There are
many interesting facets of Acts 10 as it continues to describe the movement of
the gospel in the first century. The main one is that Peter has to deal with
some of his preconceived ideas, and change toward understanding God’s
inclusiveness of all people beyond Peter’s own people group. Just because
Cornelius is a Gentile, does not mean that he is in anyway excluded from the
Jesus movement, nor will it mean that he has to conform to any Jewish cultural
norms such as circumcision or particular dietary rules. Jesus will meet
Cornelius where and how he is, and Cornelius only needs to humbly receive
Jesus. Another exciting feature is that with Cornelius becoming a Jesus
follower, so did all his family, receiving the Holy Spirit together, and all
being baptised together.
But there is
another thing that fascinates and motivates me through this passage. It is that
God is so active in bringing together the people and the occasions through
which transformation occurs. What would be any different today ... why would it
be any different today?? God does not love anyone any less! God is no less
present, knowing or resourceful! God has not had a change of mind concerning
the desire to reconnect with people! The only thing that could possibly be
different is our level of awareness and receptivity of God’s activity. Are we
too ready to accept the status quo of people’s plight, forgetting to factor in
that God is moving amongst us?!? Let’s look at the level of awareness and
receptivity about God in Acts chapter 10.
Cornelius was
clearly a spiritual seeker, who was doing his best with the understanding he
had to connect with God; he was praying constantly. The sincerity of this
search was proven by his practical responses to those in need around him – “he
gave alms generously...” (v.2). So it was that when God spoke to him (through
the form of an angel), Cornelius was easily convinced to follow the
instructions he had been given.
How would a
gentile centurion have become so easily convinced??? Was it, that he was expectant!
But, how had Cornelius become such a God-seeker in the first-place (as per
verse 2)??? We might wonder about the evidence he had gathered from the lives
of ‘the people of the Way’ (the followers of Jesus). We know why God responded
to Cornelius’ prayers and sent Peter to him – this man had not been far from
the Kingdom of God – he had been sincere and kind ... “Your prayers and your
alms have ascended as a memorial before God” (v.4b). I reckon there would be
quite a few people in this category today.
Peter’s
upbringing would have ingrained in him suspicion of any non-Jewish peoples –
people who had different cultural practices, in some cases forbidden to the
Jews. To even associate with those partaking in foods forbidden to Jews would
render Peter ‘unclean’ according to his law. Peter was clearly going to take some
of his restrictive views forward into his mission. This would be an
uncomfortable situation for two reasons. Firstly, these were not going
to be views that would be well-received; these were going to be views that
would turn Gentile people away from the gospel. These were going to be
obstacles to faith. Secondly, Peter, although comfortable with his own
traditions, would know that this would be the case, and would perhaps feel the
rejection personally!
But this
whole situation could (easily) be solved. How so??? To expect non-Jewish people
to accept Jewish cultural practices would be totally unhelpful; more to the
point – from God’s perspective, such views were totally and completely
unnecessary! God had been seen and known to this point only in terms of narrow
Jewish interpretations; now God would have to be understood much more in
multicultural terms. Of course this wasn’t really anything new, this was all totally
consistent with what God had always said, that God’s Spirit would be poured out over all nations (e.g. Genesis
12:1-3; Psalm 22:27; Isaiah 2:2-4, 49:5-6; Joel 2:28). God’s special
consideration of one people group was never to be exclusive, but rather to be seen
as an indicator of his intentions for all people groups. [However human beings
tend to come up with ways of dividing from one another.]
So Peter was
confronted (in the form of a vision or dream while in a “trance” – v.10-16).
And this ‘vision’ had a voice, and the voice clearly pointed out the meaning of
what Peter had seen ... if he would be willing to grasp it. It is interesting
to note that Peter needed to have this ‘vision’ three times over, as if what it
was seeking to overthrow was particularly stubborn!
This was
actually part of Peter’s ongoing conversion experience! This is like us ... we
can’t come into relationship with Jesus, and still hold all the same views we
had before knowing Jesus as well as we do now. This would be like changing our
car over to gas, but then still putting petrol in it anyway! How might we be confronted with the need to change
the way we go about certain things?? Better powers of observation!?! Better
listening!?! How does God communicate with us???
Peter would
actually need a personal application before fully understanding and grasping
what the vision and accompanying voice meant!!! And so it was that the
God-seeker Cornelius met up with the Jesus-disciple Peter. This was going to be
interesting, for Cornelius was not only a gentile, but also a Roman Centurion,
one who would potentially be a mortal enemy of Peter.
Peter’s
‘conversion’ to a new way of thinking began as he was continuing to be
attentive to God’s voice (at verse 19), responding positively to the visit of
Cornelius’ servants (two slaves, one soldier), and subsequently finding himself
offering them hospitality and lodging for the night. This continued as Peter
headed off the next morning to cover the fifty kilometre trek to Caesarea to
see Cornelius. It was through the clear testimony of Cornelius’ servants,
together with Cornelius’ sincerity and his enthusiasm to welcome Peter, that Peter
gained a full appreciation of what God had been trying to reveal to him in that
vision (v.28; 34-5). So much so had this impacted him, that Peter even stated publicly
what he had just learned over the past couple of days (refer verse 28).
We also see
in verses 25 & 26, a scene of mutual humility, one ready to hear spiritual
truth, while another was humbly ready to share it. Both humans here, one a Jew,
the other a Gentile, have equal access to God. This particular interaction
between Cornelius and Peter would not only lead to a whole household finding
spiritual freedom and peace, but also to Peter’s enriched understanding of
God’s love and purposes. Not only this, but when Peter had come to understand
this new development and shared it publicly, many others seemed to have caught
on as well (v.44-6 & also chapter 11:18). This is just brilliant! When
Peter later told this story to the Jewish Jesus-followers in Jerusalem, in
defending his actions, he used the words, “... who was I that I could hinder
God” (11:17).
How is it
that we can see other people come to know God – by listening to the world at
the same time as listening to God. John Stackhouse suggests that there are now,
in this day and age, three ways to address Christian apologetics i.e. to
publicly speak about the Christian faith in the face of opposing beliefs. The
first is to remove obstacles to other people finding faith (like Peter did with
circumcision etc). It then goes without saying that you wouldn’t consciously
erect any barriers to people finding faith. The second is to clarify the issues
and questions that come from the minds of others (like Philip did with the
Ethiopian eunuch). The third is to offer ‘inducements’ to believe – i.e.
‘attractions’ ... opportunities to taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm
34:8).
How many
people are there out there that God is currently preparing to hear the gospel
message from us? How are we going to approach this?? By inflicting our package
of beliefs and customs on them; or by offering them friendship, and listening
for the hints of how God has already been working in their life!
Peter came to
an appreciation that Cornelius had been on a journey towards God for some time
(as shown by his character described in verse 2, and his humility in verse 25),
and was utterly and completely acceptable to God. For someone like Peter, this
was a massive statement in verses 34 & 35 – “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”. This statement opened up the way for Cornelius and
his family and friends to receive forgiveness and the gift of Holy Spirit.
Many a person became a Jesus-follower that
day. We read the crescendo of this passage in verse 47, where Peter asks the
question, as if everyone must now be in hearty and mutual agreement, “Can anyone withhold the water for baptising
these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have”? Of course
not!! And no-one objected!
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