Breaking Down Barriers

Peter overcomes his uncertainty and obeys the Holy Spirit’s prompting, traveling to Caesarea where he discovers God’s radical plan to break down barriers between Jews and Gentiles, learning that fellowship with all people reflects God’s will.

[Scripture]

[17] Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate [18] and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. [19] And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. [20] Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” [21] And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” [22] And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.” (Acts 10:17-22, ESV)

[23] So he invited them in to be his guests. The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. [24] And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. [25] When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. [26] But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” [27] And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. [28] And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. (Acts 10:23-28, ESV)

[29] So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.” [30] And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing [31] and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. [32] Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ [33] So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.” (Acts 10:29-33, ESV)

[Daily Word]

Peter was still puzzling over the meaning of the vision, yet he obeyed the command of the Holy Spirit. He met the servants sent by Cornelius and traveled to Caesarea, where, in the presence of Cornelius and his gathered relatives, he came to understand that fellowship with Gentiles — God’s will — was not unclean.

# Peter was perplexed about what the vision he had seen could mean. (17)

It was precisely at that moment that the men sent by Cornelius arrived at the house of the tanner. They stood at the gate and asked whether Peter was staying there. At the same time, while Peter was still inwardly questioning the vision, the Holy Spirit spoke to him. Verse 19: “Behold, two men are looking for you. Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.”

Peter had continued to hold onto Jewish customs and tried to draw a distinction between Jews and Gentiles. In that sense, what the Holy Spirit was saying to Peter was to go ‘without delay’ and ‘without making distinctions because they are Gentiles.’ It was only then that Peter went down to meet the men sent by Cornelius and asked why they had come. The servants explained Cornelius’s character and the reason they had come to Peter. In particular, verse 22 states that Cornelius was a righteous man who feared God and was well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation. Here, “the whole Jewish nation” refers to all the Jews living in Caesarea.

Accordingly, Peter invited the Gentiles in and gave them lodging. In other words, Peter — a Jew — was acting in obedience to the direction of the Holy Spirit. The next day, Peter set out with the men sent by Cornelius, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa who went along with him.

Cornelius, who had been waiting for Peter in Caesarea, gathered his relatives and close friends and waited together. When Peter arrived, Cornelius fell at his feet in reverence. His falling at Peter’s feet showed that he recognized Peter’s spiritual authority. But Peter lifted him up, saying, “I too am a man.” We must never treat a human being as though he were God.

Peter acknowledged that it was “unlawful” for a Jew to associate with a Gentile, yet he explained that God had shown him not to call any person common or unclean — and so he had come without objection when called. (28–29) Jews believed that associating with Gentiles made them ritually impure. But through the vision of the sheet, Peter came to understand that God’s will is not bound by human stereotypes.

In verse 30, Cornelius described the figure he had seen in his vision as a man “in bright clothing.” Luke had already identified this figure as an angel of God (v. 3). Yet Cornelius believed that Peter, now standing before him, was the messenger sent by the Lord.

# Cornelius did not fully understand the meaning of the vision.

Nevertheless, he obeyed God’s command immediately. Peter, too, did not completely understand the vision itself — yet he obeyed God’s command. Obedience to God does not begin with thinking things through first. God’s command and direction always come first, unconditionally. Like Abraham, who set out not knowing where he was going yet obeyed — that is faith (Heb 11:8) — standing before the extraordinary command to offer his son Isaac and still obeying — that is faith. God honors this kind of faith and grants fruit in response to such obedience.

*God’s word often seems unrealistic to us.

When we measure God’s ways against our present reality, there is much we cannot understand. Yet what we are called to do is simply obey His word. Remember that when we obey, everything unfolds within God’s providence — and may you live today in the will of the Lord.

Acts 10, Peter, Cornelius, vision, obedience, the will of God

Originally published in Korean at bible2u.com