Acts 10 and 11
Like Peter, we can talk change, but don’t actually like change. Suppose you had been able to speak to Peter just before he arrived at Cornelius’ house. You could have made a powerful case to him for receiving the Gentiles:
- “Peter, in Acts 2:17, you predicted that the Spirit would be poured
out ‘upon all flesh.’” - “Peter, you said in Acts 2:39 that your message would be ‘unto you, and your children and all who are afar off’” (meaning the Gentiles, according to Paul’s usage in Ephesians 2:13).
- “Peter, you walked with the Lord Jesus for three years; were Spirit-filled during the ten years since Pentecost, have been the human agent of miracles, and you still do not believe your own preaching about Gentile salvation.” Peter—like the rest of us—talked change, but found it tough to actually change.
What Hindered Cornelius from Changing Cornelius faced emotional and cultural frontiers, but he was amazingly open. He didn’t protect himself by saying, “Everyone stay out of the living room until I check out this fisherman to see what his angle is.” No. Instead, he had Peter’s ETA figured and filled his home with guests.
The American space program put a man on the moon while the world watched. In the same way, by inviting people in to meet Peter as he did, Cornelius was committing himself before he knew what Peter would say. He wanted friends to hear the Jewish preacher. And what humility he showed as Peter came in!
But what was his secret fear? What was Cornelius risking here? Gentiles were viewed as being in different categories: 1. Gentile dogs; 2. God fearers— monotheists who would not swallow the myths about playful, immoral Greco-Roman gods; 3. Full proselytes who had been circumcised and sought to keep the ceremonial law. Cornelius was in the second category.
This Roman might have feared being circumcised to become a full-fledged proselyte. The painful cutting of a fold of skin would have made a less earnest man draw back.
Cornelius locked himself into doing whatever Peter said. The Roman had promoted Peter’s coming and gathered family and friends. And he told of the angel’s visit, lending further authority to whatever the apostle would say.
The High Drama of the Gentile Pentecost at Cornelius’ House Peter found a full room. God was about to do a special thing and He allowed no space for the legalists to later claim, “Cornelius was an isolated exception.”
The theory and theology of unity is found in Ephesians 2; but the agony of making it work is in Acts 10 & 11 and Galatians 2.
As Peter stood before them, he was reinterpreting much of the Old Testament. He announced his new view of the prophets, i.e., that they had been saying all along that everyone who believed in Jesus Christ receives forgiveness of sin (10:43).
Peter in effect asked Cornelius, “What does your half of the puzzle look like (10:29)?” “What clues can you provide as to what’s going on, Cornelius?” Cornelius reported that an angel directed him to call Peter. Certainly God could have saved time and effort by just having the angel tell Cornelius how to be saved. But God uses people (Revelation 14:6 is the only text in the Bible about angelic evangelism).
Peter knew if he were God’s man on the cutting edge of Gentile salvation, critics would want to eat him for lunch (11:2). Yet how could he not like Cornelius?
Verse 34 “I now realize…” The steam was rising off Peter’s mental mirror; the light was dawning. It is wonderful that Peter was saying this because he had walked 30 miles wondering if he was about to lose his testimony for consistent, quality work with the pro-Israel faction of the Church. The Jewish-Christian mentality held that the only way into Christianity was through the foyer of Judaism. The Jewish-Christian attitude was, “Fence out the undesirables by requiring circumcision. Keep ‘em at arm’s length.”
Peter had hardly started preaching when the Spirit fell on the people. Peter’s message was interrupted with such dynamic, over-powering evidence of God’s presence that he stopped preaching and stood on the sidelines. Whammo—they all believed (10:44-46). The Gentile Pentecost!
Verse 47 finds Peter asking the six brethren he has brought along as witnesses, “Can we forbid baptism to these people?” The question shows that Peter knew he was on risky ground. Peter was careful to point out that “they have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.”
This news got back to Jerusalem before Peter did (11:1&2). Trouble was brewing. Peter was criticized. But 11:18 reports the happy conclusion to the whole matter: “When they [the Jewish believers in Jerusalem] heard this, they had no further objections and praised God.” That’s a cheerful acceptance of change.
Backlash From Our Past Many of us have changed, but then slid back into our former way of acting and thinking. Galatians 2:11-13 shows that when the peer pressure was on, Peter slipped back, declining to fellowship with Gentile believers. (Teenagers are not the only ones subject to peer pressure). Confronted by Paul, Peter responded correctly.
Big people can change. Insecure people are threatened. People who know God loves them can cope, adjust, and go on to thrive. When God’s program changes, we have to change. What worked 25 years ago in the church may not work today. Leaders have the responsibility to make gentle and thorough preparation for change. God’s people have the responsibility to follow that leadership (Hebrews 13:17).
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