ACTS: A Man and His Enemy

Peter is settled in at Joppa for a few days and has a jolting experience as God leads him to change the whole paradigm he has grown up with. God clearly reveals to him that all people are God’s people. But the story begins in another town with a man whom Peter, being a Jew, considered inferior, because he was a Gentile, and a commander in the Roman army.    

 

Acts 10:1 Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian cohort, lived in Caesarea. 2 He devoted himself to the ways of God, along with all who lived in his house. He prayed often and was very generous with his riches in caring for the Jewish people of the town. 3 About 3 o'clock one day an angel of God visited him in a vivid vision. He said, "Cornelius!" 4 In great surprise, he turned his attention to the angel and said, "What is it, Lord?" The angel replied, "God has received your prayers and gifts as a memorial offering. 5 I want you to send some of your servants to Joppa, to look for a man called Peter, 6 he is staying at the house of one named Simon, a tanner, and the house is next to the sea." 7 After the angel departed, Cornelius did as he was instructed, sending two of his most trusted men and a favorite soldier. 8 He explained everything to them before he sent them on their way. 

 

Cornelius was described as a person from the Gentiles who had some very similar beliefs and practices as Peter. He was devoted to the ways of God, prayed often, and was very generous with his riches and belongings. 

He exhibited great faith. Faith in God and the vision. Faith in his servants that he would entrust them with the contents of his vision and the task of stepping out in this adventure of faith. Faith that there would be a Peter on the other end of this journey who would come and bring a blessing from God to his friends and his household. His vision was not seen as a passing fancy or simple delusion but of truth that needed to be acted upon.  

 

And I cannot leave this part of the story without reminding all of us of the blessings of a giving personality. What we give in the name of Jesus to others is remembered by God. When we give, it should not be so others see us give, but so they will give thanks to God for the His blessing. The more we give the more we will be blessed, that is the way God set up this life, so that we might become generous people, caring for and sharing with one another.  

 

Meanwhile, Peter is in the town of Joppa, and on the very day that the servants of Cornelius arrived, he was experiencing a divine revelation from God about the need to stop being prejudice and judging other people. The attitude of Jewish superiority in the time of Peter was about to end for him and all of the people he came in contact with from that day on.  

 

Acts 10:9 The very next day, as they approached the city of Joppa, Peter started his noon time prayers, up on the roof of Simon's house. 10 During his time of prayer he became hungry and asked for the servants to prepare something for him. While he waited, he fell into a trance 11 and saw a sheet floating down from heaven, stretched out by the four corners. 12 On the sheet he saw animals, creatures, and birds. 13 Then he heard a voice, "Come, Peter, take, and eat." 14 Peter responded in shock, "Lord, I have never eaten anything that is unclean or unholy." 15 And he heard the voice again, "God has cleansed this, do not call it unholy." 16 This conversation happened once again, and then it happened a third time. Afterwards the sheet went back up into the sky and disappeared. 

 

In the history of the Jewish people God gave them commandments about situations and animals they should consider unclean. We do not know why God listed some animals as unclean and therefore, something the Jewish people were not allowed to eat. We might look upon it as something that was done because certain foods are not healthy for us if not cooked properly or there might have been some connection to the practice of animal sacrifice. All we know is the Hebrew people were prohibited from using as food, certain animal substances.

 

Was this to establish a difference between the Jews and other nations, or was it somehow a health benefit to the people? We do not know the answer to that speculation. We just know that for over a thousand years that was the lifestyle of the Jewish people and now, with the coming of the Messiah, the message from God is to do away with this partiality and judgmentalism. The Gentiles need to be welcomed into the kingdom of Yahweh.

 

Peter, and by association, the church, is called to a new paradigm, a new way of thinking. There is no longer a surface distinction where we can judge people by appearance, action, expectation, or their traditions. We have been encouraged by the life and teachings of Jesus to love one another and that does not mean to love those just like us, but all people of this world. 

 

God has declared all things lawful. Not all foods are good for us, but there is no restriction on what can be eaten. In the same way, there are no things we cannot do, it is just that some things we do will not benefit others or us. We are encouraged by Jesus to make decisions and guide our actions based upon what will bring benefit to others, what is the loving thing to do. Using the guidelines of the fruit of the Spirit, Paul suggests in his letter to the Galatians that we need to be“loving, joyful, peaceful, patient with others, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and controlled in our dealings with others.” (Galatians 5:22 EBV) We have the freedom to speak however we desire, yet, the best speech is always to, “Avoid speaking in ways that denigrate others. Chose words that build others up, encourages them in the moment. We want what we say to bring God’s grace into the conversation so that all who hear our words will see the love of Jesus.” (Ephesians 4:29 EBV)

 

Peter needed a reboot from God, and he received it just in time for him to accept the invitation to Cornelius’ home and spread the good news of Jesus further into the world. Without this change in his thinking, he would have never gone with the travelers and the ministry might have stalled. In the same way, we need a regular reboot in our thinking. The focus is not so much on what is “right,” but what is best for others and what is the loving thing to do for all people. That is why we need to be more concerned about how others see our actions and understand our words, than just making sure we speak whatever we desire “knowing what we intend to say.” This is why we often, as followers of Jesus, need to be willing to give up what we want so that others can have what they need. 

 

Acts 10:17 Peter, still reeling by what had just happened, heard a commotion at the gate of the house. The men from Cornelius had found their way to Simon's house. 18 They called out asking if Peter was staying at this house. 19 Then Peter heard the Spirit say to him, "There are three men downstairs who have come for you. 20 "Go down and follow them without any fear, for I have sent them to you." 21 Peter obeyed and went to the gate, saying, "I am Peter, why have you come for me?" 22 They told him, "Our master, Cornelius, is a righteous and God-fearing man and all the Jews think very highly of him. He had a visit from a holy angel who told him to send for you by name, so you could come to his house and speak a message to him and his friends.” 23 Since it was too late to start the journey back, Peter invited them in for the night.

 

Peter is now beginning a journey that will cause the rest of his life to be different than he had experienced up to this point. I wonder about us. Can we let the love of Jesus overshadow us to the point that because of Him we will allow the needs of others to be more important than ours? Will we let the power of the Holy Spirit flow through us, to fill us with His fruit and make our lives different from this day on? 

 

I bless you in the name of Jesus with a revelation today, that will make your life different tomorrow, in a way that makes you better and enhances the lives of others.  

Pastor Edd