Acts 10:1-48
It is only natural for believers to feel the need to preach to people of their own ethnic background. However, they often overlook people from other ethnic groups, even if they live in the same community or region where they live. We could call this phenomenon of overlooking our cross-cultural responsibility to evangelize people from other nations “blindness to the nations.” Churches that suffer from “blindness to the nations” evangelize their own ethnic groups but are simply not interested in the need for salvation of other nations. They behave as if the other ethnicities do not exist.
Through migration, seeking work, education, and other reasons, many families representing unreached ethnic groups come to live in countries and/or communities where there are viable, strong churches. According to Acts 17:26, God does this because of His ardent desire that all be reached. However, due to “blindness concerning the Gentiles,” the church misses these opportunities for evangelism.
Before Peter’s revelation from God at Simon the tanner’s house, Peter also suffered from “blindness concerning the Gentiles.” He did not want to have fellowship with the Gentiles. According to Acts 10:28, Peter even considered it “unlawful.” Because of this, he had excluded the Gentiles from his sphere of communication and influence.
Chronologically, Acts 10 describes events that occurred approximately ten years after Pentecost. Peter had been trained for three years in Jesus’ teaching of the missionary “vision for all nations.” On the day of Pentecost, during the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church in Jerusalem, Jews from the diaspora “from every nation under heaven” (Acts 2:5) were present. This gave the apostles a vivid lesson in the intercultural ministry of the Church. However, they seemed to “take no notice.” Now, about ten years later, the “impatient” Savior intervenes in the affairs of the church, which refused to engage in missionary work among the Gentiles. (At this stage, only the “half-Jews” of Samaria had been reached). This happened through a vision that God gave to Peter. To emphasize that this unusual vision about the intercultural ministry of the church is from Him, God repeated it three times.
1 At Caesarea, there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment.
The Vision of Cornelius (Acts 10:1-8)
Cornelius was a veteran of the imperial army. He most likely was part of the group known as “God-fearers.” These were people who had accepted Jewish monotheism but were not yet circumcised and had not become full-fledged proselytes. Cornelius “feared God” with his whole household, lived a godly life, and expressed his faith through his generous giving and constant prayers.
2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. (Acts 10:2)
On that day, however, Cornelius’s prayer was different than usual.
3 One day, about three in the afternoon, he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.
The angel answered, “Your prayers and your gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. (Acts 10:3-4)
With his godliness, Cornelius had attracted God’s attention. He did “good deeds.” However, our “good deeds” are not enough for our salvation. To be saved, a person must hear the gospel, the good news about Jesus Christ. And this gospel is not entrusted to angels, but to people. Therefore, the angel gave Cornelius specific instructions to seek a particular person so that this person could share the gospel with him.
5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon, who is called Peter. 6He is staying with Simon, the tanner, whose house is by the sea.” [he will tell you what you must do]. (Acts 10:5-6)
Isn’t that incredible? The angel gave the name and address of the man Cornelius was to summon to deliver God’s message to him. Perhaps it would have been easier for both of them, the angel to tell the gospel to Peter directly, but the angel did not have the authority to do so. The responsibility for the gospel, which is God’s power for salvation, God had and still has entrusted to human beings, to us. (1 Peter 1:12)
Apparently, the vision was so clear to Cornelius that after praying, he immediately sent three of his men to go and bring the man the angel had told him about.
7 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. 8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa. (Acts 10:7-8)
Peter’s Vision (vv. 9-16)
God noticed Cornelius’s search and longing for God, and God planned to save him. The instrument for this salvation, however, was not yet ready to be used by God, for although he was an apostle, he was still blind concerning the Gentiles. Imagine, Cornelius’ servants were already on their way to Peter to call him to preach to them, and Peter was not yet ready to set foot in a pagan home! Therefore, God had to intervene and open Peter’s eyes. This happened through a heavenly vision.
9 About noon the following day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. (Acts 10:9-10)
Apparently, no fast food was being prepared in Simon the tanner’s house. Everything was done properly, and that took time. We do not know whether it was because of hunger or something else, but Peter “fell into a trance.” During this trance, he saw a strange vision.
11 He saw the heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to the earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13 Then a voice told him: “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” 14“Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” 15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” 16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. (Acts 10:11-16)
The animals on the heavenly table were varied. Many of them were obviously forbidden in Leviticus chapter 11 to eat. “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. In other words, “No way, Lord!” These two words, “No” and “Lord,” cannot stand side by side in the same sentence. One of them must be crossed out. If you refuse Him, He is not your Lord. If He is your Lord, you cannot say “No” to Him. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” The Lord’s answer was clear: “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” Was God talking about food here? Was this about Peter’s eating habits? Or did God have something else in mind?
