|
| Chapter 10 |
| Bible Text | Notes and Thoughts |
|
1 ¶ There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian Band, 2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his house, who gave many alms to the people and prayed to God always. 3 He saw in a vision clearly, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in to him and saying unto him, "Cornelius!" 4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said unto him, "Thy prayers and thine alms have risen up as a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter. 6 He lodgeth with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside; he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do." 7 And when the angel who spoke unto Cornelius had departed, he called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from those who waited on him continually. 8 And when he had related all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa. 9 ¶ On the morrow, as they went on their journey and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour. 10 And he became very hungry and would have eaten; but while they were making ready he fell into a trance, 11 and saw heaven opened and a certain vessel descending unto him as though it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners and let down to the earth, 12 wherein were all types of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts and creeping things and fowls of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat." 14 But Peter said, "Not so, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean." 15 And the voice spoke unto him again the second time, "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common." 16 This was done thrice, and the vessel was received up again into heaven. 17 Now while Peter wondered to himself what this vision which he had seen could mean, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house and stood before the gate, 18 and called and asked whether Simon, who was surnamed Peter, was lodged there. 19 ¶ While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, "Behold, three men seek thee. 20 Arise therefore, and get thee down and go with them, doubting nothing, for I have sent them." 21 Then Peter went down to the men who were sent unto him from Cornelius and said, "Behold, I am he whom ye seek. What is the cause for which ye have come?" 22 And they said, "Cornelius the centurion, a just man and one who feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by a holy angel to send for thee into his house and to hear words from thee." 23 Then Peter called them in and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends. 25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter took him up, saying, "Stand up; I myself also am a man." 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. 28 And he said unto them, "Ye know that it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to keep company with or to come unto one of another nation. But God hath shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying as soon as I was sent for. I ask therefore, with what intent ye have sent for me?" 30 And 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, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms have been remembered in the sight of God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter. He is lodged in the house of one Simon, a tanner, by the seaside. He, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.’ 33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee, and thou hast done well, that thou hast come. Now therefore are we all here present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee from God." 34 ¶ Then Peter opened his mouth and said, "In truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons, 35 but in every nation he that feareth Him and worketh righteousness is accepted by Him. 36 The Word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all) -- 37 that Word, I say, ye know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how 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 things which He did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem--He whom they hanged on a tree and slew. 40 Him God raised up the third day and showed Him openly, 41 not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen beforehand by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. 42 And He commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained of God to be the Judge of the quick and dead. 43 To Him all the prophets bear witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins." 44 ¶ While Peter was yet speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the Word. 45 And those of the Circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out also on the Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?" 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they entreated him to tarry certain days. |
v1,2 God takes another step in His plan, He arranges for two men of very different outlook, Cornelius, a Roman centurion and Peter the Apostle. As a centurion Cornelius would be in command of one hundred soldiers as part of a Roman battalion or cahort. Most Roman soldiers worshiped many gods. But Cornelius has chosen to serve the God of the Jews, not just the word but worship as well. He was not a Christian but was looking to follow and obey God in all his life. He was a seeker of God and he was about to find the answer, Cornelius was about to become the first Gentile in the Church of Christ. v3-8 An angel visits Cornelius about 3:00 p.m. in a vision. The angel brought a message from God," I have heard your prayers, now send men to Joppa and find the man Simon Peter living with Simon the tanner." Cornelius calls for two special men, having told them what had happened, he sends them to Joppa, they were a servant and a soldier who both obeyed without question. v9-16 Meanwhile God needs to prepare Peter for the coming visit. At about noon the next day Peter is waiting for the midday meal, while waiting he goes up onto the flat roof of the house, possible for the cool and a quite place for prayer. As he prays he falls into some kind of trance and receives a vision. A Jew was very proud to keep the Old Testament Laws of God especially on which food they could and could not eat Lev 11:1-43 Deuteronomy 14:3-21 So for Peter to be told that he must kill and eat the food on the sheet, which contained all the animals which a Jew was not allowed to eat, you would therefore expect him to react in this way. "Not so, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean." Peter’s response is strange, He says "Not so Lord," Admitting that God was Lord of all yet refusing to obey the command. God repeats the command a total of three times, each one ending with the words "Do not call anything unclean that God has made clean." v17,18 Did Peter understand the command? He was still very puzzled. As he thinks about the vision the two men from Cornelius arrive. They are Gentiles and the Jewish household would be reluctant to let them enter the house. v19,20 The Holy Spirit speaks, "Go and meet these men for I have sent them to you. Do not have any doubts." The grace of God had been opened to all on the cross. At first it had been offered to the Jew, then the Samaritans, now the rest of the world. Would Peter understand that Christ’s death and resurrection was meant to be offered to anyone who will accept, Jew or Gentile. Would he have prejudices? Prejudice is a sign of pride, "my way is the best" and is often part of tradition. In many cases prejudice will cause pain. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. James 2:9. 21-23 Peter now realized the meaning of the vision, the men are ‘unclean’ Gentiles but God wants Peter to ignore the fact. Peter invites the men from Cornelius in and hears about Cornelius and what God’s angel has told him. Peter gives lodging, a place to sleep and eat, to the Gentiles. He has accepted God’s command. Gal 3:28. v24 Not only does Peter go to see Cornelius in Caesarea with these Gentiles but also some other believers from Joppa also travel the thirty miles with Peter. v25-26 When Peter reaches the house of Cornelius, Cornelius comes to meet him and falls down to worship Peter, Peter could have been full of pride but he tells Cornelius to "stand up, I am a man just like you." v27 On entering the building Peter finds many others had come to meet him. v28,29 The Jewish fisherman reminds them that according to Jewish law it is wrong for him to come into the home of a Gentile, but he continues to tell them that God has already told him that I must not call any person unclean from now. Peter is in a strange situation, for him it is an uncomfortable situation, but he is also beginning to get an experience of the Grace of God for all Man. v29-33 Why therefore have you asked for me to come to you? he asks. Cornelius tells of the vision he had had four days earlier and the message he had received. v34-43 Peter now realizes that this new truth is not selective by nation, in every nation anyone who fears and obeys Him is welcome to come to God. Peter then tells the people of Jesus of Nazareth, who was the Son of God, His life, death and resurrection, we can all witness to these facts. Today we are preaching the truth, that "that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." v44 While Peter is speaking the Holy Spirit enters the Gentile believers. The Jewish believers were amazed, they saw that the Holy Spirit gave these Gentile believers the same abilities and powers as they had received at Pentecost. This miracle showed the Jews that God had accepted the Gentiles into His new church of Christ, they were treated the same way so there is one family, there is no Jew or Gentile. Gal 3:28. v47,48 The Gentiles were then baptized in the Name of Jesus as a sign of their faith in Jesus their new Lord. |
Easy English Translation
| Back to previous page | Return to Home Page |
| The Acts of the Apostles |
