I Would Never (Acts 10)

How often have you refused to interact with someone on a deep level? Do you resist people who look or act differently than you? Maybe the culture you grew up in taught you that it's not fitting for us to be open and vulnerable with people who fit into a specific category. Are we concerned about how it might look if we become friends with a person of a different race, economic status, education, or fashion sense? There are all kinds of prejudices and partialities that we learn. These become a part of our lives and affect our relationships.

In the first century, the Jewish people took prejudice to another level. They were taught, per Deuteronomy 7, not to intermix with the people of the land. God called them to be separate and holy because marrying someone of the land would result in the people's apostasy and eventually lead to their destruction. This danger was very real to the Jews because they had experienced destruction due to this. They were scattered among the nations, and they had decided to keep separate from foreigners who refused to become Jews. So they made laws to prohibit the people from entering the houses of those who were Gentiles. But today, we will study an event where God shatters these barriers.

Peter With Gentiles?

Acts 10:25--28 (ESV) --- 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.

Do you see what happened here? Peter is entering the house of a Gentile. It was unlawful for him to do this. When Peter walks into the house, he starts with an explanation that he is not supposed to be there. Isn't that backward? That sounds like Jim Crow laws from our history. So what is Peter doing in Cornelius' house surrounded by Gentiles? Notice that the whole house is full of Gentiles. Don't you imagine that felt uncomfortable for Peter and those who were with him?

An Angel Visits Cornelius

It all starts back in verse 1. Cornelius is described as a devout man who fears God. This is not your run-of-the-mill pagan worshipper. He fears God along with all his household, he gives alms to the people generously, and he prays continually to God. Peter has entered the house of a Roman centurion (commander of over a hundred men) who may be one of the most worthy Gentiles we read about. Why would he be inviting Peter into his house?

Acts 10:3--5 (ESV) --- 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter.

Cornelius is north in Caesarea, and I imagine he is a big and strong warrior. He received a message from an angel. But, when the angel appears to him, he is terrified. He doesn't know what to do. But the angel tells him that God has heard his prayers and alms. This man might be responsible for tremendous evil, but he has lifted prayers to God, asked for forgiveness, and given his money to the poor. The angel tells him to send for Peter in Joppa.

A centurion probably hasn't called for many Jewish men to come in and assist him before. He's got soldiers and power of his own. I doubt he associates with the Jews very often, and I wonder if he has ever had a Jew come into his house. Today is the day.

Cornelius Is Excited

When we look at Cornelius in this text, it's easy for us to admire him. He is a commander of over a hundred men, but he has so much faith that he brings in a large crowd of people to hear this message. He's evangelistic before he even knows what Peter is going to say.

Acts 10:33 (ESV) --- 33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

He's completely open to the truth and ready to obey.

Peter Receives a Vision

Acts 10:9--16 (ESV) --- 9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

Peter has been teaching and healing in Jesus' name. Now he is on the rooftop praying, and God gives Peter a vision. He opens the heavens and reveals a sheet with all kinds of animals. Many of these animals would be considered unclean to a Jew. They don't eat pigs, for instance. Peter responds, "I have never eaten anything unclean." He refuses the command of God. He doesn't feel like he can do what he has been asked to do. It goes against his conscience. It feels wrong. God responds by saying, "What God has made clean, do not call common."

Isn't this fascinating? If you were Peter, this would be a hard pill to swallow. What is God trying to get Peter to do? Is this from God? It happens three times. Peter was sitting there perplexed about what this meant when three men walked up to the house he was staying at asking about him. The Spirit told Peter, "Behold, three men are looking for you. Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation for I have sent them." Peter invites the men in to be his guests. This is fascinating because these are Gentiles. Jews don't invite Gentiles in to be their guests.

Peter Gets It

This is what led to Peter walking into the house of Cornelius. God has told them to do something that they would never normally do. God is working to create a situation that would never happen without his intervention. Peter comes to this man's house and tells him, "God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean."

Do you see that Peter gets it? What God has shown him goes entirely against his raising and all of the traditions of the Jewish people. But he submits to it because God's will is for souls to be saved. He is so sure he is willing to break the law his Jewish brethren have created.

Peter Preaches

Peter goes on to share the gospel with them.

Acts 10:37--48 (ESV) --- 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. 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 all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, 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 appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” 44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

When Peter preaches the gospel to these Gentiles, his message is simple. He doesn't accuse them like he accused the Jews. He merely reminds them of what they knew about John the baptizer and Jesus of Nazareth. Then, he informs them about what took place in Jerusalem and how Jesus was raised from the dead. He wants them to know that Jesus is now the one God has appointed to judge heaven and earth. Finally, he starts going into how Jesus offers forgiveness of sins as the prophets foretold, but the Holy Spirit falls on them before he can quote a prophet.

