Archive of past lessons from this series can be found here.
This is week 13 of our journey through The Acts of the Apostles. Click here to read Acts 10 and return here to read my thoughts and to post your own.
The irony of this picture may give us a tiny glimpse of what Peter was feeling in Acts 10. Just as Saul was blinded in the pervious chapter, Peter’s lesson here is just as dramatic.
For just a moment, we actually see the return of Peter from the gospels. The one who speaks too quick and rarely thinks beforehand. You would think by now that Peter would have leaned not to answer Jesus with a “no” - but he does, attempting to stand on his own righteousness.
“I’ve never eaten anything that was not kosher, Lord.”
Sad to say - but we are no different. We worship each week, attend life group, intently pray, and religiously study the bible. As Peter does here, it is really easy for us to begin to work from our own understanding of God. Then Jesus does something we were totally not expecting and our understanding is expanded. Not because we faithfully do all the things on our religious checklist - but because He extends us grace we do not deserve. And usually, this understand forces us to see that we are much more messy than we would care to admit.
My favorite part of the story is that God is speaking and working through a Roman commander. Think about this with me. To this point, Peter had only imagined that God works exclusively through Jews. God uses his people. The set apart. The devout.
He would never use a Gentile like Cornelius.
He would never use a Roman pagan war monger.
He would never use teenagers in missions because they have not developed any life skills to give. Like an elder told me once.
He would never use a woman. Like a few power hungry men teach today.
He would never use a black man. Like my grandfather’s church preached less than 50 years ago
He would never use a drunk. Like some denominations teach, while many of those leaders can’t see their feet while standing because of their own gluttony.
He would never use someone with AIDS. Like the condemnation and avoidance that was preached in the 80s.
He would never use a homosexual. Like some preachers have proclaimed days before being found in their own sinful affair.
He would never use someone who has had an abortion. Like many ideologues yell in front of clinics as they condemn anyone entering or leaving.
Sure, sin is sin, no doubt. However, let’s not forget from where we have come - and remember that but by the grace of God, it could just as easily be me - or you - having a judgmental finger pointed at us.
At the least we may say, “He would never use that kind of person to preach to me…to speak to me....to teach me…would He?”
Here is a good rule of thumb. As soon as you figure out the type of person you just know God could never use - you have just picked how God will be speaking to you next.
So Peter heads off toward the house of this Roman commander. Remember the last time Peter encountered the Roman military? It was the day his Lord was beaten - spit on - nailed to a cross.
While we have no doubt how painful those memories were for him - he was presented with proof that could not be refuted. God was speaking to and working through a Gentile. That made him Peter’s brother.
The Spirit of God was in the house of a Roman commander. Jesus found him, chose him, called him. Just like He did with Peter.
Remember several weeks ago when we talked about speaking in tongues? (Week 3, Acts Chapter 2) What was said then bears repeating here. Every time the Holy Spirit moves & causes tongues to speak, it points to Truth - not emotion. It points to Jesus, not the experience.
Every time I read this story, I am amazed that Acts 10 is a story we seldom here. I’m surprised that every Christian does not know this story by heart. This is the most important story for the non-Jewish Christian world. How many times have you told your children & grandchildren this good news:
Jesus has come for the Gentiles. Jesus has come to the Gentiles. Jesus has come for us!
Peter soon realizes that the Way of Jesus would never be the same again.
God had clearly spoken his plan through the life change of Saul and Peter…and the Church would never be the same again.