Scripture
Peter Visits Cornelius
9The next day as Cornelius’s messengers were nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon, 10and he was hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. 12In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. 13Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.”
14“No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.[1]”
15But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” 16The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven.
17Peter was very perplexed. What could the vision mean? Just then the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house. Standing outside the gate, 18they asked if a man named Simon Peter was staying there.
19Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Three men have come looking for you. 20Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don’t worry, for I have sent them.”
21So Peter went down and said, “I’m the man you are looking for. Why have you come?”
22They said, “We were sent by Cornelius, a Roman officer. He is a devout and God-fearing man, well respected by all the Jews. A holy angel instructed him to summon you to his house so that he can hear your message.” 23So Peter invited the men to stay for the night. The next day he went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa.
24They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25As Peter entered his home, Cornelius fell at his feet and worshiped him. 26But Peter pulled him up and said, “Stand up! I’m a human being just like you!” 27So they talked together and went inside, where many others were assembled.
28Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean. 29So I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. Now tell me why you sent for me.”
30Cornelius replied, “Four days ago I was praying in my house about this same time, three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, a man in dazzling clothes was standing in front of me. 31He told me, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been noticed by God! 32Now send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.’ 33So I sent for you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here, waiting before God to hear the message the Lord has given you.”
Translation notes (1)
- 10:14 Greek anything common and unclean.
"But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.”
When Jesus instructed His disciples in Acts 1 to share His good news, He did not tell them just to spread His message to those who lived right around them. Instead, he called them to take His message not only to Jerusalem and Judea but also Samaria and the ends of the world. This statement was not only an instruction but also an invitation. When we place our faith in Jesus, we get to carry His message throughout the world and make His name known. Are we willing to go to places we have never been and where we feel uncomfortable?
God reminded Peter of the call for Christ-followers to spread the message of Christ everywhere, even the difficult places, in quite an unconventional way. We read yesterday in Acts 10 about a man named Cornelius, a Roman army officer. He was a God-fearing man who prayed and gave generously. God got his attention by sending an angel to him in a dream. In that dream, the angel told Cornelius to find a man named Simon Peter. Today's Scripture reading describes what happened after Cornelius sent his servants to find Peter in Acts 10. When Cornelius's messengers were close to Peter, he was praying (verse 9). He was hungry and fell into a trance (verse 10). Then, the skies opened, and "something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners" (verse 11). All kinds of animals, reptiles, and birds were on the sheet (verse 12). Suddenly, a voice spoke, saying, "Get up, Peter; kill and eat them" (verse 13). Peter replied, "I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean" (verse 14). You see, Jews did not eat meat that would be considered unclean. The reply Peter heard was, "Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean" (verse 15). This vision happened three times before Peter woke up.
While Peter was trying to understand the vision he had just had, Cornelius's men made it to Peter. The Holy Spirit told him, "Three men have come looking for you. Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don't worry, for I have sent them to you" (verse 20). Peter's vision prepared him to go to Cornelius's home, something no self-respecting Jewish person did at the time. Peter had to learn that God's message was for Jews and Gentiles.
Peter's story in Acts 10 calls for us to evaluate our hearts. Is there anyone we have been avoiding sharing our faith with? Are we going only to the places that feel comfortable, or are we willing to step out and share God's faith with everyone around us?
Moving toward action
Take a moment to evaluate your life. Is there anyone or group of people you have avoided or considered too far gone to share your faith with? Identify that person or group today. Then, ask God to give you a heart and compassion for those people and for opportunities to share your faith with them.
Going Deeper
Acts 10:9-33 (NLT)
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