Acts 10:1-10:48
Today we continue our history of the early church as told by Dr. Luke in the book of Acts. We come to Chapter 10. This is a pivotal moment. God is about to smash some long-held beliefs and traditions to smithereens!
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, "Cornelius!" – Acts 10:1-3
A centurion was a leader of a hundred (or so) Roman troops. He was part of the Roman government, which was generally hated by the Jews, because they worshipped false gods (and many of them) and because they had repeatedly tried to make the Jews worship their Caesar. Notice that even this town is named after Caesar: Caesarea.
Cornelius was a Roman centurion. This meant, first of all, that he was not Jewish. However, he did not accept the Roman pantheon of gods; he believed in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to the degree that he understood who God was. He led his family in following God, he was a generous giver to the needy, and he was a man of prayer. No doubt, his actions put many Jews to shame. And one day, Cornelius, the non-Jew, was visited by an angel who audibly called him by name. “Cornelius!”
Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked. The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea." – Acts 10:4-6
We see that Cornelius responds to the angel the way most people are described in the Bible as responding to angels: in fear. Seeing an angel is an unnerving, terrifying experience. Why? For one thing, I don’t think angels are cute and cuddly. That is actually more a Greek or Roman invention. If when thinking of an angel you picture Cupid, remember that Cupid is one of the Greek gods. Also recall that one of the angels was the “angel of death” that killed all the non-Jewish firstborn in Egypt. Perhaps Cornelius thought of this. Angels in the Bible don’t visit non-Jews to chat.
C.S. Lewis, in his space trilogy, has a description of angels I really love. He says they appear something like beams of light and are “tilted.” But when you look at them you get a sense that they are not tilted, but you are, as is all of earth. They have an effect kind of like looking over the edge of a cliff. Not they make you feel as if you are falling, not just physically, but morally. You realize that you are a sinful man, or woman, and, standing before holiness, you are acutely aware of your un-holiness and the fact that you have no business standing before holiness.
“What is it, Master?” says Cornelius, full of fear. But the angel’s reply is actually encouraging! “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.” What does this mean? It is a pleasing sacrifice to God. God accepts this offering! And then the angel has instructions, very specific. Send some of those under you to bring back a man called Simon Peter, who is staying with Simon the tanner, in Joppa by the sea.
As is often the case, the angel doesn’t say why to do this. It’s simply a command. As a centurion, Cornelius was probably used to giving and receiving commands without explanations. Does he obey? Yes.
When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa. – Acts 10:7-8
Two servants and one of his soldiers who was also following after God. It is interesting to me that Cornelius told them everything. He was embarrassed. He didn’t doubt that it was truly an angel from God. What did they think? Did they think he was crazy? Certainly it sounded crazy!
About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. – Acts 10:9-10
Notice God’s timing here. They are approaching the city. Then, apparently, God made Peter ravenously hungry! That’s kind of funny to me. Yes, we know God can do anything, but would you ever think he would make someone starving? And while he is waiting for a servant to make him a meal, he falls into a trance – meaning he has a vision.
(By the way, there was nothing weird about being on a roof. Back then, and there, being on a roof was a lot like you being out on your deck.)
He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat." – Acts 10:11-13
The Greek word for sheet can also refer to a sail. And in the vision, Peter sees “all kinds” of animals, including unclean ones, ones that in the Old Testament Law, were said to be unclean and not for sacrifice or eating. So while Peter is starving with a supernatural hunger, God shows Peter in this vision all these forbidden foods and says, “Go ahead. Chow down!”
"Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean." The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. – Acts 10:14-16
Notice that like Cornelius, Peter is given a command. How did Cornelius respond? By obeying – the mean were about to enter the city. And how did Peter respond? By saying, “No way!”
Actually, what Peter said was even worse than this. It is “No way, LORD!” A contradiction in three words! If you call God Lord, this implies that you intend to obey Him. If you intend to disobey Him, you probably should not call Him Lord.
Next, in his dream he was gently rebuked. “Don’t call anything impure that God has made clean.” Peter, in his trance, did not seem to “get” this, and the entire interchange happened two more times. Peter than awakened from his trance but he was clueless as to what it all meant. But he didn’t wonder for long.
