Cornelius and Peter
10
📚There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment.10:1 Luke records the raising of Dorcas in seven verses. He gives far more space to the story of Cornelius and his family – Acts 10:1—11:18 (sixty-six verses). This shows its importance. This is the first time any of the apostles had taken the gospel to the Gentiles (v 45. Samaritans were considered half-breeds and a different class of people). And it was Peter who used the “keys of the kingdom of heaven” for the third time (Matt 16:19). Caesarea was a port on the Mediterranean Sea, a little more than 100 kilometers northwest of Jerusalem. It was named after Augustus Caesar, emperor of Rome (Luke 2:1). Cornelius was a Roman non-commissioned officer in the army in charge of one hundred soldiers.⚜
2 📚He was a devout man, and one who feared God together with all his household. He gave charitably to poor people, and prayed to God constantly.
10:2 Evidently he did not worship the many gods of Rome. From some source or other he had learned of the one true God and sought Him. He was a deeply religious man who demonstrated his sincerity by good works. But he had not yet received salvation (Acts 11:13-14). In this story God would teach us again that salvation is not by religion, or sincerity, or good works, or prayers, but by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31; John 1:12; 3:16, 36; Eph 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-7).⚜
3 📚About three in the afternoon, he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in to him, and saying to him, “Cornelius”.
4 📚And when he looked at him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your charitable deeds have come up as a memorial in God’s presence. 5 📚And now send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, who is called Peter. 6 📚He is a guest of Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you should do”.
10:4-6 God had been at work in Cornelius, preparing him to hear and believe the gospel. His prayers and deeds were a “remembrance” to God of his sincerity, but also of his need of more truth. So God gives specific instructions so that he might receive the truth he lacked. When people follow the light God gives them God observes it and gives them more light until they receive the full truth of Christ. Those who refuse the light will go into deeper darkness – John 3:19-21; 8:12; 9:39.⚜
7 📚And when the angel who spoke to Cornelius had left, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier from among those who were in constant attendance on him. 8 📚And when he had told them all these things, he sent them to Joppa.
God gives Peter a vision
9 📚The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near to the city, about twelve noon, Peter went up on the housetop to pray. 10 📚And he became very hungry and wanted to eat, but while they were preparing the food, he fell into a trance, 11 📚and saw heaven opened, and an object like a large sheet bound by its four corners being let down to the earth and descending toward him. 12 📚In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, and wild beasts and creeping things and birds of the air. 13 📚And a voice came to him: “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat”.
14 📚But Peter said, “Not so, Lord. For I have never eaten anything that is unholy or unclean”.
10:13-14 Peter as a Jew had always followed the instructions of the Old Testament about “clean” and “unclean”. See Leviticus chapter 11. He could not understand or accept immediately a command to disobey those instructions. He was now an experienced apostle who had been filled with the Holy Spirit, but see how he still says “no” to the Lord. Compare Matt 16:22; John 13:8.⚜
15 📚And the voice spoke to him a second time, “What God has cleansed, do not call unholy”.
10:15 See Matt 15:11; Mark 7:18-19 and notes; Rom 6:14; 7:4; 1 Tim 4:3-5. For this New Testament era God lifted the ban on certain foods that were “unclean” in Old Testament days.⚜
16 📚This was done three times 📖, and the object was taken up again into heaven.
10:9-16 God had prepared Cornelius to hear the truth. Now He prepares His messenger to deliver the truth to him. These two things have a central place in God’s unceasing work in the world. Happy are those who have a part in it.⚜
17 📚Now while Peter was wondering what the meaning was of this vision he had seen, the men who were sent by Cornelius asked for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate, 18 📚and called, and asked if Simon who was called Peter was staying there.
10:17-18 God’s timing of events is always perfect.⚜
19 📚While Peter was thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Look, three men are looking for you.
10:19 On God’s Spirit speaking see Acts 8:29.⚜
20 📚So get up and go down. Go with them without doubting at all, for I have sent them”.
10:20 The Spirit knew how reluctant Peter would be to go with them because they were Gentiles, so he specifically instructed Peter not to hesitate to go. The Jews regarded Gentiles as “unclean” just as they regarded certain foods as “unclean” (Lev 11:1). The spiritual meaning of the vision Peter saw was that this attitude too must pass away (v 28). God’s Spirit in the Church does not tolerate prejudice against people because of their race or country of origin (see note at Acts 6:1).⚜
21 📚Then Peter went down to the men who were sent to him by Cornelius, and said, “See, I am the one whom you seek. For what reason have you come?”
22 📚And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a righteous man who fears God, and who has a good reputation among all the Jewish people, was instructed by God through a holy angel to send for you to his house, and to hear your words”. 23 📚Then he invited them in, and showed them hospitality. And the next day Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
10:23 This shows that Peter had learned the lesson God was teaching him. The Jews considered that they became unclean by contact with Gentiles (v 28; Acts 11:2-3). But the men needed to rest from the fifty kilometers journey from Caesarea, and Peter received them.⚜
Peter in the house of Cornelius
24 📚And the next day after that they entered Caesarea. And Cornelius was waiting for them, and he had called together his relatives and close friends.
10:24 He realized Peter would speak matters of great importance and wanted all those he loved to hear his message (v 33).⚜
25 📚And as Peter was coming in Cornelius met him, and prostrated himself at his feet, showing reverence. 26 📚But Peter lifted him up 📖, saying, “Stand up! I too am just a man”.
27 📚And talking with him, he went in, and found that many had gathered together. 28 📚And he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to associate with someone of another race or to visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone unholy or unclean. 29 📚Therefore I came without objecting, as soon as I was sent for. So my question is, what is your reason for sending for me?”
10:28-29 Verses 15,20. The old order of things was passing away. The Jews who had become followers of Christ must no longer think they should have nothing to do with those of other races.⚜
30 📚And Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour. And at three o’clock I was praying in my house, and, lo and behold, a man stood before me in shining clothes, 31 📚and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your charitable deeds are remembered in the presence of God. 32 Send, therefore, to Joppa and call Simon, who is called Peter. He is a guest in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak with you.’ 33 📚So immediately I sent for you. And it was good of you to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear everything that Lord has commanded you to say”.
34 📚Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, “In truth I see that God shows no favoritism 📖, 35 📚but in every nation he accepts those who fear him and practice righteousness 📖. 36 📚The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace 📖 by Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all 📖, 37 📚that message, you know. It was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism that John preached: 38 📚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 oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
39 📚“And we are witnesses of everything he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree.
40 📚God raised him up on the third day, and showed him openly, 41 📚not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, that is, to us, who ate 📖 and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 📚And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that he is the one who was ordained by God to be the Judge 📖 of the living and the dead. 43 📚All the prophets testify about him that through his name whoever believes in him will receive the forgiveness of sins 📖”.
44 📚While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all those who heard the Word.
45 📚And all those believers who came with Peter, who were circumcised 📖, were astonished, because the gift of the Holy Spirit 📖 was poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 📚For they heard them speak in tongues 📖 and praise God.
Then Peter responded, 47 📚“Can anyone forbid water to prevent baptism to these who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”
10:47 Observe carefully that these people received the Holy Spirit before they were baptized and without anyone laying hands on them. See note at Acts 9:17.⚜
48 📚And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they begged him to stay for some days.