They Believe and God Works

This terminology of the Holy Spirit falling on them is rare throughout Acts. It happened to the disciples in Acts 2, and it seems to happen in Samaria, but only when the apostles lay hands on new believers. The Holy Spirit doesn't just fall on anyone; it has never fallen on an uncircumcised believer. This is a sign. Notice that Peter and his companions were amazed at this. The Gentiles were blessed with the pouring out of the Spirit because they spoke in foreign languages they did not know, just like the apostles did on Pentecost. God indicated that he wanted them to receive all of the blessings promised in the prophets.

Please pay special attention to what Peter says to his companions about these believers. He asks, "Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" In other words, will anyone argue against what God is doing here? If God wants the Gentiles to be saved, who are we to stand in their way? But also notice that they need to be baptized. Peter doesn't just start rejoicing that God has saved them. He commands them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Why? Being immersed in water is how we call on the name of the Lord and receive the washing away of our sins. It is not only essential but also necessary to enter into the body of Christ.

What Do We Learn?

The message of this text is found in God's word to Peter. He tells Peter, "What God has made clean, do not call common." God pays no attention to the rules they have created. He's even letting go of the rules he created for the Jews in the OT. Those served their purpose, but now they don't need that level of restriction.

He especially doesn't like how the Jews have prevented their brethren from interacting with Gentiles. God wants them to be saved as well. He's not concerned that these Gentiles are a different race than the Jews. He doesn't care.

This is a Roman soldier who has likely committed great atrocities. So what? Now he was seeking Jesus, calling on the name of Jesus for forgiveness and choosing to turn his life around. Spreading the gospel is not about evaluating the worthiness of one's past life. It's about cultivating the heart and evaluating when that heart is ready to be transformed. A person's heart is the key, not the way they look, how much money they have, how much education they have, or what their family is like. None of that matters to God and shouldn't matter to us.

Application

Do you struggle to accept someone or something that God accepts? We all have an upbringing that we must overcome to some extent. There are biases and opinions that we have to come to terms with. Our fathers were notorious for calling things wrong that were not wrong and separating from people who love God and need to hear the gospel. That's our country's heritage. Why would we continue to call wrong what God has not called wrong? This creates a wedge between us. Until we overcome our biases and prejudices and adjust our tendencies to avoid people who are different, we won't spread the gospel and will cover up our light.

Rejoice in Differences

If we consider someone too far gone because of the color of their skin, the clothes they are wearing, the way they talk, etc. We are wrong. Those who seem the most out of place might seek God with a pure heart. Who are we to hate someone God loves and wants to save? We want unity through our relationship with Christ and a love for God/each other. We don't want homogeny. We don't want everyone to look the same.

Look again at how Peter responds. Peter was hesitant because this goes against his internal programming. That's natural. It takes time and repetition, but he opens up to the truth. Then, he fully submits to it. Notice that Peter doesn't hold up his father's traditions above the truth he sees revealed. This is precisely what we want to see. That indicates a tender heart instead of a complex and impenetrable heart.

Overcome What's Uncomfortable

Inside of us, there may be a tendency to say, "I have never done this before. I have never spoken to a person like this. I have never considered them a good prospect. I have never welcomed someone like this into my home. I have never gone into the home of someone like this." Fear creeps in, and we don't want to be uncomfortable. But look at what God does in this situation. He opens the door for Gentiles.

Who here is a Gentile? Do we understand that we owe our salvation to one man's willingness to invite someone different into his home and another to walk through the door of opportunity and see God's love knows no boundaries? The boundaries we set are not God's boundaries. Sometimes people feel like they are defenders of the truth because they condemn people trying to lead people astray. Pride and arrogance are the opposite of what God wants. I'm afraid Christians often get really comfortable calling things or people wrong. When we call something wrong that is not wrong in God's eyes, we become false teachers. We don't need to be so flippant about what and who we condemn. We might think that we are helping, but we are not.

You Are Welcome Here

Now, I want to talk to the visitor or the one who has been here for a while but has not committed to being involved in the work here. Do you struggle to find acceptance here if you are a baptized believer? Maybe you have been coming here for months and don't feel like anyone has gotten to know you on a deeper level. Please understand that God wants you here. God loves you. He has broken down the wall of hostility for all of us to find acceptance, and if Christians here fail to accept you, it's our fault. I hope and pray that you will find someone to connect with.