By the way, what else happened to Peter three times? His denial of knowing Jesus, and his questioning by Jesus, “Do you love Me?”
While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon's house was and stopped at the gate. They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there. – Acts 10:17-18
I think there are some pretty strong ironies here. First of all, here is Peter, staying at the house of Simon the tanner. As I mentioned last week, the occupation of tanner was not well-respected, because a tanner was spiritually unclean all the time. He worked with dead animals, and probably the odor was noticeable and not pleasant. I mentioned last week that it was against the law for a tanner to try to hide his occupation when looking for someone to marry – the punishment was an annulment of the engagement.
So Peter is staying at a place that is perpetually unclean, and here come Cornelius’ men. They stop at the gate and do not go in, but instead, call from outside. Why? Probably, because to a Jew it was a grave offense for a non-Jew to even go into their house. Not wanting to offend, they call from outside. Can you imagine if Peter, smelling a bit like his surroundings, and realizing they were non-Jews, said, “Go away from here! You are unclean!”
But Peter has just had this bewildering vision where God rebukes him for calling something unclean that has been made clean. Even with the vision, God leaves nothing to chance here. Look at what happens:
While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them." Peter went down and said to the men, "I'm the one you're looking for. Why have you come?" – Acts 10:19-21
The Holy Spirit, before Peter can respond, says, “Three men are looking for you. Do not hesitate to go with them (even if you think they are unclean) because I have sent them (and you should not call unclean what I can make clean). Do you see how the vision and the message from the Spirit go together?
And look at Peter’s (characteristically) bold response. There is no sign of introduction at all. Just, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?”
Now, perhaps like Peter, you may be thinking, but wait. Let’s talk about the food thing here. The Law said you couldn’t eat certain foods. Jesus said He didn’t come to abolish the law. What’s going on here?
Perhaps it will be helpful to consider the following History of Eating.
1. All fruits and vegetables OK – just pick from the Garden – but for one fruit.
And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die” – Gen. 2:16-17 (the covenant with Adam)
(Note that after the Fall, the foods are the same, but now “by the sweat of our brow.” – Gen. 3:17-19)
2. Now all meats OK too – but no blood.
“Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything. But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it.” – Gen 9:3-4 (the covenant with Noah)
3. Now only some meats OK.
“These are the regulations concerning animals, birds, every living thing that moves in the water and every creature that moves about on the ground. You must distinguish between the unclean and the clean, between living creatures that may be eaten and those that may not be eaten.” – Lev. 11:46-47 (the covenant with Moses)
What is the point? The foods acceptable changed with each covenant. I believe the foods permitted were symbolic lessons about the covenants themselves. With Adam, the first covenant banned meat, because that would require killing, and there was no death before the Fall. There was one forbidden fruit, because a condition of the covenant was that they needed to trust and obey God (in this one small thing). Here the lesson is both symbolic and the lesson itself.
After the flood, with the covenant with Noah, God now allowed meat to be eaten. It’s pretty obvious there is a symbolic meaning here. Consider this passage:
Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. The fear and dread of you will fall upon all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air, upon every creature that moves along the ground, and upon all the fish of the sea; they are given into your hands. Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything. "But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it. And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each man, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man. "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man. As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it." – Gen. 9:1-7
What is the symbolism? Dominion. God gave Noah and his sons dominion over all the earth. And the restriction about eating meat with its lifeblood still in it was symbolic of the prohibition against murder.
What about the covenant with Moses? At heart is the separation between clean and unclean animals. The covenant itself was about separation. They had just been separated from the God-defying and false-god-worshiping Eypgtians, and they were about to go into new lands where false gods were worshiped and detestable practices were conducted. Many of the regulations of this covenant were about keeping themselves separate from the Gentiles so that they would not forget or forsake their God. And so the food requirements were symbolic of this emphasis on separation between clean and unclean.
Now we come to the New Covenant. What is the essence of the New Covenant? It is that we are made clean, not by what we eat or don’t eat but by Christ. (See Mark 7:1-23 where Jesus Himself says this; also Romans 14:14a and Col. 2:16-17). Separation no longer keeps us clean. The blood of Christ makes us clean. “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” The new food rules are symbolic of how Christ can make all men clean.
