Acts 10 2 Men, 2 Visions, 2 Cultures and 1 God The lesson in this chapter from Acts could be taught through the simple rhyme we learned as children:” Red and yellow, black and white, all are precious in His sight”. God accepts all cultures, all colors and all combinations into His Kingdom through faith in His Son Jesus Christ. This was not an easy lesson for the infant church to learn though, and it seems as though many of us are still learning it. The two cultures mentioned in the title here were Jew and Gentile. There were some skin color differences but it wasn’t significant (prejudice doesn’t always dress in the color of someone’s skin); there were economic differences but that doesn’t seem significant either; there were significant language differences; but the major barrier separating these two men and their perspective cultures was religion. One man was a Jew, a Christian, a preacher, a man of great Godly power, and the other man was a Gentile (non-Jew with no historical link to Judaism), a godly sort of man, and he was a man searching for spiritual Truth much as the Ethiopian Eunuch did in an earlier chapter. Even though Peter was a Christian the religious tradition he was brought up in taught that Jews only were the people of God, and he was having a difficult time seeing it any other way. The plan of salvation was brought to the Jewish nation of Israel by Jesus because of the Jews historical link to God through Abraham, and the line of Jewish Patriarchs that followed Abraham. God had chosen the Jews as His people through Abraham to bring God’s plan of salvation to the world (all of the world). But the Jews turned away from God’s plan centuries before Jesus came. They had turned the religion of Judaism into a self-serving, Godless form of pomp and tradition. Judaism taught that Jews were the chosen people of God, and only Jews were the chosen people of God. Gentiles were seen by Jews as dogs unworthy of salvation and according to Judaism Gentiles could not be included in God’s plan of salvation. Gentiles were seen as being spiritually unclean and a devout Jew would have no dealings with Gentiles. This was prejudice on steroids and God always deals sternly with prejudice within the Christian Church. God was attempting to help the infant church to learn that not only were the Jews the special chosen nation of God, but God had also included Gentiles in His plan of salvation through Christ. You and I are Gentiles. We can’t understand the deep loathing the Jews had for Gentiles; and we can’t comprehend the loathing the Gentiles had for the Jews. But we can look at this story closely so that we can better understand the basis of prejudice and for the Believer the cure for prejudice. Prejudice emits a hatred and loathing toward the persons or culture to which we are prejudice. Overcoming prejudice means we accept the individual or culture on the basis that God loves all people with a perfect love. Overcoming prejudice doesn’t mean we have to accept all of the biases of the opposing culture; their government, dress, family values, languages, etc. In the political climate we presently live in American if you disagree with any aspect of another culture you may be labeled as being prejudiced. Those who label you unfairly are most likely guilty of the sin of prejudice themselves by not accepting your culture and beliefs. Carelessly throwing around the accusations “your just prejudice” stifles a legitimate opposing view, and that’s why it’s done. Take a look then at these two men (a Gentile military officer and Peter, a Jew), their two differing visions from God, their two differing cultures and the one God who was drawing them both to His one Kingdom. Then look for lessons from God for you as He teaches these two men about His love. The Man Cornelius 10:1There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, 2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. Cornelius was a Roman military officer, a centurion. A centurion was a Roman military officer who had 100 hundred men under his command. Cornelius was a Roman citizen who hailed from Rome and his unit from Italy. The great Roman conquest of the world had brought many countries and cultures into its empire. It was conceivable that there were units of Roman soldiers from other countries and differing cultures stationed throughout the Empire. Gentiles like Cornelius may have had a religion of their own, but it probably wasn’t Judaism. The Gospel had not yet been preached in Rome so if Cornelius had come under the influence of the Gospel of Jesus Christ it probably happened in Jerusalem. Cornelius is described as one “who feared God with his entire household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always”. It’s hard to imagine why a good man like this wasn’t yet saved, but he wasn’t yet a Christian. God honored the man’s sincere search for God as He did the search of the Ethiopian Eunuch. God is always searching for sinners who want to know Him, and when the searching sinner meets the searching God salvation takes place. Cornelius feared God and taught his wife, his children and his servants to do the same. Cornelius was a very generous man who faithfully prayed to God. God was preparing to honor Cornelius’s faithfulness and He was preparing to use this gentle Gentile to teach all of us about His plan to save the entire world, the entire world: all cultures, all colors and all combinations. The Vision of Cornelius 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius!" 4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it, lord?" So he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. 