Acts 10:1-48
1At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.
The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.
Peter’s Vision
9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” 14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” 15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” 16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. 17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. 18 They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.
19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. 20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”
21 Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?”
22 The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.” 23 Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.
Peter at Cornelius’s House
The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers 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.”
27 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?”
30 Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”
34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favouritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears Him and does what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” 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 Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their 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 10:1-48 GOD’S ACCEPTANCE
Springford Baptist Church: June 11, 2023.
Peter learned that God accepts everyone. All are included in His love and His plan for salvation! God does not have favourites!! GOD ACCEPTS EVERYONE!
An elevator was descending from the 15th floor with people getting on at each floor. Eventually, for the last few floors as the doors opened there was no more room and no more people could get on.
Church, the gathering of God’s people, followers of Jesus, must reflect God. God accepts and welcomes everyone and so must we!
Peter had to be challenged and change his way of thinking in order to say and live what God wanted to communicate.
How do we need to be open to change in order to welcome everyone?
Notice in this account, that Cornelius, the Roman military commander was living a life deeply affected (changed) by his faith in God. His prayers and generous gifts to those in need were evidence that his life was changed and that he was wanting to hear from God.
And God chooses to show Cornelius more of who He is and to make room for this man who is not a Jew.
But before this powerful message of God’s love and acceptance can be expressed, Peter has to change his way of thinking.
God can take care of this change.
It is while Peter is praying (a time of openness and allowing God to speak, not just doing all the talking).
Peter is hungry and as the meal is being prepared, Peter has a vision, an unusual vision. He sees heaven opened and a large sheet being let down by its 4 corners with all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds that were not considered acceptable for a Jewish person to eat (not kosher).
Peter is told to get up and make lunch from something here.
And how does Peter react? “Oh no Lord. I have never eaten anything like that before”! (vs. 14)
The classic response we might hear in church, “We’ve never done it that way before”!
The voice replies, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” (vs. 15)
vs. 16 “This happened 3 times and immediately the sheet was taken away.”
When we resist, God repeats. God does not permit our resistance to change to exclude those He is determined to include!
God had set all of this up carefully because while Peter is wondering about the meaning of the vision, those sent by Cornelius are stopping at the front gate.
vss. 19, 20 God’s Spirit speaks directly to Peter and ensures that Peter will not hesitate to go to the house of Cornelius.
Peter has been open to God’s Spirit guiding him and showing him what God wants. Are we?
vss. 22-23 Cornelius wants Peter to come to his house and Peter invites the messengers into his house as guests.
Inviting in is so significant. It is not just saying everyone is welcome when we gather as church, but welcoming people into our more private places, our homes.
This is everyday life, not just once in a while acceptance and welcoming.
vss. 28-33 Peter is figuring things out as he goes along. He recognizes that God has had purpose in all of this.
vss. 34-43 Peter now realizes how true it is that God does not show favourtism, but rather accepts everyone who comes to Him.
vs. 43 “…everyone who believes in Jesus receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”
vss. 44-46 The Holy Spirit is poured out on those listening.
Evidence of God’s acceptance and if God accepts, how can we reject?
vss. 47, 48 The people who had received the Holy Spirit are baptized. This baptism is a powerful symbol of transformation and being accepted and welcomed by God!
Peter learned that God accepts everyone. All are included in His love and His plan for salvation! God does not have favourites!! GOD ACCEPTS EVERYONE!
How does this truth impact us?
How do we make room in the elevator for everyone?
It will be less comfortable.
It will be inconvenient.
It will require change.
Peter was willing to listen to God.
Peter was willing to change.
Peter was willing to accept all whom God accepts.
Are we?
Our CBOQ (Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec) churches held their Annual Assembly (family reunion) this past week.
Our mission statement is that: CBOQ is a family of churches, transformed by Christ, revealing God’s kingdom.
The theme for Assembly 2023 was:
ASSOCIATING, BELONGING, CALLED (ABC’s)
We associate together based on our common expressions of identity and beliefs.
We belong together in the family of God and we are better together.
We are called to be God’s family members and to advance the kingdom.