Because of my Jewish background, I struggled for several years about whether I was supposed to keep the food laws. But this, and the Romans and Colossians passages make it clear that I have freedom. Beyond this, my eating from “all foods” is a way for me symbolically to identify with the truth that Christ can make all men clean. By eating from “all foods,” I am embracing the glorious truth of the New Covenant. “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” – Acts 1:8b
Continuing on in Acts 10:
The men replied, "We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to have you come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say." Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests. – Acts 10:22-23a
It is significant that Peter invited them as guests, even though they weren’t Jewish. Peter “got” it.
The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went along. The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. But Peter made him get up. "Stand up," he said, "I am only a man myself." – Acts 10:23b-26
One thing that encourages me in this chapter is that nobody is perfect. Peter with his “Surely not, Lord” and Cornelius here worshiping Peter reminds me that God does not expect or demand perfection, certainly not in our own strength. He expects that we seek after Him. Growing as a believer is a gradual process. The degree to which we pursue genuine relationship with Him is the measure we should really care about. If we are doing this, He will be able to transform us into His likeness as He promises He will do.
Talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?" – Acts 10:27-29
After this rocky start, did Peter think, “This is hopeless!” This guy is worshiping me! No. Instead, Peter is wonderfully candid in verse 28. More literally, “God has been showing me recently that I should not call people impure or unclean.”
Cornelius answered: "Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me and said, 'Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.' – Acts 10:30-32
Here is an interesting question: Why didn’t the angel just explain everything to Cornelius? Why is Peter even involved? The short answer is that this is how God works. He wants to work through us! Even though we are “lower than the angels,” He loves us and wants us to partner with Him in doing His good work. I find this very encouraging. God loves to work with the weak.
So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us." Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. – Acts 10:33-35
Cornelius is so gracious! “It was good of you to come. Now we can just listen to you.” Again Peter is wonderfully candid. A better translation is this: “I am just now in the process of coming to grasp for myself that God is not partial ...”
You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how He went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him. – Acts 10:36-38
His message: Peace with God is available through Him.
His essence: He is Man and Lord of all.
His anointing: It is with the Holy Spirit and power.
His works: They are doing good and healing those under the power of the devil.
"We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. – Acts 10:39-41
His death: He was crucified on a cross.
His resurrection: He was seen by witnesses.
He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." – Acts 10:42-43
His command: Tell others about Him and the judgment.
His offer: Forgiveness is available by believing in Him.
This is the gospel.
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. – Acts 10:44-46
It’s Acts Chapter 2 all over again! And note this: Who laid hands on them to receive the Holy Spirit? Nobody. Who prayed they would receive the Spirit? Nobody. Simply hearing the gospel, they “appropriated” it right away. God poured out the Holy Spirit on them because, well, the Holy Spirit is like the wind and blows where it wants to.
Looking at the event, it is clear it was as much for Peter as it was for them. This confirmed to Peter that God was willing and ready to bring non-Jews into the kingdom. They didn’t need to become Jews first. Peace with God was not based on keeping the Law of Moses! It was based on genuine faith in Christ.
Then Peter said, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days. – Acts 10:47-48
And so in a way, this was the second birth of the early church. Because of this, the gospel spread like wildfire through the non-Christian world, so that about 30 years later, Paul would say,
All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth. – Col. 1:6
Applications:
1. Examine your heart. Do you think of some people as “unclean”?
Do not call unclean what God has cleansed. God desires that everyone be saved. The gospel is for everyone to hear. Let everyone have a chance to respond to the message of the availability of forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Don’t “write some people off!” God doesn’t ask us to try to judge in advance who is most likely to respond to the gospel. He tells us to do the opposite: to tell the gospel to all.
