A Vision That Breaks Barriers
[ READ ] Acts 10:1-23
Peter and Cornelius
1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, 8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
Peter's Vision
9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.
17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood at the gate 18 and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. 19 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” 21 And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” 22 And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.” 23 So he invited them in to be his guests.
1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, 8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
Peter's Vision
9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.
17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood at the gate 18 and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. 19 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” 21 And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” 22 And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.” 23 So he invited them in to be his guests.
The Jewish food laws were not arbitrary. Through them, God marked Israel as a holy people, separating them from the surrounding nations (let us remember here that a defining component of holiness is set-apartness). This was a necessary step in salvation history. In establishing Israel, God chose a covenant people from whom He operated in expansion. As such, Israel needed to be disciplined in separation, holiness and obedience. The food laws, then, were a part of a larger system that trained the Israelites in these virtues.
Then, in Christ, the next chapter of salvation history is unfurled.
In Christ, the covenantal boundary markers that separated Jew from Gentile are transformed. This reaches a decisive public turning point with Cornelius. Everything about the providential setup of Cornelius’s vision exudes boundary transcendence. Cornelius is not a Jew (though he is a God-fearer). He’s a Roman centurion (a commander!). He receives the vision in Caesarea Maritima, a political and administrative capital in the Roman political system. All of this would be considered highly unusual by the Jewish people. But who has measured the Spirit of the Lord, or what man shows him his counsel? [Isaiah 40:13]
The next day, in Jewish-associated Joppa, the Spirit reveals another equally important piece of the puzzle. This time, Peter is the recipient.
In this way, the Gentile seeker and the Jewish apostle are both met by God in prayer before they ever meet each other in person.
We should pay attention to the geography that Luke highlights in this chapter. Peter is summoned from the significantly Jewish city of Joppa into Caesarea Maritima – the very heart of Gentile-Roman power in Judea. Why? And why does Cornelius’s angel not simply tell him, “Believe in Jesus Christ, receive forgiveness, and be baptized”? Why command the extra steps associated with summoning Peter for this work?
Calvin, in his commentary on Acts, expounds upon this well. Christ has ordained human preaching as the ordinary means of gospel proclamation. The angel can direct Cornelius to Peter, but Peter himself must preach Christ. And in the unfolding of salvation history, Peter and Cornelius’s geographic connection itself preaches the gospel – a breaking of barriers, and a kingdom open to all through the one who is himself the Way.
Christ opens, Peter is the apostolic instrument, and we enter.
- Kidus Kebede
Then, in Christ, the next chapter of salvation history is unfurled.
In Christ, the covenantal boundary markers that separated Jew from Gentile are transformed. This reaches a decisive public turning point with Cornelius. Everything about the providential setup of Cornelius’s vision exudes boundary transcendence. Cornelius is not a Jew (though he is a God-fearer). He’s a Roman centurion (a commander!). He receives the vision in Caesarea Maritima, a political and administrative capital in the Roman political system. All of this would be considered highly unusual by the Jewish people. But who has measured the Spirit of the Lord, or what man shows him his counsel? [Isaiah 40:13]
The next day, in Jewish-associated Joppa, the Spirit reveals another equally important piece of the puzzle. This time, Peter is the recipient.
In this way, the Gentile seeker and the Jewish apostle are both met by God in prayer before they ever meet each other in person.
We should pay attention to the geography that Luke highlights in this chapter. Peter is summoned from the significantly Jewish city of Joppa into Caesarea Maritima – the very heart of Gentile-Roman power in Judea. Why? And why does Cornelius’s angel not simply tell him, “Believe in Jesus Christ, receive forgiveness, and be baptized”? Why command the extra steps associated with summoning Peter for this work?
Calvin, in his commentary on Acts, expounds upon this well. Christ has ordained human preaching as the ordinary means of gospel proclamation. The angel can direct Cornelius to Peter, but Peter himself must preach Christ. And in the unfolding of salvation history, Peter and Cornelius’s geographic connection itself preaches the gospel – a breaking of barriers, and a kingdom open to all through the one who is himself the Way.
Christ opens, Peter is the apostolic instrument, and we enter.
- Kidus Kebede
[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ The vision in the second half of the above passage concerns food, but Peter himself later interprets it chiefly in terms of persons. Why do you think this is?
+ The vision in the second half of the above passage concerns food, but Peter himself later interprets it chiefly in terms of persons. Why do you think this is?
[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ In his commentary on the above passage, Calvin says the following regarding the use of set prayer times: “For because we are drawn away with divers businesses, and there is no end of turmoiling, unless we bridle ourselves, it is good to have certain hours appointed for prayer, not because we are tied to hours, but lest we be unmindful of prayer, which ought to be preferred before all cares and business.” Elsewhere, he is clear that we shouldn’t be legalistic about mechanisms of this nature – yet, still, their usefulness is clear. Do you have such aides to holiness that help you stay connected to your Savior in prayer, service, and Scripture reading?
+ Re-read verses 17-23. Notice that, though Peter does not yet possess full comprehension of what is happening, he obeys the Spirit anyway. Obedience even without full comprehension – does that sound like you?
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ In his commentary on the above passage, Calvin says the following regarding the use of set prayer times: “For because we are drawn away with divers businesses, and there is no end of turmoiling, unless we bridle ourselves, it is good to have certain hours appointed for prayer, not because we are tied to hours, but lest we be unmindful of prayer, which ought to be preferred before all cares and business.” Elsewhere, he is clear that we shouldn’t be legalistic about mechanisms of this nature – yet, still, their usefulness is clear. Do you have such aides to holiness that help you stay connected to your Savior in prayer, service, and Scripture reading?
+ Re-read verses 17-23. Notice that, though Peter does not yet possess full comprehension of what is happening, he obeys the Spirit anyway. Obedience even without full comprehension – does that sound like you?
[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, help me to embody your passion for the expansion of your righteous kingdom. Help me to serve your kingdom in obedience, even when I don’t yet possess a full understanding of what you are doing. You are good, and your plans are good. Help me to trust in this, that I may walk the path that hastens the below becoming as the above. In Jesus’s almighty name, amen.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, help me to embody your passion for the expansion of your righteous kingdom. Help me to serve your kingdom in obedience, even when I don’t yet possess a full understanding of what you are doing. You are good, and your plans are good. Help me to trust in this, that I may walk the path that hastens the below becoming as the above. In Jesus’s almighty name, amen.
[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
+ What cultural, social or personal barriers might God be calling you to cross so that Christ may be proclaimed faithfully?
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
+ What cultural, social or personal barriers might God be calling you to cross so that Christ may be proclaimed faithfully?
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