Acts 10:34-48. 34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
One of my wife’s favorite sayings is,“Why are we still talking?” The same thing happened to Peter in this passage. God actually interrupts Peter while he is giving a sermon to some Gentiles and fills them with the Holy Spirit, and they begin to speak in tongues. Peter then gives the command that they should be baptized, saying, “Can any man forbid water to these who have received the Spirit just as we have?” His speech begins with the revelation that he receives from God which gives him this insight, “God does not judge by appearances, but in every nation people who stand in awe of him and do his will, like Cornelius, are acceptable to him.” Remember, Cornelius was a Roman commander and there was great polarization between Jew and Gentile, between military and civilian, and between the early church and Romans. So this story is about a miracle carefully crafted by our Lord in a long, complex and pivotal chapter in Acts. This is the moment when Gentiles are fully accepted both by the Lord’s heavenly baptism, and then by the church’s act of earthly baptism.
It is a thrilling narrative. Cornelius, a Roman commander in Cesarea who is characterized by a life of constant prayer and multiple acts of charitable giving, is visited by an angel who tells him, “Cornelius, heaven has its eye on you. Your prayers and charities have risen up to God as a pleasing incense”. So the angel accepts him and then gives this command, “Go fetch Simon Peter who is staying with Simon the Tanner by the sea. Bring Simon Peter here and he will tell you what you are to do. Cornelius sends his aid de camp and two other believing soldiers from his household to “go fetch Peter”.
Meanwhile Peter has a dream. He is going up to the roof to pray and he gets hungry. Then, in a trance or ecstatic state he has a vision. A four cornered knit sheet drops out of heaven full of all kinds of animals. A voice from heaven, says “Arise Peter, kill and eat”. Peter protests, “Lord I have never ever eaten anything unclean or common”. Peter is meticulous about a Kosher Diet.
God says, “Call nothing unclean which God has made clean.”
This message is repeated three times, which is the Hebrew Triplicate. So while Peter is trying to figure out what this means the envoys from the household of Cornelius show up. They stand before the very large gate of the house of Simon the Tanner. The entourage relays to Peter that he is to go to the Roman Commander, not to hear what to do, but to tell the Roman Commander what he must do. Then Peter and some of the early Jewish disciples and the messengers start out to travel together.
The distance is about 54 kilometers or about 40 miles. So they were together about three to four days. I think that was a really important time for both groups as they got to know each other.
They arrive at the house of Cornelius. Cornelius bows before Peter, and Peter says, “We are both guys here, so let’s talk”.
Cornelius replies, “I am listening”.
Peter declares, “God has shown me that God does not judge by appearance or race or class, but accepts everyone who follows him.” That is the meaning of his vision. But then Peter does what preachers do. He transitions into his favorite sermon. He speaks of Jesus doing good, dying and rising and what that good news means. But while he is speaking, the Holy Spirit falls on the Gentiles and they begin to speak in tongues, astounding the Jews who say, “They are just like us." Now there were steps in the process. Peter had been staying with a Tanner which some consider unclean. Then both Peter and Cornelius have heavenly visions. Then the whole group spends hours, perhaps days walking together from Cesarea to Joppa, chatting, breaking the ice. Then Peter declares that God accepts everyone who does good, and gives Jesus as the ultimate example of doing good. When the Spirit falls and interrupts, Peter says, “Who can deny water to those who have the Spirit”. Here is what I get out of this. When the Spirit tells us what we need to know, it is no time to lay low. Peter let the Gentiles right in, and affirmed it with baptism. He was criticized for this, and he said, “Hey, this was God’s idea, and I acted on it”. When the Spirit tells you what you need to know it is no time to lay low. This theme repeats throughout Luke and Acts. When Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, is told to call his son John, he does it. When Mary is told she will give birth to the Messiah, she says, “Let it be done unto me”. When Jesus sends out the seventy disciples, they come back saying we did what you said and even demons obeyed. When Paul is told in a dream to go to Macedonia he goes. When Phillip is transported beside the chariot of an Ethiopian he hitches a ride, and shares the gospel. I realize that sometimes it is not clear what God wants. Sometimes in prayer we wonder if we will ever get a clear answer. Martin Luther says that is the time God is preparing you for, when you are able to respond to his call. So let me encourage you by saying God is working with all of us.
We need to be ready for when we catch the heavenly vision, because that will change the world. Amen.
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