Chapter 9 told us of Paul’s conversion and left us with an account of Peter’s evangelical mission trips to Joppa and Lydda. Chapter 10 continues with Peter’s journeys, this time focusing on his learning and understanding of God’s acceptance of Gentiles, namely Cornelius. Whereas Paul was directly to go to the Gentiles, and still happened to view his own ministry as helpful to the Jews, Peter, on the other hand, was called to ministry to the Jews and reluctantly accepted the fact that his ministry would also impact Gentiles. Let’s take a look.
1) V1-8 – 1At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” 4Cornelius 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. 5Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.
Caesarea was the town Philip came to and settled in after his experience with the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8. Caesarea was also the town from which Paul was sent away, back to Tarsus, in Acts 9. And now Luke turns his attention to a Roman Centurion named Cornelius, who happened to live in Caesarea. He was pious pagan, a God-fearing Gentile, devout in his love for God and corresponding generosity to the needy. There was no doubt about his vision; we read that he “distinctly saw an angel of God” (v3). The angel makes a most interesting remark, saying that the prayers and generosity of Cornelius has come before God as a memorial offering. Therefore, it seems, Cornelius was chosen, or rewarded, with the presence of the apostle Peter and more importantly the knowledge of Christ Jesus and the gift of the Holy Spirit. But can this be that God helps those who help themselves? That God chooses people because they seek Him? There comes a time in each life when we do, in fact, seek the Lord; but this comes after the Holy Spirit awakens us and provides us with motive to do so. As we will see, Cornelius is found by Peter to already have the indwelling Holy Spirit! So the efforts of Cornelius to know God more, to worship Him rightly, and to bless others, was, in fact, rewarded with a greater and deeper knowledge of God (Matthew 13:12; 25:21), and this is set forth by Luke as an example for us to follow. Calvin says, “Thus did Cornelius obtain more perfect knowledge of Christ by his prayers and alms, but in that he had God to be favorable and merciful to his prayers and alms, that did depend upon faith.” Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you as well!
The angel of God gives Cornelius a command – send for Simon Peter in Joppa (where we left him in chapter 9). And Cornelius, like Noah (Genesis 6:22; 7:5; 8:18; Hebrews 11:7), immediately does exactly what he is told. Wisely, Cornelius even selects of his personal attendants – a devout man – to ensure the message is declared accurately. Compare Matthew 5:19, John 14:15,21, and John 15:10.
2) V9-23 – 9About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. 13Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” 14“Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” 15The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” 16This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. 17While 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. 18They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there. 19While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. 20So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.” 21Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?” 22The 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.” 23Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests. The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went along.
Peter was praying up on the roof of Simon the tanner’s house, when he became hungry. We read, “He fell into a trance.” God gave him a vision, to convey the appropriate nature of what was about to happen. A paraphrase of Calvin sums up Peter’s experience: “Undoubtedly, God meant to encourage Peter to come to Cornelius without fear; but Peter had separated one people to himself from the rest, as Moses conveyed in his song. God Himself distributed the nations, choosing one – and only one, Jacob – for Himself (Deuteronomy 32:9). According to this order, it had not been lawful to Peter to bring the covenant of salvation unto the Gentiles; that was to take the children’s bread and to cast it to dogs, (Matthew 15:26) unless they would be circumcised and embrace the Jewish religion. Furthermore, the apostles were sent before to preach the gospel, forbidden to go to the Gentiles (Matthew 10:5). Since the preaching of the gospel is a most holy and weighty matter, Peter ought not to have attempted it among Gentiles with a doubting and wavering mind. Therefore, to the end he may be assured of his calling, God showed him in this vision that the legal difference between the clean and unclean is abolished. Henceforth, he may gather that the wall which was between the Jews and the Gentiles is now pulled down. As Paul said, it is a mystery once hid from the beginning of the world but now revealed, that the Gentiles are made partakers of the same salvation with the people of God, ingrafted into one body (Ephesians 2:16; 3:6). Therefore Peter should have never opened the gate of heaven unto the Gentiles, unless God Himself had made a plain way and entrance for all men, by taking away the wall of separation, which He did, and which now Peter understood – having been shown three times – clearly if not reluctantly.”
