A Nugget from New Life Network

Scripture for the Day – December 18, 2019

And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. (Acts 10:28)

Chapter 10 of Acts contains a fascinating account of the Apostle Peter and his contact with Cornelius and his friends. Cornelius was a Roman soldier, a Centurion, and a Gentile, who was in-charge of at least 100 Italian soldiers. He was described in Acts 10 as a devout man that loved God and was respected by the Jewish people.

An angel appeared to Cornelius one day and told him that his prayers and alms had come up as a memorial before God. Memorial in the Greek means a written record or account and indicated God wanted in some way to give something to Cornelius. The angel told Cornelius to send for Peter and that Peter would tell him or show what he needed.

At the same time God was dealing with Cornelius, God was also dealing with Peter through the use of a vision using a sheet that displayed all kinds of animals. He was told to kill and eat, but Peter balked at that because he had never eaten things that were not permitted by Jewish culinary standards. We learn later on in Acts 10 that God was not referring to culinary things, but He was using this vision to indicate to Peter that God was not a respecter of persons and whatever God made clean was clean.

As we go through Acts 10 we see that God was dealing with Peter’s religion, his prejudices, and his discrimination of other ethnic groups. At the same time, God was dealing with Cornelius and his band of friends to bring them something they needed.

All through Acts 10 we see God using revelation to break through religious and cultural barriers. He used an angel, a vision, and the Holy Spirit to speak to both men to bring them together. The end result was that Peter obeyed and went to meet with Cornelius and his band of friends and soldiers. In the end, Peter preached the Gospel to them all and the
Holy Ghost fell on the entire house:

While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. (Acts 10:44-48)

There is just so many lessons we can learn from this account. Prejudice and racial discrimination was alive and well in Peter’s day. It did not just start in the United States. God was fighting it a long time before we ever were. We can also be too quick to judge someone like Peter. We can look at his life and find fault with him for all kinds of things but just remember, Jesus is the judge, not us.

Remember this, Peter was bold enough to step out of the boat and walk on water. Peter was bold enough to recognize and say who Jesus really was. Peter recognized what the Upper Room experience was all about and was the one that quoted the Joel prophesy. Peter was the first to stand up and preach the Gospel after the Upper Room and see thousands saved. Peter raised the dead. Peter was obedient enough to walk into a Roman Centurion’s house and preach the Gospel message that God wanted to give to Cornelius, which was salvation and the Holy Ghost.

Have any of us come anywhere close to doing any of those things that Peter did? I don’t think so. Best if we did not judge Peter!!! God looks at the heart and He is the judge and I am pretty sure He would say, good job Peter!

 

 

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