In the next few days I am going to be putting together a few survey questions that I would love for anyone and everyone to participate in. I want to know how you're using the contents of the blog, what is confusing, what could be better, what is beneficial and what I could cover (or go more in depth on) that would be more beneficial. The survey will appear on Facebook. If you would like to join our Facebook group, find us here!
Thanks in advance!
Let's continue with Acts 10.
Acts 10 (Read it here)
Cornelius receives a vision from God asking him to send some of his men to find and bring Peter from Joppa. (v. 5) Cornelius is noted as Roman officer of the Italian Regiment (which consisted of roughly 600 men) and a God-fearing man. (vs. 1-2) A God-fearer was a name given to a non-Jew that worships the God of the Jews, in other words, a follower of Judaism not Christianity. A God-fearer worshiped, had deep reverence and respect for God as He was known in the Old Testament.
Cornelius had to be a unique man. Very few men of his stature and influence would be so humble as to worship the God of the people that his government had occupied. And, most of the time, with tremendous power came wealth. Jesus tells us that it is difficult for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God in Luke 18:25, but this guy is different. He prays, gives to the poor and has positively influenced everyone in his household.
His extraordinary character and good deeds have been recognized by God, however, we know that good deeds and following the law doesn't get anyone to heaven or earn respect from a Holy God. In response to this truth, God wants to give Cornelius the opportunity to receive the good news of Jesus, His Son from Peter.
However, Peter doesn't particularly like Gentiles. For some reason he was fine with going to Samaria to assist Philip in preaching the word to the hated Samaritans but he doesn't want to go to Cornelius.
I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's back up.
Peter is still at the tanner's house. He goes up on the roof for a few moments of prayer in seclusion. (v. 9) As he was praying he saw a vision, too. On this sheet were a slew of different animals that were against the Old Testament law to eat. (For a complete list of the animals Jews were not permitted to eat, check out Leviticus 11.) A few of the animals that Peter could have seen were a pig, a rabbit, a frog and a hawk (or any other bird that preys on carcasses or non-fish marine life).
So, in short, Jews didn't eat bacon, bunnies, frog legs or big birds (not to be confused with this).
Don't you find it interesting now that Peter was hungry and about to eat lunch when he was seeing this vision?
In the vision Peter hears a voice saying, "Get up, kill and eat." (v. 13)
Peter refuses on account of the law, thinking it is a test. (v. 14)
It is unclear exactly who is speaking to Peter whether it be God, Jesus or an angel. Either way, the voice has God's authority and makes it known by saying, “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” (v. 15) Peter had a little deja vu because he saw the vision a total of four times. (v. 16)
Peter was confused but he didn't time to really think on it as Cornelius' men had arrived. (v. 17) Peter was assured by the Holy Spirit that these men meant him no harm. (vs. 19-20) Cornelius' men stayed the night in Joppa and they (Cornelius' men, Peter and a few other believers) left for Caesarea the next day. (v. 23)
When they all arrived, Cornelius had already gathered his whole family and his close friends. He didn't want anyone that he cared about to miss what was about to happen. (v. 24)
When Peter entered Cornelius' home, Cornelius began to worship him but Peter quickly rebuked that behavior and told him, "I’m a human being just like you!” (vs. 25-26)
This misstep by Cornelius probably triggers Peter to think about another Jewish law that restricted him from gathering and associating with Gentiles (non-Jews). However, Peter connects the dots with his previous vision on Simon's roof and immediately knows that he is to no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean." (v. 29)
Cornelius continued to tell Peter about his vision that occurred four days ago. (v. 30; There's that word again, dazzling, which almost always denotes a supernatural being or heavenly visit.) He also told Peter the direct instructions that were given to him. (vs. 31-32) You can read the excitement in Cornelius' voice when he tells Peter that he had followed those divine instructions immediately and gathered everyone to hear the message God had given him! (v. 33)
Peter marvels at how God shows no favoritism but accepts any person who fears Him and does what is right. (vs. 34-35) Don't get it twisted, though, that isn't what saves us or gives us eternal life (fear & good deeds). If you were to stop reading there in verse 35, that's what you would get; a false, incomplete truth.
Peter says that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ. (v. 36) Jesus healed those who were being oppressed by the devil (v. 38, this goes to show that people were being punished for their sins by way of a deformity, disability, etc).
Peter also spoke of Jesus' resurrection from the dead and his command to preach to the nations. (vs. 40, 42) And Peter concludes with this, "everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.” (v. 43) If amassing the most good deeds was the metric used to measure one's closeness to God, then it would be a completely self-centered measuring tool. The more a person tries to make themselves a better person, the easier it is to think that they can be good without God; as if they could really a make a name for themselves before God.
As Peter was speaking, the Holy Spirit fell on the whole place and everyone there. (v. 44) The Holy Spirit, like God was void of favoritism, as well. Another episode like that of Pentecost happened. Everyone there started speaking in other languages! (v. 46) Peter immediately gives them the opportunity to be baptized right then and there (again, note that everyone there received the Holy Spirit before being baptized, baptism had no spiritual effect)!
Peter stayed with Cornelius and his family for several days. (v. 48) I can imagine that Peter had many, many hours of conversation and crash-course discipleship happening around the clock.
Questions
1.) Peter receives a vision of a multiplicity of animals being lowered on a blanket. Peter interprets this by saying that the Gentiles are not unclean as he initially had thought. Do you think this vision has a double-meaning? In other words, are Jews now permitted to eat bacon and frog legs, for example? Why or why not?
2.) Its easy to think that being a good person could earn you eternal life and salvation. Most non-Christians believe that is true. This can be a difficult truth to accept because Peter says that sins are forgiven through Jesus' name (later Paul would say only through Christ's name). What do you think happens to people who don't hear about Christ but are exceptionally good people? Do you think they will be reached out to by God as Cornelius was? What if Peter would've refused to go? What would've happened to Cornelius, his family and friends? Would they be saved? Explain.
3.) I know your noodle has to be cooked after that last question so we'll end with an easy one. How are you?
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