This picture took animals from Noah’s Ark and put them in Peter’s Blanket. The pig and the condor are the only two that make sense. Maybe the raccoon if Peter lived in Kentucky.
This is one of my favorite chapters in Acts. Through the first nine chapters the book is all about Jews becoming Christians and Jews bring mean to Christians. In Acts 10, Gentiles officially come on to the scene and they do it in a big way. The chapter is almost comical, however, as Peter has to get hit in the head three times by unclean animals before even going to Cornelius and even then doesn’t haven any plan to actually offer an invitation until God’s Spirit enters Cornelius. Finally Peter gets it and then has to go back to Jerusalem to explain his reasons for baptizing Gentiles. Come on early Christians…catch up with God’s great vision for the entire world. Anyhow, five observations about Acts 10:
1. Cornelius is chosen because of his generosity to others. This doesn’t mean he is saved by his generosity, but out of all the Gentiles who believed and prayed to God, Peter was sent to a Roman soldier. The reason was his attention to the poor. And we aren’t just talking about giving them money, but knowing and caring for the poor enough to pray for them. This guy will fit in great with the early Christians.
2. Peter is at Simon the Tanner’s house. Tanners are the people who take the dead animals, skin them, and turn their skin into leather goods. This was an “unclean” job. Jews weren’t to touch dead things or touch people who touch dead things. That’s all tanners did. Peter is overlooking that prejudice to stay at Simon’s house. He will associate with tanners but needs three visions to get him to visit a Roman Centurion.
3. Peter doesn’t offer an invitation. It appears that God jumps into the story at the moment Peter is about to conclude his sermon. The Spirit enters the household of Cornelius before they are baptized. I think Peter had no intention to offer baptism or admission to God’s Kingdom to this family so God had to preempt his conclusion. When God does, all of the Jews with Peter are stunned. “They can be Christians too?!”
4. Peter’s response, “Surely nobody can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just like we have.” This statement seems far from a bold proclamation. It’s part observation, part question, part proclamation.” I almost picture him looking at those with him while shrugging his shoulders. They must have all agreed and Cornelius’ family is baptized. Clearly God’s vision for His Kingdom continues to be bigger than any of his followers had ever imagined.
5. This is one of the few circumstances in the New Testament where somebody receives the Holy Spirit before they are baptized. This appears to be the exception and not the rule (as evidenced by everybody’s response). It is this very surprise that finally makes clear to all the Apostles that God’s Kingdom is for all people. God’s surprising action is irrefutable, but it’s also important to know that it is surprising. The fact that the Spirit arriving before baptism was so unusual is a powerful indicator that they all were accustomed to the spirit arriving AT baptism.
(Bonus observation: This is an unofficial opinion observation. There doesn’t seem to be any call for Cornelius to quit his job. Apparently being a Roman Centurion is something you can do and still be a Christian. This might come as a surprise to pacifists and people who protest at soldiers funerals that God would choose a high ranking roman soldier to be the first Gentile convert. This might be our Hot Topic on Friday this week.)
These were Jesus’ Apostles and they were still surprised by just how great and how vast God’s Kingdom was. They couldn’t fathom just how big of a vision God was casting for them and all his followers to come. In so many ways, I think we continue struggling to catch hold of God’s world-changing vision.
Northwest Church Bible Blog 