Category: Early Church
Scriptures:
Acts 10
Acts 10
1 Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,
2 a devout man, and one who feared God with all his house, who gave gifts for the needy generously to the people, and always prayed to God.
3 At about the ninth hour of the day, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God coming to him, and saying to him, “Cornelius!”
4 He, fastening his eyes on him, and being frightened, said, “What is it, Lord?” He said to him, “Your prayers and your gifts to the needy have gone up for a memorial before God.
5 Now send men to Joppa, and get Simon, who is also called Peter.
6 He lodges with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the seaside.
7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier of those who waited on him continually.
8 Having explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
9 Now on the next day as they were on their journey, and got close to the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray at about noon.
10 He became hungry and desired to eat, but while they were preparing, he fell into a trance.
11 He saw heaven opened and a certain container descending to him, like a great sheet let down by four corners on the earth,
12 in which were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the sky.
13 A voice came to him, “Rise, Peter, kill and eat!”
14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”
15 A voice came to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed, you must not call unclean.”
16 This was done three times, and immediately the vessel was received up into heaven.
17 Now while Peter was very perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood before the gate,
18 and called and asked whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was lodging there.
19 While Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men seek you.
20 But arise, get down, and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”
21 Peter went down to the men, and said, “Behold, I am he whom you seek. Why have you come?”
22 They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man and one who fears God, and well spoken of by all the nation of the Jews, was directed by a holy angel to invite you to his house, and to listen to what you say.”
23 So he called them in and provided a place to stay. On the next day Peter arose and went out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.
24 On the next day they entered into Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his relatives and his near friends.
25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, and worshiped him.
26 But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up! I myself am also a man.”
27 As he talked with him, he went in and found many gathered together.
28 He said to them, “You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to join himself or come to one of another nation, but God has shown me that I shouldn’t call any man unholy or unclean.
29 Therefore also I came without complaint when I was sent for. I ask therefore, why did you send for me?”
30 Cornelius said, “Four days ago, I was fasting until this hour, and at the ninth hour, I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your gifts to the needy are remembered in the sight of God.
32 Send therefore to Joppa, and summon Simon, who is also called Peter. He lodges in the house of a tanner named Simon, by the seaside. When he comes, he will speak to you.’
33 Therefore I sent to you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God to hear all things that have been commanded you by God.”
34 Peter opened his mouth and said, “Truly I perceive that God doesn’t show favoritism;
35 but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.
36 The word which he sent to the children of Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all—
37 you yourselves know what happened, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
38 even Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
39 We are witnesses of everything he did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they also killed, hanging him on a tree.
40 God raised him up the third day, and gave him to be revealed,
41 not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen before by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that this is he who is appointed by God as the Judge of the living and the dead.
43 All the prophets testify about him, that through his name everyone who believes in him will receive remission of sins.”
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word.
45 They of the circumcision who believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Gentiles.
46 For they heard them speaking in other languages and magnifying God. Then Peter answered,
47 “Can anyone forbid these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just like us.”
48 He commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay some days.
Commentary
Caesarea Maritima is a seaport in Samaria on the coast of the Mediterranean. It was traditionally the capital of the Roman leaders,
Lierally understood, a centurion was a commander of 100 soldiers. However, they were often in command of many more men. Centurions were typically wise and well-disciplined, good leaders who could control their soldiers. It was a centurion who had such faith he assumed Jesus could heal at a distance (Matthew 8:8–9). Cornelius was a Roman centurion, stationed in the capital city of the Rome-backed king, yet he rejected emperor worship and the Roman pantheon of gods. That such a man chose, instead, to worship the Jewish God (Acts 10:2) is no small thing.
In the story of Cornelius, Peter is the first of the apostles (who were all Jews) to stay in the house of a Gentile and eat with him. Peter has been the primary leader among the believers, as certified by his healing Aeneas and raising Dorcas/Tabitha from death (Acts 9:32-41). Now, in Acts 10, Peter and Cornelius are both granted visions designed to bring the two men, Jew and Gentile, together. First, the Gentile Cornelius who prays to God and sees a vision that will answer his prayers. Then, the Jewish apostle Peter receives a puzzling vision that requires him to modify his interpretation of his people’s long-held tradition concerning “clean” and “unclean” things (Leviticus 20:22-26).
Both Cornelius and Peter follow the promptings of their visions. Peter is led by the Spirit to enter Cornelius’ home and not to regard him and his household as “unclean” because they are Gentiles. Peter’s message in his visit with Cornelius centers upon the impartiality of God’s grace and the universality of Jesus’ peacemaking Lordship: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all” (Acts 10:34‒36). While Peter is preaching, the Holy Spirit breaks in and pours out on Cornelius and his household, prompting Peter to offer them baptism “in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 10:44‒48). Peter and his fellow Jewish companions from Joppa stay with Cornelius for some days, reinforcing the principle of fellowship, friendship, and neighbor-love between Jews and Gentiles in Christ.
Later, the Hebrew believers ask Peter to explain his outreach to Cornelius in Caesarea (Acts 11:1‒18). After recounting the basic events, Peter justifies his actions by appealing to God’s embrace of all people: “If then God gave the Gentiles the same gift of the Holy Spirit that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?” (Acts 11:17). Although Peter’s encounter with Cornelius is a watershed moment in Jewish-Gentile relations, the issue of the oneness of God’s people will continue to challenge the early Christ communities.