2. God wants to work through me!
3. Can you remember the 8 parts to Peter’s presentation of the gospel?
Message: Peace with God available through Him
Essence: Man and Lord of all
Anointing: With Holy Spirit and power
Works: Doing good and healing those under the power of the devil
Death: Crucified on a cross
Resurrection: Seen by witnesses
Command: Tell others about Him and the judgment
Offer: Forgiveness available by believing in Him
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, "Cornelius!" – Acts 10:1-3
A centurion was a leader of a hundred (or so) Roman troops. He was part of the Roman government, which was generally hated by the Jews, because they worshipped false gods (and many of them) and because they had repeatedly tried to make the Jews worship their Caesar. Notice that even this town is named after Caesar: Caesarea.
Cornelius was a Roman centurion. This meant, first of all, that he was not Jewish. However, he did not accept the Roman pantheon of gods; he believed in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to the degree that he understood who God was. He led his family in following God, he was a generous giver to the needy, and he was a man of prayer. No doubt, his actions put many Jews to shame. And one day, Cornelius, the non-Jew, was visited by an angel who audibly called him by name. “Cornelius!”
Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked. The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea." – Acts 10:4-6
We see that Cornelius responds to the angel the way most people are described in the Bible as responding to angels: in fear. Seeing an angel is an unnerving, terrifying experience. Why? For one thing, I don’t think angels are cute and cuddly. That is actually more a Greek or Roman invention. If when thinking of an angel you picture Cupid, remember that Cupid is one of the Greek gods. Also recall that one of the angels was the “angel of death” that killed all the non-Jewish firstborn in Egypt. Perhaps Cornelius thought of this. Angels in the Bible don’t visit non-Jews to chat.
C.S. Lewis, in his space trilogy, has a description of angels I really love. He says they appear something like beams of light and are “tilted.” But when you look at them you get a sense that they are not tilted, but you are, as is all of earth. They have an effect kind of like looking over the edge of a cliff. Not they make you feel as if you are falling, not just physically, but morally. You realize that you are a sinful man, or woman, and, standing before holiness, you are acutely aware of your un-holiness and the fact that you have no business standing before holiness.
“What is it, Master?” says Cornelius, full of fear. But the angel’s reply is actually encouraging! “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.” What does this mean? It is a pleasing sacrifice to God. God accepts this offering! And then the angel has instructions, very specific. Send some of those under you to bring back a man called Simon Peter, who is staying with Simon the tanner, in Joppa by the sea.
As is often the case, the angel doesn’t say why to do this. It’s simply a command. As a centurion, Cornelius was probably used to giving and receiving commands without explanations. Does he obey? Yes.
When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa. – Acts 10:7-8
Two servants and one of his soldiers who was also following after God. It is interesting to me that Cornelius told them everything. He was embarrassed. He didn’t doubt that it was truly an angel from God. What did they think? Did they think he was crazy? Certainly it sounded crazy!
About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. – Acts 10:9-10
Notice God’s timing here. They are approaching the city. Then, apparently, God made Peter ravenously hungry! That’s kind of funny to me. Yes, we know God can do anything, but would you ever think he would make someone starving? And while he is waiting for a servant to make him a meal, he falls into a trance – meaning he has a vision.
(By the way, there was nothing weird about being on a roof. Back then, and there, being on a roof was a lot like you being out on your deck.)
He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat." – Acts 10:11-13
The Greek word for sheet can also refer to a sail. And in the vision, Peter sees “all kinds” of animals, including unclean ones, ones that in the Old Testament Law, were said to be unclean and not for sacrifice or eating. So while Peter is starving with a supernatural hunger, God shows Peter in this vision all these forbidden foods and says, “Go ahead. Chow down!”
"Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean." The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. – Acts 10:14-16
Notice that like Cornelius, Peter is given a command. How did Cornelius respond? By obeying – the mean were about to enter the city. And how did Peter respond? By saying, “No way!”
Actually, what Peter said was even worse than this. It is “No way, LORD!” A contradiction in three words! If you call God Lord, this implies that you intend to obey Him. If you intend to disobey Him, you probably should not call Him Lord.
Next, in his dream he was gently rebuked. “Don’t call anything impure that God has made clean.” Peter, in his trance, did not seem to “get” this, and the entire interchange happened two more times. Peter than awakened from his trance but he was clueless as to what it all meant. But he didn’t wonder for long.
