says to one who is despised, to one abhorred by people, to a servant of rulers: “Kings will see and stand up, and princes will bow down, because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel—and He has chosen you.” God’s intention was always to be exalted in all the nations. His message has always been for all the world and all the peoples. Somewhere this message had been lost, and God was just about to help the new believers discover it again.

Vs 1-8 There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment. He was a devout man and feared God along with his whole household. He did many charitable deeds for the Jewish people and always prayed to God. About three in the afternoon he distinctly saw in a vision an angel of God who came in and said to him, “Cornelius!” Looking intently at him, he became afraid and said, “What is it, lord?” The angel told him, “Your prayers and your acts of charity have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa and call for Simon, who is also named Peter. He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” When the angel who spoke to him had gone, he called two of his household slaves and a devout soldier, who was one of those who attended him. After explaining everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Cornelius was a centurion, a highly respected officer in the Roman military. He is also described as a devout man who feared God. While many Jews who lived in the area would have respected and appreciated Cornelius’ stance, they would not have shared food, hospitality or a close acquaintance with him as he was still an uncircumcisized Gentile. This was all about to change. I believe the wonderful thing about this passage is we get to see how God works behind the scenes. I have been a witness to several awesome “coincidences” in my lifetime. Here we are able to see how God sets up these events to see His glory come to pass. An angel comes to Cornelius and tells him to send someone to collect Peter who is still staying with Simon the Tanner in Joppa. And so, the great “coincidence” begins!

Vs 9-16 The next day, as they were traveling and nearing the city, Peter went up to pray on the housetop about noon. Then he became hungry and wanted to eat, but while they were preparing something, he went into a visionary state. He saw heaven opened and an object that resembled a large sheet coming down, being lowered by its four corners to the earth. In it were all the four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, and the birds of the sky. Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat!” “No, Lord!” Peter said. “For I have never eaten anything common and ritually unclean!” Again, a second time, a voice said to him, “What God has made clean, you must not call common.” This happened three times, and then the object was taken up into heaven.

Meanwhile, while an angel is visiting Cornelius with specific instructions, God is behind the scenes preparing Peter’s heart and mind for the next phase of his ministry. Peter is in no way thinking about spreading the gospel to the Gentiles. It’s not even on his radar. He is going need some a little convincing. And that is what God does. I want us to notice a couple of things here. First, Peter is on the housetop at noon praying. This means he is ready to hear from God. Second, God speaks to Peter’s listening heart. This is a word to us – if we want to hear from God, we must be people in prayer with ready hearts to hear. I believe that God is ready to speak to us, we are just not always ready to hear what He has to say. Third, God speaks to Peter in a way that He knows Peter will hear and understand best. God knows Peter better than he knows himself. God knows how Peter will receive the message so he can respond to the glory of God.

God first give Peter a vision. It says Peter was praying at about noon – lunchtime! He became quite hungry, so his vision was all about food. But this wasn’t food Peter usually ate. In fact, there wasn’t one item in his vision that he had ever eaten in his life. When God tells him to kill and eat, Peter was shocked and horrified. Surely he hadn’t heard correctly. God wouldn’t ask him to eat unclean food. It had to be a test. God wanted to make sure he would stay faithful in spite of his hunger. But God wasn’t testing Peter in that way. He repeated his instructions – kill and eat – adding that “What God has made clean, you must not call common.”  This vision repeated itself three times. I want to point out that the number three is important in Jewish life. It means something that is emphasized and important. If it’s repeated three times we ought to take note! There are a few examples of this in Scripture. “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts; His glory fills the whole earth.” Isaiah 6:3 This verse emphasizes the holiness of God. He is not just holy, He is the ultimate in holiness. “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” Psalm 24:1. This three part statement emphasizes God’s absolute sovereignty over all creation. This vision was repeated three times, and Peter knew he needed to pay attention. Throughout this process, I want us to notice that Peter engaged in prayer, pondering and preparation.

Vs 17-23a While Peter was deeply perplexed about what the vision he had seen might mean, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions to Simon’s house, stood at the gate. They called out, asking if Simon, who was also named Peter, was lodging there. While Peter was thinking about the vision, the Spirit told him, “Three men are here looking for you. Get up, go downstairs, and accompany them with no doubts at all, because I have sent them.” Then Peter went down to the men and said, “Here I am, the one you’re looking for. What is the reason you’re here?” They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who has a good reputation with the whole Jewish nation, was divinely directed by a holy angel to call you to his house and to hear a message from you.” Peter then invited them in and gave them lodging.

As we said before, while Peter was praying, God sent him a vision. Peter was ready to hear from God. He was actively seeking God. Because of this, he was open to what God would have to say to him. After seeing the vision three times, Peter knew this vision was something he needed to pay attention to, so he began to ponder it. The Greek word associated with this pondering or contemplation is horaó, which actually means to see, perceive or attend to. In this passage it describes not only the act of seeing but also the deeper understanding of spiritual truths. Peter wanted to really see and understand what God was trying to say to him. This is where it gets really interesting! I find it pretty awesome how God spoke to Peter throughout this process. Peter was ready in prayer and God sent him a vision that He knew Peter would ponder. Now that Peter is in this contemplative mode, the Spirit of God speaks to Peter telling him three men were looking for him and that he was to accompany them without any doubts. His heart is now prepared to receive the message God has sent him. The Spirit says, “Get up, go downstairs, and accompany them with no doubts at all, because I have sent them.”

