Acts 10 reminds me of a game we played on the high school wrestling team. We called it Irish verses Italians. The team was divided into sides with a neutral zone in the middle. The winning team was able to drag everyone onto their side. It was a form of competition, but in the end, we were always one team. Today’s chapter is about Jews and Gentiles. We begin with a Roman centurion stationed in Caesarea, a city primarily populated by Roman citizens. He was called “God-fearing” which meant he knew the God of Israel and supported the Jews in word and deed. He was not a Jewish convert so there remained a fear and distrust of his motives. Meanwhile, 30 miles away, the apostle Peter was praying. God showed him a vision of “a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds”. A voice commanded him, “Peter. Kill and eat”. All of these animals were forbidden in the Jewish diet, so Peter responded, “Surely not, Lord! I have never eaten anything impure or unclean”. It is critically important to understand that to this point, every follower of Christ was a Jew. God was about to reorient Peter’s world view; “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean”. The idea of eating prohibited animals was so repulsive to Peter that, “This happened three times”. While Peter was still trying to comprehend the vision, three men sent by the centurion came to the house. God told Peter, “Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them”. They explained to Peter, they were sent by Cornelius the centurion. “A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say”. The idea of going into a Gentile home to share God’s mercy was just as repulsive to Peter. Friend, who do you call unclean?
Cornelius invited all of his friends and family to hear Peter. I imagine Peter was shocked to see so many pagans ready to listen. He began, “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”. I’m sure he was convinced they would not be able to comprehend all that he would say. It is so easy to see unworthiness in others. Peter continued, “I now realize… that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears Him and does what is right”. He was about to teach them “the message God sent to the people of Israel”. The children of Israel are God’s chosen people. God gave them His written Word to keep and protect. For the first time ever, Peter taught Gentiles “the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all”. Jesus is Lord of all, and Savior of all; there is no neutral zone. We can accept that, or reject that.
Peter told them his observations of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. “We are witnesses… They killed Him by hanging him on a cross, but God raised Him from the dead on the third day”. Here is the message that many of Peter’s Jewish brethren rejected, “He commanded us to… testify that He is the One whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead”. Finally, he connected Jesus to the oldest books of the Jewish law, “All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His Name”. Atonement cannot be earned by heritage, or acts of kindness. It is freely given through faith in Jesus as the Messiah. To Peter’s surprise, “the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message”. The Jewish believers that came with Peter were amazed to see “the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles”. All were then “baptized in the name of Jesus Christ”. Friend, there is a spiritual battle taking place, but it is not Jew verses Gentile. We are one team. God’s Holy Spirit unifies. Who is it that divides?