By the way, what else happened to Peter three times? His denial of knowing Jesus, and his questioning by Jesus, “Do you love Me?”
While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon's house was and stopped at the gate. They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there. – Acts 10:17-18
I think there are some pretty strong ironies here. First of all, here is Peter, staying at the house of Simon the tanner. As I mentioned last week, the occupation of tanner was not well-respected, because a tanner was spiritually unclean all the time. He worked with dead animals, and probably the odor was noticeable and not pleasant. I mentioned last week that it was against the law for a tanner to try to hide his occupation when looking for someone to marry – the punishment was an annulment of the engagement.
So Peter is staying at a place that is perpetually unclean, and here come Cornelius’ men. They stop at the gate and do not go in, but instead, call from outside. Why? Probably, because to a Jew it was a grave offense for a non-Jew to even go into their house. Not wanting to offend, they call from outside. Can you imagine if Peter, smelling a bit like his surroundings, and realizing they were non-Jews, said, “Go away from here! You are unclean!”
But Peter has just had this bewildering vision where God rebukes him for calling something unclean that has been made clean. Even with the vision, God leaves nothing to chance here. Look at what happens:
While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them." Peter went down and said to the men, "I'm the one you're looking for. Why have you come?" – Acts 10:19-21
The Holy Spirit, before Peter can respond, says, “Three men are looking for you. Do not hesitate to go with them (even if you think they are unclean) because I have sent them (and you should not call unclean what I can make clean). Do you see how the vision and the message from the Spirit go together?
And look at Peter’s (characteristically) bold response. There is no sign of introduction at all. Just, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?”
Now, perhaps like Peter, you may be thinking, but wait. Let’s talk about the food thing here. The Law said you couldn’t eat certain foods. Jesus said He didn’t come to abolish the law. What’s going on here?
Perhaps it will be helpful to consider the following History of Eating.
1. All fruits and vegetables OK – just pick from the Garden – but for one fruit.
And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die” – Gen. 2:16-17 (the covenant with Adam)
(Note that after the Fall, the foods are the same, but now “by the sweat of our brow.” – Gen. 3:17-19)
2. Now all meats OK too – but no blood.
“Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything. But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it.” – Gen 9:3-4 (the covenant with Noah)
3. Now only some meats OK.
“These are the regulations concerning animals, birds, every living thing that moves in the water and every creature that moves about on the ground. You must distinguish between the unclean and the clean, between living creatures that may be eaten and those that may not be eaten.” – Lev. 11:46-47 (the covenant with Moses)
What is the point? The foods acceptable changed with each covenant. I believe the foods permitted were symbolic lessons about the covenants themselves. With Adam, the first covenant banned meat, because that would require killing, and there was no death before the Fall. There was one forbidden fruit, because a condition of the covenant was that they needed to trust and obey God (in this one small thing). Here the lesson is both symbolic and the lesson itself.
After the flood, with the covenant with Noah, God now allowed meat to be eaten. It’s pretty obvious there is a symbolic meaning here. Consider this passage:
Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. The fear and dread of you will fall upon all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air, upon every creature that moves along the ground, and upon all the fish of the sea; they are given into your hands. Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything. "But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it. And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each man, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man. "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man. As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it." – Gen. 9:1-7
What is the symbolism? Dominion. God gave Noah and his sons dominion over all the earth. And the restriction about eating meat with its lifeblood still in it was symbolic of the prohibition against murder.
What about the covenant with Moses? At heart is the separation between clean and unclean animals. The covenant itself was about separation. They had just been separated from the God-defying and false-god-worshiping Eypgtians, and they were about to go into new lands where false gods were worshiped and detestable practices were conducted. Many of the regulations of this covenant were about keeping themselves separate from the Gentiles so that they would not forget or forsake their God. And so the food requirements were symbolic of this emphasis on separation between clean and unclean.
Now we come to the New Covenant. What is the essence of the New Covenant? It is that we are made clean, not by what we eat or don’t eat but by Christ. (See Mark 7:1-23 where Jesus Himself says this; also Romans 14:14a and Col. 2:16-17). Separation no longer keeps us clean. The blood of Christ makes us clean. “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” The new food rules are symbolic of how Christ can make all men clean.
