Acts 10:1-48
Cornelius Calls for Peter
1At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, "Cornelius!"
4Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked.
The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea."
7When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.
Peter's Vision
9About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. 13Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat."
14"Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean."
15The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."
16This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.
17While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon's house was and stopped at the gate. 18They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.
19While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Simon, three men are looking for you. 20So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them."
21Peter went down and said to the men, "I'm the one you're looking for. Why have you come?"
22The men replied, "We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to have you come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say." 23Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.
Peter at Cornelius' House
The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went along. 24The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26But Peter made him get up. "Stand up," he said, "I am only a man myself."
27Talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. 29So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?"
30Cornelius answered: "Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31and said, 'Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.' 33So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us."
34Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. 36You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
39"We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, 40but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
Then Peter said, 47"Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." 48So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
Cornelius, a Gentile, Roman Centurion, in Caesarea had a vision...He and his family were devout and God-fearing...He gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly...One day at three in the afternoon, he had a vision...He clearly saw an angel of God, who said to him, "Cornelius, your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God...Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Peter, who is called Simon...He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea."...After the angels spoke, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier, and told them everything that had happened... He then sent the three men to Joppa for Simon Peter...
Simon Peter, who was in Joppa, had a vision on noon the next day...Peter went up on a flat roof, in a home he was visiting and prayed...He became hungry and wanted something to eat...While he was praying, the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance...Peter saw heaven open and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners...It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth, and birds of the air...Then a voice told Peter, "Get up, Peter, Kill and eat...
Peter said, "Surely, not, LORD...I have never eaten anything impure or unclean."...The voice came to him for a second time and said, "Do not call anything impure that God has made."...This happened three times and then the sheet was take back up into heaven...While Peter was thinking right after this vision and what it meant, the two servants and soldier of Cornelius were outside the house of Simon Peter...They called out, if Simon who was also known as Peter was staying there...
The Holy Spirit said to him, "Simon, three men are looking for you...So get up and go downstairs...Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them."...Peter came down from the roof, with the visions fresh on his mind, and said, "I am the one you're looking for, why have you come?"...The men replied, "We have come from Cornelius the centurion...He is a righteous and a God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people...A holy angel came to him to have you come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say."...Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests...
The next day Peter went with them to Joppa...The following day they made it to Cornelius' house in Caesarea...Cornelius fell to his feet upon meeting Simon Peter...Peter told him to get up, for he to was only a man...Peter went inside with Cornelius and a large crowd was inside...Peter told him that it was against the law of the Jew to come into a Gentile's house and eat with them...The vision that Peter had did not completely eliminate the prejudices and past teachings that Peter had...Peter told he too, had a vision which God told him to come to you...Peter ask why do you want to see me...Cornelius told Peter about his vision and how an angel told him to send for you (Simon Peter)...Therefore, I did this, I sent for you...
Peter began to speak and said that now he knows God does not show favoritism...God accepts all men from every nation that fear Him...God sent to the people of Israel, His Son, Jesus Christ who taught, preached beginning in Galilee, and then throughout Judea...God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit, and He went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him...
We are all witnesses of everything He did in the country of the Jews...The Jews killed Him by hanging Him from a tree, but God raised Him from the dead...All the prophets had testified about Him, now He lives through the resurrection...Everyone who believes in Him, receives forgiveness of sins through His name...While Peter was speaking the Holy Spirit came to everyone, including the Gentiles and poured out...They received the Holy Spirit, and Peter ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ...They ask Peter to stay for a few days...
Our past experiences and environment has a stronghold on us...Even after Peter had two visions, he was still inclined to not eat, what he perceived as, unclean food...Even though he was moved by the Holy Spirit and went to see Cornelius, he still was feeling his past not wanting to change...Ignorance, weakness, and sin many times immobilize us...Our worst barrier in getting close and closer to God, is ourselves...We must realize this as we seek Him...God is at this very moment trying to get closer to us...We get ingrained with earthly life and its experiences, teachings, and comforts...We become stagnant in moving toward Him. because of our past ...God wants us to move closer to Him...
God does not show favoritism...God is perfection...God is Love...God is always trying to perfect us and make us better...Our conscious leads us to get better...There is evil out there, but our Creator and Sculptor is here trying to perfect us...
God was with the early disciples and the teachings of Jesus spread every quickly...