Acts 10

Fundamental to God's purpose in electing the Nation of Israel among all the peoples of the world was that they should represent Him and His revelation to those other nations. We have no record Israel ever reached out to other nations, though we see plenty of Gentiles drawn to the regal faith of One God over all Creation. As early as Jonah's time, we see the bitter determination all the Gentile world deserved to roast in Hell. By New Testament times, the Judean people were openly hostile to any effort to bring redemption to Gentiles. Here we see how Peter takes the first step, according to the command of Jesus, to fulfill that original purpose of God's revelation.

Cornelius would be an army captain by modern standards. As commander of something called Italian Cohort, it would mean a rather privileged assignment at the head of Roman citizens, not simply some regional conscript force. Having felt the pull in his spirit, this man had become loyal to Jehovah as best he knew. While not circumcised as a full convert, Cornelius lived according to the Law of Moses, willfully seeking the fullest obedience, and would have been welcomed by John the Baptist. He would have known quite well the standard synagogue teaching, and would be familiar with the contents of Old Testament Scriptures.

It was mid-afternoon Cornelius was seeking God's face, and an angel stood by him. This apparition from God announced the Lord's favor on him, and instructed he should send for Peter, who was staying in Joppa. Most important, the angel promised this Peter would explain what God really wanted from Cornelius. Having in his own household servants and a soldier acquainted with his faith, the centurion explained his vision and instructed them to seek out Peter.

Most likely they left early the next morning. It was a hike of some thirty miles (48km), and vigorous men serving a Roman centurion would have just been able to make it to Joppa by mid-day. It was about this time Peter was praying on Simon the Tanner's rooftop, typically a good escape from the noise of a bustling house. We must not forget Peter was now quite famous in that region, so there must have been somewhat of the same crush of people always dogging Jesus wherever He went.

While Peter was praying, he had a vision. Descending from the sky was a large square tarp suspended by the four corners. When it settled before him, Peter saw an assortment of non-kosher animals. A voice from Heaven commanded Peter to kill and eat something from this collection. Peter protested he had always observed kosher, referring to the creatures as "unclean" -- an ancient phrase going back before Noah. The voice responded Peter was not permitted to call unclean anything God had cleansed. It was not as if Peter had not heard Jesus teach about how ritual kosher observance was not about actual food, but was symbolic of what a man put in his heart. But Peter carried the old reflexive avoidance of non-kosher food. That the vision was repeated thrice carried the same significance as his denial of Jesus, and the subsequent rehabilitation as senior member of the Twelve. He would not disregard such a message.

As Peter pondered the vision, the three messengers from Cornelius arrived at the gate of the household. Peter would have ignored them, as he had come up on the rooftop for privacy in the first place, but God told him to go down and meet this trio. In his loyalty to God, he was to go with them without question. He went down to meet them and asked what they sought. They described their master and their mission, how Cornelius wanted to hear Peter's teaching. Peter had the servants lodge overnight after their long journey, and left with them early the next morning, along with a half-dozen fellow believers from Joppa.

Upon arriving at Caesarea, with Cornelius anxiously awaiting their return, Peter and his friends found a full house. Cornelius had gathered his family and other Gentile believers. This high ranking Roman official honored Peter as an even higher ranking official of God's Court. Peter quickly corrected this by remarking they were both just humans. The first thing Peter did was explain the obvious violation of Jewish Law, entering a Gentile home. He remarked God had made it clear that Law no longer applied, because no one on earth was "unclean" or contemptible simply for failing to be born Judean. So he was there at God's command, and wanted to know how he could serve them. Cornelius recited the story of his vision, and how pleased he was Peter responded so quickly.

The obvious starting place was to note God did not reckon things the way the Jewish leaders had taught. In every nation He had already moved the hearts of men to reach out to Him. Those who responded by seeking His justice were in God's eyes "clean." He then noted the message of Jesus, who was the Messiah for all humanity, not just Judeans, was probably not news to them. It was wholly unlikely they could have lived there in Caesarea without hearing something about it, beginning with the message of John the Baptist. Peter was there to affirm for them this message was the truth, for Jesus had been too obviously anointed by God, demonstrating His divine authority over illness and demon alike. Peter was among the Twelve who traveled with Jesus for some years, witnessing all these things. They witnessed His death at the hands of His own nation, suffering the most ignoble death, but also His resurrection. He was not seen as publicly as before His death, but shared fellowship with those whom God called to follow Him. These many ate with Him some days after He arose. This same resurrected Messiah instructed them to take the message to all the world, for He was Redeemer and Judge of all humanity.

Noteworthy for this audience which had already absorbed the teaching of the Law was the remark Jesus was the final revelation of God, as well as the ultimate sacrifice for all sin. Embracing Him as the living revelation of God was the complete fulfillment of all He demanded of mankind. Jesus was the final answer to the longings of those who had sought God, and been unable to find a path open to them through the false Jewish barriers. They were acceptable to God. Such was indeed the gospel good news which would change their lives.

Peter now opened the Kingdom to these assembled in the house of Cornelius. The Holy Spirit chose that moment to fall upon them, to burn His Presence into their souls. The Jewish Christians there with Peter were astonished to see the gift of Heaven poured out on Gentiles, for it was something they had not expected at all. Indeed, God had cleansed these people before their very eyes, and it was Pentecost in the Upper Room all over again. How could anyone deny these whom God accepted the ritual of baptism? So it was Peter stayed a few days longer, confirming the teaching of Christ to these people.

There was no turning back.