Because of my Jewish background, I struggled for several years about whether I was supposed to keep the food laws. But this, and the Romans and Colossians passages make it clear that I have freedom. Beyond this, my eating from “all foods” is a way for me symbolically to identify with the truth that Christ can make all men clean. By eating from “all foods,” I am embracing the glorious truth of the New Covenant. “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” – Acts 1:8b
Continuing on in Acts 10:
The men replied, "We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to have you come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say." Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests. – Acts 10:22-23a
It is significant that Peter invited them as guests, even though they weren’t Jewish. Peter “got” it.
The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went along. The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. But Peter made him get up. "Stand up," he said, "I am only a man myself." – Acts 10:23b-26
One thing that encourages me in this chapter is that nobody is perfect. Peter with his “Surely not, Lord” and Cornelius here worshiping Peter reminds me that God does not expect or demand perfection, certainly not in our own strength. He expects that we seek after Him. Growing as a believer is a gradual process. The degree to which we pursue genuine relationship with Him is the measure we should really care about. If we are doing this, He will be able to transform us into His likeness as He promises He will do.
Talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?" – Acts 10:27-29
After this rocky start, did Peter think, “This is hopeless!” This guy is worshiping me! No. Instead, Peter is wonderfully candid in verse 28. More literally, “God has been showing me recently that I should not call people impure or unclean.”
Cornelius answered: "Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me and said, 'Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.' – Acts 10:30-32
Here is an interesting question: Why didn’t the angel just explain everything to Cornelius? Why is Peter even involved? The short answer is that this is how God works. He wants to work through us! Even though we are “lower than the angels,” He loves us and wants us to partner with Him in doing His good work. I find this very encouraging. God loves to work with the weak.
So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us." Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. – Acts 10:33-35
Cornelius is so gracious! “It was good of you to come. Now we can just listen to you.” Again Peter is wonderfully candid. A better translation is this: “I am just now in the process of coming to grasp for myself that God is not partial ...”
You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how He went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him. – Acts 10:36-38
His message: Peace with God is available through Him.
His essence: He is Man and Lord of all.
His anointing: It is with the Holy Spirit and power.
His works: They are doing good and healing those under the power of the devil.
"We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. – Acts 10:39-41
His death: He was crucified on a cross.
His resurrection: He was seen by witnesses.
He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." – Acts 10:42-43
His command: Tell others about Him and the judgment.
His offer: Forgiveness is available by believing in Him.
This is the gospel.
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. – Acts 10:44-46
It’s Acts Chapter 2 all over again! And note this: Who laid hands on them to receive the Holy Spirit? Nobody. Who prayed they would receive the Spirit? Nobody. Simply hearing the gospel, they “appropriated” it right away. God poured out the Holy Spirit on them because, well, the Holy Spirit is like the wind and blows where it wants to.
Looking at the event, it is clear it was as much for Peter as it was for them. This confirmed to Peter that God was willing and ready to bring non-Jews into the kingdom. They didn’t need to become Jews first. Peace with God was not based on keeping the Law of Moses! It was based on genuine faith in Christ.
Then Peter said, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days. – Acts 10:47-48
And so in a way, this was the second birth of the early church. Because of this, the gospel spread like wildfire through the non-Christian world, so that about 30 years later, Paul would say,
All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth. – Col. 1:6
Applications:
1. Examine your heart. Do you think of some people as “unclean”?
Do not call unclean what God has cleansed. God desires that everyone be saved. The gospel is for everyone to hear. Let everyone have a chance to respond to the message of the availability of forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Don’t “write some people off!” God doesn’t ask us to try to judge in advance who is most likely to respond to the gospel. He tells us to do the opposite: to tell the gospel to all.
2. God wants to work through me!
3. Can you remember the 8 parts to Peter’s presentation of the gospel?
Message: Peace with God available through Him
Essence: Man and Lord of all
Anointing: With Holy Spirit and power
Works: Doing good and healing those under the power of the devil
Death: Crucified on a cross
Resurrection: Seen by witnesses
Command: Tell others about Him and the judgment
Offer: Forgiveness available by believing in Him
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