The Visitors (vv. 17-23)
Immediately after the vision, Cornelius’ servants arrived.
17 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. 18 They called out, asking if Simon, who was known as Peter, was staying there. 19While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. 20 So, get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.” (Acts 10:17-20)
It was good that Peter could hear and recognize the voice of the Holy Spirit within him. The confirmation of the Holy Spirit freed him from his doubts.
21 Peter went down and said to the men, “I am the one you are looking for. Why have you come?” (Acts 10:21)
Cornelius’s men told Peter about the angelic visit that Cornelius had experienced (vv. 1-8). They told him that the angel had informed Cornelius exactly where Peter was. This led to their master sending them to invite Simon to Cornelius’s house so that Cornelius could hear from Peter “what he must do.”
22 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 ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.” 23 Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests. (Acts 10:22-23)
Finally, Peter was able to eat some of the delicious food prepared by Simon the tanner’s cooks.
Encouraged by the Holy Spirit not to doubt the words of Cornelius’ servants (verses 19-20), Peter prepared to go and visit the Roman centurion Cornelius the very next day.
The Breakthrough (vv. 23b-35)
23 The next day, Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along. 24 The following day, he arrived at Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. (Acts 10:23-25)
A Roman Centurion at the feet of a Jew! Cornelius greeted Peter as a divine person. Peter, however, convinced him that he was just an ordinary man like himself.
26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.” (Acts 10:26)
The fact that Peter made Cornelius stand up and pointed out that he himself was only a man shows that Peter had stopped thinking that he was something more because he was a Jew.
27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28 He said to them, “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?” (Acts 10:27-29)
What we can acknowledge about Peter is that he was sincere and straightforward. In plain language, he admitted that he considered entering a Gentile’s house to be unclean and “unlawful” (vv. 28; 11:2-3). However, God had shown him that he should not call anyone “unclean” or “impure.” Therefore, he responded to their invitation and now wanted to understand what they expected of him. In response to Peter’s question, Cornelius told him the story about his meeting with the angel firsthand.
30 Cornelius answered: “Three 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 31 and said, “Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 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. [When he comes, he will tell you.] 33 So I sent for you, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to hear everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.” (Acts 10:30-33)
Seeing in all this the intervention and imprint of God’s finger, Peter finally speaks up and begins to share the gospel.
34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. (Acts 10:34-35)
The vision and events that preceded his arrival at Cornelius’ house convinced Peter that God had opened this door and expected Peter to present the gospel to the Gentiles. What God required of Peter was not a change in his diet, but a change of heart—a change in his attitude. In verse 28b, he says, “But God has shown me that I should not call anyone ‘impure’ or ‘unclean.'” Peter continues in verses 34-35, saying, “I now realize that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.”
If we examine the narrative structure of Acts 10, we would say that verses 1-8 are the introduction. Verses 9-33 form the building up of the storyline. Verses 34-35 are the climax, and verses 36-48 are the resolution of the narrative.
Verses 34-35 are the climax of the entire narrative. They describe the change that God has made in Peter’s heart. Now he accepts not only his own people, but everyone, including other ethnic groups. But notice how Peter begins his statement: “I now realize” – or “I can see clearly now!” Peter was healed of his blindness regarding the nations and his eyes were opened. Before, Peter said, “No way, Lord!” Now Peter says, “I truly see!” These words are the climax of the whole story. They show us the change that God wants to see in our hearts, the attitude we should have toward all nations. Let us not be blind to them, nor think ourselves superior to them, but see every ethnicity as an object of God’s grace, which they can receive through our sharing of the gospel.
The Fields Are Already White for Harvest (John 4:27-39)
In John 4:26, Jesus revealed Himself to the Samaritan woman as the Messiah. At the same time, the disciples did not see her as someone with whom they would share the gospel. John 4:27 says:
27 Just then, his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?”
The disciples were surprised that Jesus was talking with a woman from a different ethnic group than theirs. They did not see her as a person in need of salvation. Nevertheless, she went to her fellow villagers and brought them to Jesus. Verse 39 says:
39 And many of the women of that city believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.”
While this was happening, Jesus told his disciples to lift up their eyes and see that “the fields are already white for harvest.”
