Acts 10:27-29 – 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. May I ask why you sent for me?”
“While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.” As Peter had been told by the emissaries of Cornelius, he found that Cornelius was indeed a God seeker who wanted not only himself to know the Truth of God, but also his family and friends.
“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.” As previously noted Jews did not associate with non-Jews. Peter was aware that they were aware of this as he notes “You are well aware.” It is important to remind them of this since up to that point, they would not have associated with each other. To us it may seem a harsh way to start. It probably was. Often in our communications the story behind what we say can is much stronger than what we say. In our day a bold person might say “Look, we know that you people don’t like us and we don’t like you. I am only here because God directed me to come and not of my own volition. Our people consider you people a dirty and uncouth people who eat food and do things that are barely, if that, above a feral dog. We consider your people so abhorrent that we feel the need to purify ourselves if you should touch one of us.” No, Peter didn’t say all of that with his words, but everyone knew what was behind his words. Not a way a seminary would teach to open up.
Peter was telling his audience the way he formerly, but no longer felt. There is a division among scholars as to what the purpose of the Peter’s vision was. Was it solely to have Peter expand his dietary menu, or was the meaning of the vision to prepare him to accept all the world, including Gentiles, as fellow believers, if they come to humble themselves before Jesus. “You can’t see the forest for the trees” too often applies as scholars wrestle for meanings. Sometimes we all need to step back and see the big picture. Regarding the meaning of the vision, Peter has made it abundantly clear that the most powerful meaning of it was that Jesus came to save any person in the world that would acknowledge Him as the only way to Heaven.
Peter is also making it clear that whatever traditions or customs we have held dearly to must be let go when God teaches us otherwise. Any opinion or belief that is contrary to scripture or the leading of God (which never contradicts scripture) must be discarded. We must take to heart that what we are to consume is “every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Any thought, any argument by any person or institution that does not agree with the Word must be bound. We must train ourselves to trust all that God says and that anything that we, or anyone else, could think of or dream of that opposes the Word of God must be captured and taught to believe God above all else (2 Corinthians 10:5). So Peter was telling them that God caused him to change his way of thinking and living. What he was about to tell them would change their way of thinking and living. It is what will happen, even if incrementally, to all who love and worship Jesus as Savior and Lord.
“So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”” Peter reveals that when he was directed by God, he obeyed God without reserve. Peter was not Jonah, who preached God’s message contrary to his own will. No, Peter had the Holy Spirit within him and was a new man with a new heart and mind. He went to the Gentiles in willing obedience to God.
Though Peter had heard why Cornelius had sent for him, he asked again why he was sent for. Perhaps Peter wanted to hear Cornelius relate the story (and he did). The question about why we came to hear the Good News, and became a disciple of Jesus is one that we should look back on and remember. We need to consciously remember it every day. Getting up every day and remembering the reason we accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord is a good thing. We were lost. We all were headed to hell. Nobody (sane) wants to go there. Remembering that Jesus died for us, and came to us, while we were His enemies (Romans 5:10) is a sobering thought that brings great appreciation. Let’s often remind ourselves why we desired to hear the truth. How horrid our future if we had not heard and believed. We all were in the same boat as Cornelius and those in his house. Remembering that can keep us humble and much more prone to praise God. Yes, remember and praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.