Acts 10 - 4.22.25

SCRIPTURE:  ACTS 10:25-29; 34-35

“25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”

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.

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.”

OBSERVATION

At the beginning of Acts 10, God gave a vision to Corelius, through an angel of the God. Cornelius was a Centurian in the Roman government who was a God-fearing and praying man. The angel told Cornelius to go and bring Simon Peter to his house. Cornelius immediately followed God’s request, without question.

Peter also had a vision from God showing him that it’s OK to now eat things that were considered “unclean” by Jewish law. The instructions went a little further in verse 15 that said “The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” God made this emphatic statement because Peter was having a hard time understanding the big picture of the vision. God was changing something, due to Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, of the long followed custom for Jews to not eat or even be around others who were considered “unclean.”

I love how God made it very clear to Peter (and all of us) to “not call anything impure that God has made clean.” In essence, who are we to call something “unclean” when God is the one who made it clean? This means those who are followers of God, outside of the Jews, can now be called clean in God’s eyes – even a Roman Centurian. God’s message of love and acceptance was now open to all.

I found it interesting that Peter’s vision and instructions had to be given to him three times (verse 16) before the vision ended but the vision to Cornelius was only given once. It appears that God gave extra time to Peter because he was having a hard time seeing and understanding the vision. At first he really struggled with what God was telling him. Ultimately, as we see in verses 27 – 29 and 34 – 35, Peter finally saw and understood God’s message was open to all. How wonderful to see God’s patience and understanding of Peter’s individual needs on full display. He gave the instructions three times - working through and making sure Peter got the message. Even as God worked through Peter’s struggle, He works through our own shortcomings and struggles.

APPLICATION

God used a Roman Centurian to help Peter see that God’s kingdom is open to ALL In context, God used a Roman, who was basically hated by Jews, to show that God does not show favoritism and accepts all “who fears him and does what is right.” I love how God can take the one thing that is so opposite of what we have stuck in our head to turn it right around for His good.

Beyond the fact this scripture shows the pivot point where Jews could eat and be around those once considered “unclean,” but it’s also for everyone else to not call or treat anyone as impure or unclean. Basically, we shouldn’t treat others as beneath, lower, or not part of God’s message of love. This transcends our Mission to “Love People” just as they are, no matter how different they might be.

On Easter Sunday someone I know posted this “And I remember why I hate going to church!”  It seems where she went for Easter in her area, someone who worked at the church yelled at her and there was a road rage incident in the parking lot. Other friends of hers chimed in this is why they don’t attend church either. My heart sank thinking this even happened and sad that people have negative experiences in the Lord’s house. What’s even worse is it happened on Easter when a lot of visitors and others come to celebrate Christ’s triumphant rise from the grave. I don’t know the situational details but ultimately someone who doesn’t normally attend church, who is different than others at the church, was treated without love and respect. They were ultimately hurt by the actions of those who should love on them without question.

“30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[a] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30 – 31

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34 – 35

When I think about the long held Jewish law about not associating with “unclean” people and the incident that happened to my friend, others outside the “right” people were treated differently than the ones “inside” their group. Peter was shown and understood this fact to not call or treat others as if they are impure or unclean. He was being asked to accept someone who was part of the group Jews hated (Roman government), to welcome Cornelius into the family of God, and to treat him (and all) with God’s love. This scripture and Peter’s example is one we should all follow: to not treat others as if they are beneath or below us, or that our faith or church is superior to others. God commands us to “love one another” which means to always treat others with the same love God has for us: unconditional.

PRAYER

Lord, thank you for this scripture which shows exactly how we should view, treat, and love others. Your message of love and forgiveness is open to all. You show no favoritism and accept those who fear you and does what is right. Lord, forgive me for ever treating someone differently than you would!  Help me to always show the entire essence of your love, to not treat others differently, and to show your love for them at any point in their faith journey. Whether they are just coming to church for the first time or they’ve been to church a lot, help me to see them with your eyes, your deep love for each person, and acceptance when they seek after you. In Jesus name. Amen.

- Mary Oberg