Now that Peter has prayed, pondered and been prepared he is ready to participate in the task God has set before him. The upcoming task is going to be way out of Peter’s comfort zone. Throughout his entire life, he has been taught to say no to the task God has laid out for him. In fact, no one would probably blame him if he did say “no thanks.” But Peter has already stepped one foot out of his comfort zone by staying with Simon the Tanner. God had already been preparing him to walk the uncomfortable path. Now, he takes the next step by inviting these Gentiles to lodge with him. Unheard of!! The Greek word for giving them lodging is xenizó, which means to entertain or give hospitality to. It also carries with it a meaning of being surprised or astonished, which I find rather interesting. Peter has surprised himself and those around him in the Jewish community by providing hospitality to these Gentile men. The vision is making sense now.

Vs 23b-33 The next day he got up and set out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went with him. The following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and worshiped him. But Peter helped him up and said, “Stand up! I myself am also a man.” While talking with him, he went on in and found that many had come together there. Peter said to them, “You know it’s forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or visit a foreigner. But God has shown me that I must not call any person common or unclean. That’s why I came without any objection when I was sent for. So I ask: Why did you send for me?” Cornelius replied. “Four days ago at this hour, at three in the afternoon, I was praying in my house. Just then a man in a dazzling robe stood before me and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your acts of charity have been remembered in God’s sight. Therefore send someone to Joppa and invite Simon here, who is also named Peter. He is lodging in Simon the tanner’s house by the sea.’ Therefore I immediately sent for you, and you did the right thing in coming. So we are all present before God, to hear everything you have been commanded by the Lord.”

Peter has prayed, pondered, been prepared is is now participating with God on a most important mission. Those passages in Isaiah and Psalms are just about to come to life! “All the nations You have made will come and bow down before You, Lord, and will honor Your name,” (Psalm 86:9). He says, “It is not enough for you to be My Servant raising up the tribes of Jacob and restoring the protected ones of Israel. I will also make you a light for the nations, to be My salvation to the ends of the earth,” (Isaiah 46:9). “All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord. All the families of the nations will bow down before You, for kingship belongs to the Lord; He rules over the nations,” (Psalm 22:27-28).

Vs 34-43 Then Peter began to speak: “Now I really understand that God doesn’t show favoritism, but in every nation the person who fears Him and does righteousness is acceptable to Him. He sent the message to the Israelites, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all. You know the events that took place throughout Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were under the tyranny of the Devil, because God was with Him. We ourselves are witnesses of everything He did in both the Judean country and in Jerusalem, yet they killed Him by hanging Him on a tree. God raised up this man on the third day and permitted Him to be seen, not by all the people, but by us, witnesses appointed beforehand by God, who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to solemnly testify that He is the One appointed by God to be the Judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about Him that through His name everyone who believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins.”

The opening statement by Peter really shows how far he has come in his journey. The light had come on and he has a new understanding. The prevailing thought at the time was that Gentiles were not included in the God’s plan. Peter now realizes what God’s vision means. He understands that Israel is a light God will use to bring the gospel to the nations of the world. Jesus’ directive to be His witnesses from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth takes on a new meaning for Peter. He says, “in every nation the person who fears Him and does righteousness is acceptable to Him.” God doesn’t see color, or nationality or economic status. He only sees the heart.

Peter then gives a wonderful sermon on the person and work of Jesus. He begins with Jesus’ baptism, where He identifies with His humanity. Then Peter shows them how Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit with power. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus goes about doing good, healing all who were under the tyranny of the Devil. Peter shows them that Jesus did this with the power of God because God was with Him, and Jesus did all these things in the presence of eyewitnesses. Jesus was crucified and raised from the dead – again in front of eyewitnesses. His followers were then commanded to be His witnesses that Jesus is the One appointed by God to be the Judge of the living and the dead. This wasn’t just something Peter understands, this is something testified by the prophets. At the name of Jesus everyone who believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins. Both Jews and Gentiles will receive salvation through what Christ has done on the cross.

Vs 44-48 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speaking in other languages and declaring the greatness of God. Then Peter responded, “Can anyone withhold water and prevent these people from being baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days.

So that Peter and those with him wouldn’t have any questions, God poured out the Holy Spirit on all who heard the message of salvation. If they had doubts before, there were no more doubts. God really did mean for Gentiles to come to saving faith. The message of Isaiah 60:1-3 was coming to life before their very eyes. “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord shines over you. For look, darkness covers the earth, and total darkness the peoples; but the Lord will shine over you, and His glory will appear over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your radiance.” Peter no longer had doubts. He called for their immediate baptism. “Can anyone withhold water and prevent these people from being baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 

In this day and age, there is a need and a call for us to be ready to be used by God. This passage gives us a wonderful outline – pray, ponder, prepare and participate. We need to be people who pray for God to open up the right opportunities. Ask and seek and then you will find. God will give us a vision. He will set us on a course and point us in the direction He wants us to follow. We have to be willing with open hearts to follow the path God opens up for us. As we align ourselves with Him, we can begin to ponder what God would have us do. As Peter pondered, God opened up his heart. Peter was ready to do whatever and go wherever. We too need to be prepared to go wherever God wants us to go and do whatever God calls us to do. When our hearts are ready and willing, God will open up exciting avenues of service. All that is left is for us to participate with Him.