28 Then the woman left her water jar, went into the town, and said to the people, 29 “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30 So they made their way out of the town and made their way toward him. 31 Meanwhile, the disciples urged Jesus, saying, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” 33 So the disciples said to one another, “Could someone have brought Him food?” 34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.”
For Jesus, doing God’s will was like food. It was so important and satisfying to Him that He forgot to eat. He knew why He was on this earth, and fulfilling His mission gave Him complete satisfaction. Is this our attitude toward the Great Commission? If we have no appetite for the gospel, it is because of spiritual blindness—a lack of vision for the readiness of people to be harvested for God’s kingdom.
Verse 30 says that when the Samaritan woman testified to the Samaritans about Jesus, “they came out of the town and made their way toward Him.” Perhaps from a distance, they looked like a ripe wheat field. Seeing this exciting picture, Jesus said to his disciples:
35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘Four months more and the harvest will come’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.
This happened to Peter when God gave him the vision of the sheet with the clean and unclean animals. He lifted up his eyes and saw the fields of the Gentiles ready for harvest.
Gathering fruit for eternal life brings triple joy. It brings joy to those who are saved because, as they put their trust in Jesus, God writes their names in the book of life.
The harvest also brings joy to us who are reaping. The satisfaction of seeing the salvation of a sinner condemned to death is incredible.
Gathering fruit for eternal life also brings joy to those who came before us—those who “sowed”—the prophets and God’s people who planted the seed of faith. Our responsibility to fulfill our evangelistic duty is not only to God, but also to them.
36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus, the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.
The Gospel of Peace (vv. 36-43)
In Acts 10:36-43, Peter shares the gospel itself. It contains the message of the ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. Faith in Jesus Christ, who is “Lord of all,” brings “forgiveness of sins.”
36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached – 38 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.
39 We are witnesses of everything He did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed Him by hanging Him on a cross. 40 but God raised Him from the dead on the third day and caused Him to be seen. 41 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. 42He 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. 43 All the prophets testify about Him, that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.
One of the key words in these verses is “testify.” The apostles were “God’s chosen witnesses” to carry the message of the Anointed Savior. The prophets testified of Him that “whoever believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins through His name.” This reminds us that we, as newborn believers and heirs of the apostles, also have a responsibility to be witnesses for Jesus. That is why God gives us the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Notice that in verse 36 of Acts 10, Peter begins by saying, “The word that God sent to the Israelites.” But in verse 42, he says that Jesus, after his resurrection, specifically commanded the apostles to preach not only to the Israelites, but to “all people.” “People” included not only the Jews but also the Gentiles. If we go back to the Great Commission, according to Mark, “people” are “every creature” (Mark 16:15). In Matthew and Luke, “people” are “all nations” (Matthew 28:19; Luke 24:47).
Here we should note a few things. First, in saying that the Gentiles were “clean,” God was not saying that they were saved, but rather that they could and should be interacted with, that we should engage with them. They should be invited into the homes of believers. Believers can enter the homes of people from any nation and eat at their table. This was the exact opposite of the Jewish belief in verse 28: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile.” Christians should enter the homes of Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and all other unreached peoples for the purpose of sharing the gospel.
Second, God may give visions, but only His chosen people can preach the good news and bring the unreached to Jesus. God has given the Church a mandate to evangelize the nations! This is an extraordinary privilege that even the angels envy us for.
Third, the response of the so-called “unclean” is often much greater than that of the “clean” (vv. 44-46). See what happened while Peter was sharing the gospel with these Gentiles in Cornelius’s house.
The Testimony of the Holy Spirit (vv. 44-48)
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the word. 45 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. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 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.
By “came on all”, “all who heard the word”, in the same way as on the apostles at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit confirmed that the gospel and salvation are not only for the Jews but also for the Gentiles. In this way, He placed His seal of approval on the intercultural sharing of the gospel.
Conclusion
God wants not only Peter, but also us, to be healed of our blindness concerning the nations. He does not want us to say, “No way, Lord,” but to say, “I truly see!” or “I Can See Clearly Now”. Having been freed from our blindness, we must boldly confront the blindness toward the nations, the attitudes, and the fears that lead to it. God loves the world and every ethnic group within it. He wants every church to become a missionary church. He will often create events and even wars that will bring unreached peoples into our communities. In addition, we must open our eyes and see the ethnic groups in our country that have not been reached with the gospel. We must seize all these opportunities and use them to share the gospel.