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9. The Beginning of Preaching to the Gentiles through the Conversion of Cornelius the Centurion (Acts 10:1 - 11:18)
ACTS 10:17-33
17 Now while Peter was very perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood before the gate, 18 and called and asked whether Simon, who was surnamed Peter, was lodging there. 19 While Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men seek you. 20 But arise, get down, and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.” 21 Peter went down to the men, and said, “Behold, I am he whom you seek. Why have you come?” 22 They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man and one who fears God, and well spoken of by all the nation of the Jews, was directed by a holy angel to invite you to his house, and to listen to what you say.” 23 So he called them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter arose and went out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 On the next day they entered into Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his relatives and his near friends. 25 When it happened that Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, and worshiped him. 26 But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up! I myself am also a man.” 27 As he talked with him, he went in and found many gathered together. 28 He said to them, “You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to join himself or come to one of another nation, but God has shown me that I shouldn’t call any man unholy or unclean. 29 Therefore also I came without complaint when I was sent for. I ask therefore, why did you send for me?” 30 Cornelius said, “Four days ago, I was fasting until this hour, and at the ninth hour, I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your gifts to the needy are remembered in the sight of God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa, and summon Simon, who is surnamed Peter. He lodges in the house of Simon a tanner, by the seaside. When he comes, he will speak to you.’ 33 Therefore I sent to you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God to hear all things that have been commanded you by God.”
God is not a philosopher, knitting together thoughts far from the truth. When God spoke to Peter in a trance, the servants of Cornelius, the centurion, were already on their way to him. They searched for the house of Simon, the tanner, and found it quickly, being led by the bad smell of leather. When they arrived they asked Simon for his guest, the man of God.
Peter, for his part, was still pondering the significance of the vision he had not understood. Rubbing his eyes, he heard someone calling him from the road. While still in a heavenly trance he suddenly saw before him soldiers, whom he first thought had come to take him to prison. The Holy Spirit spoke to the most courageous among the apostles, saying: “Open your eyes and see how the vision of God is going to become a visible reality. God was with those unclean people, and was calling them to himself: Behold, Peter, I am sending you to the Gentiles. Do not regard them as unclean, for I love them, and I have cleansed them.
Peter did not run away from the soldiers, but obeyed the voice of God. He went with the Roman soldiers, free from worry or fear. He introduced himself to them and asked about the reason for their coming. They told him that a bright angel had appeared to Cornelius, a faithful officer, who freely gave alms to godly members of the Old Testament. He had sent them to ask Peter to come to his house so that he might hear divine words from him.
When Peter heard this, he invited them into the house, notwithstanding the prohibition of the law, lodging them a complete night. He knelt down and prayed to God, seeking His guidance, for as yet he knew neither what Christ wanted him to do nor the words he should speak to Cornelius, the Gentile. He only understood that God was somehow breaking down lawful prohibitions through this thrice repeated vision. As Cornelius submitted obediently to the guidance of God, so, too, Peter submitted to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, in spite of his conscience, which was still bound by the traditions of the law.
The next morning he began his journey along the Palestinian coast, traveling south to east and finally to Caesarea. Peter had asked some of the brothers to accompany him as witnesses. He sensed the beginning of something beyond understanding. The apostle did not desire to experience these divine truths by himself but sought witnesses, who might later clarify Christ’s designs through personal witness.
After a one-day walk the procession reached its destination at Caesarea the next morning. The officer had calculated the expected date of Peter’s arrival, for he was convinced that the apostle would definitely and immediately obey the voice of Christ. He invited his relatives and friends to him, who came in full dress. They sat together in prayer, waiting with great expectation the event about to come to them.
When Peter arrived Cornelius did not encounter a bright angel, or an ingenious philosopher, or a prophet with a halo around his head. He met a simple fisherman. In spite of this, the officer came forward to worship him, knowing that God demanded complete submission. Cornelius’ worship of Peter was an expression of his profound regard for God, reflected in reverence for the ambassador the Almighty was sending to him.
Peter, however, refused every honor intended for him. His first words to the officer were “Stand up”. Stand up quickly, for I am not a god, but only a man like you.” This is the principle of every ambassador of Christ, for every bishop and pope. No man is worthy of being worshiped, for we are all justified sinners. Peter did not forget his earlier life as a rough, depraved, swearing, lying fisherman. The Lord, however, had had mercy on him, and commissioned him to speak to the people and the High Jewish Council. Now He was sending him to preach to the Gentiles. He prevented Cornelius from deifying and honoring him. After briefly conversing, they both entered into the house, where the multitude was waiting, expecting a divine miracle at the hand of the apostle. There were a great number of people crowded into the room - all Gentiles, whom the Jews despised.
Peter overcame the feeling in him of hatred towards those present. He explained to them at the beginning that Jewish law made it taboo for a Jew to associate with or visit people of another nation. Nevertheless, he had received a new commandment from God, saying he should not consider any man unclean or common. Peter was still unaware of what he should say or do, even when he finally sat down with these people. The thought of preaching to Gentiles was strange and incomprehensible to this Christian of Jewish origin. He asked those present what they wanted of him. They were all astonished, for this man of God was seeking to hear their thoughts. Then Cornelius began speaking. He retold the story of his encounter with the angel four days ago, adding a great statement: “Now we are present to hear the revelation exactly as given to you by God.”
This is the same question you are faced with - from your students, neighbors, and friends: What is your testimony? What is your knowledge of God? Do you have any message to tell? Or are you silent like a fish? Have you experienced or learned any thing about God? If you have, then speak, and do not keep silent.
PRAYER: O Lord Jesus Christ, our hearts are slow of understanding, and our minds are stubborn and ignorant. Open our eyes to see every man who longs for the testimony of Your salvation. Teach us to obey the guidance of Your Holy Spirit immediately, so that we may find those who hunger for righteousness and see them filled with Your salvation.
QUESTION:
- What made Cornelius, the Roman officer, want to worship Peter, the fisherman? Why did Peter prevent him?