5 "Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. 6 "He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do." Whatever was the basis of Cornelius’s religion he may or may not have believed in spiritual revelation through a vision. Ready or not though, at 3:00PM the fearful man witnessed an angel of God who had come to visit him. The angel called Cornelius by name and gave him a message straight from God. Cornelius was instructed to send for Simon Peter who was preaching the nearby city of Joppa. Cornelius obeyed the vision by immediately sending his most trusted men to fetch Peter. Cornelius was shaken by the experience, had never in his life experienced anything like this, had no way of understanding the full meaning of the vision; but he obeyed God anyway. Talk about separation of church and state; God came to a government employee who used other government employees to do God’s work while on the government payroll. The Man Peter 9 ¶ The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. 10 Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance At the time God was working with Cornelius He was also working with the apostle Peter. Peter had been a faithful follower of Christ from the beginning. He walked with Jesus, witnessed the preaching and miracles of Jesus, witnessed the trial and crucifixion of Jesus, and gloried in the resurrection of Jesus. Peter had not always remained as faithful as he would have liked. Peter denied Jesus three times during the trial of Jesus preceding the crucifixion. But Jesus forgave Peter for his weakness in the midst of a threatening situation; then Jesus commissioned Peter as the person whose faith would be an example for the entire world to emulate in the future. Jesus called Peter “the Rock” and said of Peter “upon this Rock I will build my church”. Peter loved Jesus while at the same time he struggled (as did the other disciples) with his Jewish tradition. Simply put Peter’s struggle could be described in this way; “Now that I am a Christian, what part should the historical elements of Judaism (tradition) play in my faith?”. Practically speaking the problematic “historical elements” were the dietary laws of Leviticus and the rite of Circumcision . The laws and tradition had come down from Moses through the generations to the Jews. Moses was revered by the Jews as a type of savior. Going against the Law of Moses cost Jesus His life (as the Jews saw it) so you can see why there would be an intense struggle in Peter’s heart to do the will of God in this matter. This kind of struggle takes place in the heart of a genuine believer every time the believer is faced with discerning the will of God in personal, cultural, political, and social matters- or least it should. And discerning the truth about these matters is critical to the health of your faith and the future of your country and the Gospel. For the true believer his/her stand MUST come from the answer God gives to the individual and not from politicians, any political party, any philosophical argument, any preacher or anybody who wears the garments of partiality- and that’s everyone on the earth. How do you discern the truth in the important issues of the day? You educate yourself through the Word of God foremost; you educate yourself on the issues; you talk to fair minded believers who you trust; and then you ask and wait on God realizing the answers you seek may go against your traditional political, social and even religious views. But it’s God’s world view you are seeking isn’t it? When you find God’s answer will you then obey like Peter did, or will you toss it out in favor of your wrong, but strong, traditional biases? Now you have entered into Peter’s personal struggle with faith and tradition; it’s our struggle too. The Vision of Peter 9 ¶ The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. 10 Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance 11 and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 13 And a voice came to him, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat." 14 But Peter said, "Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean." 15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, "What God has cleansed you must not call common." 16 This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven. Unlike Cornelius, Peter was accustomed to God showing up in his life in unusual ways. Peter’s dependence upon the Lord was total-he could do nothing without the Lord. He had gone too far with Jesus, learned too much, loved too much to back out now. About three o’clock in the afternoon Peter went to the roof of the house in which he was a guest to pray. The evening meal was being prepared, and the aroma of the sweet home-made bread drifter to his nostrils as he prayed. As Peter prayed the disciple drifted into what’s described here as a “trance”. While in the trance he saw a sheet held by four corners being let down from heaven. In the sheet were all the animal groups forbidden for consumption by the Law of Moses and/or by the traditions of Judaism. Peter’s biases were being “laid bare” through the work of the Holy Spirit, and the disciple resisted the Truth of God. God said to Peter, “Rise, kill and eat”. Peter’s answer to God was “No way, we don’t do it that way around here!” Or if you prefer, “I have NEVER eaten anything common or unclean”. God was showing Peter that no person (Jew or Gentile) is made righteous in the sight of God by what he puts, or doesn’t put into his body. We are not saved by the Law of Moses God is saying to Peter; we are all saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ only. The lesson from God concerning prejudice and bias toward another people group by Christians was a clear and unmistakable message to Peter. Now the question becomes what would Peter do with the Word from God? What will you do with God’s truth when that truth goes against your political, social, and cultural views? The 2 Men Meet 24 And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up; I myself am also a man." 