3) V24-33 – 24The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.” 27Talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28He 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. 29So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?” 30Cornelius answered: “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33So 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.”
Arriving in Caesarea, Peter was honored reverently, but asked to be treated as a man like every other man. Peter began speaking to the rather large audience with seriousness, reminding them that it was against Jewish law for him to associate with or even visit a Gentile. So effectively, Peter knew he was breaking the law, which happened to be a rather legalistic interpretation of God’s law to be distinct from the nations. Yet, Peter revealed God’s instruction to him and, asking the reason for his summons, claimed rightly to have come without hesitation.
Cornelius spoke up, recounting his experience of the angel’s visit (this time described as “a man in shining clothes”) from days before. Cornelius did not really know why he was to summon Peter; he was being obedient. And Peter didn’t know why he was summoned; he was likewise simply obeying God’s command. Now then, with God having brought His desired circumstances to pass, the Holy Spirit gives Peter words.
4) V34-48 – 34Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35but accepts men from every nation who fear Him and do what is right. 36You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached – 38how 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. 39“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, 40but God raised Him from the dead on the third day and caused Him to be seen. 41He 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. 42He 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. 43All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.” 44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, 47“Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
After his stunning vision and present application of the truth of God’s acceptance of all who call on His name – Jew or Gentile – Peter admits to understanding “that God does not show favoritism” (v34-35). He then reviewed the gospel, saying that his audience already knew about the baptism of John (v37) and peace through the Lord Jesus (v36), who was God’s anointed to heal “all who were under the power of the devil” (v38). After pointing out that he was an eyewitness to the ministry of Jesus (v39), Peter focused on the death and resurrection of Jesus (v39-40), claiming to also be an eyewitness – along with others who were chosen – of the risen Lord (v41). Then Peter revealed the command of Jesus (Acts 1:8) for him and the other disciples to preach and testify that He is the Christ, the appointed One of God to judge the living and the dead (v42). Finally, Peter said, “All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name” (v43).
Calvin says of Peter’s speech here, “We must consider three things: that it is the proper office of Christ to reconcile men to God when their sins are done away (He is appointed judge and forgiver); that we have remission of sins by faith (forgiveness comes by believing in His name); that this doctrine is not new or of late invented, but that it had all the prophets of God since the beginning of the world to bear witness of it.” Calvin elaborates on the prophets, saying that they consistently “call back all the godly unto that covenant which God made with Abraham putting the mediator between… The grace which was offered at length by Christ is the same which the law and the prophets, in times past, delivered unto the fathers to be hoped for. And surely it was of great force with Cornelius and such like, who did greatly reverence the law and prophets, that they might know that that was performed and accomplished in very deed in Christ which was testified in the oracles of the prophets.”
Moving to v44-48 and the conclusion of the chapter, we see that the Holy Spirit came upon Peter’s audience. Calvin says, because Cornelius and his household exhibited faith prior to this encounter with Peter, this is different “from the grace of regeneration; and yet, undoubtedly, God did by this means seal both Peter’s doctrine, and also their faith and godliness which heard him… This visible sign representeth unto us, as it were in a table, what an effectual instrument of God’s power the preaching of the gospel is; for He poured out His Spirit as Peter spake, to the end He might show that He sendeth not teachers to that end, that they may beat the air with the vain sound of their voice, but that He may work mightily by their voice, and may quicken the same by the power of His Spirit, to the salvation of the godly.”
Interestingly, though Peter, after his vision, wasn’t astonished at the evidence of the Holy Spirit’s presence among the Gentiles, the other Jewish believers were. Yet, seeing is oftentimes believing, and so they marvelled at God’s grace, still perhaps thinking they were somehow better than the Gentiles. Peter proves to them otherwise however, by his decree that they must receive the sign of baptism “in the name of Jesus Christ” just as the Jewish believers did. Afterward the Gentile believers asked for Peter to stay with them, persumably to fellowship – a thinking previously impossible, now not only possible but mandatory by the grace of God – and encourage them with doctrinal teaching. And presumably, Peter did stay.
Footnotes
- 10:19 One early manuscript two; other manuscripts do not have the number.
- 10:46 Or other languages
Bible text from Gospelcom.net. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.