Please read Acts Chapter 10
Two weeks ago studying Acts 10:9-16, we saw that “God had a plan to use Peter in ways he could not imagine, and for him to experience something completely different than what he considered normal within his Jewish context of understanding of how his “new life” in Christ should be lived. However, Peter did not realize that he was being hindered by religious and cultural barriers which he had considered as correct and normal all his life. Acts 10:14, “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
“You must distinguish between the unclean and the clean,
between living creatures that may be eaten
and those that may not be eaten.”
Leviticus 11:47
The religious and cultural barriers that Peter had in his life were practiced from birth. They were taught by his parents and his rabbi that certain things should never be accepted or done. It was something he saw his Jewish family and his friends always do and was totally accepted. It was being obedient to what God said in the Law. Peter’s barriers gave him his identity as a devout Jew. Peter’s barriers would not only be a hindrance for him to be used by God, but it would also hinder others from knowing Jesus.
What Peter had to learn and experience in his life also applies to each one of us. “We all need to realize that we also have barriers which are hindering us from being used by God and experiencing the reality of His will in our lives.” The process of God removing the barriers in our lives theologically is called Progressive Sanctification. Progressive Sanctification is the following. “…Sanctification is seen to be a continuing process throughout a Christian’s entire lifetime.” “There must be a positive conformation to the Image of Christ. This is seen as a gradual growth in, not into, grace.” “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18. “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18
Acts 10:23-48
Peter now realized that he had religious barriers in his life which he chose to remove, that were hindrances for him to be used by God. As a result, he nowhad an open and willing heart to hear what the men from Cornelius had to say and he was able to invite the three gentile strangers to come into the home where he was staying as guests. Acts 10:23a “Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.”
“23b The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went along. 24 The following day he arrived in 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. 26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”
Peter had no way of knowing what God was doing at Cornelis’ house and what he was going to encounter when he arrived. This can be true with us, we almost all the time we never know what God has planned for us in the future, whether it is for something that will happen in a few minutes or in a few days. But the most important way God prepares us for what we will encounter so we can be used by Him for His glory, is by what we allow Him to do in our hearts and lives prior to it happening, by removing the barriers.
27 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 a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”
At the very moment that Peter had the opportunity to speak to all those who were gathered in Cornelius’ house he said what was obvious to all who were present, “28a He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him.”
One Bible commentator tells us about Peter’s comments that, “For centuries the Jews, on the basis of Old Testament Law, had declared the Gentiles to be unclean, and some Jews even referred to the Gentiles as “dogs.” How many times the gentiles who were present were called and treated by some Jews like “dogs”? Peter had to first “clear the air”, “defuse or clarify a tense, or confused situation by frank discussion.”
When the Holy Spirit removes the barriers from our hearts and lives, He replaces it with humility, transparency and most importantly His love, of which is not just for our benefit but also to be experienced by others. When it is appropriate, under the leading of the Holy Spirit which is, at the right place, right time and with the right words, we will not be ashamed to tell others what God did in us, as what Peter immediately did with all those who were listening. “28b, But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.”
Before leaving to go to Cornelius’ house or even on the way, apparently Peter was never told by God nor the three men sent by Cornelius what he needed to speak about. Luke tells us that he was just told by the three men, “A holy angel told him to have you come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.”, Acts 10:22. This would explain why Peter said, “May I ask why you sent for me?”, 10:29.
After Cornelius tells Peter what happened, “Four days ago…”, ver. 30. He says something very important that can easily be over looked. “Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”, 10:33. Cornelius did not put Peter on a pedestal of spiritualimportance or give him a special status with a title. He did not say, “Now we are all here in the presence of…” “the great well-known Apostle Peter who God uses mightily.” First of all, Cornelius makes clear he understands and acknowledges that he and everyone present knew God was there, “Now we are all here in the presence of God…”. Secondly, Cornelius and everyone else knew the purpose of why they were there, “…to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.” Again, please notice that they were not there to listen to Peter, Peter was just the instrument, a tool now without barriers or hindrances to be used by God for His glory to speak God’s word to the hearts and minds of all who were listening and ready to receive.
Peter once again refers to what God taught him, what he did not realize before because of the internal barriers that were once in his heart which were now removed by God. “34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.”
All was now ready for the Holy Spirit to begin to use Peter to speak to hearts already willing and ready to, “…to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.” The end result was, “44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 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 “Can anyone keep these people from 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.” Acts 10:44-48
Luke points out something that every servant of God would like to experience when ministering to a large group of people, “the Holy Spirit came on allwho heard the message.” One commentator called what happened at Cornelius’ house “a clean evangelistic sweep”.
We all know that God is omniscient, that there is nothing He cannot do except violate His divine nature. God could have used someone else to accomplish His will, but He choose Peter, someone who previously had barriers in his life that would have prevented Him to be used by God. But in submission to God’s voicein the vision, “The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” Acts 10:15, Peter recognized and allowed the Holy Spirit to remove these barriers, and as a result experienced something he could never imagined.
Pastor John
“Now to him who is able to do
immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,
according to his power that is at work within us…”
Ephesians 3:20