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. 28 Then he said to them, "You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 29 "Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?" Peter agreed to go with the men Cornelius had sent as God had told him to do. When he arrived at his destination, Peter found Cornelius waiting for him accompanied by “relatives and close friends”. As Peter entered the house Cornelius fell at Peter’s feet as an act of worship. Remember, Cornelius was not a Jew, He had seen one angel recently perhaps Peter was another- Cornelius simply could not comprehend the meaning of all of these strange events. Peter straightened the Gentile out though telling him that both were men not worthy of worship. Then Peter reminded Cornelius that his coming into this gentile household went against all Jewish laws, but he came anyway because “God has shown me that I should call any MAN common or unclean. You thought this was about Moses Law didn’t you? Nope, here it is, it was all about God confronting Peter (and us) about Peter’s prejudice toward another MAN (peoples, cultures). For the first time the infant Church was about to get a glimpse of God’s powerful love for all people of the world. Cornelius began then to tell Peter how he had been visited by an angel who instructed him to send for Peter, and where to find him. If Peter had any doubt about the purpose of this meeting Cornelius laid them to rest. Then Peter did what Peter did best- he began to preach the Gospel. 2 Men, 2 Cultures, 1 God 35 "But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. 36 "The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ--He is Lord of all-- 37 "that word you 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, who 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, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. 40 "Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, 41 "not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 "And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. 43 "To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins." 44 ¶ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon 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 had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, 47 "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days Peter began to share Jesus for the first time in the history of the Church specifically to the Gentiles. This sermon is important to you because it has resonated down through the centuries to other Gentiles who have come to know the Lord (you and me). When Peter finished this sermon the Christian Church entered a pivotal new phase as it moved toward its total separation from Judaism. As Peter was preaching, the same Holy Spirit that indwelt Jesus and filled the Jewish believers “fell” on the gentile believers too. The Jewish believers who had accompanied Peter “were astonished because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also”. Peter then baptized the new (officially the first) believers in obedience to Scripture. Now they were brothers and sisters in Christ. The walls of separation had fallen because the Love of God had risen. From then on the early church, especially through the ministry of the Apostle Paul, turned to the Gentiles of the world to preach the Gospel too- because Jews had closed their hearts to Jesus. As one graphs a limb from a hybrid apple tree to the root of a crabapple tree God has grafted Gentiles into the tree of His spiritual family through faith in Jesus Christ. The lessons Peter learned are here for us too of course. God has NOT taught us here that we are to accept all religions as being equal in His sight. Jesus said “I (Jesus) am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; No one comes to the Father except through Me (Jesus)”. Neither has He taught us here to accept as our brothers and sisters in Christ those who live lifestyles condemned by the Bible. What has God has taught us through Peter’s struggle and obedience? God has taught us that He is color blind; that He is culture blind; that religious piety is not what He is seeking in MEN; that any man, woman, boy or girl of any culture, of any color, or of any combination can be saved through believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. God has His Church in every nation of the world, and in some nations the Holy Spirit is pouring the power of God out upon His people in a way not seen in this country. In many nations of the world today many of our brothers and sisters of others cultures, of others combinations are being put to death because of their faith in Christ. Yet we show little concern for them- have we Christians in America become like the Jews of Peter’s day. Are we “more chosen” than they? That’s prejudice my friend.
Posted on: Sat, 21 Sep 2013 22:11:17 +0000
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